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BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Why is taking photographs of the sky so difficult? I really love looking up at blue skies and interesting cloud formations, and moonlight and lightning, but somehow I never seem able to capture what it actually looks like. The eclipse and the northern lights pretty much escaped me. I finally did get a fairly nice shot of the full moon this past week, thanks to the framing of some trees. But though it was supposedly the closest moon of the year, it sure looks small in the photo. I will keep trying. My son, on the other hand, seems to be able to take wonderful photos in any condition. He’s currently in Bangkok. If you go to YouTube and look up “A Thousand Words Travel,” you can see all kinds of fantastic photos he’s been taking on his world trip. Great food: It’s time for Too Tired to Cook Thursday, sponsored by the Brunswick Education Foundation. And the week before Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give yourself a break from cooking. It’s also an opportunity to support a cause that will benefit both students and teachers in the Brunswick City Schools. When you order, profits from these events help to fund senior scholarships and educational grants. Participating is easy. Choose from whole meals or just the entrees (or desserts) by 4 p.m. Nov. 17. Pick up your dinners Nov. 20 at the Diamond Event Center, 1480 Pearl Road in Brunswick, between 4 and 6 pm. Easy peasy! Here’s the link to place your order: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/too-tired-to-cook-thursday-november--2025 And more good food: Brunswick United Methodist Church, 1395 Pearl Road, will hold its monthly free community soup supper from 5 p.m. until the soup runs out on Nov. 20. It’s all homemade by members of the church, and everyone is invited to join in an evening of dinner and fellowship. This seems even more wonderful considering how many of our neighbors could use some help with a good meal these days. Election help: I think it’s great that eight Brunswick High School students participated in various election support roles, demonstrating their commitment to the democratic process and community engagement -- even on a non-school day. Four BHS students -- Connor Heinle, Alex Petru, Olivia Weaver and Aubriana Paroda -- served as precinct election officials at polling locations throughout Brunswick. It was part of the Medina County Board of Elections’ Youth at the Booth program. These students completed mandatory training and worked a full 13-hour day (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), sacrificing their day off from school to ensure that elections ran smoothly in our community. And Brunswick students Addison Hayest, Lilly Goodman, Olivia Robertson and Ari Tibayan assisted with post-election cleanup at the Medina County Board of Elections. Sorry to see: I just saw that Eleanor Sklenka died Oct. 28. She was 97 years old (which I would never have guessed) and leaves behind a long legacy of wonderful memories. She and her husband, Robert T. Sklenka, were married 73 years when he passed away. While her children were growing up, Eleanor worked as a librarian at Towslee Elementary School in Brunswick. There, she taught children the love of learning through reading, as she also loved to read. She met so many children and their families, and to this day she is lovingly remembered as “sweet Eleanor.” She and Bob were active members of our community and Eleanor will certainly be missed by all her friends and family. Make a difference: Let’s Make a Difference Medina is seeking volunteers to assist with a second-grade afterschool book club starting in January 2026. The program, which will focus on helping nine students improve their reading skills, will run for six weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting Jan. 13. Michelle Powell, founding director of Let’s Make a Difference, has wanted to start an afterschool book club for several years. “When we visited a local bookstore in the summer of 2025 with some of the children, they talked about having a book club, and I knew I had to make it happen,” she said. Powell reached out to several community groups and planning began in earnest in August. Retired second-grade teacher Meredith Morgan is volunteering her time to work with experienced Let’s Make a Difference volunteers to plan and oversee programming that is fun and educational for the students. This includes story time, snacks, reading practice, crafts and several outings to the library and local bookstore. Let’s Make a Difference is working with Medina City Schools to select students. Volunteers who enjoy working with children and want to make a difference for at-risk readers will participate in an orientation program Dec. 11 at the Medina Library. The orientation will review programming and activities. Volunteers should have some experience with children, but formal education or being a teacher is not required. What does matter is attending the orientation session, as well as consistency of attendance during the book club so that the children become comfortable with adult leaders. “We’d love for volunteers to be able to commit to every session for the six-week book club, but volunteers must be able to commit to at least one day a week.” If you’re interested in applying, submit your interest by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/X26vBmLGv2zQ85NeA or emailing Lisa Campbell, volunteer coordinator, at lcampbell57@yahoo.com. For more information, contact Powell at 330-410-4063. Let’s Make a Difference is a 501c3 charitable organization actively working with children in Medina since 2000. Ladies of Hope: Registration is open for the Ladies of Hope-Gift of 5’s Christmas Breakfast Fellowship and Gift Swap at 9 a.m. Dec. 6 at Hope Church, 1905 Pearl Road in Brunswick. The event includes