"I love it, it's such a unique job," Smith said. "Not a lot of people can say 'I make candles for a living.' And to do it with your mom, is one of the most special things ever."
But like many other businesses in East Palestine, getting back to normal has been difficult. Business owners have faced some backlash online for re-opening their shops as the aftermath of the derailment unfolds. Posts on social media often come with comments accusing local businesses of being irresponsible by bringing customers to a contaminated area even though state officials have assured the public that the water and air are safe.
"A lot of people want to assume we're villains for wanting people to come here and shop," Smith said. "It's our livelihood. My parents have invested a lot of money in being here. We wouldn't tell our customers to come down here if it wasn't safe or we didn't personally feel safe."
In the weeks since the derailment, Smith said she's felt better about staying in East Palestine, long term.
"I have a lot of friends and family here and I don't want to leave them behind," she said.
Many other families, however, are considering other options.
More than two-thirds of homes in East Palestine are owner-occupied. Local realtors say the derailment has caused many challenges for people trying to sell their homes. And at least one insurance company, Allstate, has stopped offering coverage to new homeowners.
“You burned me,” resident Jim Stewart said at the town hall. “We were going to sell our house. Our value went phoom,” he added while pointing his hands downward.
T. "Preacher" Ross, a resident who lives near Market Street, fears the small village could lose a lot if people pack up and leave. As a village of less than 5,000 residents, East Palestine relies on all its small businesses and shops, he said.
"There's a rumor going around of a ghost town, and I know that because I started it," he said. "I've already surmised that if people are leaving and nobody is waiting to come in, and the population gets too small in this town, companies and businesses are going to get hit.
"It will become a question of who's going to bail and who won't."
Ross fears the derailment has caused a stigma that will, for a long time, cause travelers who may normally stop and shop while passing through East Palestine, to say “Oh no, this is toxic town,” before driving further to stop somewhere else.
"That's what creates a ghost town," he added. "I don't think it will ultimately be that bad, but it ain't good."
'What is best for us'
Last month, an activist team of lawyers, environmentalists, and experts led by Erin Brockovich added a community advocate to their team. That advocate, East Palestine native Jessica Conard, has been tasked with outreach in the community as they continue fighting through remediation, legal, and safety processes.
Conard said the tight-knit community has a "connection" and trust of each other. But that trust doesn't extend to government and certainly doesn't extend to Norfolk Southern. The community feels they've been lied to throughout the process.
"When we have all these big corporations and big names coming into town, it's hard to know who to trust," she said. "The information has not been transparent."
That mistrust has led residents into a cycle of constantly trying to sort out what is fact from fiction and whether things are better or worse than they've been led to believe. While trying to make sense of all the information they receive, many are also battling just to get through the day. Norfolk Southern began giving reimbursements to all residents of East Palestine as part of remediation efforts, but some have complained about how difficult the process is.
One man, Peter Fiest, said he hasn't been able to receive any reimbursements because he doesn't have any mail in his name at his address. He was unable to go to work as evacuations began February 3. And months later, he's been unsuccessful in getting compensation.
"I had a letter stating that I stay there," Fiest said of a letter from his landlord he presented to the claim center. "I can't work. I don't got no money right now. It's hard."
Those daily battles are becoming a new normal. As remediation continues, home sales in East Palestine will likely suffer for a while, Michael Stevens, board president for the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors told the Canton Repository.Homebuyers don't have confidence in buying in the village right now, he said. And that lack of confidence won't go away quickly.
Smith said her concerns have continually waned as time has gone by, but she's preparing in case that changes.
"As of right now we plan on staying here, but obviously keeping cautious of those things that could pop up that put a family at risk," Smith said. "You're constantly thinking about what is best for us."
