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BENEFIT RIDE / BIKE BLESSING

ATTENTION ALL MOTORCYCLISTS:  NextStep Ministries is hosting its second annual Bike Blessing and Benefit Ride on June 8^th (rain date June 22) at the EUM Church Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street in Greenville, Ohio.  Registration will begin at 11:30 am with the Bike Blessing following at Noon and the ride at 1:00 pm. The price is $15 for a single rider and $20 for a double with a meal and door prizes following the ride.  Join us as we ride through the scenic countryside and share our love of motorcycles and God’s beautiful creation!

Donations are welcome and the benefit ride will help fund NextStep Helps Ministry.  Next Step Helps provides emergency help and assistance to the less fortunate in our community by providing help with utility bills, prescriptions, gas vouchers and information on other services and benefits in our area. Call 937-316-8420 for more information.

NextStep Ministries is a ministry of EUM Church. Jeff Harper is Senior Pastor at EUM Church and our regular worship services are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:15, 9:45, and 11:15 a.m. at our Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street (corner of Sater and Sebring-Warner Road) in Greenville, OH.  Kidmunity Children’s Ministry is available for kids age birth through grade six at the 6:30 pm, 9:45 and 11:15 am services. The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool.  For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

5K FOR EDUCATION A SUCCESS!

EUM Christian Preschool’s 5K for Education was a huge success! We started our morning off with a prayer and devotions by Pastor Sylvia McKibben, EUM Christian Preschool students leading the Pledge of Allegiance and the Greenville High School Band playing the National Anthem. Over 50 kids participated in the kids fun run and 240 racers took part in the 1^st annual 5K for Education. The preschool was able to raise over $2,500 which will be used to purchase new learning materials for the school. EUM Christian Preschool would like to thank all the volunteers and racers that participated.

A huge thanks to all of our business sponsors: The Drafting Board; EUM Church; MJS Plastics; Rocketship Sports Management; Good Times Event Services; Mike Lavy Electric, LLC; Rapid Printing; Route 49 Transport; Village Green Healthcare Center; Cavalier Clothing; Integrity Ambulance Service, LLC; Cherry & Roberts Dental; Braund Pope Funeral Home; Greenville National Bank; Bud’s Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, Inc.; Larry Fourman Construction, Inc.; Rumpke; Hupmans Lawn Care; John Trick Construction; Mary Lynne Hawley, MD; Dynes & Dynes, LLC; and Gary Flinn Co., L.P.A. They were an integral part of a successful event and we appreciate their support!

Preschool registration for the 2013-14 school year is still open. If you are interested in having your child attend EUM Christian Preschool, contact Elaine Snyder at 937-548-3211 ext 210.

EUM Christian Preschool is a ministry of EUM Church. Jeff Harper is Senior Pastor at EUM Church and our regular worship services are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:15, 9:45, and 11:15 a.m. at our Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street (corner of Sater and Sebring-Warner Road) in Greenville, OH.  Kidmunity Children’s Ministry is available for kids age birth through grade six at the 6:30 pm, 9:45 and 11:15 am services. The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool.  For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

SUMMER EATING TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

The summer season means barbecues, picnics, amusement parks, and road trips.  As a diabetic, you may worry about how to eat healthy while still enjoying the festivities. 

Knowing how to create a well-balanced meal will allow you to keep your blood glucose level as close to normal range as possible during barbecues and picnics. 

Choose lean grilled meats such as chicken breast, turkey burger or fish, instead of fried chicken. 

 Veg out.  Grill up some veggie burgers, veggie kabobs, or sliced vegetables.  Try snacking on raw vegetables with dip or hummus.

 Hold the mayo.  Mayonnaise adds fat and calories to your plate.  Add flavor to a sandwich with sliced tomatoes, lettuce, bell pepper, or mustard.  Limit mayonnaise based dishes such as dips, salads and sauces.

Watch out for sauces such as BBQ sauces since they can raise your blood glucose.  Food items with cream cheese are high in fat.  Limit these items and go for fruits and vegetables. 

