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NEW DIRECTIONS TELETHON
The New Directions telethon Jan. 22 was very successful, bringing in pledges of nearly $16,000! Mike Anderson and the volunteers who have made this nondenominational youth ministry a success for more than 25 years are very grateful. If you missed the telethon but would still like to make a tax-deductible contribution, checks can be sent to New Directions, PO Box 26, Greenfield, OH 45123. https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Directions/248627928500554 GHS PLANS SUNDAY DINNER FEB. 1 AT GRAIN & HAY Greenfield Historical Society will host its second Sunday Dinner of the year on Feb. 1, 2015. The meal will be held at the Grain & Hay building and the menu will be barbecued chicken breast, broccoli slaw, roasted potatoes, choice of vegetable, flat apple pie, bread and drinks. Waiters and waitresses will be serving guests from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on real plates, silverware and linen. All this for just $10 — and no tipping! This is the second of three Sunday Dinners the society is holding this winter. The last one will be smoked ham on March 1. Proceeds from the Sunday dinners go towards various programs, utility bills and maintenance of the buildings owned by the society. GHS invites everyone to come on down after church and have a great meal, visit with friends and support the Greenfield Historical Society. OHIO MEANS JOBS Area job listings can be found on the Facebook page of Ohio Means Jobs Highland County. This is the group working with Shopko employees who were informed that the store will close in mid-April. Tara Campbell heads up this office, which is part of Highland County Community Action, headed by Julia Wise. Both of these ladies have strong ties to Greenfield, and the job listings are worth checking out if you are looking for work. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Means-Jobs-Highland-County/739873092793979 SPARK! STAYS BUSY Those artistic folks at SPARK! Creative Artspace are really hitting their stride with some interesting and enjoyable events. Among the upcoming activities will be a Souper Bowl Sunday Warmup on Jan. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring soups, cornbread, crackers and beverages for $15 per person — which includes a handmade unique soup bowl to take home! The folks at SPARK just completed a very successful Cookies and Canvas event for kids on Jan. 18, and are also offering piano and yoga lessons, “Second Sunday” jam sessions for people of all abilities, are planning another adult canvas event and a roots music event in the near future. SPARK! is located at 251 Jefferson St. in Greenfield. Learn more at the website: http://sparkcreativeartspace.org/ SIX SUPER BOWLS! Until recently I was unaware that any NFL player had appeared in six Super Bowls. I remember the Buffalo Bills going to four consecutive Super Bowls and losing them all, and when I read about this player I thought he might have been a member of the Bills during that incredible run. I was right on that count, but never heard of Mike Lodish. Nevertheless, Lodish, a versatile defensive lineman with the Bills and later with the Denver Broncos, is the only player to make it to the Big Game six times — until the 2015 Super Bowl, when New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady will join in as a six-timer. For an interesting look at the career of Lodish, who now is a purveyor of gourmet peanut brittle, click on the link below: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-lodish-ready-to-share-prestigious-super-bowl-record-and-some-gourmet-peanut-brittle-092206925.html AMAZING GUITARIST! Jason Kertson is a name you will probably become familiar with in the future. He’s young and super-talented! Some videos on his website provide more than words can describe about his guitar playing and singing. Enjoy! http://jasonkertson.com/?page_id=28 FROSTY 5K SET JAN. 31 Frosty 5K! Y-Gradale is sponsoring a "Frosty 5K" walk/run at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, per Facebook, which says registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration forms are available at Jett's and Corner Pharmacy. Deadline to preregister for $20 is Friday, Jan. 30. On the day of the run the price will be $25. Registration price includes a race tee-shirt. For more info look for "Frosty 5K" on Facebook. Y-Gradale is a Christian women's service organization that does a lot of good in the community, including helping with Greenfield's Cleanup and Beautification Days, as well as planting and watering of flowers and bushes in the downtown area. MOTHERS CLUB SUB SALE! The Greenfield Mothers Club members are currently taking orders for their annual Super Bowl sub sale on Sunday, Feb. 1. This is the club’s biggest fundraiser, and all money raised goes directly back into the community. The six inch subs feature ham, salami, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, banana peppers and Italian