Valley City Fourth of July parade held in memory of longtime community member

LIVERPOOL TWP. — Valley City's Independence Day parade on Thursday was held in honor of community member La Verne Tolsma, who originated parades in the township. Her daughter Kimberly Grieco described Tolsma as a "great hostess and party planner." Tolsma began her community involvement in Liverpool Township when she moved there during its bicentennial event in 1976. "My sister and I grew up with our dining room table always covered with poster boards, crepe paper, glitter and stencil letters because she was always making signs," she said. Tolsma was involved in the Liverpool Township Historical Society since it started in 1975 and took part in other Medina County organizations as well, Grieco said. "She did other things for Medina County for political parties," she said. "She hosted fundraisers, but it was not the same as being at home and getting a phone call that the third grade wanted to come down and see the depot. She went down to give them a tour of the depot." Greico said Tolsma loved the Fourth of July parade more than anything, and her family continues the tradition of participating in it every year. The parade shows the connections everyone has to their small town. "Adults are coming up, and their mom and dad grew up with my mom and dad," she said. "There's connections everywhere, and it's amazing for Valley City." Tolsma died at 88 on April 19. Grieco said she considers the best tribute to her mother to be her family's commitment to keeping up with the events in the township. "It was her belief that you need to know where you're from," she said. "You need to know what is so special about Valley City. She's passed that on to us because we are back. We left for years, and we came back to raise a family." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.