Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Time Capsule

Randy Verdi, the president of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce, was trying to come up with ways to celebrate the chamber's 50th anniversary.

For some reason, he thought of the older people who would visit his store when he ran the near the city's Old Village.

"They always used to talk about what the city looked like," he said, "How there used to be an old bike trail nearby or what the buggies looked like going down the road."

And the reminiscing got him thinking about how different the city would likely look in another 50 years. So -- to commemorate the present, celebrate the past and remind the future -- the chamber has decided to bury a time capsule May 13 at City Hall.

Several local businesses have given keepsakes to be placed in the capsule. Cornerstone IT made a booklet on modern technology; and gave photos of their schools; and supplied a LeBron James bobblehead.

"I hope they bury it head first," Verdi joked about the bobblehead.

They will also bury a board on which Millie Waterman signed, "I have a lifelong love affair with Mentor," Chamber Executive Director Marie Pucak said.

Waterman, who , was a former president of the Ohio PTA and a Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

Residents and business owners from the Mentor area also can offer their own keepsakes for the capsule.

"The item you submit does not need to be of high monetary value. Simply consider what is unique about today or something that captures the essence of your business," the chamber said in a statement.

All tidbits and knick knacks need to be brought to the chamber office at 6972 Spinach Drive by April 29.

"The hope is we do a really good job of documenting this time," Verdi said.