Female leaders of Holland throughout the village’s first 100 years were recognized by council at the March 21 meeting.
They are Mabel Hovey, the first mayor, and council women Gladys Caulkins, Joanne Leonard, Patricia Kaiser, Mary Visco, Sandy Burditt, Heather Eppard, Helen Darrah, Elaine Olsen and Bonnie Ostrander.
Mayor Lee Irons commended the 10 women, whose contributions helped mold the village.
He told council he selected this month to recognize them because March is National Women’s History Month.
What is now a month-long celebration of the role women played in the nation’s development began as Women’s History Week.
In 1978, an education task force in Sonoma County, California initiated the celebration in conjuction with the week of March 8 and International Women’s Day.
In 1980, former President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week.
“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation,” President Carter said.
“Too often the women were unsung, and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed.
But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”
Six years later, the week had grown into a one month recognition in 14 states. That momentum and state- by-state action was used to encourage Congress to declare every March National Women’s History Month, which they formally did in 1987.
Since that time, a special proclamation has been issued every year honoring the achievements of women in the United States.
Other Business
In other business, council:
•Recognized an employee of Republic Services, the village’s waste disposal company, for helping to save a person.
Mayor Irons said the employee was collecting garbage when he saw a man injured on the street. He called 911 and stayed with the injured person until help arrived.
•Set meeting dates for the summer sessions. Council typically meets twice monthly on Tuesdays, but in June, July and August, they meet once per month.
The summer meeting schedule is June 13, July 11 and August 8.
•Announced that the owner of a proposed Jiffy Lube on Mc-Cord Road finished the building but has decided not to open the oil change business.
•Paid bills totaling $38,754. Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 4 in council chambers, 1245 Clarion Avenue, and is open to the public.
~Jane Maiolo
