Other improvements underway include Clifford’s Railcar Café, a commercial kitchen, a new entrance vestibule, a remodeled concession area and an expansion of the stage.  “The heartwarming generosity of our hundreds of donors and volunteers, and local organizations like the Champaign County Memorial Foundation and the Grimes Foundation, have made these wonderful improvements possible. We are especially excited to announce that Clifford’s Railcar Café is coming soon,” Weller said. In tribute to Billy Single Clifford who built the theatre in 1904, the café’s ambiance will reflect Clifford’s railcar and turn of century era.
According to Weller, the new restrooms, concessions and vestibule will show the Gloria’s commitment to providing excellent comfort and enjoyment for all its patrons. The expanded stage is the first step in the theatre’s ultimate goal of becoming a state-of-the art performing arts center in addition to the existing big screen movie theatre. The Gloria Theatre and the Urbana Youth Center are projects of the non-profit GrandWorks Foundation. GrandWorks Board Member, Jim Lillibridge said, “I remember almost 8 years ago when we first purchased the Gloria how many people thought we could never make it work. Here we are, almost 8 years later, after weathering several challenges, and with the outpouring of support and prayers from across the community, Gloria has made her way all the way back and now has an even brighter future. This grand ol’ gal is doing her part to achieve our mission to reach, restore and revive the community.”
The new Kiwanis Club sign is located at the entrance of Mechanicsburg on state Route 29. To stay up to date and learn more about the Kiwanis Club of Champaign County follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChampOhKiwanis.
Agency partners with Champaign, Clark school districts to feed children.
Some of the places that the food bank offers meals to in Clark County include: Clark County Public Library; Cliff Park High School; Early Childhood Education Center; Greenon; New Carlisle Elementary; Northwestern Elementary School; Springfield Children’s Center; and Springfield City Schools including Lagonda, Fulton, Lincoln and Perrin Woods.
The Clark County Public Library will be a distribution site for the BackPack Program, which is a weekly program that provides a backpack full of food for children ages one to 18 to take home on the weekends. The distribution sites and times are:
Some places that the food bank is helping in Champaign County includes: Champaign County Library; Mechanicsburg High School; Triad Elementary School; Urbana Youth Center; and West Liberty-Salem Elementary. Triad Superintendent Vickie Hoffman said the food bank started offering weekend meals to their students in September. “We are proud to partner with the Second Harvest Food Bank organization. We always look for ways to support our families and the community,” she said. Triad students, as well as Mechanicsburg students, will get a package or box that contains two breakfasts, two lunches and snacks for each weekend. “We are very fortunate to be a part of this outside resource,” said Crystal Canfield, Mechanicsburg K-8 school counselor. “Mechanicsburg is very passionate about making sure our students are taken care of in and outside of school. It’s important for us to come together as a community and try to meet the needs of our students and families.” Jackson said the food bank is writing grants and applying for government funds to help assist with the purchase of meals. “The child hunger rates in our service area (Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties) are higher than the state and national average,” she said. “When children do not receive food, it is hard for them to be prepared to learn, concentrate, and have a productive day. The weekend bags and our other children feeding programs are designed to assist families and households to provide meals to children daily.” Graham is a district not partnering with the food bank for this program, but it is working with them to establish a community food pantry. “We are in the process of establishing a full food pantry in our district in partnership with the SHFB that will be open to the community twice per month,” said Assistant Superintendent Emily Smith. “Our administration and support staff will have access to the food bank through the month to assist with Graham families in need of immediate support and food needs. This partnership has been in the works for over a year, and we are anticipating a possible roll out in November or December.” BY THE NUMBERS 21% Number of children living in poverty in Clark County in 2019 11.1% Number of children living in poverty in Champaign County in 2019 18.1% Number of children in Ohio living in poverty in 2019 SOURCE: THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION KIDS COUNT DATA CENTER
Best Friends Pet Assisted Therapy have been educating and certifying volunteers and their own dogs for animal assisted therapy nationally since 2006. They serve in schools, retirement communities, veteran services, crisis intervention and people in need primarily in the Miami Valley. The benefit and impact that pet assisted therapy has on both physical and mental healing is undeniable.
Zeigler shared how special it will be to be back in the school volunteering where she spent so many wonderful years. The core of Best Friends Pet Assisted Therapy is servitude and their reach is immeasurable in the communities they serve. Each year they choose an organization or worthy cause to support. Karen, who sits on the selection committee chose West Liberty-Salem elementary educators to be one of this year’s recipients. They gave 39 teachers $50 cash to put towards their classroom and supplies, a personalized mug, kind words of encouragement, and of course, a visit with their dogs! West Liberty-Salem is excited to embark on this new adventure with Karen, Millie and Best Friends Pet Assisted Therapy, who will begin volunteering at WL-S this fall. “We are very much looking forward to Karen, Millie and all of their friends to visit with our staff and students in the future,” Aaron Hollar, shared. As the principal of the elementary, he and his team work hard to make school a place that students are excited to be. “We try to make school a fun, safe place for students to learn and having visits from this group will certainly help with that goal. We are very thankful that there are volunteers like this in our community that want to help make the day better for our students!” Programs will include reading with Millie, teaching animal safety with young students, working with Guidance Counselor Matt Westfall, companionship, and serve in crisis situations when needed. Submitted by Alliison Wygal. Sunday, September 12
Betsy was a charter member and long-time treasurer of the Pathfinders and the Bohl family is graciously sponsoring the event to honor her many contributions to the trail.
