BRUNSWICK, Ohio — It’s always fun to see the Healthy Kids Running Series back in action, and this year has been as exciting as ever.
More than 100 young people ages 2-14 (yes, 2) come to run over five weeks this fall. This is already the fourth week, so just one to go — and that one is always so exciting, as the kiddos get trophies, medals and prizes.
The final week is Oct. 19 and it all starts at 3 p.m. at Heritage Farm, 4613 Laurel Road, if you want to check it out.
The reason there’s no runners this coming weekend is that Heritage Farm is part of the Medina County Fall Foliage Tour and will be holding its Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12.
I hope many of you will stop by to say hello, as this is the last Sunday at the Farm outdoor market for the year.
There will be free hayrides for all ages (expect a bumpy ride) and all kinds of activities for youngsters, plus the last weekend of Joyce Petchler’s famous hot dogs for the year.
The recreation center line dancers will be performing in the big red barn at 11 a.m. Oct. 10, and the Third Tent from the Nile belly dancers will be there at 1 p.m. Oct. 11.
Ken Uram plans special musical events all weekend.
See you there.
Police program: Brunswick Police Chief Robert Safran was the guest speaker at the Brunswick Area Historical Society meeting last week in the big red barn.
It was a blast from the past for those of us who have been around for a long time. He had photos bringing back great memories of former police officers and past events.
The final program of the year will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Goodyear’s Big Barn, 691 Pearl Road, and it will be Andrew Waite presenting the Waite family history, which goes back a long time here.
It’s all free and open to the public. The next program won’t be until January.
Learn English: Hope Church at 1905 Pearl Road in Brunswick is holding English language classes open to all who want to learn to speak, read and write English.
It’s held at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, and childcare is available. If you need more information, call 330-273-5651.
Also, the Hope Cares Pantry is in need of items for people who need a little extra help.
The next distribution is Oct. 25. Donations can be dropped off on Sundays between services at the basement entrance to the 1881 Building.
These items are urgently needed: deodorant (men’s and women’s), toothpaste, shampoo, body wash (men’s and women’s), shaving cream, razors, Ziploc bags and trash bags.
Please be careful: The Medina County Safe Communities Coalition reports that seven fatal crashes have occurred in the county this quarter.
This is an increase from the number of fatal crashes in Medina County during the same time frame in 2024.
As of Sept. 15, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office reports 754 confirmed traffic crash fatalities in Ohio for 2025, compared to 848 fatalities in the same time frame in 2024.
This is an 11 percent decrease in fatalities; however, this data is preliminary and will likely change in the coming weeks.
The Medina County Safe Communities Coalition encourages all drivers — new and seasoned — to buckle up, avoid distractions, drive sober and obey all traffic signs and signals.
The coalition is a collaboration of law enforcement, healthcare providers, fire departments, school districts, the media and local businesses.
Its mission is to save lives and reduce injuries on Medina County roads and highways.
The coalition promotes traffic safety through community events, educational opportunities and enforcement campaigns.
For more information, call 330-723-9688, option 2.
Celebrating 50 years of service: The Medina Sunrise Rotary Club gathered for a 50-year anniversary breakfast with the Rev. Dr. C. Reid Miller.
Miller and his family and friends from the Medina Sunrise Rotary Club reminisced about his adventures with Rotary, which have spanned 50 years and seven continents.
Reid, who received the Cleveland Clinic Community Service Award in 2018, served our nation for 31 years as a military chaplain in the Army, then in the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.
Following his retirement, Reid pastored his local church and devoted himself to teaching elementary school students and serving his community with enthusiasm and energy.
The Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” comes naturally to Miller, who celebrated 50 years of perfect attendance in Rotary International.
Let’s join Rotary in honoring his commitment to service and applaud his leadership.
First place: The Brunswick High School Academic Challenge Team demonstrated exceptional knowledge and teamwork at the recent Hudson High School’s Exploratory Tournament, winning seven out of eight matches and securing first place based on total points scored.
The six-member team, which includes several new participants this year, competed against schools from across the region in a quiz bowl-style format that tested their knowledge across mathematics, science, literature, history and other academic subjects.
The winning team consists of students Paige Baisden, Seth Bender, Gideon Kortan, Aiden Litchney and Joey Oppman, under the guidance of coach Ben Book.
The team will continue its competitive season at several upcoming tournaments throughout the fall and winter.
Teacher grants: The Medina City School District Foundation, in collaboration with an anonymous donor, has awarded two $1,250 Professional Teacher Mini Grants for the 2025–2026 school year.
These grants are designed to cover costs or offset expenses for innovative educational projects, with priority given to those that directly impact student learning.
This year’s grant recipients are Judy Nightingale and Andrea Risenhoover, both teachers at Blake Elementary School.
