The Mantua Veterans Commission led by Chairman Joe Heitman spearheaded the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 11 at the administration building’s Veterans Plaza.
We had a great turnout to honor our vets, both local and afar. Speakers were Will Foltz Sr., vice commander of the Mantua VFW, and Russ Pine, who gave the keynote address and is the former Commandant of USMC Detachment 204.Â
Committee members Eileen Lukens, Jack Steen and I recognized the Veterans Day poster contest winners from our school district. Congratulations to each student for their patriotic and accomplished works of art:
• Third grade: Jean Dyer, Ava Czyzewski
• Fourth grade: Danica Shrimpton, Katie Tornese
• Fifth grade: Mira Gale, Makayli John
• Sixth grade: Ben Friedberg, Zachary Bangs
Deputy Mayor John Legge recognized Army vet Charles Thorpe, our Mantua VFW Post Commander by reading a township proclamation in his honor at the ceremony. Mr. Thorpe was unable to attend, and the proclamation will be presented to him in person and publicly at a future committee meeting.
Each year on Veterans Day, we honor the brave men and women who’ve served our nation with courage and sacrifice, both here in Mantua and across our great nation. The township is forever grateful to our veterans for protecting our freedoms and for inspiring us with their dedication. The township committee and I are grateful for their service, their strength and their leadership.
Mantua partnered with the Total Experience Foundation for our second annual free Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings dinners on Nov. 22. We delivered the food to the homes of about five senior citizens who didn’t have transportation and distributed others at the administration building, where another 45-plus seniors picked up their dinners.
Recreation department chair Regina DeWitt; Deputy Clerk Pam LeVine; our bus driver, Rhonda Tusevicus; and her husband, Barry, spearheaded efforts at the township level. Legge, Lukens, Committeeman Jay Snyder and I were on hand to help distribute the meals.
We’d like to thank Jerry McGough and Michael Lloyd from the Total Experience Foundation for including Mantua in the dinner giveaways. Jerry is one of the founders of Total Turf Experience on Lambs Road, a first-class sports and entertainment facility. He started the foundation nonprofit, which operates at 614 Lambs Road.
The turkey dinners help residents who need a little boost around the holidays. It’s been a very gratifying experience and is another way we can give back. The township committee and I want to thank Regina, Pam and Rhonda for their heartfelt efforts and hard work.
To date, we’ve recognized about 25 Mantua businesses with the mayor’s business spotlight, a great way to meet with local business retailers and connect with them on a more personal level. We’re always trying to find new and innovative ways to bring our community together and highlight the many great things we have here.
The township committee and I are always trying to foster relationships in our community, and building stronger partnerships between the township and local business owners helps to open the doors for feedback and collaboration. It also allows me the opportunity to learn myself and pass along something about each business to our residents.
It’s not just a way to spotlight the businesses on social media; it’s about building bonds to better serve our community as a whole. It’s about showing our sincere appreciation for the businesses in our community and letting each know that they’re valued and cherished publicly. Â
I’d like to thank Committeewoman Lukens for her resolute backing and steadfast support of this program. Mantua businesses can be nominated for the mayor’s business spotlight by emailing me at rzimmerman@mantuatownship.com.
