Springfield High School Announces Youth Jefferson Award Winners
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Helping a neighbor with yard work or playing board games with elderly nursing home residents might not top most teens’ to-do lists, but for Carolyn Manley and Natalie Setterberg, that type of volunteering is just second nature.
On December 14, the two Springfield High School students were named Youth Jefferson Award winners in recognition of their volunteerism and leadership.
A team of their peers reviewed the nominations and agreed that both met the criteria to be award winners.
Natalie enjoys spending time with older adults – something she began with her grandmother and continued through other service opportunities.
“When my grandma got older, she didn’t get a lot of visitors and she got lonely. I want to be there for the elderly,” Natalie said. “I’m amazed at how much they appreciate the time.”
Natalie, a senior, was nominated by band director Kathy McGrady. Natalie has played trombone since fifth grade and is now a section leader for the marching band. She’s also involved with symphonic band.
“She worked with younger students every week to make sure they knew their music and drill,” McGrady said. “She is an excellent role model for everyone around her.”
Fellow section leaders voted her section leader of the year.
Natalie is also class president, recording secretary for National Honor Society and band librarian.
“She goes above and beyond what is required of the task in order to have the best end result. Her enthusiasm, creativity and passion have inspired many students and adults,” McGrady said.
Natalie’s list of after-school activities also includes swim team, figure skating, student government, drama club, Science Olympiad and a part-time job at Kroger.
With First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, Natalie is involved with youth group, choir and bell choir, as well as numerous service projects. She’s been a Girl Scout since first grade, and now trains younger girls.
Her volunteer efforts include running a Halloween party for families, collecting food, tutoring a middle school student and pushing Springfield Senior Community residents around the zoo on a field trip, to name a few.
“Natalie is the pinnacle of responsibility and community involvement,” McGrady said.
Winning the Jefferson Award is “indescribable,” Natalie said. “But I do service because I love doing service.”
Carolyn, a junior, was nominated by her volleyball coach McKenna Reitz. As team captain, Carolyn has shown exceptional leadership, responsibility and initiative, always giving her best, said Reitz, who named Carolyn for the 2011 coaches’ award.
“Carolyn is the definition of a true student athlete,” Reitz said. “She was awarded the coaches’ award because of her strong work ethic and drive she displays on a consistent basis.”
Reitz nominated Carolyn for the Youth Jefferson Award for her volunteering efforts, which include the volleyball team’s service activities with youth camp, the Noel Project, Progeria Playground and the Glass City Volleyball toy and canned food drives.
“I want to let the veterans know that we appreciate what they did for us,” Carolyn said.
Carolyn is also involved in the Blue Devil biddy wrestling program and tournament, the fall golf outing and volunteer activities through Students in Action and National Honor Society.
Carolyn’s neighbor, Mary Lou Leonard, received the Toledo-area Jefferson Award in April.
“She inspired me and encouraged me to go out and serve,” Carolyn said of Leonard.
Leadership Toledo introduced the Youth Jefferson Awards/Students in Action program to area high schools in 2009. Springfield was one of four districts chosen to pilot the project and in 2010 was the first public school in Ohio to receive the National Youth Jefferson Award for Public Service.
“It’s OK to get a pat on the shoulder. Some of these kids do so much and no one knows about it,” said David Schlaudecker, executive director of Leadership Toledo.
“The more you do, the better it makes you feel,” he told the students. “You can read a book to the older crowd in a nursing home. You can play games with kids in the hospital. And while you’re at it, drag your parents along.”
Carolyn and Natalie bring to 10 the number of students to be named Youth Jefferson Award winners. Past winners include Jessica Edwards, Earlyn Whitehead, Alexandra Courville (posthumously), Dylan Moore, Kesley Miklos, Sheldon Goodrum, Jeramee Gwozdz and Alex LaSoya.
The Holland Springfield Rotary underwrites the awards by offering a $50.00 donation in the name of each award winner to the charity of his or her choice.
Township Approves Zoning Change For Albon Road Landscaping Company
BY KELLY J. KACZALA — MIRROR REPORTER
Springfield Township trustees unanimously approved a zoning change request for a new landscaping company on Albon Road at a meeting December 5.
The owner of the property at 1450 Albon Rd., SZCZ Properties LLC, doing business as Pro Edge Lawn Care, had requested the zoning change from M-3 heavy industrial to M-1 limited industrial at the site.
The newly relocated landscaping business is on 14.012 acres of industrial property that was formerly used by Scotsman as a storage yard for portable offices.
The applicant/owner, Anthony Szczechowski, had requested the zoning change because the proposed use, a landscape business, was not permitted in M-3 zoning.
Pete Skowronek told trustees at a public hearing during the meeting that he and Szczechowski recently purchased the property.
“The reason we got it is because it’s so far off the road. There’s a private drive that goes all the way to the back. The only thing we ask for, the outside storage, is for salt in the winter, and then we switch it over to mulch in the summer. The only thing we would store outside is our trucks,” he said.
He said they have been in business for 11 years. The business used to be located in Maumee.
The 2004 master plan calls for regional commercial use for the parcels. The M-1 zoning district is harmonious with the surrounding uses and a step in the right direction toward the intent of the master plan, according to township zoning officials.
The Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission, the township zoning commission and township zoning staff recommended approval of the change.
Also at the meeting, Jacob Barnes, the township’s assistant zoning inspector, said that there was one new dwelling in the township for November. He also said six new businesses started in November, including Hibachi Grill, Tas Electronics, a retail clothing store, a glass art studio, a nail salon and new insurance agencies.
“It’s pretty encouraging to see,” Barnes said.
He added that so far this year, the township has issued 21 permits for new businesses compared to just 10 at the same point last year.
Barnes also noted that the board of zoning appeals approved two sign variances at its November 28 meeting: a variance request submitted by National Illumination and Sign to allow the installation of a new sign on an existing sign pole at 6814 Spring Valley for Tas Electronics, and a variance submitted by Harmon Sign requesting to build a new sign with an electronic message center on an existing non-conforming brick sign base at the First Baptist Church of Greater Toledo at 6520 Pilliod Rd.
Also at the meeting, the trustees:
• Approved the 2012 trustee meeting schedule.
• Set a special end-of-the-year meeting for December 29 at 6:30 a.m.
• Approved cemetery fees for 2012 of $300 for residents and $700 for nonresidents. Trustees agreed to raise rates for burial to $450 weekdays for nonresidents, and $550 for holidays and weekends for nonresidents.
A comparison of surrounding communities showed that resident fees ranged from $150 in Jerusalem Township to $600 in Sylvania. Nonresident rates ranged from $350 in Richfield to $1,700 in Swanton.
• Agreed to initiate an LED fuel price sign text amendment.
• Heard that Barnes attended and was a speaker at the Northwest Ohio Planning and Zoning Workshop on November 10. The workshop covered many zoning topics, including Internet cafes, green energy and zoning enforcement.
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