Nightingale’s project will provide all first-grade students with the opportunity to attend a field trip to the McKinley Museum in February 2026.
The visit will connect directly with the Portrait of A Bee, as well as the CKLA Knowledge of Astronomy unit through a planetarium experience.
Students will also tour Discover World, where they will explore exhibits focused on dinosaurs, Ice Age animals and people, rocks and minerals.
These experiences will further enhance their understanding of habitats in the CKLA Animals Unit.
Risenhoover’s project will transform Blake Elementary into an art-inspired environment through the Oberlin Allen Art Museum in-school program.
Students will learn about three-dimensional art and contribute to a rotating “Gallery Wall” display featuring picture frames with spotlights to showcase student artwork.
Each week, one homeroom will be highlighted, giving students a platform to share their creativity, talents and future aspirations.
Young artists: First-grade students at Huntington Elementary School in Brunswick are discovering the power of artistic expression through a collaborative art project inspired by renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
Under the guidance of art teacher Erin Kraly, students are exploring the concept of “obliteration art” while developing essential communication and collaboration skills.
The project engaged every student in placing colorful dots on a chair and wooden letters spelling “ART,” resulting in a three-dimensional artwork featuring over 1,000 dots.
Each student contributed at least 10 dots to the collective piece, with staff members also participating in the creative process.
Building on this experience, Kraly has extended the dot concept to a fall-themed leaf project, where students learn different artistic techniques to create colorful leaf designs using patterns and various media, including tempera paint and watercolors.
The collaborative art project aligns with the district’s strategic plan to provide engaging, real-world learning opportunities that help students develop critical thinking, effective communication and empathy.
By participating in this shared creative experience, students see firsthand how individual contributions can transform a space and create something greater than the sum of its parts.
NFL player visits: Former Ohio State University and NFL football standout LeCharles Bentley brought energy and inspiration to Kidder Elementary School in Brunswick Sept. 22, as fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge assembly.
Bentley, who has partnered with Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel on this statewide wellness initiative, led students through fun fitness activities while sharing valuable lessons about setting goals.
The 90-day Team Tressel Fitness Challenge helps students build lifelong habits in fitness, nutrition and sleep through personalized goal setting.
Physical education teacher Aaron Krieger brought the program to Kidder Elementary and coordinated Bentley’s special visit.
“What I love about this visit is how it connects physical wellness with learning,” said Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer.
“When our students set fitness goals and stick with them, they’re building the same skills they need in the classroom — from planning ahead to pushing through challenges.
“These aren’t just ‘school skills’ — they’re life skills that help our students succeed in whatever they choose to do.”
The visit featured an exciting Brunswick connection, as 2023 Brunswick High School graduate Dylan Kelley accompanied Bentley in his professional role with AMDG Sports.
As a talent coordinator and content manager, Kelley captured the event for social media, showing current students how graduates are making their mark in the professional world.
You loved it: Chef Tony at the Medina County Career Center sent this message: “This past week’s Omelet Event was nothing short of SPEGGTACULAR! We served over 650 omelets in three days.”
Wow!
He says the young chefs are almost ready to welcome everyone back into The Center Café for lunch. The Center Café officially opens to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8.
Click here to see the calendar for this school year so you can plan ahead: https://files.constantcontact.com/c63b95bc001/c797fd07-bc07-4bb0-8aee-a675a3940cad.pdf?rdr=true
Musical trips: Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) announces its bus trips for the 2025/26 season.
Kicking off the Broadway season at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square will be “Hell’s Kitchen” on Oct. 19.
The next show will be the award-winning “Suffs” on Feb. 22. On March 22, the bus will take the group to see “Water for Elephants.”
Recently transformed into a Broadway musical, audiences will be in for a treat as they experience “The Outsiders” on May 3.
The final trip for the season is a new musical adaptation of “The Great Gatsby,” scheduled for June 20.
Hop on the bus at Buehler’s River Styx in Medina at 5 p.m. each day and enjoy a catered meal, beverages (wine, water, soft drinks), homemade cookies, chocolates, a trivia quiz and more as you are whisked directly to the front doors of Playhouse Square.
All-inclusive with orchestra seats costs $140; all-inclusive with balcony seats is $120.
Seating is limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. Visit www.ormaco.org or call 419-853-6016.
Now entering its 16th year, ORMACO will take a group to E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron on Nov, 30 to see “Christmas with Cantus” and also visit the Zeber-Martell Gallery.
Departure from Buehler’s River Styx is at 1 p.m. For more details on this trip, visit https://ormaco.org/z-christmas-with-cantus/ or call 419-853-6016.
Tickets are $85 for adults, $50 for students. Credit card fees do apply if you do not pay by check.