Legacy awards presented at luncheon

Work done by and for seniors in the community garners recognition.

LIBERTY — Approximately 300 individuals attended the third annual Valley Legacy Awards Luncheon on Oct. 4 at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex Centre.

Ode Aduma presided at the event, and awards went to:

Outstanding Seniors

• The late Col. Chester A. Amedia, who dedicated his life to civic and charitable activities. A World War II veteran, he was instrumental in establishing the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, served as executive director of Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, helped found District XI Area Agency on Aging, was a Red Cross volunteer and served as president of Park Vista Board of Directors and Ohio Presbyterian Homes. The award was accepted by his wife, Cecelia Amedia.

• The late Raymond L. Bland, who was president of Automotive Inc. He served on the SCOPE board and with Mobile Meals, and was a member of Warren Rotary, Trumbull County and Ohio historical societies, Warren/Trumbull County Public Library Association, Warren Area Jaycees and American Legion Post 278. Accepting the award was his wife, Janice Bland.

• Alan G. Brant, who has remained active in the community after retiring as head of Second National Bank. During his tenure, the bank sponsored various cultural events such as First Night and Celebration on the Square. He has served as chairman of Forum Health Board, director of Ohio Chamber of Commerce, board member with Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, chairman of Trumbull County United Way Campaign, trustee with Trumbull Convention and Visitors Bureau and the YSU Foundation, and member of the YWCA of Warren advisory committee. Receiving the award on his behalf was his wife, Nancy Brant.

• Clarence R. Smith Jr., a long-time supporter of the community, who has served on several boards, including Home Savings and Loan, Chamber of Commerce, Powers Auditorium, Mill Creek Learning Children’tyys Center, Mahoning County Republican Party, Boy Scouts of America, Goodwill Industries and the YMCA. A diehard YSU supporter, he recently donated his rock and gemstone collections to the college geology department, where they can be viewed in the Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum.

• Edwina Wolcott, known as Eddie, a 30-year volunteer for New Lease on Life, a member of Trumbull County Republican Party, a 50-year poll worker and a 20-year precinct committee person and recipient of the GOP Chairman’s Award. A charter member of Warren Jr. Women’s League, she is a member of Warren Republican Women’s Club, the National Federation of Republican Women and the Harriet Taylor Upton Association. She is on the board of Trumbull County League of Women Voters, American Heart Association and March of Dimes, and is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She volunteered at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, where she received the Triumph of Human Spirit Award. She is president of Warren and Trumbull County federations of women’s clubs and is active in the Adopt-A-School program and Ohio Reads.

Outstanding Advocate

• Jason Burgermyer, who teaches seniors to sing, dance and to perform in the SCOPE Senior Follies by instilling confidence, pride and joy in his performers. From August through April, he works with at least six groups of performers. In addition to the Follies, every other year he writes a musical and creates a vaudeville-type review while working full time at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Also nominated as Outstanding Seniors were: Jean Bickford, Andrea M. Taylor, and Richard Thompson, all of Warren; Frank Burke, Dorothy Dunmire and Regina Holloway, all of Niles; William and Arden Farragher of Canfield; Mary Lou Green of New Springfield; Mildred Grim of Poland; Carolyn Hughes of McDonald; Dr. Raymond and Katherine Hurd of North Lima; Antoinette Pizzulo and Geraldine Petersen, of Girard; and John Ritter and John Tucker of Youngstown.

Nominated as Outstanding Advocates were: Raymond Bland of Warren, Alice Brown of Youngstown, May Crain of Howland, M. Susan Frenger-Jennings of Salem and Mark Ludwick Sr. of Youngstown.

The Valley Legacy Awards were created three years ago to honor those who helped build the Valley and to recognize the good deeds of those who work with the senior population.

Major sponsors were: Shepherd of the Valley, WBBG, WNIO, WKBN-579, WKBN-TV, The Senior News and The Review Newspapers, platinum level; and EMBARQ, First Place Bank,, Smith Digital Printing, The Cortland News, Edward Jones and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, diamond level.

Serving as judges were: Nettie Ashelman, William Horton and William Mottice, community volunteers; Ray Novotny, SCOPE Niles Senior Center; Edna Pincham, Pincham Initiative Resource Centre; Sue Schafer, Tribune Chronicle; Ralph Snelson, community advocate; Helen Stambaugh, community benefactor; Chuck Whitman, SCORE volunteer; Suzanne Fleming, Youngstown State University; John Kroner Sr., The Review Newspapers; Virginia Leskanic, Volunteers Services Agency; Nicolette Manuel, WKBN/WYFX-TV; Cheryl Oblinger, American Red Cross Trumbull County Chapter; Helen Paes, Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Ann Sevenich, Shepherd of the Valley.