Sat Mar 13 2010
by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Tallmadge -- Five residents were selected by Mayor Christopher Grimm and recognized Nov. 12 with the city's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Grimm said he wanted to recognize those in the community who have gone "above and beyond" by contributing to the community through public service and volunteerism.
Barbara Mattern, Lee Crites, Paul Warzinski, Zobby Miktarian and Lewis Orinsby were chosen from among 19 nominees to receive the awards during a special gathering Nov. 12 in City Council's chambers.
Mattern, who was previously awarded Citizen of the Year from the Chamber and received the Mike Thomas Service Award from Summit County in 1993, is active in many school, local and county groups.
She has volunteered 29 years with Mobile Meals, 15 of which were as its board president, said Grimm. She also volunteers at the juvenile court, served on the School Community Relations Board, the Tallmadge Library Board and as treasurer for the League of Women Voters.
"Barbara makes an annual medical mission trip to Central America, too," he said. "One of her other missionary trips was to Africa."
Mattern has volunteered on school levy campaigns and as president of Tallmadge PTAs and on Summit County's Board of PTAs.
Crites, son of the city's first Fire Chief Wilburn Crites, was a volunteer firefighter with the Tallmadge department and awarded the Certificate of Meritorious Service by the city for saving a man's life through CPR, said Grimm.
"Crites is a person with a giving and generous nature who has quietly served his fellow man while never looking for, or expecting to be recognized for his good deeds and service to the community," said Grimm.
Crites has been involved with the Summit County Fair for more than 60 years as director, vice president, secretary, treasurer and is currently in his eight year as president, said the mayor.
A retired building maintenance manager, Crites is "a real asset to the Summit County Fair Board and the fairgrounds -- their growth over the last 50 years is directly attributable to Lee's hard work," said Grimm.
Warzinski, a former Tallmadge mayor, was given the city's newest award for working in several public and private positions in the community, said Grimm.
He served on Council for 17 years before being elected mayor, and has been involved with Dynamics Community Theater for a decade.
For 30 years, Warzinski has been active in his church, Our Lady of Victory, as a lay minister and volunteers with the Akron Reads Program and Mobile Meals.
The former mayor is a member of the Knights of Columbus and an honor guard for the American Legion.
"Paul derives great satisfaction in building a better Tallmadge community and world," said Grimm.
Miktarian received the award for being, among other accomplishments, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Along with his military service, he and his father and brothers started Joe's All-Star Cafe, a family business open for 80 years before in closed in 2000.
For two decades, Miktarian has participated in a national fundraising program on a local level for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, which has raised more than $300,000 to fight the disease.
Miktarian was previously recognized by former Akron Mayor and now state Sen. Tom Sawyer on April 21, 1990 -- "Zobby Miktarian Day," for his "personal contributions to the greater good of mankind and to his community," said Grimm. "It is with his focused and unwavering effort, by investing in and committing his life to a worthy and honorable cause to improve the lives of people afflicted with multiple sclerosis, that Zobby is duly recognized."
Orinsby received the Lifetime Achievement Award because he was a founding member of the Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce, where he served as executive director for 20 years.
He also helped found the Tallmadge Lions Club and was elected as a Ward 2 Councilmember for two years and ran for mayor of Tallmadge, said Grimm.
He added, Orinsby also helped bring the Weaver Learning Center to Tallmadge and is an active member in the First Congregational Church of Tallmadge.
"For the past 40 years, Lewis was always there to lend a skillful hand in whatever capacity was needed to move our city successfully forward," said Grimm.
All five recipients were given a plaque.
Grimm said he plans to select more recipients for the award annually -- "A lot has been done for our community, we're just trying to give back a little."
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3911
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