Whereas, on October 16, 1925 a now-centenarian – known to all here in Lee County as “Gram”- Ethel Adelaide Buss was born, at home in Wassergas, Pennsylvania. From a young age, Ethel was a hard worker. At just 14 years old, she began helping to support her family by working as a caretaker for a local lawyer’s household, cooking and doing laundry. During World War II, she worked at Bethlehem Steel, proudly serving as a true “Rosie the Riveter” making bullets. Ethel later spent 27 years at Champion Spark Plugs as an inspector, carefully ensuring the quality of spark plugs; and

Whereas, Ethel retired to Cape Coral in 1985; but retirement didn’t slow her down for long. She became a beloved face in the community, known for years as the “Grandy Lady” at Grandy’s Restaurant, where she rode the LeeTran bus to work daily in her signature Grandy outfits until she retired in 1999; and

Whereas, in 2018, Gram became an unexpected celebrity when Bob Evans Mashed Potatoes named her their Honorary Spokeswoman after a viral video of her love for their potatoes. She was featured on local television and Bob Evans even replaced her roof after Hurricane Irma; and
Whereas, family has always been her greatest joy and priority. She is the proud mother of one daughter, grandmother to four granddaughters, and GREAT-Grandmother to seven; and

Whereas, today, Ethel still keeps active, filling her days with housework, traveling, and helping those around her. At 100 years old, Ethel continues to be an inspiration—living proof of resilience, hard work, and the power of love for family.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida does hereby celebrate her birthday and proclaims that October 16, 2025 shall be known as
ETHEL STRAUSS DAY

Whereas, 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States with over 300,000 members in the State of Florida being a part of the 6.5 million members across the country; and

Whereas, 4-H is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills; and

Whereas, the Lee County 4-H Youth Development Program exists to develop young people, ages 5 through 18, and has served young people in our state since 1909; and

Whereas, the 4-H Program has molded itself to meet the needs of our citizens by focusing on developing rural, suburban and urban youth and through the Florida Cooperative Extension, and

Whereas, the program uses the research and knowledge base of our state’s land grant institutions, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, known as UF/IFAS Extension; and

Whereas, through “learning by doing” experiences, young people in the 4-H Program practice life skills with the guidance of caring adult volunteer mentors and Cooperative Extension faculty and staff; and

Whereas, 4-H provides Lee County youth the opportunities to develop positive relationships, competencies and attitudes that will assist them in making positive choices for their lives, thereby effectively preparing them to meet the challenges of becoming productive citizens and being workforce ready.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE Board of County Commissioners of Lee County, Florida does proclaim the week of October 5, 2025 as

4-H WEEK

in Lee County and hereby commends the youth participants for representing their pledge to use their Heads for clearer thinking, their Hearts for greater loyalty, their Hands for larger service, and their Health for better living.