They celebrated the day with an open house to show off their services, vendors set up, and a ribbon-cutting. NaCl Salt Spa hours of operation are Tuesday-Thursday 10 am to 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, and closed Sunday & Monday.

If you are interested in setting up an appointment, go to naclsaltspa.com!

After graduating from Marshall in 1958, Hall moved to Ohio and began working at Rosewood High School. When the area schools consolidated into Graham Local Schools circa 1960, Hall continued serving for 33 years as a teacher, athletic director and coach of both baseball and football. In 1973, Hall led Graham’s baseball team to a state championship.

He retired from teaching in 1991.

“He is a very loyal and dedicated guy to helping kids as well as being an educator,” Baker said.

Despite his athletic success, Hall named teaching as his favorite part of his career at Graham. Though he never planned to remain in the area so long, the character of the community appealed to him.

“The people here are hard-working, honest people, and they appreciated things that you did for them,” Hall said. “The kids at Graham are just great.”

Baker remembers being in third grade when Hall began teaching at Rosewood in 1958. Baker played basketball, football and baseball at Graham. Baker also played baseball for the Western Ohio League, and Hall played alongside him as a teammate.

Tim West, 1974 Graham graduate, pitched for Hall’s state title-winning team and also has been greatly impacted by Hall.

“As a coach, Donzil instilled discipline and hard work ethic within our players,” West said. “He taught us how important the little things are to have success, and in our state run, we won because we did the little things.”

According to West, Hall impacted his players’ lives on and off the field.

“I believe Donzil was a big part in the direction many of us have taken in our lives,” West said.

West, owner of Superior Painting and Restoration in Urbana for 38 years, attributes much of his success to Hall, who gave him his first painting jobs during summers to earn money for college. The pair also frequently play golf together.

Throughout the years, Hall has been honored in various ways for his impact on the Graham community. In 1991, Hall was immortalized in the Miami Valley Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. Additionally, the high school’s new baseball field was dubbed Donzil Hall Field.

In appreciation for all that Hall has given to Graham students, the Donzil Hall Scholarship Endowment Committee felt it was only fitting that a fund be instituted in Hall’s name that would provide aid for secondary education to Graham athletes.

Of his reaction to hearing about the scholarship, Hall said, “I was very surprised, but I really wasn’t surprised. The people who talked to me about it were good students at the high school and good athletes, too. They’ll make it work, I’m sure, if they set their mind to it.”

Baker and Shell, sharing a mutual respect for Hall, came up with the idea for the new scholarship. Baker, who worked as a financial estate planner for 37 years in Springfield, jumped at Shell’s suggestion, and the pair quickly put a plan in motion.

“I knew who else was well-connected and respectful of Donzil, so I asked those people to join me and Ed Shell in doing this,” Baker said.

Shell and Baker formed three committees and have held two meetings thus far.

The committee has partnered with the Springfield Foundation to handle the administrative details of the donations. Though still in the early stages of fundraising, the fund has already accumulated about $23,000 and is projected to continue growing into six figures in future years. Baker expects the scholarship to be able to continue supporting students “forever.”

On October 1, they intend to launch their support campaign with a solicitation letter, detailing the goals of the fund and how contributors can donate.

Graham offers another similar fund called the Graham Community Alumni Association Scholarship, which is filtered through the Troy Foundation and is available to all students.

However, only athletes will be eligible for the Hall scholarship, and the committee will consider components such as athletic performance, character, community service and grades. The only criteria is that the student must use the money for secondary education — a 4-year university, a trade school or any skilled training.

“We don’t want to get any more specific than (secondary education), because in today’s day and age, we’re open to trade skills as well as academic education,” Baker said. Hall himself expressed his support of the committee’s stance on this issue.

Students can apply for this award between November and February, and upon receipt of their applications, a Donor’s Selection Committee made up of Hall, Dwain Hollingsworth, Lewis, Shell and Baker will meet to choose the recipient.

Baker hopes that in the first year, the committee will be able to choose 2 or 3 students to award a one-time amount of between $1,000-$2,000.

Baker vocalized the committee’s hopes that the scholarship will make a positive impact on students’ lives for years to come.

“The committee recognizes how much tougher it’s getting to afford secondary education,” Baker said. “Couple that with everyone’s admiration for Donzil, his service and his dedication to Graham High School, and those two make an excellent marriage to help kids onward and upward.”

Hall himself looks forward to the assistance the fund will provide for students and wishes to thank the community for their support.

“I’m sure that the students that get it will be appreciative of it. I’m just glad to see it happen,” He said. “We’re just happy we’re a part of the community.”

“He’s a very humble, very quiet, confident competitor,” Baker said of Hall. “His life-long, career-long experience was at Graham High School.”
​

“We completed a service project with the Pre-K students last spring where we grew Marigolds for each student to have as a gift for Mother’s Day,” said Ali Peterson, the advisor and instructor for the OHP Graham Middle School FFA Chapter.

“State FFA Convention was virtual last spring, so as part of our virtual trip we spent time with the Pre-K students decorating their flower pot to take home. That service project went well, so we wanted to expand this year.”
​

Saturdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2021 from 11am-2pm: Anime Club, Ages 13+. Do you enjoy the art and storytelling of Japanese manga and anime? Are you looking for a group to fan girl/boy about your favorites? Looking for new series to enjoy? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then Anime Club at the Library is the group for you! Anime Club meets every Saturday from 11:00AM- 2:00PM. Hope to see you there!

