Optimist Club of Brunswick celebrates Brunswick-area first responders and students

BRUNSWICK — Local first responders and students were celebrated for their work and accomplishments during an event hosted by the Optimist Club of Brunswick on Wednesday at the Brunswick Recreation Center. Detective Derek Zelenka became a member of the Brunswick Division of Police detective bureau three years ago, and he was previously a school resource officer at Brunswick High School. Lt. Steve Hoover described Zelenka as one of the department's hardest workers who offers peer support to other officers. "He has an incredibly large caseload inside the bureau," Hoover said. "There's only three detectives, so he really does a lot there. He's taken over our evidence room, which is an additional responsibility." Brunswick Hills Officer Theodore Makrinos and K-9 Ajgo were also recognized. Police Chief Tim Sopkovich said it is an honor to serve alongside him and his partner Ajgo, and Makrinos always goes above and beyond on every call he goes on. "Ted (Makrinos) is very dedicated to the Brunswick Hills community," Sopkovich said. "This man takes off more time with his family to serve this community. That's weekends, that's holidays, that's extra hours and extra duty, and while he's out there, he's doing a fine job." Donald Schrubb was named Brunswick Firefighter of the Year. Fire Chief Greg Glauner said Schrubb represents everything the Brunswick Division of Fire aspires to be by serving as a leader and a senior man at the department. "Today, we honor more than a performance. We honor a standard," Glauner said. "We honor a man who quietly teaches us how to be good firefighters and how to be good people. Thank you Don (Schrubb) for your service, for your integrity and for your example." The Brunswick Hills Fire Department was not in attendance at this year's event. The following Brunswick Schools students were recognized: Liam Boone from Applewood Avery Cioletti from Applewood Paige Kresnye from Crestview Ivan Ols from Crestview Ava Karim from Hickory Ridge Mason Likovic from Hickory Ridge Connor Krivos from Huntington Amelia Scheutzow from Huntington Genevieve LaGuardia from Kidder Derick Pedersen from Kidder Allison Bartoszek from Memorial Emerson Salamon from Memorial Connor Rutledge from Brunswick Middle School Mia Venere from Brunswick Middle School Anderson Mitchell from Brunswick High School Grace Wieland from Brunswick High School "We in the (Optimist) Club have an interest and mission to help kids and to bring out the best in kids," Optimist Club President Dean Holman said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.