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It's that time of year when the Senior Services Advisory Council, the 11-member Trumbull County Commissioner appointees assigned to oversee Senior Levy property tax funds, is planning to celebrate the lives of those Trumbull County residents who are 100 years of age and older.
National Centenarian Day is observed annually on Sept. 22. Trumbull County will be celebrating Sept. 18.
The council's first celebration in 2023 was the brainstorming idea of Roberta Cykon who wanted to recognize those who have reached this amazing milestone and to hear their stories.
For this day, a Trumbull County proclamation is prepared for each centenarian that includes tidbits of historical fun-facts from each centenarian's birth year and given to each person at a luncheon or delivered personally for those who could not attend.
This day is set aside to celebrate and honor those who have reached this very mature age and give them the opportunity to share their secret to longevity.
Knowing what these centenarian's have endured in their century of life should inspire one to reach out to hear their personal stories, to share in their wisdom, to listen to their joyous and, not so joyous, periods of their lives.
Think about all that has transpired in 100 years, including living through the Great Depression when this age group was in their early school years, to seeing the first talkie film, The Jazz Singer -- the biggest box office hit in 1927, and witnessing the invention of television, the innovation of air travel, space travel and now driverless vehicles.
Everyone has a place in history and has their own story to tell. All one needs to do is ask.
At that first function, a list of 13 100-plus-year-olds was compiled, with four of those requesting to personally attend the event.
This past celebration had 23 centenarians with the oldest being 107 years old, born in 1917, and eight individuals and families attending the luncheon.
This event brings a smile to those in attendance and to those with whom the proclamations are made.
Last year, upon delivering one of the proclamations to an assisted living facility, a centenarian was sitting on her couch waiting for our arrival. On the wall were two other proclamations from the prior events as she has been on this list since that first year.
She was very aware and talkative, and I said, "I look forward to bringing you the 2026 proclamation next year. Hang in there, ok?"
She said, "Oh, I hope not. I'm tired." She has since passed at 102 years old. Our oldest centenarian from last year has also passed and I feel grateful to have spoken with her and heard her story.
If you know of any Trumbull County Centenarians, we would like to include their name on the Trumbull County Commissioner Proclamation for 2026 for National Centenarian Day and hopefully can attend the event as well.
Please contact the Senior Levy Administrator either by e-mail @ sljurkov@co.trumbull.oh.us or by phone (330)675-7846.
Should you receive voicemail, please leave your name and number and indicate that you or someone you know would like added to that list.