Community shows respect to 'Heroes' at Sub-Zero event

SANDUSKY — Sandusky's first responders always look forward to the annual ice cream social.But, with this year's function falling on 9/11, it added a cherry on top to an already special evening: Community members showed up in droves to express their heartfelt admiration for safety service personnel serving and protecting them.Back for a sixth year, the Sub-Zero with Hero event, hosted by Sandusky's police and fire departments, took place at Toft Dairy on Venice Road (U.S. 6).Sandusky police officers and firefighters serve ice cream at Toft Dairy during the Sub-Zero with a Hero event on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.Officials dished out their own flavors of frozen justice by serving ice cream to hungry patrons. Adults and children could also speak with officers and check out their vehicles.The yearly event furthers an important initiative adopted by uniformed personnel in 2013, shortly after longtime city officer John Orzech received a promotion to chief of police: They want to foster goodwill between themselves and area residents in non-emergency situations."We want to reach out to the community," Orzech said. "We try to interact with customers or people that come to visit so that they can see us as normal people and not be afraid to talk to us when they do need us."In prior years, the event typically occurs sometime in mid-September. This year, it just so happened they scheduled the event on Sept. 11.Wednesday marked the 18-year anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil in one day, Sept. 11, 2001, underscored by almost 3,000 people dying in three locations: New York City, Washington, D.C. and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.Among those dying were close to 400 firefighters and police officers. They sacrificed their lives to save and rescue victims who remain alive today."Today is an extra special day for safety forces," Sandusky fire Chief Rick Wilcox said. "We consider this a memorial, all across the country, for what happened in 2001."Sandusky police officers and firefighters serve ice cream at Toft Dairy during the Sub-Zero with a Hero event on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.Many locals paid tribute to those dying in the national tragedy by showing up to Toft Dairy on Wednesday — and it made area first responders feel thankful."We don't ask for it, but events (like Sub-Zero with Hero) are nice because it shows people appreciate us," he said.Among those showing their support: the Sandusky family of Chad Mitchell, his wife, Mary Anne, and their two young children, Jannelle and Abraham. They all ate ice cream and interacted with badged officials."They're amazing," Chad said of Sandusky's firefighters and police officers. Events like this "show they are a part of the community and making themselves be represented. My kids also get to see their actual real-life heroes."Jannelle Mitchell, 7, watches as her ice cream sundae is made by a Sandusky firefighter during the Sub-Zero with a Hero event at Toft Dairy on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Sandusky firefighters Jake Buchanan, left, supervises as Alex Wagner tops an ice cream with strawberries during the Sub-Zero with a Hero event at Toft Dairy on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019.