Choose a healthy drink.  During the summer it is important to stay hydrated.   However, summer quenchers such as soda, lemonade, sports drinks, and large amounts of fruit juice contain a lot of carbohydrates.  It is better to drink unsweetened iced tea, or water.  Fruit wedges such as lemon, lime, orange and cherry can add flavor to your water. 

Desserts are not off limits.  However, make sure you limit your portion sizes.  These items should only be tasted after you have eaten healthier options.

 Add regular exercise to your summer events to help maintain blood glucose.  Consider these ideas to get moving: bring a Frisbee to the picnic, take a hike, take a bike ride, or grab a baseball glove and play catch.

This information was adapted from the American Diabetes Association.

To learn more about healthy eating and diabetes, consider attending Group Diabetes Classes at Wayne HealthCare.  Group classes meet once a week for four weeks. During the classes you will learn the following: 1) facts associated with diabetes, 2) the relationship between diabetes and healthy eating, 3) the value of monitoring and using the blood glucose results, 4) the importance of exercise, 5) how diabetic medications work, and 6) ways to reduce risk of complications.  

 The cost of each class is $10 or $40 for the series of four classes.  The next group classes will be held June 5, 12, 26, and July 3, 2013 from 9am to 11 am.  Pre-registration for the classes is required. 

 If these dates do not work with your schedule, the classes will be held at alternating times throughout the day.  Morning classes will be held from 9 am-11 am in October and December.  Afternoon classes will be held from 1pm -3 pm in July, August, and November.  Evening classes will be held from 6pm-8pm in September.

 If you prefer to meet individually with the Certified Diabetes Educator, you can receive education regarding Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). 

For more information regarding the programs offered by Wayne HealthCare Diabetes Self Management Program please call 937-547-5750.

DARKE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER – PETS OF THE WEEK

We have Rocky at the Darke County Animal Shelter. He is a 3-year-old Border Collie mix. He is black and white with long hair. He is a friendly guy and weighs around 50 pounds. He is looking for a good home and will make wonderful friend and companion. He is ready for adoption.

We have Bella at the Darke County Animal Shelter. She is a 10-month-old Hound/Pointer mix. She is black and white and has short hair. She is a sweet girl and loves to play. We also have her brother Jersey. She will make wonderful friend and companion. She is looking for a good home.

We also have a Rottweiler, a Lab, a Pug and numerous other dogs. We also have cats and kittens for adoption.

The Shelter hours are 8am till 4:30pm Monday-Friday and 9:00 till noon on Saturday. The Shelter is located at 5066 County Home Road in Greenville, and the phone number is 547-1645.

With spring in the air, be sure to bring your best friend to your local veterinarian for their yearly checkup.

ALL DOGS OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE MUST HAVE A LICENSE. For more information you can contact the Animal Shelter at 937-547-1645. To see the dogs we have, go to our web site at www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE BEARS FOR HOSPICE’S CAMP BEARABLE

Bears, bears and more bears.  That was the scene recently at State of the Heart Hospice’s Greenville office when several volunteers spent hours working on teddy bears that will be given to kids attending the agency’s annual Camp BEARable, July 12-14 at the Spiritual Center at Maria Stein.  This year marks the 13^th year for the camp which is open to youth ages six to 15 that are experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one.  The weekend camp is a mix of fun and games and serious dialogue about grief and loss. The camp is free and any child can attend and need not have any hospice association.  Volunteers play a key role in the camp, helping in many ways.  Volunteers have worked all winter making bears for the youngsters to take home. Registration is currently underway. Applications are available at the agency’s web site: www.stateoftheheartcare.org under Grief and Loss. Pictured here with some of the bears are, left to right, Pauline Faller, Volunteer Manager, volunteer Kay Turner, and Susan Knouff, Bereavement Support Development Specialist and Camp Director.

STATE OF THE HEART HOSPICE EMPLOYEES EARN HONORS

Two Music Therapy professionals with State of the Heart Hospice recently achieved accomplishments in their respective fields.  Amy Pearson, an employee with the nonprofit agency for six years, recently completed requirements for  certification to be a Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapist.  Brittany Scheer, an employee of the agency for three years, recently received her Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

“These accomplishments are achievements of personal and professional growth that are important to both Amy and Brittany,” stated Traci Straley, Director of Social Services for State of the Heart.  “The agency will gain professionally with their accomplishments. Their care to the patients and families that we serve will continue to be of a high quality, empathic and supportive nature.  Both are vested in their profession and with providing competent music therapy services to the patients served.”

With offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, State of the Heart cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness. Music therapists are a part of the team of caregivers that cares for and supports both patient and family. Music Therapy addresses the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of patients and families.  Both Pearson and Scheer are Board Certified Music Therapists.

Pearson, who lives in Ft. Recovery, completed  150 hours of concentrated study in Chicago and Detroit.  The coursework included learning techniques for using music therapy with hospice and palliative care patients, using music to help with grief and loss, and applying basic and advanced counseling skills to the practice of music therapy.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Dayton.

“The training to become a hospice and palliative music therapist has been so helpful and relevant in my work with patients and families with State of the Heart,” Pearson said.  “The ideas shared by other participants in the program were valuable and, learning directly from those who began the movement in music therapy with hospice has been inspiring.  It has changed the way that I practice as a music therapist.”

Scheer’s Master’s Degree program focused on advanced training in medical music therapy and music psychotherapy.  She completed intensive training  in the clinical use of music, theoretical models of music therapy and psychology, cultural uses of music, psychopathology, ethics and counseling techniques for individual and group music therapy.  A research thesis was required to complete the program; she completed a phenomenological study on the self-care of hospice music therapists.

Scheer received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from Eastern Michigan University.  “Achieving the Master’s Degree enables me to provide a wider range of therapeutic services to our patients and families,” she said.

For more information about any of the services provided by State of the Heart, visit the agency’s web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

Amy Pearson, above, and Brittany Scheer

OHIO FARMERS DONATE MORE THAN 750,000 EGGS

To help in the fight against hunger in Ohio, egg farmers across the state will be donating approximately 766,800 eggs to hunger relief organizations over the next couple weeks to celebrate National Egg Month in May. The announcement was made during a breakfast reception hosted by the Ohio Poultry Association at the Ohio Statehouse.

Eight Ohio egg farmers have committed the eggs to be provided to local hunger charities through the Ohio Association of Foodbanks’ network of 12 regional Feeding America foodbanks. The contribution has an estimated retail value of $100,000. This donation marks the sixth year that the Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) and Ohio’s foodbanks have joined forces to provide wholesome, nutritious food to Ohioans in need.

“Ohio eggs are a critical item for Ohio’s hunger relief providers, because they are a versatile, high-protein item that is a staple among Ohio’s needy families,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Ohio Association of Foodbanks executive director. “This generous contribution from Ohio’s egg farmers is an extraordinary opportunity for our foodbanks and pantries to make a difference when many of our clients are struggling to keep food on their tables.”

The nation’s struggling economy continues to have an impact on families in Ohio, including higher cost for housing, utilities, transportation and health care; wage stagnation; more part-time jobs; increasing poverty; and decreasing household incomes. As a result, these impacts have led to significant increases in demand for emergency food assistance as Ohio families struggle to put food on their plates.

In 2012, Ohio’s emergency food assistance network served more than one in five Ohioans (2.32 million), an increase of 46 percent in the last three years. One-third of households had at least one working adult. Additionally, one-third of the households served had a member in poor health and, of those, 20 percent were suffering from a diet-related disease, like diabetes, hypertension, nerve disease, blindness, limb amputations or renal failure.

Because of its long-standing partnership with OPA and Ohio’s egg farmers, Ohio’s foodbanks can provide fresh, Ohio-produced eggs that mean hungry Ohio families can have nutritious, wholesome meals.

“Ohio’s egg farmers always have been champions in the fight against hunger,” said Jim Chakeres, OPA executive vice president. “Ohio’s egg farmers are committed to supporting our local communities and that means helping out when needed, in addition to producing safe affordable food for consumers and caring for our flocks and the environment.”

Chakeres said Ohio ranks second in the nation for egg production, and produces 7.6 billion eggs each year with a value of more than $490 million.

