Springfield Teens Volunteer To Honor Local First Responders
BY KAREN BERGER— MIRROR REPORTER
On September 11, 2001, C.J. Moffitt, Riley Bickerstaff, Brittany Welch and fellow Springfield High School teens were in grade school, watching teachers try to explain the unexplainable.
On September 11, 2011, the youth marked the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by saying “thank you” to local first responders.
Arriving at Springfield Township Fire Station No. 2 on Crissey Road with a plate of homemade brownies, student Julia Boehler explained that SHS students raised money during lunch to purchase Subway sandwiches, chips and water bottles for the firefighters and police in Springfield Township and Holland, then volunteered to wash their vehicles.
“The firemen and police of 9/11 are always in everyone’s thoughts,” student Knox Sanders said. “They risked their lives and played such a big role. This is our way of honoring them.”
The student volunteers lined up to meet the staff at Station No. 2, including Sean Baney, Andrew Sauder, Lynda Bennett, Jennifer Barocsi, Chad Born, Assistant Fire Chief Richard Helminski and Owens student Alex Betts.
While the fire department members are accustomed to washing the four vehicles daily, instead they stood by – then provided instruction – to the young crew donating their elbow grease to spray, scrub, squeegee and towel dry.
“Start high and go low,” Helminski said, before handing out buckets and hoses.
Natalie Setterberg took charge of spraying the ambulance, while Alyssa Douglas and Chelsea Meadows took long-handled brushes in hand.
“I volunteered this summer, going to feed the homeless with my mom at the downtown library every Monday,” Alyssa said. “I wanted a chance to volunteer again.”
With so many 9/11 ceremonies going on throughout the area, Springfield Township didn’t schedule anything for Sunday, Helminski said. However, fallen firefighters and EMS personnel are honored with a memorial service during Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15.
“This is fabulous,” Helminski said, surveying the group of teens working diligently. “It’s nice that they took time out of their Sunday to help us out and provide lunch. We are so grateful. We don’t look for recognition. We do this job because we love it – it’s a passion.”

LCIC Vice President To Speak During Next Chamber Lunch
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
When Tami Norris took office as president of the Holland-Springfield Chamber of Commerce in January, she decided to focus on education and economic development – providing speakers that enlighten, inform and entertain.
“Economic Development in Lucas County” is the topic of the Thursday, September 22 chamber luncheon, held at the Lodge at Strawberry Acres Park from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Featuring Ricci Gardner, the vice president of the Lucas County Improvement Corp., the lunch is also open to members of the Whitehouse and Waterville chambers.
“We asked for LCIC to come because it’s important for chambers outside of Toledo to realize what LCIC is and what they’re doing to build economic development for communities out here,” said Springfield Township administrator Leslie Kohli, who serves on the chamber’s government liaison committee.
The township identified businesses that meet criteria for assistance with expansion and growth, Kohli said, and Gardner will provide details on progress with those businesses as well as other goals in the area.
“We need to be intentional and ask, ‘What can we do for you?’ and ‘What ideas do you have for expansion and growth?’” Kohli said. “The LCIC can hook them up with resources and help resolve some issues.”
Gardner has a bachelor of business administration degree with a focus in transportation and logistics from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and both domestic and international leadership management experience in the transportation, consumer goods and manufacturing industries.
He has also led functions in human resources, transportation and logistics, and economic development. He is the managing partner of the Gardner and Buchanan Companies LLC and is engaged at the LCIC as a consultant.
The cost to attend the luncheon is $12.00. To make a reservation, call (419) 865-2110.