Community Council names Bay Village citizen, project of the year
The Bay Village Community Council has named Lawrence Kuh the city’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, and the 2010 Bicentennial celebration its Project of the Year.
Kuh, a fifth-grade teacher at Bay Middle School and the married father of three, was selected for his leadership of the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation, which for six years worked to substantially fund, design and construct a skateboard and bicycle park in the city.
“Kuh was the face and voice of the project,” one nomination read. “Through multiple site changes that required meeting with city departments, planners and designers to repeatedly change site designs and satisfy the various city boards, Lawrence spearheaded the skate park project through to completion.
“Lawrence was able to keep this project moving forward, despite roadblocks and opposition, using the process to teach his young group of skating enthusiasts…Not only did Lawrence give these children an opportunity to develop life-long skills in planning a project and seeing it to completion, he also brought a diverse group of supporters together for a common good.”
The Bicentennial celebration, headed by a committee comprised of Ward 1 Councilman Dave Tadych, Bay Village Historical Society President Carole Roske, coordinator Evelyn Allen and Historical Society treasurer Tom Phillips, was handily selected as project of the year.
The committee spearheaded efforts that raised almost $70,000 for the city’s two-day birthday celebration, which included a grand parade, video presentation, birthday cake and fireworks display.
“Individuals, civic organizations, businesses and all of Bay’s churches joined hands and worked and planned for almost two years to prepare for this moving 200-years-of-history celebration,” according to one nomination. “Past residents from all over the country came home to celebrate and remember their Bay heritage.”
“It was truly an effort by all city residents, from its youth to its seniors, that every day make our city the special place we all love so completely,” read another.
“The committee’s selection of Kuh as citizen of the year was easy because he worked tirelessly for the skate and bike park,” Community Council President Eric Eakin said. “And the group’s selection of the Bicentennial as project of the year was unanimous and without hesitation.”
A reception for both Kuh and the Bicentennial organizers will be held at a date to be decided; the public will be invited to honor both.