Ohio farms participating in this year’s donation include: Trillium Farms of Croton; Ft. Recovery Equity of Fort Recovery; Hemmelgarn & Sons, Inc. of Coldwater; Stoller Farms of Van Wert; Hertzfeld Poultry Farms of Grand Rapids; Weaver Brothers, Inc. of Versailles; Rindler Poultry of St. Henry; and Ross-Medford Farms of New Weston.

Additionally, Hamler-Fugitt said that the Ohio Association of Foodbanks has partnered with OPA through the Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program for more than 15 years. This program is a statewide effort to direct Ohio’s surplus of agricultural products through the network of foodbanks in the state to ensure that Ohio families have a source of nutritious, Ohio-grown, raised and produced food products. The program works with Ohio farmers and commodity groups to provide foodbanks with surplus and unmarketable agricultural products at production cost. To date, Ohio egg farmers have contributed more than 7 million eggs for hungry Ohioans through the Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program and individual donations.

Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks provide hunger relief in all 88 Ohio counties. In 2012, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks distributed more than 164 million pounds of food and grocery items to 3,300 member charities, food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and other food assistance organizations.

For more information regarding the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, visit www.ohiofoodbanks.org. For more information about OPA, visit www.ohioeggs.com.

GREENVILLE AREA DOG CLUB DONATES TO SCENTRAL PARK

Shown are the following: L-R sitting, Dog Club members Jean and Ralph Stachler, Sue Young, Sherry Shafer and Candy Null. L-R standing, Shelter members Jan and Linda Demuth, dog club member Deloris Miller, Shelter member Jeanie Harshbarger accepting check from Becky Baker. Rear, Shelter member Kurt Fritsch.

Each year the Greenville Area Dog Club holds an auction during the holidays and shares the proceed with a local community group. This year they selected the Darke County Friends of the Shelter. The funds will be used to complete and maintain the new Scentral Park dog park. The Friends will continue to accept donations for the maintenance and upkeep of the park. The Friends of the Shelter is a 501 (c) 3 non profit group. The park is located at 5066 County Home Rd, just south of the Sheriff’s office.

NextStep Ministries of EUM Church in Greenville provides free tax filing to 302 households through The Ohio Benefit Bank™

Return more than $344.000 in tax credits and refunds to local community

 Greenville – This tax season, staff and volunteers at NextStep Ministries helped 302 local tax filers keep their full tax refunds through partnership with The Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB), a program of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. Thanks in part to a capacity building grant from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, NextStep Ministries connected households with more than $344,000 in tax credits and refunds. Plus, by helping community members file their taxes for free, NextStep saved them an estimated $43,186 in tax preparation fees.[1]

“This is the third year the grant has been available to us.  It has enabled us to reach many more people in Darke County and the surrounding area by helping us promote our tax services to the public.  It also allowed us to purchase much needed equipment for our tax site.” said Kristy Cutarelli, Outreach Ministries Coordinator for EUM Church. “Because of the capacity building grant we were able to exceed all of our goals for this tax season.”

Forty-two OBB sites throughout Ohio received capacity building grants to support their free tax filing services. In total, those grantees helped to file 11,392 federal tax returns and 10,897 state tax returns, connecting low- and moderate-income Ohioans with more than $17.8 million in tax credits and refunds.

Hundreds of other faith-based and community organizations also provided free tax filing assistance through the OBB, and many more Ohio taxpayers used the free OBB Self-Serve module at ohiobenefits.org to file their taxes on their own. Statewide, the OBB connected nearly 26,000 Ohioans with more than $44.4 million in tax refunds, helping them keep more of their hard-earned money.

“This year marked the most successful tax season yet for the OBB network,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “These important tax credits and refunds—accessed for free through our network—will help the low- and moderate-income Ohioans we serve every day to pay bills, make household repairs and build emergency savings accounts.”

The Ohio Benefit Bank provides free tax filing services year-round, so Ohioans who need to file back taxes or are still owed a refund for this year can visit ohiobenefits.org to file for free today. Since its inception, the OBB has connected over 84,000 Ohioans with nearly $187 million in tax refunds.

