Leadership Spotlight

Representative
Earl Ujvagi
Democrat

Office
Ohio House of Representatives, 47th District

Legislative Committees
County and Township Government; Finance and Appropriations; Higher Education Subcommittee, Ranking Minority Member; Municipal Government and Urban Revitalization; Ways and Means

Personal
Born in Budapest, Hungary; Immigrated to Toledo, Ohio in 1956; Married to Betty; 4 children

Education
Attended University of Toledo

Arts Support
Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Board; Birmingham Cultural Center; Toledo Performing Arts Center Board; Performing Arts School of Toledo; Ohio Arts Council Board

Other comments
"I believe the arts must be a part of everybody's life. Years ago my father told us of how he and my mother would attend the symphony and opera during the darkest days of communism in Budapest. It was because, he said, no matter how bad things are you have to feed the soul as well as the body."

Those who take to the road in southern Ohio this summer might be pleasantly surprised by colorful quilt squares dotting the countryside. The quilt squares are painted on barns in Adams County as part of the Adams County Sampler project, an innovative tool designed to move travelers through the countryside while highlighting Appalachian heritage.

The Adams County Sampler is a project of a community-based committee of visual artists, quilters, business and property owners working with Planning Adams County's Tomorrow (PACT). The goal of the project is to increase the positive awareness of Appalachian culture and strategically position the county as a tourist destination. The project began with seed money from the Ohio Arts Council's Appalachian program and also receives funding from the Adams County Chamber of Commerce.

The initial plan was to create 20 quilts in Adams County but the project has grown significantly. Plans are in the works for quilt barns in neighboring Brown, Pike, Monroe, and Hocking counties.

"Just think, we could have an interconnecting clothesline of quilts
throughout Appalachian Ohio," said Donna Sue Groves, the OAC's southern Ohio field representative, in hopes that the project will catch on in all 29 Appalachian counties.

PACT has developed a partnership with the Ohio Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy to broaden the project's reach. The quilt barns are a part of the new Appalachian Discovery Birding and Heritage Trail. Combining both cultural and ecological tourism will help to foster economic growth in these Appalachian communities. The partnership also leverages state, foundation and private funds for the maximum benefit. For more information call Donna Sue Groves at 937/549-2131 or email dsgroves@bright.net.

US Route 52, Wrightsville. Photo by Barbara A. Lund