Danbury students helped Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine open the new ODNR Storybook Trail at East Harbor State Park on Sep. 21. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

MARBLEHEAD – Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine traveled to Marblehead on Sept. 21 to celebrate the legacy of Dolly Parton’s dedication to children’s literacy and to help the Ohio Department of Natural Resources open its newest Storybook Trail at East Harbor State Park. First and second graders from Danbury Elementary School, as well as Ottawa County Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library board members, attended the event.

“I was amazed that the governor and his wife were able to come. They are so busy,” said Ottawa County Imagination Library Board President Ed Carlson. “I think that says a lot about Ottawa County.”

Danbury students helped Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine plant a tree at East Harbor’s Lockwood Shelter in memory of Dolly Parton. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Carlson attended the event with fellow board members Brenda Brahier, Margaret Drew, Jane Taylor, Billy Koebel, and Trisa Kline.

Danbury students helped the DeWines plant a tree at East Harbor’s Lockwood Shelter in memory of Dolly Parton and helped them cut the ribbon on the new Storybook Trail. Then students walked the trail with the DeWines, stopping as the first lady read each page of the book, “Blue Sky, White Stars.”

The first lady dedicated herself to promoting and expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Ohio and was instrumental in establishing the program in Ottawa County. Ottawa County Imagination Library supporter, Alison Lanza Falls, said the county faced a difficult funding hurdle when an initial grant that was earmarked to start the program in the county fell through.

Danbury students helped Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine cut the ribbon the new Storybook Trail on Sept. 21. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“Mrs. DeWine secured an anonymous donation that got Ottawa County over the hurdle so we could start in 2020, in the midst of covid,” Falls said. “I am forever grateful.”

The East Harbor Storybook Trail was funded through a generous donation from Theresa Popp Braun, who is a trustee on the Ohio State Parks Foundation, and her husband, Raymond Braun. The Brauns made the donation in honor of Governor and First Lady DeWine.

Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine talks with Danbury students. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“Given their longstanding advocacy and commitment to children’s literacy, and all of their service to the state and across the U.S., we thought, ‘What better way to honor them than with a Storybook Trail?’” Theresa said.

The governor expressed his deep appreciation for the Braun’s generosity and said the Storybook Trails, which feature Imagination Library books, are “really an extension of what Fran has been doing with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.”

“We’re excited you put this right here for us,” First Lady DeWine said.

Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine reads to Danbury students along the Storybook Trail at East Harbor State Park. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

ODNR Director Mary Mertz said the department chose East Harbor State Park for the new Storybook Trail because of its significance to the state’s park system. ODNR Chief of Parks & Watercraft, Glen Cobb, said Ohio has one of about only six state park systems in the nation that charges neither entrance nor parking fees, creating a natural, open-armed welcome to visitors all year long.

“This is one of our most important parks on the shores of Lake Erie,” Mertz said. “We get a lot of visitors at East Harbor State Park, so it’s the perfect place to put a Storybook Trail to entertain families and introduce them to nature.”

Mertz invited Danbury students to be the very first children on the new Storybook Trail.

From left, Ed Carlson, Alison Lanza Falls, Raymond Braun, Theresa Popp Braun, and Ken Landon attended the Dolly Parton memorial tree planting at East Harbor State Park. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“I am very excited to be here today with all of you, especially all the kids,” she said. “We’re going to have a great time out there.”

The Danbury students filled the Storybook Trail with happy chatter and laughter as they followed the DeWines throughout the woods. What did the DeWines think of the Danbury students?

“I thought they were great fun – a lot of energy,” the first lady said.

Miss Bowling Green Kalli Gregory poses with Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine at the Storybook Trail ribbon cutting. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

First grader Emberlee Ross was pretty fond of the DeWines, too. She said the event was “the most goodest thing ever.”

“I thought that they were really nice,” Ross said, as she swung her arm around and pointed to the Storybook Trail, “and they really wanted to give us this hope and beauty.”