Sandra Walendzik doesn’t live in the Village of Leonard, but year after year she volunteers her time, talents and labor to help make the community’s Strawberry Festival one of the area’s most highly-anticipated summer events.
That’s why the village council Aug. 17 voted unanimously to make her an ‘honorary resident? of the town.
‘I was totally surprised,? said Walendzik, who works as a technology specialist at Oxford High School. ‘I was honored to receive that.?
‘Sandy is the first person to volunteer. She the first person to show up and she’s the last person to leave,? said village President Mike McDonald.
In McDonald’s estimation, all of the festival committee members and volunteers have ‘done a lot for the village, but in terms of consistency and staying-power, Sandy is right at the top of the list.?
‘I think the intent (of the honorary resident title) was to make sure she knew how much we appreciate everything’s she has done,? he explained. ‘She’s never asked for any recognition, any special privileges or anything like that. She’s always just been there.?
McDonald noted this is the first time, to his knowledge, the 125-year-old village has ever made anyone an honorary resident.
‘We’ve passed resolutions honoring people before, but not like this,? he said.
It was Councilwoman Char Sutherby’s idea to make her friend and fellow festival committee member an honorary Leonard resident.
Walendzik, who lives in Addison Township, is a charter member of the Leonard Summer Festival Committee, which helped the Strawberry Festival evolve, expand and grow in popularity.
She was among those who first approached the council in the late 1980s seeking its support to add things to the festival such as children’s games, craft vendors, musical entertainment, a parade and other activities.
Prior to that, the festival simply consisted of Addison firefighters serving delicious strawberry sundaes to the public.
‘When I first moved into the area (in 1977), there was just not that much there,? Walendzik said. ‘Basically, it was you go to town to get ice cream sundaes and you come home. There was nothing to really keep you in town.?
Today, the Strawberry Festival is a major community event that draws thousands of people to Leonard from all over the place for a fun-filled day every July.
Walendzik’s favorite part of the festival is the parade down E. Elmwood Street, which she coordinates.
Leonard isn’t the only beneficiary of Walendzik’s incredible volunteer spirit.
Even though her children have been out of school for many years, she’s still very involved in the Oxford Band Boosters, which supports the high school marching band.
She’s also active in the Friends of the Addison Township Public Library, Girl Scouts and the Leonard Garden Club.
Walendzik said she volunteers so much because she enjoys the work, she likes staying active and she wants to ‘give back.?
It’s amazing Walendzik does all she does as she continues her battle with cancer.
She was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.
‘Mine was a fluke that they found it,? Walendzik said.
Unfortunately, the cancer spread (or metastasized) to her lungs. Since then, she’s undergone a hip replacement and is still receiving chemotherapy treatments.
‘This is an on-going thing,? Walendzik said.
Through it all, Walendzik refuses to give up or let the cancer run her life. That’s part of the reason she’s so involved in everything around her.
‘You have to stay active,? she said. ‘You have to want to do things. Otherwise, if you’re sitting on the couch feeling sorry for yourself, you’re not going to make it.?
Walendzik hopes everyone reading this will take the time to have regular exams performed.
‘You need to go to the doctor,? she said. ‘You need to have a yearly mammogram. The men need to go have their prostates checked.?