The Avon Lake Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year awards are two of the most prestigious honors the city can bestow on its residents.
Voted on by a 24-member Avon Lake Community Council panel, the awards recognize great efforts to better the city of Avon Lake from within the community.
Shea Alltmont, a member of the Community Council, said the group had quite a few impressive nominations this year.
With such a bountiful harvest of candidates to choose from, this year, the Community Council awarded two each in both categories — Citizens of the Year and Project of the Year — rather than just one.
“It was just that good,” Alltmont said. “Just so many big contributions to the community that really make being a part of the community (great), whether you’re a resident or a visitor.
“Obviously, it was a tough choice this year, I can tell, because of the significant contributions to the community.”
This year’s Citizens of the Year were Mark Summers and Judy Kaminsky.
Both longtime Avon Lake residents and volunteers, the two have put forth serious efforts in bettering the community, said Community Council president Marty O’Donnell.
“Mark Summers has worked tirelessly in establishing youth programs at all levels in the community, as well as honoring our veterans with the Avon Lake Veterans Never Forgotten Banner Program,” O’Donnell said. “Judy Kaminsky has done the same for the Peter Miller Museum and the Avon Lake Garden Club for over 25 years through educational programming for children and residents.”
This year’s Project of the Year award was split between Ozone Garden and Kiosk and the Bleser Park Basketball Court renovation effort.
“Ron Warner went out and obtained sponsors, plans and design work for the renovation of the Bleser Park Basketball courts, which are used by our youth daily,” O’Donnell said.
The Community Council put strong emphasis on projects that considered both the short and long-term future of the city.
Between the two award recipients, the city’s youth will have recreation and education for years to come, thanks to local volunteers.
“In addition, the Ozone Garden was a combination of the Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club, the Avon Lake Public Library, the Boy Scouts and the Avon Lake High School environmental classes to deliver an educational working lab for students and adults regarding the Ozone,” O’Donnell said. “Jennifer Fenderbosch was the major organizer in completing the project.”
According to Alltmont, the awards will be officially presented to the recipients during a ceremony at 6 p.m., May 18, at the Avon Lake Public Library’s Waugaman Gallery, 32649 Electric Blvd.
Those looking to attend, should RSVP to O’Donnell at modonnell@avonlake.org prior to the event.
