To nominate someone for Citizen of the year, please email us at sugarmaplefestival@gmail.com

2024 - Louis Schatzberg

Louie Schatzberg was unanimously selected as the 2024 Sugar Maple Festival Citizen of the Year. Louie’s passion and dedication to this festival & the city of Bellbrook is evident in everything he does for this community.

Almost 20 years ago, Louie was asked to join the SMF committee as a shuttle driver & the rest is history. Louie has served as the coordinator of shuttle services for over 15 years. From obtaining the signage permits & putting up the shuttle signs around the community to securing the vehicles and drivers, he also drives one of the shuttles during the entire weekend. He is always happy and eager to assist festival goers with information and highlights of the festival during the short drive.  He is an unsung hero in assisting the festival every year.

In addition to his service to the SMF, Louie also serves as the audio-video recorder of all city council meetings and the SMF parade. We are proud to have Louie living in our Community and sharing his time & energy helping run the festival every year.

2023 - Tosha Shupe

2021 - Bellbrook School Nurses

Laura Guess – Stephen Bell Elementary
Laura Guess was born & raised in Dayton, OH.  She graduated from Wright State University and began her nursing career in 1987 at Dayton Children’s Medical Center.  She was hired in 2000 by Bellbrook Sugarcreek Schools and has been a school nurse ever since.  She & her husband Paul raised their family in Bellbrook, and both her children attended Bellbrook Schools. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with family & friends in the Sugarcreek Reserve.  She is passionate about helping kids and especially enjoys working with children with special needs.  

Eileen Malas – Bell Creek Intermediate
Eileen Malas is originally from Northern Virginia.  She received her BSN from Wright State University and her MSN from the University of Cincinnati.  She started her career in Emergency Departments at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Dayton Children’s before working as a flight nurse with CareFlight.  After subbing for Laura Guess at Stephen Bell in 2006, she decided to transition to school nursing and was hired by Bellbrook Sugarcreek Schools in 2007.  She loves everything about being a school nurse.  She and her husband have 4 children, who have graduated from college or are currently in college. 

Kimi Blaschak – Bellbrook Middle School
Kimi Blaschak is a Dayton native but has lived in Bellbrook for the last 19 years.  She graduated from Miami University and earned her School Nurse Licensure from Wright State University. After beginning her career in Intensive Care, Recovery Room & Emergency Departments, she switched gears and started working in a school clinic since 2008.  She was hooked from the start and she loves the daily interactions with students, taking care of them, teaching and helping them as much as she can.  She lives with her son, daughter, and 3 Labradors, Mulligan, Murphy and Mashmello, all of which are a different color!

Anna Valley – Bellbrook High School
Anna Valley is originally from Texas.  She took the “long way” to becoming a nurse and earned successive degrees from Hodros College (LPN), Edision Community College (ADN), Ohio State University (BSN) and Wright State University (School Nurse Licensure).  She began her career working in Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Long Term Care and Hospice.  She switched to school nursing after a friend asked her to sub in a school clinic.  She quickly realized it was her calling and enjoys especially enjoys building connections with students and families and being “one more person” in a teenager’s corner, offering assistance.  She lives with her husband and 2 children, who keep her busy with many extracurricular activities.  In her spare time, she enjoys weightlifting.