breakfast, fellowship and a crazy fun gift swap. Everyone who attends will bring five of the same items. This can be something you buy, bake or make! You bring your five of the same unwrapped gifts to the church. All the gifts will be spread out on tables. Each lady will be given five rounds to pick out any gift to take home. So you come with five of the same item and leave with five different gifts for yourself or to give to others for Christmas. Register and pay $5 per person. You can register online only -- sign up today to save your spot! Organizers remind you that refunds will not be issued. If you sign up and later find that you are unable to attend, please “gift” your registration to a friend. Seating is limited for this very popular activity and it will sell out! Visit https://hopebrunswick.breezechms.com/form/ac8d975426597 November BookShelf Special: This month, The BookShelf is kicking off a November food drive to support local families through the Project:LEARN of Medina County Student Pantry. When you bring in a shelf-stable food donation, you’ll receive 10 percent off your purchases at either the Medina or Wadsworth BookShelf locations. It’s a simple way to give back while you shop -- and every can, box and bag helps fill pantry shelves for students and their families in need. Join Project:LEARN in making this season one of generosity, community and good reading, including a children’s bundle. For just $30, fill your BookShelf tote bag with 12 gently used children’s books and a free bookmark. Want to go bigger? For $45, take home 24 books -- same tote, twice the tales! Looking for the perfect little something for the book lover in your life? The Bookish Merch collection is filled with fun, affordable and literary-themed treasures that make great stocking stuffers or small gifts. From clever bookmarks and cozy tote bags to mugs, candles and other reader-approved goodies, every item celebrates the joy of reading. Falling Leaves Fine Arts Showcase: The Creative Cove, a student-run art gallery located in front of the Medina High School main office, came alive with color, creativity and the feel of autumn Oct. 27, as the Medina High School Art Club hosted the Falling Leaves Fine Arts Showcase. The Creative Cove was established last year as a result of Zoe Dressler and Jay Milewski’s senior capstone project. Art club members Leah Andrews, Amy Lin, Charlotte Charbonneau and Katelyn Schreiber now manage the space, under the guidance of adviser Lauren Smith. The event featured original artwork by Medina High School students, inspired by spooky Halloween themes and cozy autumn vibes. From paintings and photography to sculpture and mixed media, each piece highlighted the imagination and talent of these young artists. This showcase is the school year’s first exhibition. Additional shows will be announced at a later date. Food drives: With so many of our neighbors facing food shortages because of the federal shutdown and delay in SNAP benefits, Feeding Medina County is busier than ever. And both the Medina County District Library and Medina County Park District are hosting “Pantry Staples” food drives for that organization. Just drop off any of these items at any MCDL branch or at the Medina County Park District Administrative Offices (open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) or the Oenslager Nature Center in Wadsworth (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays). Bring: • Boxes of dried pasta, sauce in plastic jars or cans, and microwaveable pasta packets • Dried or microwaveable rice • Canned or microwaveable soup • Packets of tuna and chicken • Boxes or microwaveable macaroni and cheese • Pancake mix and syrup • Oatmeal or boxes of cereal or single-serve cereal cups • Peanut butter and jelly • Breakfast bars • Graham crackers • Canned fruit or fruit cups Sweet day: The Medina County Arts Council (MCAC) extends its thanks to everyone who participated in and supported its fourth annual Chocolate Walk fundraiser. The event raised an incredible $6,018 to help advance the arts in Medina County, This year’s success plays a vital role in helping MCAC continue its mission of advocating for, supporting and nurturing the arts throughout the community. Funds raised will support scholarships for graduating Medina County high school students pursuing arts education, arts grants for educators and local organizations, as well as arts supplies for at-risk children and adults. These are investments that strengthen the cultural richness and creative vitality of our county. Princess and Pirate party: Medina High School’s Encore Entertainment Company is holding an event filled with games, crafts, activities, sing-alongs and fun surprises from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 22. Tickets are on sale now for $10 per child. All ages are welcome, but only children need a ticket to enter. Guests are encouraged to dress up to come ready to party with the Princesses and Pirates. To register and purchase tickets, go to https://my.cheddarup.com/c/princess-and-pirates/items Festival of Trees: The Brunswick Optimist Club and Hope Recovery Community will be the recipients of proceeds from this year’s Festival of Trees, presented by the HANDS Foundation. The event will be held at The Echelon of Medina Independent Living at 6 p.m. Dec. 5. Admission is $10 per person and includes food and drinks. All will help raise funds aimed at helping children in our community. The foundation is also accepting donations of decorated trees and wreaths and is looking for sponsors. If you want to know more, contact chrissywallerhandsfoundation@gmail.com Last chance: Your reservation for Kitten Krazy’s CATsino Night is Nov. 15, so head over to www.kittenkrazy.org to find out more and purchase your tickets. The event is from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Medina County Community Center, 735 Lafayette Road in Medina.
