Bucci deserves Ray Kroc honor for her work

BOUQUETS >> To Bethany Bucci, the 37-year-old general manager of the McDonald’s at 1725 Henderson Drive in Lorain, who recently was named a Ray Kroc Award winner.

Bucci’s award is special because it’s issued annually to the top one percent of McDonald’s restaurant general managers in the world.

An elated Bucci, said, “They told me I had a really good chance at winning it, and I didn’t know if I really did. I came in one day, and I was told I won. I was super excited. I won a trip to Florida and $2,500 cash, so it’s pretty exciting.”

The McDonald’s award is given to a general manager based on certain criteria. such as guest count increases, sales increases and community involvement.

In the past year, Bucci has increased the number of patrons visiting her restaurant, has donated money and time to the Haven Center, a homeless shelter in Lorain, the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-AChild program and reached out with the McTeacher nights in her store with Lorain Preparatory Academy.

Bucci will be recognized during McDonald’s 2020 World Wide Convention in April in Orlando in front of 15,000 people.

We congratulate Bucci for the special honor.

BOUQUETS » To Camillo “Jack” Tocchi, the 89-year-old Lorain native who is the 2020 recipient of the Dr. Alex and Maria Zolli Living Angel Award at the Life Saver’s Ball on March 7 at the Emerald Event Center in Avon.

Tocchi, a father of six, grandfather of 19 and greatgrandfather of four, had cancer three times in his life, and beat it.

Zolli told the story of how Tocchi, worked throughout his life and dedicated his time to his family and his religion.

Zolli said Tocchi walks a path perfectly balanced by his life’s passions of faith, family and service.

Tocchi is an active member of the community having taken part in Ohio IAV, American Legion 30, Knights of Columbus, the Board of UAW Retirees, the American Cancer Society and attends St. Anthony of Padua Church.

Since 2016, Tocchi has dedicated three days per week to spending time with cancer patients.

Although he’s currently in good health, Tocchi hopes he will be remembered as a caring, loving man.

Tocchi said, “I hope that people will say I was a good man, mild mannered, loving and caring.”

Tocchi is very deserving of this award.

BRICKBATS » To the 26-year-old Elyria woman facing two misdemeanor counts of endangering children after her two children were left alone March 4 in her apartment for two hours.

An Elyria police report said at 8:19 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Middle Avenue for a child heard crying for an hour by neighbors.

After numerous knocks and attempts to get someone to open the door, officers knocked open the door of the apartment and found dirt all over the unit and an unbearable smell from old food, dirty laundry and other items.

Officers made their way to the crying child and found a room that was tied shut with a shoelace wrapped around the door knob and a nail that was nailed to the adjacent wall.

An officer cut the shoelace, opened the door and found a 3-year-old and a 2-year-old in the room; one was crying and the other one was sleeping.

One of the children had the flu, an ear infection and was dehydrated.

LifeCare arrived to treat the child.

Paramedics transported the siblings to UH Elyria for further medical treatment.

Lorain County Children Services arrived at the apartment and told police the mother had a prior case with the agency but was given another opportunity with her children.

This woman has some serious issues and needs help, but she still must be punished.

BRICKBATS » To the 15-yearold boy who was playing with a BB gun March 5 and pointed it at another teen and someone thought it was a real firearm.

We have to ask, what was the boy thinking?

An Elyria police report said officers were called at 5:13 p.m. to the 100 block of Chase Street for a boy who was pointing a rifle at another juvenile.

Police found the teen with multiple guns in his hands.

With guns drawn, officers told the teen to drop the guns and lie flat on the ground and he instantly complied.

Police approached him and found the guns he was holding had orange tips on the barrels.

The teen was detained for officer safety while they grabbed the five BB guns.

The boy said he and his friend were playing with the guns and shooting each other with them.

This incident could have ended very badly.

Hopefully, he learned a lesson from this.