WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY

Two longtime Ada community leaders were honored at the Nov. 5 Town and Gown Banquet. The 47th annual event, held in an overflowing crowd at the McIntosh Center Ballroom, recognized Jim Turner as Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2012 and Fred Evans with the Ada Spirit Award. In addition, many persons new to the community were introduced.

Turner was introduced by Dr. Robert McCurdy, who called him "the best example of both a Bulldog and a Polar Bear." He said that Turner exemplfies Ada through his 30 years as a member of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, as a business leader and by his example as a citizen of Ada.

Mayor Dave Retterer reviewed with those in attendance the 141-year partnership between Ohio Northern University and the community of Ada. "The Town and Gown event brings us all together to celebrate this remarkable relationship," he added.

Boasting that Ada, as a village of 3,500, had a 74-room hotel, a university, several initiatives such as a Farmers and Merchants Picnic, Harvest and Herb Festival, a football garage sale - probably the only football garage sale in the United States - and a town and gown organization, Retterer congratulated the organization.

Daniel DiBiasio, Ohio Northern University president, also recognized the long and strong ties between the community and university. He pointed to several program of particular importance that bring the two together. Those include  a Good Neighbor Program for ONU students who live in the Ada community, the Buy Ada First initiative, a recent veterans' recognition event, ACE Day when over 300 ONU students volunteered in 42 locations in the community prior to starting classes, plus a "Get Connected" program presently in the works.

Five new Ada business owners were introduced. Those include:
• Ada Icon, owned by Fred and Mary Pannabecker Steiner
• Ada Services, owned by Dale Bracy
• Ada Theatre, owned by James and Sheri Curlis
• Health Trends, owned by Ursula Minich
• New Beginnings Primitives, owned by Beth Price

Thirty-seven newcomers to the community were also introduced. Icon viewers may open the attachments at the bottom of this story to read the names of all newcomers to the community, the list of former recipients of the Distinguished Citizen Award and more information about the Town and Gown organization.

Photo:
• Jim Turner introduced by Robert McCurdy
• Dave Retterer, Ada mayor
• Daniel DiBiasio, ONU president
• William Robinson, VP Town and Gown Association