About NextStep Ministries

NextStep Ministries is a ministry of EUM Church. Jeff Harper is Senior Pastor at EUM Church and regular worship services are Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:15, 9:45, and 11:15 a.m. at our Worship Center located at 1451 Sater Street (corner of Sater and Sebring-Warner Road) in Greenville, OH.  Kidmunity Children’s Ministry is available for kids age birth through grade six at the 6:30 pm, 9:45 and 11:15 am services. The Downtown Campus, 111 Devor Street, houses our offices and preschool.  For more information, go to www.eumchurch.org or call 548-3211.

About The Ohio Benefit Bank

The Ohio Benefit Bank is a network of about 1,300 faith-based and community organizations that connect low- and moderate-income Ohioans with nutrition programs, child care assistance, federal student aid, veterans benefits, health coverage, and more, in addition to free tax assistance. Taxpayers can call 1-800-648-1176 to find a participating site nearby, or file their taxes and apply for benefits on their own at www.ohiobenefits.org.

 About the Ohio Association of Foodbanks

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is Ohio’s largest charitable response to hunger, representing Ohio’s 12 Feeding America foodbanks and 3,300 member charities including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In SFY 2012, the association and its member foodbanks were able to acquire and distribute over 164 million pounds of food and grocery items. Follow the association on Twitter, stay connected on Facebook and visit them on the web at www.ohiofoodbanks.org.

Contact:         Kristy Cutarelli, Outreach Ministries Coordinator, EUM Church at 937-316-8420 or kcutarelli@eumchurch.org

– OR –

Joree Jacobs, Director of Communications, Ohio Association of Foodbanks at 614-221-4336 ext. 265 or 614-273-5818 (cell) or jjacobs@ohiofoodbanks.org

LOCAL CHURCH OFFERS FREE LUNCH FOR CHILDREN

Beginning June 4 through Aug. 8, First Presbyterian Church is offering a Free Summer Lunch Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Meals are kid-friendly and are served at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be followed with games, movies and/or other activities until 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Angie at First Presbyterian Church at 937-548-3188.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 114 E. Fourth St. in Greenville. Use the parking lot entrance.

ANNIE AND DAVE THANK SPONSORS FOR WILD WEST GALA

Dickman Supply is lighting up Annie’s Wild West Gala! Annie and her dog Dave want to say “thank you” to Dickman Supply for their Gold Star donations of a chandelier, ceiling light, wall sconces, outdoor directional lights, Klein tool box with hand tools, and a selection of flashlights with rechargers.

Annie’s Wild West Gala will be held on June 8, 2013. This is a fundraiser for The Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center. All funds raised at this event will benefit the Garst Museum in Greenville.

Part of Annie’s Wild West Gala is Annie’s Wild Raffle. Prizes for the raffle include accommodations for a weekend Gatlinburg get-away, an Apple iPad 4, and Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones-Quiet Comfort 15.

Tickets for the raffle at $5 per chance, or for the event $12 per person, can be purchased from the Garst Museum, located at 205 N. Broadway, Greenville. Call 937-548-5250 for more information, email information@garstmuseum.org or visit www.garstmuseum.org.

CITIZEN OF THE WORLD: HOME ON THE RANGE

By Elizabeth Horner

It took me years to appreciate the irony. When I was younger and going on long car trips with my mom, it was not uncommon for me to take out a battered-and-bruised Little House book and read it out loud to her. I would imagine that the sun streaming through the windows did not belong to this century or to that particular stretch of blacktop; instead, it was the mid to late 1800s, and the light was baking the head of Laura Ingalls (eventually Wilder) as she travelled cross country in a covered wagon with her family. I consumed months of her life in the space of a few hours. Even more remarkable was the distance we traversed during that time. When I closed the book on the last page, my mom and I had probably done the equivalent of a several days’ long journey for Laura.

These books were a testament to the spirit of American pioneering. The cause of manifest destiny had stretched the country from one ocean to the other, and people were eager to spread out into every part of it in search of freedom and prosperity. But migrating was a life-changing decision. Many people, including the Ingalls, knew that once they picked up and left a place, they would not come back again. Family connections teetered; even though one could write letters back and forth, a post office was not the first thing to be established in an undeveloped prairie. Stranded by a sea of grass, your entire world might consist of your farm and shanty, a few stores and neighbors several miles from you.

