Wed Mar 10 2010
by Andrew Schunk
Editor
Twinsburg -- Residents, community groups and businesses that stood out for their volunteer work or economic contributions in 2007 were recognized by Mayor Katherine Procop following her State of the City Address Jan. 18.
The State of the City Address is organized annually by the Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce, and this year the ceremony drew approximately 130 people to the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland/Twinsburg, according to Chamber Executive Director Doug Johnson.
"I think the attendees each year enjoy hearing about what happened over the past year, as well as what the future holds," Johnson said.
Vertex recognized
for growth
The annual Mayor's Awards began with a plaque issued to Vertex Computer Systems Inc. for the Mayor's Outstanding Corporate Growth Award.
The software development company has been recognized as one of Northeast Ohio's fastest growing businesses and is in the process of bringing 100 full- and part-time technical support jobs and approximately $4 million in new payroll to the city, according to Larry Finch, community planning and development director.
"It's companies like your's that keep Twinsburg in an upward loop," Procop told Ganesh Iyer, vice president of Vertex Computer Systems.
According to Finch, the initial job creation could create between $20,000 and $40,000 in income tax revenue for the city annually.
'Outstanding' volunteer group recognized
With 2,074 stitched, stapled or otherwise sewn items donated to the needy in 2006, the Twinsburg Knitwitters took home the mayor's Outstanding Volunteer Organization Award Jan. 18.
"We're very proud of the caring you take with our community and with other people," Procop said.
Each winter, this group of nearly 30 women warm the heads and feet of those less fortunate, while warming up their own hearts at the same time.
Their most recent project included making a handful of sweaters, about 40 hats, 40 blankets and several pairs of booties for the neonatal intensive care unit at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland. The "knitwits" also made more than 40 blankets and 50 pairs of bed socks for the Hospice of Western Reserve in Cleveland, and more than 50 hats for children in several inner-city schools in Cleveland.
The group meets at the Twinsburg Congregational Church on Church Street the first and third Thursday of most months.
Twinsburg Garden Club receives award
Established in 1963, the volunteer Twinsburg Garden Club continues to make important contributions to the community, Procop said Jan. 18.
The club received the Outstanding Community Organization Award for hosting its annual plant and flower sale, the proceeds of which go toward a $500 scholarship for a Twinsburg High School senior and for making the holiday swags, which are hung from the city's street signs during the holidays.
"We just want Twinsburg to look beautiful, as well as educate a senior with the scholarship so that they can give back to the community," said Marjorie Roberts, a garden club member since 1968.
The club's next meeting is Feb. 8 at the Twinsburg Senior Center.
Youth volunteer recognized
Twinsburg High School senior Ashley Bissell, winner of the 2007 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award, is involved with the Twinsburg First Congregational Church and a member of both "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" and the Great Expectations Show Choir.
Bissell, who will attend Ashland University in the fall and focus on a degree in special education, was nominated for the award by a guidance counselor at Twinsburg High School.
She humbly accepted the plaque from the mayor Jan. 18.
"It feels weird to be awarded for this," Bissell said Jan. 30. "Since I've grown up, it's very important to give back. It's who I am."
Dye awarded as community volunteer
For helping to "make getting good grades cool," 26-year Twinsburg resident Sue Dye was named the Outstanding Community Volunteer Jan. 18.
Dye was instrumental, Procop noted, in developing the Twinsburg Academic Boosters, a group at Dodge Intermediate and R.B. Chamberlin Middle schools that pushes good grades and the work it takes to achieve them.
Dye also is active in the Twinsburg Parks and Recreation Department, Twins Days and the Tigersharks Swim Team, Procop said.
"A community is like your own household or family ... you need to jump in to help," Dye said. "It's easy to write a check, but you still need someone to do the work."
E-mail: aschunk@recordpub.com
Phone: 440-232-4055 ext. 4106
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Twinsburgbulletin.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications