Exempts honor 2 who are active in Albion community

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Exempts presented a certificate of commendation to John Grillo, the Albion recreation director, on Thursday evening.

Exempts member Dan Conrad, left, and President Stritzinger, right, presented the certificate to Grillo. He also received a complimentary membership to the exempts, which serves food to the public at its headquarters on South Clinton Street. Membership in the Exempts is open to the community at $20.

The club also presented Grillo with $75 which he said he will direct to a fireworks fund at the Village of Albion. Grillo is trying to raise money for fireworks at Bullard Park on July 3. He said many donations have come in for fireworks.

“We are very close to our goal,” he said.

Grillo has led the Albion recreation program for about 50 years. The program has partnered with Foodlink and community organizations to provide many meals for children at the park during the summer rec program.

Grillo also has taken the lead in planning the summer concert series at the park.

“He’s out there doing a lot of extra stuff,” Stritzinger said.

Grillo said he has been able to do more for the recreation program since he retired as a teacher and coach at Holley.

“I’ve been able to pick up more,” Grillo said. “I do it because I love Albion.”

Provided photo: The Exempts last month also presented a certificate of commendation to Al Wilson, pastor of the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries.

Wilson was praised for leading an effort to serve 2,000 free chicken dinners the second Saturday in December, and organizing an Easter egg hunt with 12,000 plastic eggs with treats as well as other prizes, and even free haircuts.

The church has other ministries in Albion, filling backpacks with school supplies, offering a breakfast with Santa, running Bingo for adults and giving to the summer recreation program.