Community Corner

Mary Pajak, Citizen of the Year, Takes on Flowers and Bullies

Pajak honored Citizen of the year for involvement in cable and Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club.

Mary Pajak was named Avon Lake’s 2013 Citizen of the Year for her significant involvement in, and dedication to, the community.

“Mary Pajak has served this community with true dedication to the residents and to supporting civic organizations in Avon Lake,” Marty O’Donnell, President of the Avon Lake Community Council, who selected Pajak, said.

As an active member of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club since 1993, Pajak continues to work endlessly in promoting community-wide involvement in conservation, civic planting, outreach and many other projects.

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Pajak has been on the Cable Television Advisory Commission for five years and the chairman for the past two years.

After proposing an issue-based program covering current and relative topics, “Issues and Opinions” was created.

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“We started the new show, Issues and Opinions, and just taped our second show,” Pajak said. Noting that the issue of bullying has become more prevalent, Pajak has directed two shows on the topic, and anticipates a third before approaching another topic.

“There was so much in the news about bullying, and I thought, ‘You know what, we have a television channel, we can do so much more.’”

Noted psychologist Dr. Sylvia Rimm was interviewed on the first episode. The most recent is on the legal ramifications of bullying and included a teacher, school resource officer and a Lorain County Magistrate.

The shows are hosted by Carol Murphy.

“It’s turned out much better than we envisioned,” Pajak said, adding she handed hosting duties to Murphy due to her television experience. 

Pajak has also been very active in the gardening community.

“I’ve been involved for more than 20 years now,” she said of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club.

She held the positions of president and vice president for two years each and is currently the membership chair. She’s chaired three flower shows.

“We have a lot of people to help,” she said. “We have good members. I didn’t do all this by myself, not on Garden Club and not on the cable commission either.

“You do what you need to do.”  

Pajak was honored at the May 9 Avon Lake Kiwanis Club meeting along with founders of the Project of the Year, the Avon Lake Community Garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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