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Neighbors Spotlight: Ken Adams
Photo
Ken Adams and sons, Benjamin (left) and Daniel, take part in several Boy Scout service projects throughout each year.
Ken Adams
Age: 38
Family: I have a wonderful wife, and two boys. I met my wife, Lisa, at age 17 and each day is better than the day before. We got married in 1997. She is a wonderful wife, and a great mother. My boys are 9 and 6. They keep me moving and are the best little guys! They are full of personality and love every minute, (or second) of the day. They truly are a joy to Lisa and I.
Groups: I have always been fortunate from a young age to share my love of music in the area through performance. It is a great release for me, and I never get tired of it! The feeling of doing something you love, and sharing it in a way that it makes people happy about being there is gratifying and a rush. I perform in The Great Pretenders, a vintage rock n’ roll band since 1987. The Chords of Christmas, a group that rocks the Christmas season with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to benefit charities, and the Classsics. All of which involve life long friendships, and family.
Scouting is another group activity I enjoy. I grew up in a scouting family, and I am glad to carry on the experience with my boys. We belong to Cub Scout Pack 2 at Poland United Methodist Church. I am currently the Committee Chairman for the Pack, and really enjoy working with everyone involved. You really see great things here. You have to appreciate all these parents for the extra time they spend with their kids, and the leaders who keep the boys interested. It is always great to see the kids grow up, and always a pleasure to see them having fun.
Thinking about it... I’m very fortunate to be participating in two of my fondest activities from my family experiences growing up, and blessed to be able to share them with my family now. Hopefully, my boys will carry them on to their families.
Education: I grew up on the west side of Youngstown where I attended Christine’s for grade school, and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1989. I then attended YSU where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1994.
Q. What do you like best about living in your town?
A. I love to participate in the community, and even more so since I moved to Poland. I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people in the community and it is really nice to go to a Poland event and see such a mix a people from the various networks you are involved with. Being in a small town, you feel that you are part of the mesh that holds the entire town together, not just one side of town.
Q. Describe the last community event you went to.
A. The Poland Firemen’s Parade and Festival is always a nice event. It is the type of small town event you see portrayed in a movie! With the town’s people, the mayor, the boy scouts, and school bands all in front of the administration building. Also, Poland Presbyterian Church usually hosts their Strawberry Festival this same night. My family loves strawberries!
Q. If there was a store or business to add to your town, which would you like it to be:
A. The entrepreneurs in the center of town and outlying parts of town have built a nice marketplace for Poland, and I would keep it that way. There are many fine shops that are locally owned and operated. You can get your dry cleaning and alterations done, do your banking, take music lessons, buy jewelry, see your insurance and real estate agent, get custom awards and T-shirts, send a letter, have dinner, a drink, and even enjoy dessert right between Rt. 170 and 680. This is very nice, and keeps the roots of the town alive. I feel the choice to make the Walgreens building match the town was an excellent idea and done very well. Although it’s not a local business, it improved the center of town from an aesthetic perspective while not becoming an overbearing retail entity.
Q. Where is your favorite place in town to go for a little hide-away time or bite to eat:
A. Inner Circle Pizza. My wife and I have gone there since we met, and it always keeps those memories alive.
Q. What one place would you direct an outsider to visit in your town:
A. Poland Woods. It is a wonderfully maintained area just off the beaten path that is a frequented by all to walk, jog, have a picnic, or just enjoy a conversation with someone.