Know An Avon Lake Citizen of the Year? Nominate Him or Her Today

The Avon Lake Community Council is now accepting nominations for the Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year Awards for 2010.

The Community Council, formed in 2010, introduced the Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year Awards to acknowledge an Avon Lake volunteers’ service to the community.

The Citizen of the Year must be an Avon Lake resident.

“We’re looking for someone who has volunteered over the years, helping out other people,” councilman Martin O’Donnell, the chairman of the Community Council said.

The Project of the Year can be any service, school, city or citizen project completed in 2010 that made a significant contribution to the community.

The awards’ recipients will be acknowledged at the May 12 Avon Lake Kiwanis Club dinner.

Last year, the Project of the Year was awarded to the Avon Lake Garden Club for its continued dedication and care of various city parks in Avon Lake and for being named the State of Ohio Best Garden Club in Ohio for the second time. In addition to their scholarship program the club has run programs in horticulture at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home over the years.  

Longtime residents Kay Usher and Betty Kinsner were selected as Citizens of the Year, due to their voluntary work in the community. 

“The Community Council felt that both nominees were deserving due to their lifetime of service and that both should be picked for the first time Award,” Jan Van Wagner, vice-president of the Community Council said when the announcement was made.

Kinsner delivered Meals on Wheels from 1973 through 2009, when knee surgery forced her to stop delivering. She also volunteered with Family Promise, a homeless family project, at Christ Lutheran Church, was a former Girl Scout leader and ran back-to-school clothing drives for her church.

Usher, who moved to Avon Lake in 1962, has been a longtime volunteer in various local civic organizations, and is a charter member of the League of Women Voters which registered voters, created the “Candidates Night” which is an annual event at Avon Lake High School. The former school board member helped lead efforts to help pass levies for Avon Lake City Schools and was given a lifetime membership in the Ohio PTA Association by the Avon Lake PTA.

The deadline for nominations is March 17. Nomination forms can be found at http://www.avonlake.org, at City Hall (first floor), the , and through all organizations belonging to the Avon Lake Community Council. Nominations should be sent to O’Donnell at 150 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, or sent via email at modonnell@avonlake.org.  Any questions or requests for nomination forms should be directed to O’Donnell at 933-7310.

About the Community Council

The Community Council consists of members from local civic organizations whose focus is to promote and perpetuate the Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year Awards, and to bring the various community organizations together for the betterment of the entire community. All groups are welcome to join as well as individuals who are not members of a civic organization. Annual dues are $10 for an organization and $5 for an individual.