FIRST JANUARY 2020 • SYLVANIA ADVANTAGE
Community leaders retire by EMiLy wiN
Mark Luetke and Sandy Husman City officials recently honored four individuals for their work in various community organizations by congratulating them for their dedication to Sylvania. Among those were previous Sylvania City Council member and Planning Commission/Board of Architectural Review member Sandy Husman, former Sylvania Board of Education member and Sylvania City Council member Mark Luetke, former Sister Cities Commission Chairman John Bolster and former Sylvania Board of Education member James Nusbaum. In honor of their work to shape Sylvania into the lively, rapidly growing town we live in today, we asked each one of them to reflect back on their service to the community. How long have you been serving the Sylvania community? Husman: Since 1978 when my husband, my two daughters and I moved to Sylvania. Luetke: I’ve been an elected official for 20 years ... but probably started volunteering pretty quickly after I moved to the community 32 years ago. Nusbaum: I have completed my 16th year on the School Board, Dec. 31, 2019. what inspired you to get involved with work in our community? Husman: In 2006 Mayor Stough asked me to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission/Board of Architectural Review. He felt that my skill set would be helpful on the board, so I agreed. I wanted to help. Luetke: I always believed it was important to invest time in the community where we live. I first got involved in elective office at a time when the school board was deadlocked on many key issues. As a result, many great administrators were leaving for jobs elsewhere; the teachers were threatening a strike and a very fine superintendent was in danger of being fired. I felt that my ability to build consensus might be helpful, so I ran for the board and won. Nusbaum: I attended Whiteford Elementary, Arbor Hills Junior High School and graduated from Sylvania Southview. Once we decided to raise our family in the area, serving on the School Board seemed a great way to be involved with public service in a position which could be impactful. what’s your favorite part about
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working/living in Sylvania? Husman: Hanging with the wonderful and creative-thinking individuals who live and work here. Luetke: There is a very positive spirit among the people in Sylvania. People love this community and are willing to get involved in ways both big and little. You see this every day in the schools and our service organizations. And I’m always amazed at how many people say “yes” to getting involved in big, transformational projects --- downtown, SAJARD, TOPS, the Chamber, and elsewhere. But at the same time, I hear stories every week about residents checking in on an older neighbor or volunteering at their church – daily reminders about the kind of people we are here. Nusbaum: I think it’s the people and the sense of community. People in Sylvania are very proud of their neighborhood, school and community and it’s very nice to live in an area which has positive feelings about those things. How have you seen Sylvania change over the years you’ve been serving? Husman: More of our citizens want to be involved and active. They want to serve their community. Luetke: The change that I am most proud about is the amazing energy and growth downtown. Today, it is largely developed with an appropriate mix of retail, entertainment, and office (not to mention the DORA!). This all is the result of vision and planning led by the mayor and council, executed by a fine city staff – and enhanced by engagement of a new civic infrastructure that includes: a transformed Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Sylvania Association, Red Bird Arts District, Arts Commission, Heritage Sylvania and a number of grass roots groups. Nusbaum: I think it’s the people and the sense of community. People in Sylvania are very proud of their neighborhood, school and community and it’s very nice to live in an area which has positive feelings about those things. what are your hopes for the future of Sylvania? Husman: That it continues to be the familyfriendly place it is today. That our educational system remains excellent, both academically and in the way we care for our students’ needs. That the emphasis on history and the arts in our community continues to grow. Luetke: I hope to see Sylvania expand and refine its work-job-life mix to provide more economic opportunities and an even better quality of life for both current and new residents. This could include more park and recreation offerings, better access to bike and walking trails, an expanded downtown that includes more business and residential growth. We will solidify our role as Northwestern Ohio’s community of choice to work, live and play. Nusbaum: I hope that Sylvania continues to grow in a positive direction and maintains its sense of pride and community.
Sylvania School board member retires after serving 16 years
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Jim Nusbaum, fourth from left, is honored by L-R: Assistant Superintendent of Academic Affairs Tim Zieroff, School Board members Vicki Donovan Lyle, Julie Hoffman and Shannon Szyperski and Sylvania Superintendent Jane Spurgeon. Nusbaum is retiring after serving 16 years on the Sylvania School Board.