Ohlin named Distinguished Citizen

EAST LONGMEADOW The Lions Club of East Longmeadow is very pleased to announce that it has selected Carl F. Ohlin of East Longmeadow as its recipient of the East Longmeadow 2005 Distinguished Citizen of the Year award.

When notified of the award, Ohlin expressed how honored and humbled he was to have been selected to receive this prestigious award.

He said that "there are many wonderful people in town who go about their days helping others and serving the community."

Ohlin retired after 35 years at different levels in the public school system. He has served as an assistant principal, guidance counselor and teacher. Ohlin has always demonstrated a sincere interest in working with and assisting staff members, students and parents both in and out of the classroom.

Ohlin's vast experience in the education field enabled him to develop and implement evaluation techniques that would serve as a recommendation tool to be used with staff members for improvement and growth.

Ohlin is very active in the community. In fact, he is chairman of the largest Fourth of July Parade in the area. In his spare time, he is involved with the Retired Men's Work Group, he is a member of the East Longmeadow Lions Club, a coach for the East Longmeadow Recreation Association, a member of the East Longmeadow Senior Center Study Committee, as well as a member of the East Longmeadow Salutes Committee, which was formed in September 2001 to unite the community after the terrorist attacks on the nation.

Ohlin has also been involved with the Rays of Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Walk since 1999.

He is a strongly committed individual dedicated to helping young adults with tutoring in preparation for G.E.D. testing.

Ohlin has lived in East Longmeadow for 31 years with his wife, Cindy, and their three daughters.

An award banquet honoring Ohlin is planned for June 22 at 6 p.m. at Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow.

Tickets for dinner are $16 per person. Tickets may be purchased for this event by calling Colleen and Scott Grabowski at 525-0270 no later than June 19. Reservations are needed to attend this event.