dressing on the side. Subs are $3 and a discount is offered the more you buy. Contact a member of the Greenfield Mothers Club to order yours and support the club. The sub sale has been a longstanding project of the Mothers Club and coincides with Super Bowl Sunday. For more information, visit that Greenfield Mothers Club page on Facebook. MEN’S CONFERENCE SET FEB. 7 Good News Gathering is teaming up with other local churches to bring the No Regrets Men's Conference to Hillsboro. Speakers including Bryan Loritts, Steve Farrar and Pete Briscoe will be leading seminars on topics relating to men's everyday lives. This one-day event run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., streamed LIVE in HD from Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin. For only $20, you will be able to join thousands of men from around the country in deepening your walk with Jesus Christ. To register or for more information call 937-393-5383 or email noregrets@goodnewsgathering.org. For the past two years, the Highland County host for the No Regrets Conference has been the Greenfield First United Methodist Church. For more information from the Elmbrook Church that created the No Regrets Men’s Conference, click on the link below: http://www.menwithnoregrets.org/ AN ODE TO THE CLARINET It’s not often that my mother has asked me to put something on my blog — in fact I think this is a first — but it happened Jan. 6. She recently received a note from Karen Hyer Birt of Springfield, who is a relative of the DePoy family that once lived next door to us when I was a boy. It’s about 125 years of clarinet playing by Karen’s family members! As a onetime clarinet player myself — but alas, no Pete Fountain or Benny Goodman by a long shot — I enjoyed reading the article. Karen sent along a nice note that sets the stage, so I’ll include it here: “Thelma, I am sending you a newspaper article of our family. My grandfather, Frank DePoy, my Uncle Stewart, my Mom, me, my daughters Debbie and Bonita, and Bonita’s daughter, Cheyenne — all five generations — have played the clarinet. That’s 125 years of clarinet in the marching bands. Hope you can share this with people in Greenfield who remember Frank, Stewart, my Mom or Marsha and I. - Love, Karen” The envelope contained a newspaper article from the Springfield News-Sun, which can be found by clicking the link below. I read it and enjoyed the article, which among other things mentions Price’s Premier Band, Wil-Knit Hosiery, and even J. Harold Lyle, the former McClain band director who also taught me some of the mysteries of the clarinet. So if you enjoy a John Phillip Sousa march or the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies,” read on. Thanks Karen — and you too, Mom! http://m.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local/the-voice-of-the-clarinet-has-been-stifled/njQhN/#__federated=1 DOG LICENSE RENEWAL TIME IS HERE It’s that time again, when dog owners are obliged to renew their dog licenses. All the information you will need can be found on the Highland County Auditor’s website. Here’s a sampling and a link to the website: Where do I buy a dog license in Highland County? You can now purchase licenses online at http://www.doglicenses.us/oh/highland. You can also purchase a license by mail or in person at the County Auditor’s Office any time during the year. During renewal time of December 1 through January 31, several locations around Highland County also issue dog licenses. Call the Auditor’s Office at (937) 393-1915 to find out what locations are selling. Kennel licenses must be purchased in the County Auditor's Office. What is the cost of a license in Highland County? Effective December 1, 2009, the cost of each dog license is $12. http://highlandcountyauditor.org/Home.aspx NEW DIRECTIONS TELETHON The 22nd annual New Directions Telethon is scheduled Thursday, Jan. 22 from 7-9 p.m. and will be telecast on GCTV Channel 3 on Time Warner cable in Greenfield. For more information on this event click HERE. TOP MEMES AND VIRAL VIDEOS OF 2014 Jimmy Fallon, Spider dog, the Ice Bucket Challenge, and Kim Kardashian dominated social media in 2014, inspiring humorous memes and viral videos. Here is a link to a that should spark your memory and create some smiles: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30625633 OHIO STATE VS. ALABAMA HIGHLIGHTS Ohio State 42, Alabama 35. There were plenty of highlights! Go Bucks! http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400610178 COLLEGE BOWL GAME SCHEDULE Wondering when your favorite college bowl games will take place this holiday season? Most everyone knows that Ohio State plays Alabama on the evening of Jan. 1, but there are many other bowl games to check out as well. Here’s a listing of the games that may help: http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/college-football-bowl-schedule.php  Scott Andersen and John King lift a stone and put it back into place during one of the society’s work days in the Old Burying Grounds.