How much things can change in a little over a century! Every morning, I wake up in my flat in London where I am doing study abroad, check my email and Facebook accounts…maybe even ring up somebody from home. And when my studies here end in less than a month, it will not be more than a few hours’ disturbance before my plane lands in Ohio. I can chase the sun around the globe if I wanted to – and it makes me realize that the days of American pioneering are well and truly over.

The thought fills me with nostalgia for a life I have never known, but more than that, it makes me hopeful – because life is no longer isolated. No one is forced into a position where they have to move away from outside cultures in order to better explore one’s own. No one traveling abroad has to give up their connections with their heritage. The advantages of modern day transportation and communication have created a culture where the movements and reactions of a person on one side of the planet cause vibrations across the entire World Wide Web. If a citizen is a person who owes allegiance to and in turn contributes to a certain state, then the borders of citizenship do not begin and end at the frontier line. I might not be able to feel the 19th century sun on my face, but I can look out a window in another country when someone holds a Skype camera up to it. I can breathe in the London air and then breathe it back out again as a sign of exasperation of my family.

Laura Ingalls probably thought she was discovering a new world as her family’s horses trotted over mostly undisturbed land; she probably felt like it was some grand adventure. But, at least for me, I am just as thrilled with the discovery of the old one, with the chance to have my country, travel from my country, and keep it too.

SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSTING 100+1 YEAR’S CELEBRATION

South Middle School will host a 100 + 1 Year’s Celebration open house on Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. in the school gym. Tours will be conducted. All past South School students and employees are invited to come, and to share their memories and stories. For more information, or questions, contact Jennifer Schatz at jschatz@greenville.k12.oh.us.

2013 OHIO AG WOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED

Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich and Ohio Agriculture Director David T. Daniels have announced that they are accepting nominations for the 2013 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Awards. The award program is administered through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Office of the First Lady.

“Last year, I was honored to meet and introduce our first four outstanding women chosen as Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year. Each woman was an amazing testament to strength, personal integrity, and success,” said Mrs. Kasich. “In the second full year of this program, I am looking forward to hearing the stories and celebrating the achievements of more strong women in agriculture.”

Nominations must be submitted by June 21 and will be reviewed by a diverse committee of industry leaders. Winners will be selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions to Ohio agriculture, leadership and advocacy in the agricultural community and significant impact on the agriculture industry as a whole.

Recipients will be recognized by Mrs. Kasich and Director Daniels during an awards reception at the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Gardens. Each awardee will have her name engraved on a plaque for permanent display at the Ohio Department of Agriculture and receive a commendation from the Governor and First Lady. Recipients may also serve as members of the selection committee the following year.

“We don’t often get the chance to honor those who have made measureable impacts on the state’s most important industry – food and agriculture,” said Daniels. “Women have made significant strides in the great success of agriculture in our state, and I’m proud to be a part of this program that provides some of the recognition they deserve.”

Nomination materials are available at www.agri.ohio.gov/TopNews/AgricultureWomenOfTheYear/.

YOUR PET CAN BE A STAR

The Darke County Friends of the Shelter will be making 2014 calendars. Enter your Pet’s picture for a chance to become a Star in our 2014 calendar. The monthly pictures will be made up of local pets. Bring a photo or digital picture to the Darke County Animal Shelter, located just beyond the Sheriff’s Department. All pictures must be submitted by July 5, 2013

You can also submit the form online. Go to:
http://www.kometweb.com/calendar2014.html
fill out the form and send the digital photo of your pet via e-mail

For more information you can contact the Animal Shelter at 937-547-1645. To see the dogs we have, go to our web site at www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com.

AG IS COOL CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS DEADLINE NEARING

The Ohio Department of Agriculture today reminds parents and children that the deadline for the 2013 “Agriculture is Cool!” Creative Expressions contest is less than one week away. Ohio children enrolled in school or home schooled during the 2012-2013 academic year are encouraged to capture their personal interpretation of why Ohio agriculture is cool for their chance to win prizes including Ohio State Fair concert tickets. Entries must be postmarked by May 15, 2013.

