BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- I dont know how we lucked out with the weather this winter so far, but I couldnt believe that the Brunswick Area Historical Societys new old school building at Heritage Farm is up and has siding. I thought they couldnt get much done because they only started at Thanksgiving, but lo and behold, there it is.

Of course, its just a shell, but Im so excited that its this far along and soon well be starting on the interior. Before you know it, the summer will be here and theyll be moving in!

And when the kids get out of school in May, it means first that Visintainer and then Edwards middle schools will be coming down and theyll be trying to duplicate the front faade of the latter. So, fundraising continues. Next big one is a soup supper from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 5 at the Eagles Club in Brunswick, so keep watching for details or go to brunswickhistory.com/ for updates.

They are outstanding: Congratulations to the Brunswick City Schools teachers and support staff of the year. Those who have been selected from each school include: Applewood -- Mallory Nixon; Crestview -- Randy Kuzilla; Hickory Ridge -- Rhonda Collis; Huntington -- Jill Vickerts; Kidder -- Doreen Kebberly; Memorial -- Amber Shivak; Towslee -- Sarah Cooper; Edwards -- Dina Wenmoth; Visintainer -- Dana Delnay; Willetts -- Maryann Destro; and High School -- Matt Sofranko.

Support Staff Jaime Bark (Crestview), Shelly Mongalier (Central Office), Cheryn Caso (Brunswick High School) and Bryan Abend (Hickory Ridge) also have been honored.

The Brunswick Education Foundation honors outstanding teachers each year and, through its fundraising (Spring Fling), raises scholarships for students and grants for teachers.

Grants this year go to elementary, middle and high school teachers Trista Smith, Cassandra Shepard, Alex Sword and Stacy Hoy for Mndfulness Club; Applewood teachers Amy Ginn, Kristen Graley, Sally Mellinger and Nicole Toth for Academic Athletes; Crestviews Lisa Werner and Valorie Strauss for Comfortable Cafeteria; also from Crestview, Kolbie Haines, Lora Thomason, Sheri Hudak and Kelly Rutkowski for Problem-Solving Across the Curriculum; Hickory Ridge teacher Monica Tilbert for Reading, Singing and Moving Oh My!; and Memorial teachers Ashley Hojczyk and Libby Jackson for Choices for Choosy Readers.

They will be honored by the BEF in March. (And mark your calendars for the annual Spring Fling on April 4. Its one of my favorite things to cover every year).

Sending a big thank you: The managers and volunteers at Lifes Treasures, the Thrift Store connected with Hospice of Medina County, would like to thank the donors and shoppers who supported the Christmas Treasures store in 2019.

After 11 years of moving the store around town to a variety of available locations, this past year the Christmas store shared the same building with Lifes Treasures at 317 South Court St. in Medina.

The Christmas store sacrificed space to cut overhead and to add efficiency. The store was gorgeously arranged, with a huge variety of holiday dcor. Profits from the sale of the items will stay in Medina County to support hospice patients and family services.

The store will continue in the same location in 2020, accepting donations of Christmas items beginning in July. A newly organized Lifes Treasures Store will be open all year, taking donations of clothing, books and household items every day until 3 p.m.

Christmas Treasures will open in October.

Join Mickey and Minnie: The Brunswick Optimist Club holds its 28th annual Pancake Breakfast & Kids Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 15 at the Brunswick Community Recreation Center, 3637 Center Road. Enjoy a pancake breakfast while the children are entertained with family-oriented activities like magic and balloon art with Nate the Great, face painting, crafts, games and, of course, Mickey and Minnie. Bring your camera for photos with the characters.

There will be a bake sale, as well. This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Optimists, who are committed to helping young people in our community. Cost is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors over 60, $4 for children age 6-12 and free for kids 5 and younger.

Check out the Optimist webpage at https://optimistclubofbrunswick.weebly.com/ or look for them on Facebook.

Leadership to hold a Preview Party: Do you know someone interested in investing in their career or their employees leadership skills? This year, decide to do something for yourself, personally and professionally!

Consider attending Leadership Medina Countys Program Preview Party from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Williams on the Lake, 787 Lafayette Road, Medina. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is $25 and you can register online at leadershipmedinacounty.org/.

Leadership Medina County staff, board and alumni will be there to connect with future participants about their experience. Come learn about their Signature, Emerging Leaders and Junior Leadership programs.

Leadership Medina County offers established and emerging business and community leaders a unique opportunity to be part of a group that has come together to explore complex community issues, deepen the essential leadership skills that are needed to address those issues and build meaningful relationships with other leaders who will challenge each others views of the world while finding shared values and working toward the common good.

New Sunrise Rotary members (Photo Courtesy of David Lariviere)

Two new members inducted: The Medina Sunrise Rotary held its induction ceremony welcoming Leon Skowronski of American Greetings and Kerry Gregoire of Siebert-Keck Insurance Agency into Rotarys diverse family of 1.2 million men and women of action.

People like you make our community stronger by adding your skills, experience and enthusiasm to advance communities at home and on a global scale, said Rotary president Shail Jain. Working together, we can eradicate polio, train more skilled peacemakers, protect and empower children, and provide lasting solutions for communities fighting disease, hunger, illiteracy and poverty.

The club is about to celebrate its 21st annual Wine & Roses Benefit Dinner, featuring a romantic dinner, fine wines, music and dancing. Its all taking place from 6 p.m. to midnight Feb. 8 at Weymouth Country Club. Tickets are $99 per person and include a complimentary cocktail. Money raised has done great things for the community.

Be sure to check out the clubs official website: medinasunriserotary.com/.

Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Stacey Maleckar, center, welcomes reappointed board member Lisa Morrison, left, and newly appointed board member Anne Salek during the December Board meeting. (Photo Courtesy of MCBDD)

Board members appointed: The Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities has announced the appointment of board member Anne Salek by Medina County Probate Court Judge Kevin Dunn and the reappointment of Lisa Morrison by Medina County Commissioner Colleen Swedy. Each will serve a four-year term.

The Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities is comprised of seven volunteer members who are appointed by either the Medina County commissioners or the Medina County probate judge. Board members have various professional backgrounds and include community leaders and family members of individuals who have disabilities.

We are pleased that the county commissioners have continued to appoint board members who embody the spirit of public service, and we know that Ms. Salek and Ms. Morrison will continue that tradition with their talents, expertise and energy, said MCBDD Board President Wayne Carroll.

We are very fortunate to have these board members as we continue to expand and strengthen our commitment to making sure people with developmental disabilities have opportunities to succeed in our community.

Salek is certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law by the Ohio State Bar Association and is one of only 30 attorneys in Ohio to have attained certification as an elder law attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Association. She earned her bachelors degree from Allegheny College and her law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

While elder law attorneys typically cater specifically to the aged and elderly community, a significant portion of Saleks practice includes similar planning for adults who have disabilities and special needs.

While in my law practice Ive been able to assist a number of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in planning for long-term financial security, Im gratified that Ill now have the opportunity to work with other members of the MCBDD, the staff and our partners in Medina County to positively impact those same individuals in other ways," she said.

"I am looking forward to joining my new colleagues to advocate for and address the needs of the people with developmental disabilities in our community.

Since her first appointment to the MCBDD board in 2016, Morrison has been involved with making sure the MCBDD is providing quality services to individuals who have disabilities in our community.

She has been an adjunct faculty member in the psychology departments at Cuyahoga Community College, the University of Akron and Lorain County Community College.

I am proud to be reappointed as a board member for the MCBDD, Morrison said. I look forward to continuing to work with the dedicated management and staff to make sure families continue to receive important, life-changing services and support.

Contact Boyer at samboyersunnews@yahoo.com

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