Five North Canton Residents Honored by Stark Parks

Editor's note: The following information was provided by the Stark County Park District.

The Stark County Park District recently honored its levy campaign co-chairs, the outgoing Friends of Stark Parks president and six other volunteers for outstanding service. The awards were presented at a dinner at the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park.

This year more than 130 Stark Parks volunteers provided at least 24 hours of service to the district. Of those, 57 served between 24 to 49 hours; 21 volunteered 50 to 74 hours; 22 volunteered 75 to 99 hours and four served more than 543 hours. Five volunteers who care for injured and orphaned wildlife logged more than 1000 hours! 

Heart of Stark Parks Award

Stark Parks’ highest award was presented to Joe Sommer of North Canton. The Heart of Stark Parks Award recognizes an individual, group or organization that supported the park district with a significant philanthropic donation.

Sommer has made several donations in memory of his wife, Helen, to the Friends of Stark Parks’ Endowment Fund at the Stark Community Foundation, earmarked to support construction of a new wildlife rehabilitation hospital.

A former director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Sommer was instrumental in the formation of the Stark County Park District in 1964 and served as one of its first three park commissioners.

He has served on the Board of the Friends of Stark Parks since its beginning in 1997 and
actively volunteers and supports park programs and events, including working in Stark Parks’ County Fair Grandstand Booth for the last four years.

Friends President

William Buell III of North Canton, vice president of Buell & Associates of Massillon and owner of Ocracoke Soap Co. and BuckeyeHeads, was recognized for his two-year term as president of the Friends of Stark Parks.

During his tenure the organization supported Stark Parks levy campaign, initiated a Casino Night, and managed several grants that provided funds for the Sanders Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Sippo Lake Park and for establishment of a warm-season grass prairie on former AEP property next to Petros Lake Park.

Levy Campaign Co-Chairs

Frank and Sherri Monaco of North Canton, co-chairs of Stark Parks’ levy campaign, were honored and thanked for their fundraising efforts on behalf of the park district.

Regular bicycle riders on Stark Parks’ recreational trails, the couple spent the last year making personal fundraising calls to friends and area businesses, raising more than $85,000 to help the park district pass its one-mill, eight-year levy on Nov. 6.

“We can’t thank Frank and Sherrie enough for all the hard work they put into this campaign,” said Bob Fonte, director of Stark Parks. “We are humbled by their strong support and are proud to know that they use our trails on a regular basis.”

Rising Star Awards

Stark Parks presented Rising Star Awards to two new volunteers: Michelle Husted of North Canton and Sheila Stumbo of Massillon. The awards recognize individuals who are beginning to discover the rewards of volunteering in the community with Stark Parks.

Husted became a Stark Parks volunteer on May 30 and quickly jumped in to fulfill many volunteer roles. She portrayed FeLeap the Frog in the Canal Fulton Canal Days Festival Parade, helped as a campfire assistant, provided narration at hayrides at the recent Family Fall Fest at Petros Lake Park, staffed the park booth at the North Canton Main Street Festival, captained the pontoon boat, and volunteered at Summer Splash. She encouraged her husband and children to volunteer and is known to get the job done and have fun in the process.

Stumbo volunteers weekly in the park district’s administrative office. She and her Great Pyrenees dogs, Hope and Sadie, participated in the first class of TAILblazers and greeted guests at the dedication ceremony of the new Middle Branch Trail in Plain Township this summer. Regular visitors to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, she and Sadie greet park visitors, answer questions and provide directions, always with a warm, cheerful smile.

Veteran Volunteers

Recognized as “Veteran Volunteers” were Mike Abrams of Bolivar and Dick Whitlatch of Massillon. Both have been volunteering for at least five years and “set the standard for service, enthusiasm for park district goals, and unwavering dedication of their time and talents.”

Community Pride Award

This award recognizes a continued and dedicated partnership between the park district and a local business and was presented to Mike Bouchard of Navarre, owner of Bullseye Industrial Supply Co. of Massillon.