Wednesdays, October 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2021 from 11am–11:45am: Story Time, Ages 2-5. These programs are intended to support early learning in a group setting. Join us for a mixture of stories and activities that provide enjoyable opportunities for the children to practice skills that prepare them for reading. Light snacks will be served. Donations of nutritional snacks are appreciated.

Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 2pm-7pm: Quilt Guild, All Ages. Bring your sewing machine and work on a project while exchanging ideas and tricks to quilting!

Monday, October 11, 2021 from 3:30pm–4:30 pm: Explorer’s Club, Ages 6 (Kindergarten)–5th Grade. Explorer’s Club meets on the second Monday of every month from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Each month we will explore a different topic. In October, we will explore History of Halloween!

Tuesday, October 12, 2021 from 5:30pm-6:30pm: 3D Pumpkin Craft, All Ages. Decorate your home for fall with this three-dimensional paper pumpkin craft.

Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 4:00pm-5:00pm: Lego Club, Ages 5–12. Imagine it. Build it. Legos and K'nex will be provided. Donations of new Legos or money to purchase additional Legos are welcome.

Thursdays, October 14, 21, and 28, 2021 from 4:30pm-5:30pm: Art Class with Lisa, All Ages. Come make a masterpiece with Lisa Ware!

Tuesday, October 19, 2021 from 5:30pm-6:30pm: Harry Potter Kahoot Trivia, All Ages. Show off your Harry Potter knowledge at trivia! Please download the Kahoot app before coming!

Thursday, October 21, 2021 from 2:30pm-3:30pm: Generation Next: A Very Emoji-onal Craft, Ages 11–18. Paint mason jars to look like emoji’s. Perfect for storing pencils, pens, etc.

Monday, October 25, 2021 from 4pm-5pm: Generation What’s Next, Ages 11–18. Create your very own spine tingling fun and escape from reality!

Monday, October 25, 2021 from 5:30pm-6:30pm: Book Chatter, Ages 18+. Come talk about BOOKS! Either what you are currently reading or a favorite book!

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 5pm-7pm: Youth Halloween Party, Ages 2-18. Come make spooky crafts to add to your Halloween decorations!

For more information, click here to visit Mechanicsburg Public Library's website or call (937)834-2004.

“We wanted to take this opportunity to let our local healthcare professionals know we appreciate them and all they are doing for our community,” says Frank Lewis, owner Walter & Lewis Funeral Home. “This is just a small way for us to show our appreciation and let them know we think they are heroes.”

In its first year, the proceeds from the Honor Field was used to purchase carbon masks for the Urbana Fire Department. In each of the last two years, the donation has been directed towards Mercy Heal – Urbana Hospital to support local nurses and physicians.

Since its inception, Honor Field has raised $10,000 to support those who are dedicated to serving the community.

“Honoring the heroes who, for the last 19 months have battled everyday against the COVID-19 pandemic is something in which we take great pride,” said Kristy Kohl-McCready, president, Mercy Health Foundation of Clark, and Champaign counties. “Each and every healthcare worker, first responder, and other essential employees deserve to see the gratitude we hold for them in the community.”

The organizations responsible for the donation are Medicine Shoppe, Champaign Dental Group, Jean & Lewis B. Moore Foundation, Grimes Foundation, Bundy Baking, Roby Monuments, People’s Bank, VFW Auxiliary Post 5451, VFW Post 5451, and DAV Post 31.

MCCESC provides educational services for the counties’ most vulnerable children. Dr. Kaffenbarger has worked with his administrative team over the past several years to establish a mission of “We Work to Serve,” and the staff does just that.

Using the STAR of customer service (Serving others, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability), supervisors within the agency work to encourage their teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, and many others to exude a servant’s heart.

Dr. K was most recently named the Outstanding Superintendent by the Southwest Region of the Ohio School Boards Association. His excellent performance is demonstrated through the hard work he puts forth on a daily basis to support the requests and needs of the nine districts and two career-tech centers served by MCCESC. Dr. K holds monthly meetings for superintendents – one for Madison County and one for Champaign County. He holds quarterly meetings for area principals and serves on the Business Advisory Council, Kiwanis, and the Family Children First Council, along with being a leader within his church.

About LifeChanger of the Year

Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Each school year, LifeChanger of the Year receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Eighteen individual LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given during the 2021-2022 school year.

1 Grand Prize Winner – will receive $10,000 to be shared with their school/district.

4 Grand Prize Finalists – will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.

10 LifeChanger Award Winners – will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.

1 Spirit Award Winner – This award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.

1 Capstone Award Winner – This award is given to a nominee retiring at the
end of the 2019-20 school year. The winner will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school or district.

1 Spotlight Award Winner – This award is given to a nominee in a specific discipline each year.

For 2021-22, the Spotlight Award will be given to a school nurse. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school or district.

Winners are chosen by a selection committee comprised of former winners and education professionals. Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must make a positive impact in the lives of students; enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture and pride; demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level; possess a proven record of professional excellence; show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning; adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards.

A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at http://lifechangeroftheyear.com/showspirit/.

To view Dr. Kaffenbarger’s LifeChanger of the Year nominee profile, or to nominate someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.