GHS SCHEDULES SUNDAY DINNER JAN. 4
Greenfield Historical Society will be hosting its first Sunday Dinner of the year this Sunday, Jan. 4. The meal will be held at the Grain & Hay building and consist of roast pork loin with applesauce, green beans, potato, brownie sundae, bread and drinks. Waiters and waitresses will be serving guests from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on real plates, silverware and linen. All this for just $10.00 with no tipping. This is the first of three Sunday Dinners the society will be holding this winter. The next two will be baked barbecue chicken on Feb. 1 and smoked ham on March 1. Proceeds from the Sunday dinners go towards utility bills and maintenance of the various buildings of the society, says GHS President Harold Schmidt. HEADS UP PARTY FUN! A 99-cent app provided plenty of noisy entertainment at my family’s Christmas evening gathering. As we discussed some type of activity that might stimulate more thinking than eating, my cousin Steve Pommert suggested a game he had seen people play based on a phone app. He thought it was called “Heads Up” or something like that, and I searched the App Store on my iPhone. At first I was disappointed to have to pay 99 cents, as most of the apps I download are freebies, but Heads Up turned out to be well worth it. Heads up is played on a single smart phone and features various categories. We chose “Blockbuster Movies” and tried it out. I held the phone to my forehead so that I could not see what the answer was, and it showed a movie title. My relatives around the table shouted out clues as I tried to guess the name of the movie. The phone app has a timer, and the idea is to get as many correct answers as possible within the allotted time of one minute. If I got a correct answer, I dipped the phone towards the floor so that a new movie title appeared. I could choose to pass on a difficult one by tilting the phone upwards towards the ceiling and it would provide a new title. When my time was up, I passed the phone to the left and we circled the table numerous times. There were a few other general rules, which we didn’t follow particularly well. The point was that we laughed and shouted a lot, and at the end of the evening we had no idea who won. We just had fun! In trying to recall an example of the exchanges, I remember giving a line from a movie to son Colin, who turned out to be an excellent Heads Up player. The line was: “Tell them Large Marge sent you.” He immediately answered “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” tipped the phone down and moved to the next question. There must have been eight or nine of us playing, and when we could not come up with good clues, we gave bad clues at louder volume (as if that would help). So if your New Year’s party needs a spark, you might keep Heads Up in mind. I definitely got my money’s worth with that app. More info, and probably a better explanation: http://www.cnet.com/products/heads-up-ios/ NEW JUST THINKING If you are of a certain age, it’s a lead pipe cinch that you will enjoy Greg Roberts’ latest effort. He’s written about colloquialisms, and forecasting the decline of many a saying that I grew up hearing, as today’s young whippersnappers wouldn’t know elbow grease from cash on the barrelhead without one of those google contraptions to cue them in. You can share in Greg’s thinking by just clicking HERE. FINAL CALL FOR CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN! Christmas at the Cabin, the unique log cabin Christmas shop on Cave Road near Bainbridge, is remaining open this year through Sunday, Dec. 21 for all of you last-minute shoppers. Still stocked from the floor to the rafters with hand-crafted gifts and decorations, regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and on the final Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (7757 Cave Cave Road, just off of US Route 50, midway between Hillsboro and Chillicothe and 4 miles west of Bainbridge) http://magicwaterstheatre.com/ McCLAIN’S COACH CLOSSON STEPS DOWN I was sorry to hear that Coach Randy Closson has stepped down from the McClain High School head football coaching position after 11 years at the helm. By all accounts he is a class act, and I join those who wish him well. There are several nice articles about Coach Closson in the local media. Here are some links: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/localsports/150861184/Closson-steps-down-at-MHS http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=25485 DONALD S. McCLAIN A grandson of Edward Lee McClain passed away this month. Donald S. McClain of St. Simons Island, GA died on Dec. 3. I never met him, but I imagine he had a very interesting life, and I hope the family was pleased to know that Edward Lee and Lulu McClain are still revered in Greenfield as we approach the centennial of McClain High School next year. Donald S. McClain was 88. His obituary can be found by clicking HERE. SANTA IS COMING TO CABIN! Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Christmas at the Cabin Saturday, Dec. 13! Read all the latest goings on by visiting the Magic Waters website at the link below: http://magicwaterstheatre.com/ SOME FILMS TO WATCH WITH LOCAL TIES… Recently I saw Mary Lou Schluep and she mentioned that a film directed by her son-in-law was going to be on TV that evening. As I don’t have cable or satellite, I knew I couldn’t watch it that evening, but I made a note about the director, J.W. Myers, who is married to Mary Lou’s daughter, Tess. The movie Mary Lou mentioned is called “A Christmas Tree Miracle” and it came out in 2013. Information about the cast, plot, etc. can be found at the IMDB website, which describes the movie as “a warm-hearted Christmas tale.” Mary Lou mentioned that J.W. Myers has directed several other films including the 2011 picture “The Pledge,” which she praised highly. (Note: several other films have the title “The Pledge”; a film of that name from 2001 is better known, having A List actors such as Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn in the cast, but the two films are similar in name only. Likewise, a 2008 movie called “The Pledge” featuring Luke Perry also exists. Both of these earlier films likely had much bigger budgets than the $85,000 budget estimated by IMDB for the Myers picture.) J.W. Myers has directed some other films as well, including “Flamingo Dreams” and “Power Rangers Time Force”. So we wish him well as he rises through the directorial ranks. I asked Mary Lou if J.W. ever needs extras for his films, and she said that local blogger and web personality Larry Chapman appeared in one of the movies. Mary Lou’s husband, Gary Schluep, also was an extra in one of the films but alas, his image did not make it to the final cut. Below are links to more information about some of the films. You might watch for them on your local cable or satellite channel or via Netflix or Redbox. I know they are on Netflix’s list of available films. A Christmas Tree Miracle: http://m.imdb.com/title/tt2328727/ The Pledge: http://m.imdb.com/title/tt1878917/ UPDATE: For more information about J.W. Myers check out this nice story that appeared Dec. 10 in the Times-Gazette: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/home_top-news/150846286/Movie-has-local-ties DON GRATE The legendary Don Grate, who passed away Nov. 22 at the age of 91, is well remembered as an outstanding athlete and educator. The local news media did themselves proud publishing accounts of his achievements and memories from those who knew him well. If you missed them, click on these links for some nice reading: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/opinion/150708168/Don-Grate:-An-athlete-unequaled http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=73&ArticleID=25267 GACC DEDICATES NEW FACILITY A good sized crowd was on hand Sunday for the dedication of the new Greenfield Area Christian Center at 912 N. Fifth St. The facility houses the New Directions nondenominational youth ministry, the food pantry and other activities and has turned out quite nicely after several years of fundraising and construction. Some nice photos of the center can be found on the organization’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreenfieldAreaChristianCenter WINTER 'HAPPENINGS' AVAILABLE NOW! The Winter 2014 edition of Happenings in the Hills, the popular insider's guide to events in and around southern Ohio, is out with lots of ideas for fun destinations, shopping activities and more! Click HERE to see the latest issue. Thanks to Janny and Boonie Brizius for publishing this useful guide.
ROSENBERGER TO BE SPEAKER OF HOUSE
Rep. Cliff Rosenberger of Clarksville, who represents the 91st District in the Ohio House of Representatives, has been selected by the GOP to serve as the next Speaker of the House. While the official vote won’t take place until January, when new members elected in November are sworn in, the unofficial vote of returning and newly elected Republican House members took place Nov. 12 and is being widely reported. Rosenberger’s district includes Highland County. More details: http://www.timesgazette.com/news/home_top-news/150521163/Rosenberger-gets-GOP-nod-for-Speaker-of-House SANDO RETIRES FROM GPD
Ptl. Jim Leeth’s faithful K-9 Unit, Sando, has served faithfully and is now entering his golden years, and so has tracked down his last criminal and embarked (pardon the pun) on a new adventure called retirement. To read a nice article about Sando and learn why he has been called “The Million Dollar Dog,” click on the link below: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=25031 HALLOWEEN IN GREENFIELD! Halloween is a very popular event in Greenfield — so much so that there are not one, but two big Halloween events each year showcasing the creativity of area residents in humorous, scary and just plain cute ways. Having been in attendance at both the Halloween parade sponsored by the Paint Creek Firefighters Association on Oct. 28 and the Safe Trick or Treat sponsored by the Greenfield Area Merchants Association on Oct. 30, I snapped a lot of photos and have posted them on a new page simply called HALLOWEEN! Have a look and perhaps you will see yourself or someone you know. Maybe you can even spot Dr. Richard Mizer…or is it John Travolta? Good times… HALLOWEEN! PHOTO PAGE GREENFIELD SLIDE SHOW
I’ve been dabbling trying to create a slide show about the village of Greenfield that captures some of the history, character and enjoyable aspects of living here. It’s taken far too much time but I’ve had fun learning, and the latest draft can be found by clicking on the YouTube image above. McCLAIN 100 & G3 WEBSITES
Larry Chapman has created a couple of new websites that should be of interest to those who visit my website. One is for the centennial of the McClain High School, which will take place in 2014. It’s logically called mcclain100 and can be viewed at the link below: http://www.mcclain100.org/ The second site is about the activities of Greening Greater Greenfield, also known as G3, detailing activities of a community group that that has done a lot for our community in recent years. Here’s the link: http://www.g3greenfield.org/ Might be a good idea to book mark them both! I have also posted links on my LINKS page. 
