I am Donna Rehman. My husband Paul and I have lived in Brunswick since 1982.
We have a 16-year-old son, Tom, who is a junior at Brunswick HS and is
interested in science, orchestra, and wrestling. He and Paul are also very
active in the Civil Air Patrol.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and has been employed by
Fairview Hospital for nearly 20 years. He is currently clinical manager of the
sterile processing department. Paul has also been an active member of the
Brunswick Fire Department since 1978; he is currently their only part-time
Lieutenant.
I earned my BA in psychology from Kent State University, and prior to (and
briefly after) Tom’s birth worked full time as a social worker, doing casework
in Foster Care and Child Abuse/Neglect Investigation. Both positions involved
being on 24-hour emergency call. Since deciding to be a mom who could be home
more, I have been involved in church work and the Renewal program, part-time bus
driving, several years as church organist/ keyboard player, and volunteering in
various roles at Tom’s schools. Teaching Sunday school and reviving my piano
skills eventually led me to teach piano lessons in our home, which I currently
do three to four afternoons a week. My hobbies include quilting (especially
collecting pretty fabric!), ceramics, sewing, and bowling. As a family we enjoy
camping and hiking, especially on our annual vacation in Canada. We dote upon
our three pampered dogs, two exceptional mixed breeds and, since May ’01,
a rescued Husky who has nearly learned to behave herself. We also enjoy a
close relationship to Paul’s parents who live here in Brunswick, and my
immediate family in the Akron area.
My decision to become more involved in our city’s government and with
Citizens for a Better Brunswick is a direct result of what I term my ‘wake up
call’ on September 11, 2001. Facing the reality of a terrorist strike upon the
USA has led many of us to re-evaluate priorities. Among other things, it caused
me to begin voicing my opinions and questioning aspects of how Brunswick is
being run…things I have often wondered about over the years, but thought I was
too busy to research and understand. Yes, I originally went to a council meeting
because I was upset at the way Mr. Trimble handled the firefighter’s request
to do ‘boot brigade’ fund raising for the New York firefighters…but left
that meeting with questions and misgivings about other items on that night’s
agenda. I have been heartened to see how many busy citizens have come forward,
on all sides of the various issues. I look forward to growth and improvement for
all of us as we express our opinions and give our City Council more input with
which to govern.