By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In her quiet unassuming way, Esther Nagel has been a pillar of volunteerism in the Bowling Green community.
Last week, she was recognized with the Bowling Green Human Relations Commission’s Honor Roll award. The award was presented at a BG City Council meeting by Lindsay-Jo Douglas, chair of the commission.
“Following her 2009 retirement from her career as a librarian, she turned her lifelong passion for helping others into a dedicated retirement mission,” Douglas said of Nagel.
“Since 2016, Esther has been a vital part of Wood County Area Ministries, serving alongside a small, committed team to provide emergency financial assistance for housing and utilities to those in need,” Douglas said.
Nagel’s leadership extends throughout the county, with her service on the Wood County Homeless Coalition, and her leadership role with Project Connect, an initiative that links local residents with essential resources.
Nagel and her husband, Gene, have two sons, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
The BG Human Relations Commission presents the Honor Roll award to local organizations, individuals or local businesses that make significant efforts in promoting respect, diversity, and bettering human relations in Bowling Green through educational efforts and advocacy.
Anyone interested in nominating someone in the community for the Honor Roll award may do so at https://gis.bgohio.org/CommunityDevelopment/cd_honor_roll_add.php
In other business at last week’s City Council meeting, council President Mark Hollenbaugh acknowledged the contributions of Sandy Wicks to the community – and the loss that will be felt by her passing.
“She left an indelible mark on the community,” from her business entrepreneurship, her founding of festivals, her fight for social justice, and her way of “lifting everyone up,” Hollenbaugh said. “All of us share in the loss.”
Mayor Mike Aspacher recognized the efforts of the city’s Public Works department in digging out from the recent 10-inch snowfall. This was the first time in three years that the weather necessitated a “snow emergency” in the city, he said.
“They worked diligently throughout that storm to clear the streets, make them safe for our first responders, and then once the storm passed, to make it safe for all our residents,” Aspacher said.
Bowling Green Public Utilities and Infrastructure Director Brian O’Connell reported that three city linemen traveled to Virginia in advance of the big storm that dropped several inches of snow on that state. They worked to restore power there for three to four days, O’Connell said.
Aspacher also acknowledged the work of the Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission, specifically the efforts of member Geoff Howes, in highlighting monthly historic buildings in the community.
Though the mayor has lived in Bowling Green his entire life, he said the research often unearths details that have long been forgotten.
“Everytime I read them, I learn something I didn’t know before,” Aspacher said.
The stories can be found each month at Bowling Green Independent News, https://bgindependentmedia.org/.
