MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Craig A. Stough 5/28/2008

"A Busy May in Sylvania"

May, 2008 was a busy month in the City of Sylvania with ribbon cuttings, DARE graduations, Sylvania Sprouts Day, the Senior Expo, and the annual Memorial Day Parade.

Three ribbon cuttings were held, two downtown and one at Saxon Square. May 8^th was the ribbon cutting date for the new shared offices of the Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce, the Sylvania Area Community Improvement Corporation and the Sylvania Community Arts Commission. The organizations moved from adjacent spaces along Monroe Street into the remodeled Chandler Building on Main Street. The new location makes these organizations more efficient, as well as more visible and easier to find for visitors.

Also downtown on Main Street, Bumble had a ribbon cutting on Saturday, May 10^th during the Chamber of Commerce's Sylvania Sprouts Day. Bumble is a flower and gift store, and was opened by the same family planning to buy the old Sterling Store site, demolish the building, and build a new 16,000 office and retail center. Five days later on May 15^th, a ribbon cutting was held at Saxon Square for a new Edward Jones office in Sylvania being opened by Robert Ruckman.

The City of Sylvania Police Division held three graduations for their DARE, or Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education, program. May 6^th was the graduation date at the Franciscan Academy, May 13^th at St. Joseph Catholic School, and May 20^th at the Islamic Academy on Alexis Road. Graduations for other Sylvania fifth graders were held earlier in the school year at Maplewood, Sylvan and Highland Elementary Schools. The May 20^th graduation at the Islamic Academy was their first, having moved into Sylvania last year.

May 20^th was also the date of the Senior Expo at Tam O'Shanter. This regional event drew thousands of seniors from all over northwest Ohio to learn about area senior services and opportunities.

Monday, May 26^th was Memorial Day and Sylvania held its annual Parade and Memorial Ceremonies. The day began with a 9:00 a.m. ceremony at Toledo Memorial Park. The parade marched up Main Street at 10:00 a.m. A ceremony was held at Veterans Memorial Field at 11:00 a.m. World War II veteran George Eichenauer was honored as the Grand Marshall. The Northview High School and Southview High School bands participated in all three events. Air National Guard jets made a timely "fly-over" at the end of the 11:00 a.m. ceremony. All three events were well attended by our community.

June will also start off busy with the June 7^th celebration of the 175^th anniversary of the Sylvania area being settled. The events begin at 12:00 noon at the Sylvania Historic Village. I hope to see you there.