POLAND Consumers Ohio Water gives 4 Neighborhood Hero Awards

One honoree is a firefighter who volunteers more than 500 hours a year.
POLAND -- Alfred R. Hamrock of Coitsville, Al Rivalsky Sr. of Springfield Township and Bill and Sarah Zavarello of Boardman have received Neighborhood Hero Awards from Consumers Ohio Water Co.
Hamrock, 96, established the Willow Ranch dance hall and picnic grounds in 1952 and continues to be its owner and operator. He donates the use of the ranch for Coitsville Seniors and Optimist Club social gatherings and for police and fire department fund-raisers. He also donates the use of the practice field there to local youth sports teams.
A Coitsville resident for more than 80 years, he was instrumental in organizing that community's bicentennial celebration in 1999. He was nominated for the award by the Coitsville Township administration.
Firefighter honored
Rivalsky, a Springfield Township volunteer firefighter and emergency medical service first responder for eight years, donates more than 500 hours a year in training, answering calls and installing child safety seats.
He was firefighter of the year in 2000, president of Fire Station 1 in 2000 and 2001 and serves as an adviser for Explorer Post 499 -- an organization for youths interested in emergency service careers. Township Trustee Shirley Heck nominated him for the award.
Couple's contributions
Bill Zavarello, a retired trainer with the Stambaugh Thompson Co., and his wife, Sarah, a retired teacher at St. Charles School, were part of the first class of the Lead Volunteer training program of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program -- a program of the Volunteer Services Agency in Boardman. As leads, they're responsible for coordinating senior volunteer projects.
Since September 2001, they've volunteered nearly 500 hours to the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley United Way by leading a group of senior volunteers who fold, stuff, label, sort and count thousands of pieces of mail annually. JoAnn Stock, United Way campaign and marketing director, nominated them for the award.
The awards, designed to recognize "unsung heroes" for outstanding volunteer service, were presented Thursday in a ceremony at Poland Library, which was attended by more than 40 people. COWC made donations of $250 each to Easter Seals, the Second Harvest Foodbank and the United Way, in the names of Hamrock, Rivalsky, and the Zavarellos, respectively.
Over the last four years, the company has made $14,000 in contributions to more than 60 nonprofit organizations in honor of 56 recognized Neighborhood Heroes statewide.