John Amato's forehand is something you don't want to mess with while playing him in ping pong.
The owner of JUPMODE, a T-shirt printing company, can bring it on the ping-pong table set up in his shop.
My interview with Mr. Amato was a perfect example of how fun and welcoming this community has been. We talked about the artwork I was there for -– a neat story that will be on The Blade's ourtownperrysburg.com site in the next few days -– and then we hung out and played ping pong and talked about his business, art, and the area in general.
Friendliness is something that seems regular through the people I have met in Perrysburg thus far. Rachel Johnson and Tom Hosler with the Perrysburg schools have been magnificent to work with and have gone above and behind to help me out. Perrysburg Police Deputy Chief Michael Gilmore is always available to chat with me and tell me what is going on.
The always smiling Rosanna Violi with Perrysburg Township seems to know everyone living in the area, and appears to be friends with all of them. Rose Mills and the rest of the library staff will go out of their way to help you job hunting, fact searching or just finding a fun book.
It is heartwarming to come into a community so new and so ignorant to things going on with it and have people like Fire Chief Jeff Klein ask me about my life and background. Not every city has people this outgoing and welcoming to newcomers. Especially an impatient young newcomer that is trying to know everything about the area.
I'm trying to become an expert about this community in a matter of weeks, which seems impossible, but readers help to what I need to check out and where I need to go.
Through colleagues I hear that I have to check out Mr. Freeze immediately – and judging from the photos we have on ourtownperrysburg.com I need to get a Buckeye sundae – and Stella's restaurant sounds like a favorite.
Please shoot me emails at mthompson@theblade.com for story ideas, and just life ideas for the area. Next Saturday, my fiance is visiting me here for the first time. I want to show her how sweet Perrysburg is and how excited she should be about moving here in the fall. Where should I go? What should we do?
Thanks to members of the community that have been so great to me so far. I'm looking forward to meeting the others I haven't yet.
- Matt Thompson
Great blog Matt, sounds like you are discovering what a great place Perrysburg is. Check out the 577 Foundation on River Road. It's a great place with fantastic people and you'll find your inner artist there...
Posted by: Dmurray | 03/08/2013 at 10:09 PM
It's always a pleasure to welcome newcomers to Way Library, and I was so happy you stopped by to introduce yourself. Please stop in again soon---we can equip you with some travel books and DVD's for that special trip you'll be taking in the fall with the new Mrs. Thompson. We're looking forward to meeting her, too!
Posted by: Rose Mills | 03/12/2013 at 06:09 PM