EDWARD LEE McCLAIN OBITUARY
The obit of local industrialist Edward Lee McClain is one of several interesting features found on the Atco, Georgia Facebook page. The obituary was published May 1, 1934 in the Newark Advocate. McClain founded Atco as a “company town” in order to provide textile products for his business empire. While Atco the town exists exists primarily in memory since the demolition of the mill that was the centerpiece of the community, it is alive and well in the minds of the “Atco kids” who grew up there and created the Facebook page. I’ve posted the obituary here for convenience. If you are a Facebook regular, you should be able to access the following link from the Atco page offering more information about Mr. McClain and life in Atco: http://www.atcogeorgia.com/search/label/E.L.%20McClain |
CALENDARSaturday, Jan. 31: Frosty 5K Walk/Run at Felson Park, 10 a.m. (registration at 9:30), sponsored by Y-Gradale.
Sunday, Feb. 1: Mothers Club Super Bowl Sub Sale. Sunday, Feb. 1: Historical Society Sunday Dinner at Grain & Hay building, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Meals are $10. Saturday, Feb. 7: No Regrets Men's Conference, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Good News Gathering, Hillsboro. For info or to register call 393-5383. Saturday, Feb. 28: Blues, Brews & Stews at VFW Ranch, 7-10:30 p.m. Sponsored by Greening Greater Greenfield. |
AMISH/MENNONITE TRAIL
Larry Chapman has been busy, as always. His latest project is a map of Amish and Mennonite business locations in greater Highland County. By visiting the Google map below and clicking on one of the business names, you will activate a pointer showing just where the business is located. Pretty cool! Good work Larry!
http://mapalist.com/Public/pm.aspx?mapid=378317
ABBEY ROAD: THE HISTORY OF AN ICONIC ALBUM COVER
Even if you are a not a Beatles fan, you are probably familiar with the iconic cover photo of their final studio album, “Abbey Road,” considered one of their best albums. The cover photo has sparked countless parodies, but considering all the rumors and buzz from back in the day about Paul McCartney being dead, probably the best is his use of the same background for his “live” album decades later. Here’s the link to an interesting article for trivia buffs, Beatles fans and curiosity seekers:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/abbey-road-cover-art-strolling-back-rock-most-190720943.html
WIT & WISDOM
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. - Thomas Aquinas
We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. - Bill Vaughan
An army of deer led by a lion is more feared than an army of lions led by a deer. - Philip of Macedonia
Larry Chapman has been busy, as always. His latest project is a map of Amish and Mennonite business locations in greater Highland County. By visiting the Google map below and clicking on one of the business names, you will activate a pointer showing just where the business is located. Pretty cool! Good work Larry!
http://mapalist.com/Public/pm.aspx?mapid=378317
ABBEY ROAD: THE HISTORY OF AN ICONIC ALBUM COVER
Even if you are a not a Beatles fan, you are probably familiar with the iconic cover photo of their final studio album, “Abbey Road,” considered one of their best albums. The cover photo has sparked countless parodies, but considering all the rumors and buzz from back in the day about Paul McCartney being dead, probably the best is his use of the same background for his “live” album decades later. Here’s the link to an interesting article for trivia buffs, Beatles fans and curiosity seekers:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/abbey-road-cover-art-strolling-back-rock-most-190720943.html
WIT & WISDOM
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. - Thomas Aquinas
We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. - Bill Vaughan
An army of deer led by a lion is more feared than an army of lions led by a deer. - Philip of Macedonia
