Mayor proclaims September a month of peace in Tiffin

Tiffin City Council extended their support of peace to the Nonviolent Tiffin committee Tuesday night. Mayor Aaron Montz delivered a proclamation making September a month of peace in Tiffin. The International Day of Peace is Sept. 21, which Nonviolent Tiffin will be collaborating with the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library to work to make 1,000 paper cranes. Sister Paulette Schroeder, who is an organizer of the Nonviolent Tiffin committee, said the making of paper cranes is a Japanese tradition following World War II and by building 1,000 cranes, you can make any wish you'd like. Schroeder encourages the Tiffin community to make paper cranes and bring them to a box that will be located by a peace pole that will be installed at the Joint Justice Center. "We want this project to make a positive impact and create an epidemic of kindness," Sister Jackie Doepker said. "I encourage all citizens of Tiffin to reach out to someone you may not know and build relationships of friendship, compassion and peace," Montz said in his proclamation. Montz will be leaving the United States this week along with other community leaders, Seneca County Commissioner Mike Kerchner, President and CEO of Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership David Zak, Rep. Bill Reineke, to Japan for a manufacturing conference and meetings with the presidents of the companies Taiho and American Fine Standard – who have locations in Tiffin. "This trip is not just about creating new relationships but building off of the current ones we have," Montz said. In Montz's absence, Mark Hayes — president of council — will serve as acting mayor and council approved the appointment of Councilman Rich Focht to serve as temporary president pro tem. During the meeting, council approved the ordinance to amend the 2019 budget to appropriate funds for a refund of a training seminar in the Tiffin Police Department's budget.