 Of the five wards, three participated Monday evening: Wards 1, 2 and
5. Wards 3 and 4 will be done at a later date.The first up to
make a presentation was
Alderwoman Melody Anderson, who spoke on behalf of herself and Stacy
Bacon, who was absent for the evening.
Anderson said she and Bacon had chosen Mike Irwin as their
resident of the year.
Irwin is the president of the Logan County affiliate of Habitat
for Humanity.
"We want to show our appreciation for all Habitat does for the
community and realize there is no way it could all be accomplished
without the hardworking volunteers like Mr. Irwin," Anderson said.
Anderson said she and her husband, Andy, have helped on past
Habitat homes and have taken advantage of the electronics recycling.
She said the Ward 1 recognition was going to Irwin, but also to all
the Habitat volunteers.
Irwin spoke briefly, saying he was accepting the recognition not
only for himself but for all the volunteers of Habitat for Humanity.
Afterward, Mayor Keith Snyder congratulated Irwin and offered as
a token of appreciation a Lincoln High School Railer Man Christmas
ornament.
Irwin also mentioned that on Sunday, Habitat will have a house
blessing for their 17th Logan County build. He invited everyone to
join them at the celebration.
Next, David Wilmert said the choice for Ward 2 resident of the
year was John and Frankie Guzzardo and family. He then turned the
presentation over to his counterpart, Kathy Horn.
Horn said the Guzzardos were being chosen for their dedication to
offering a Thanksgiving meal each year to those who would otherwise
not have one.
"He has done so much for Lincoln in so many ways, but we
especially want to recognize Mr. Guzzardo, his family, his
restaurant family and all the volunteers that come to help with the
deliver(y) of over 400 dinners this Thanksgiving for people in
need," Horn said.
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Guzzardo said he wanted to thank everyone who helps out every
year. He said he never asks for volunteers for the delivery, but
folks just show up. He noted that they start at 10:45 a.m., and
people come and the line of vehicles goes all the way to the
courthouse square.
The Ward 5 resident of the year was recognized by Alderwoman
Marty Neitzel on behalf of herself and Jeff Hoinacki, who was absent
for the evening.
Ward 5 selected Tim Smith as their resident of the year. Smith
has been heavily involved in the community garden projects in
Lincoln.
Neitzel noted that Smith had offered help to novice gardeners,
had participated in a spring workshop, and offered education and
advice. Smith also watched over the Logan Street garden, helping to
keep it looking good, and he spent unknown hours watering.
"He was known to work late into the night to avoid the heat of
the day. He mentored other gardeners and also planted one plot for a
gardener who was unable to," Neitzel said.
When Smith took the podium, he began by expressing great
appreciation to American Water, which gave the gardeners water
service free of charge. He said without that, there would have been
no gardens this year. He also thanked Jim Austin at the Logan County
Fairgrounds who hauled "fertilizer" from the horses to the gardens.
Guzzardo and Smith were also congratulated by Snyder and offered
the gift of a Railer Man Christmas ornament.
The other two residents of the year will be recognized after the
first of the year, as Monday night's meeting was the last council
meeting in 2012.
[By NILA SMITH] |
