The Village of Holland and the Community Development Committee will present Happy Holland Days at 2 p.m., Saturday, December 4, at Strawberry Acres Park.
The new event replaces the annual tree lighting ceremony and features family activities, entertainment, food and a special visitor from the North Pole.
Walker Funeral Home is the presenting sponsor for the inaugural event which begins at 2 p.m. with the dedication of a new Christmas tree donated by Keith Walker and Duke Wheeler of Whitehouse Christmas Tree Farm.
From 2 to 4 p.m., there will be activity stations lining the path around the park and train rides in the parking area of the playground. A scale model train display also will be set up for visitors to view and a Living Nativity will be featured near the lodge.
Entertainment, including the JROTC Drill Team and SHS brass band, will be among the featured performers at 2:15, 2:45, 3:15 and 3:45 p.m., prior to the arrival of Santa Claus. The Holland Branch Library will offer opportunities for residents to warm up inside for storytimes and activities at 2:30, 3 and 3:30 p.m.
Santa will arrive at Strawberry Acres Lodge at 4 p.m., courtesy of the Springfield Township Fire Department, and will visit with children until the event concludes at 6 p.m. Scott Stigall of State Farm is sponsoring photos with Santa.
During the afternoon’s festivities, the Springfield Blue Devil and Chick-fil-A cow mascots will be out and about, greeting visitors and food vendors will be on hand offering a number of tasty selections and warm drinks.
Students from Penta Career Center will have a selection of holiday gingerbread houses on display, and the cosmetology department will offer nail decorating and face painting.
A collection will be set up for Herb’s Heroes, an organization that works in conjunction with Springfield Schools to provide presents to students in need during Christmas.
Anyone who donates an unwrapped gift during Happy Holland Days will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win Toledo Zoo Lights Before Christmas tickets.
The Community Development Committee, which is organizing Happy Holland Days, is seeking additional businesses and organizations to participate. Anyone interested in a booth, offering entertainment or being a food vendor for the event may call committee chair Jane Maiolo at 419-260-1540 or Leslie Ferman at the village, 419-865-7104.
In addition to Walker Funeral Home, participating sponsors include Dwelling Place, Holland Police Department, McClure Insurance Group, Metroparks Toledo, Springfield Area Prevention Coalition, Springfield Township fire department, the township public services department, TARTA and Welch Publishing/Holland-Springfield Journal.
“Federal monies under the CARES Act and ESSR grant are currently not reportable on the five year forecast,” he added. For the current fiscal year,
For the current fiscal year, the treasurer reported total revenues of $40.8 million with expenditures of $42.3 million.
The Lucas County auditor’s office conducted its triennial update in 2021. “The update moved property valuations in an upward pattern throughout the county,” he said. “Springfield recognized a 4 percent growth while Holland recognized a 3 percent growth.”
Despite that growth, Mr. Lockwood projects expenses will exceed revenues through 2026, and in that year, expenses will outpace revenues by $6.5 million.
As a result, the district carryover balance of $18.5 million in 2021 will dwindle to $11.5 million by 2024 and will be $967,244 by 2026.
Other Business
In other business, the school board:
•Adopted a policy in accordance with Senate Bill 1 that allows school districts to employ substitute teachers in 2021-22 who do not possess a college degree or higher.
•Issued one-year contracts to Tami Bombick, 3 hours SMS food service, effective November 1, and Sean Westhoven, bus mechanic, November 15. They also approved
They also approved changes in assignment for Wade Opaczewski from 2.5 hours SHS food service to 4 hours Dorr food service with additional cleaning duties; Michelle Fry from 2.5 to 3 hours SMS food service; Sharon Turner from 2.5 to 3 hours SHS food service; Andrea Nagel from 6.5 hours SHS food service to 6 hours SMS food service, and Karen Willis from 4 hours SHS food service with additional cleaning duties to 6.5 hours SHS food service.
•Approved a leave of absence for Molly Perlaky in November.
•Awarded pupil activity contracts to Robert Edwards, SMS eighth grade boys basketball co-coach, and Rachel Meinert, SMS seventh grade girls basketball volunteer coach.
•Accepted a retirement resignation from Kathy Zeitler, Dorr second grade teacher, effective February 20, 2022.
“She is an often requested, wonderful educator,” Mr. Geha said. “We will be sad to see her go.”
The board also accepted resignations from Devin Aller, SMS social studies, effective November 11, and Sharon Hersch, 6 hours SMS food service, November 9.
•Hired several substitutes. Alexandra Trivelas will be a long-term SMS intervention substitute, and Andre Graham will serve as a substitute custodian.
•Issued a supplemental contract to Nichol Rice, Dorr evening school monitor.
•Approved two requests to attend professional development seminars.
The next board of education meeting will be at 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 8, at the administration building, 6900 Hall Street, Holland, and is open to the public.