The event will be staged at the historic Urbana Depot with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. and riders may depart on their route anytime after 8 a.m.-11 a.m. There are three route options, as follows: A 15-mile route which is entirely on the bike trail which is good for families and children; the 50K (31 miles) route winds on country roads from Urbana to Ohio Caverns and back through West Liberty to the start point at the Depot; The 100K (62 challenging miles) route follows the same route as the shorter route and then splits off to do a loop through Logan County on parts of the “Top of Ohio Trail,” the “Cardinal Trail” and portions of what was the 1980 Olympic Road Racing Trials course. In addition, due to Covid, a “Virtual Option” has been added which allows individuals to still support the Simon Kenton Trail while riding a route of their own choice at a time and place of their choosing. There are already virtual riders signed up from Arizona, Montana and elsewhere in Ohio. Pathfinders President Jim Cook said: “Our group had many discussions on if and how to conduct our tour this year. We have taken many precautionary steps to make it a safe and enjoyable event. Preliminary registrations and sponsorships indicate we will have another successful bike tour. We are very fortunate to have such a supportive and appreciative community.” Online (only) registrations may still be made on the Pathfinder’s website: simonkentonpathfinders.org until Thursday, September 9 at midnight. Walk-in registrations will be accepted on the day of the event (cash or checks only). Cook reminds people that, “We are an all-volunteer group which has built and maintains the entire Simon Kenton Trail in both Champaign and Logan counties. We receive no tax monies through a park system as do other bike trails in the area. We are totally funded by donations, grants and fund-raising events such as this, our annual bike tour. Monies go to maintenance and improvements of the trail. We are planning crack sealing, seal coating and re-marking of the trail in the next 2-3 years, as well as improving some signage and safety features such as installing flashers at some dangerous crossings.” Questions about the bike tour or any other SKT issue can be sent to: simon.kenton.pathfinders@gmail.com.
From Urbana Daily Citizen
Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties (SHFB) is hosting its inaugural Harvest Breakfast on Friday, Sept. 3 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center. The Harvest Breakfast keynote speaker will be Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, the CEO of Feeding America. Babineaux-Fontenot will discuss national food insecurity trends and how food banks have a positive, long-lasting social impact on the communities they serve. Second Harvest is also celebrating its 40th anniversary and has established the Harvest Award which will be awarded to an exemplary partner from each county. The 2021 theme for the breakfast is Food is Health. The past two years, Second Harvest has built strong partnerships with local health care providers. There is a direct correlation between access to healthy food and healthy living. Adam Groshans, Mercy Health’s president, will discuss the partnership between Second Harvest and the hospital. The Harvest Breakfast is possible thanks to sponsors Mercy Health (presenting sponsor) and Dayton Children’s Hospital (health sponsor). Seats are limited, so register now by reserving your free ticket online or by contacting Audrey Vanzant at 937-325-8715 ext. 102 or avanzant@theshfb.org.
chance for the unwanted, discarded, frail and injured dogs and cats in our community. They work tirelessly to mend the broken pets that arrive at their doorstep. Senior dogs and cats live out their last years in a warm and loving home at the sanctuary.
The run/walk will begin and end at the Depot Coffeehouse in Urbana. The race will take place on the scenic Simon Kenton Trail. This is an out and back course on an asphalt paved path, which is mainly flat with slight, gradual inclines. Three distances – 5K, 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run – will be offered for participants as well as a Mutt Strut. The 1 Mile Fun Run and Mutt Strut will begin at 9:30 a.m. Dogs are also welcome to participate in the 5K and 10K as well. At this time, 200 participants are expected. All participants who pre-register will receive a goody bag filled with local items donated by merchants as well as a T-Shirt and finishers medal. Award medals will also be given to the top finishers in each distance. Area business are needed to help with this community outreach event. Registration Participants can pre-register by Sept. 10 with a donation of $35 or more to receive a T-Shirt, Finishers Medal and goody bag. Register the day of the event from 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. with any monetary donation (no T-Shirt, medal or goody bag.) Registrations may be picked up at: The Depot Coffeehouse (644 Miami Street,) Jenkins Tax & Accounting (807 Scioto Street,) Melvin Miller Park (dog park) by emailing lisablake160@yahoo.com or on the Facebook event page. Race registration may be accomplished in several ways: -Mail registration form and check to Lisa Blake, 160 Neal Road, St Paris, OH 43072 payable to His Hands Extended Sanctuary. -Email registration and pay to lisablake160@yahoo.com via Paypal or Zelle. Find the Paypal and Zelle account by searching lisablake160@yahoo.com or use the phone number 937-726-2379. Please note the participant’s name on the details/notes of the transaction. Items are still needed to fill the goody bags. Items may include pens, pencils, sunglasses, lanyards, water bottles or any advertising item with your company’s name. The organizers will include business cards and/or advertising post cards with any donated items. Some businesses will offer to pay all or a portion of the registration fee for employees as part of their Employee Health & Welfare programs. Any business that makes a monetary donation of at least $250 will have their business name listed as a sponsor on the back of participants’ t-shirts. Participants will pick up t-shirts and goody bags at the Depot Coffeehouse parking lot following the race. For more information, contact Lisa Blake at 937-726-2379 or by email at lisablake160@yahoo.com. The Facebook event page is The Furry Scurry 5K and 10K for updated information. Virtual option Participants may register to run/walk the race virtually and choose their own day to run. Virtual participants may post their picture and time on the Facebook Event Page. With a donation of $40 or more by Sept. 10, virtual participants will receive by mail a T-Shirt and finishers medal. |
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