Entries, which can include an original video, photograph, drawing, or painting, will be judged in the following age categories. One winner from each age group and category will be chosen:

Grades K-2: Photography, Drawing or Painting

Grades 3-5: Video, Photography, Drawing or Painting

Grades 6-8: Video, Photography, Drawing or Painting

Grades 9-12: Video, Photography, Drawing or Painting

All entries will be judged by a panel of judges that may include representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Governor, the Ohio Expo Center, and professionals in the areas of video production, photography, drawing, painting and other visual arts. Judging will be based on the student’s visual representation of the “Ag is Cool” theme, if it accurately reflects 21st Century agriculture, creativity and use of Ohio images, and quality of work.

Award winners will be recognized by the Office of the Governor and other state officials at the Ohio State Fair on July 24, 2013.

For additional information about the contest, a complete copy of the rules and entry forms visit www.ohioagriculture.gov/agiscool or call 614-752-9817.

FREEE MONTHLY DIABETES EDUCATION PROGRAM

On May 14, 2013 Karen Droesch RD,LD,CDE the Certified Diabetes Educator at Wayne HealthCare will be presenting the program “How to Communicate with Your Doctor and the ABC’s” from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 During the program you will learn how to have an effective doctor’s office visit.  We will also discuss the ABC’s of diabetes: A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol.  The program will be followed by a question and answer session regarding diabetes. 

 This program is free and will be held in the conference room at Wayne HealthCare.   If you have questions about the program please call 937-547-5750.

CALLING ALL WOMEN: CURVY GIRL MOVEMENT UNDERWAY

Curvy Girl Movement is hitting the ground running! They will be hosting their first event on May 18, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton.

All women of all sizes are welcome to come out and have their pictures taken! Photographers are welcome, as well.

“We’re changing society ladies, this is our movement!” said one of the co-founders.

The Curvy Girl Movement is working to change society’s perception of beauty by accepting all women, all shapes and sizes, for the beautiful creatures they truly are.

ANNIE AND DAVE GEAR UP FOR ANNIE’S WILD WEST GALA

Oh goodness, why did Annie and Dave have to go to the Hospital? Not to worry, Annie and Dave just wanted to stop by and thank Wayne HealthCare for its contribution as a Gold Star sponsor for Annie’s Wild West Gala.

Annie’s Wild West Gala will be held on June 8. This is a fundraiser for The Garst Museum and The National Annie Oakley Center. All funds raised at this event will benefit the Garst Museum in Greenville.

Part of Annie’s Wild West Gala is Annie’s Wild Raffle. Prizes for the raffle include accommodations for a weekend Gatlinburg get-away, an Apple iPad 4, and Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones-Quiet Comfort 15. Tickets for the raffle ($5 per ticket) or for the event ($12 per person) can be purchased at the KitchenAid Experience, the Garst Museum, or any Garst Museum board member.

DARKE COUNTY AIMS TO FLUSH CANCER

For those who have seen the purple toilets around town, homeowners aren’t getting fancy with the decorating, they’re working to Flush Cancer. This is a fundraiser currently going on to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Darke County Relay for Life!

How does this fund raiser work? The toilet was originally placed in a yard. That person could make a donation of $10 to have it removed, $20 to remove it and place it in a friend or neighbor’s yard, or $30 to remove it, place it in a friend or neighbor’s yard, and have insurance that it does not land back in theirs!

It’s a fun way to bring awareness to the county for the Relay for Life event in July and also raises funds for the American Cancer Society.

These funds are used for various programs which can include research for a cure, rides to treatments, cancer education classes, lodging, local support with survivors and many other programs. This years Relay For Life event will again be held at Heritage Park in Versailles on July 19-20.

For more information about Darke County’s Relay For Life, or about the American Cancer Society go to www.relayforlife.org/darkecounty.

Let’s all work together to help and support cancer victims and to find a cure for this dreaded disease that has touched so many of our lives.

For more information, to make a donation, or to schedule a flushing call 937-417-6652.

GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT BRIDGES TO COLLEGE

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT THIS FRIDAY

The community is invited this Friday, May 10, at 9 p.m. to help Light Up The Night – a benefit Corynna Strawser. With 400 beautiful lighted lanterns glowing on the City Park pond, guests won’t want to miss the opportunity to simply join in that evening as the community shows love and support to this amazing young lady.

Corynna Strawser, a Greenville teen, has suffered from an incurable gastrointestinal illness the majority of her life as well as mitochondrial disease. Over the past two years Corynna’s illness has become more severe and she cannot do the things she used to be capable of. Because of Corynna’s medical needs it has become necessary for the family to make their home more accessible for Corynna to live only on the first floor as she can no longer walk. They need to build an addition to provide her with a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor.

This amazing young girl has gone through multiple surgeries and pain that no one could ever imagine with rarely a complaint. As a community, it is time to come together to help the Strawser family by Lighting Up The Night.

We are asking for the community to help by making donationto this worth cause. In kind donations of labor as well as donations of supplies are also being accepted. Stop by Furniture Express on Wagner Avenue or at American Title on Broadway to make donations to help Corynna! Lanterns will be sold in the high school lobby from 11 to 12:30 during the second week of May.

The event will be held in the Greenville City Park on May 10 at 9 p.m. at the two center ponds and anyone is welcome to come set up and light the lanterns at 8 p.m. on that date. The scheduled rain date is Saturday, May 11. We plan to launch 400 lanterns for the Strawser family to show our support. For any questions, contact Dara Buchy at dbuchy@greenville.k12.oh.us or by calling Mr. Mark Koontz 937-548-4188 (career tech office). Please park cars and stroll past the gazebo to sign a guest book for Corynna as a moment of this amazing event.

OIL SPILL CONTAINMENT PLAN DELAYED

Peggy Kirk Hall, Asst. Professor, OSU Extension Agricultural & Resource Law Program

Many farms are scrambling to meet the upcoming May 10, 2013, deadline for having an oil spill containment plan (SPCC plan) as required by EPA regulations,  but Congress has quietly delayed the U.S. EPA’s ability to enforce the regulation.   Amendment 29 to the recently enacted funding bill, H.R. 933, states that the U.S. EPA may not use any of its funds to enforce the SPCC rule against farms for a period of 180 days, until after September 26, 2013.

The purpose of the U.S. EPA’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) program is to help facilities and farms prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waterways.  Program regulations affect farms that store more than 1,320 gallons of oil or oil products in aboveground containers or more than 42,000 gallons in completely buried containers–those farms are required to develop, maintain and implement an oil spill prevention plan by May 10, 2013.

The recent action by Congress, however, prevents the EPA from enforcing the

DARKE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER – PETS OF THE WEEK

We have Abby at the Darke County Animal Shelter. She is a 3-year-old Lab mix. She is black with short hair. She is a sweet girl and loves to play ball. She will make a super companion and longtime friend. She is looking for a good home.

We have Duke at the Darke County Animal Shelter. He is a 1-year-old Husky mix. He is white with long hair. He is a nice guy and weighs around 90 pounds. He is a big fellow. He doesn’t care much for cats. He will make nice companion and is looking for a good home.

We also have a Beagle, a couple of terriers, and numerous other dogs. We also have cats and kittens for adoption.

The Shelter hours are 8am till 4:30pm Monday-Friday and 9:00 till noon on Saturday. The Shelter is located at 5066 County Home Road in Greenville, and the phone number is 547-1645.

With spring in the air, be sure to bring your best friend to your local veterinarian for their yearly checkup.

ALL DOGS OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE MUST HAVE A LICENSE. For more information you can contact the Animal Shelter at 937-547-1645. To see the dogs we have, go to our web site at www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com.

POWER OVER PARKINSON’S TO MEET WEDNESDAY

Versailles Health Care Center is pleased to invite the community to their monthly event for people with Parkinson’s Disease and their families!

Power Over Parkinson’s meets monthly to exercise, socialize and learn. The guest speaker for the evening will be Dr. John Studebaker, M.S., M.D. Dr. Studebaker will be sharing his presentation, “Vitamin D-Dramatic New Discoveries and Applications” with the group. Dr. Studebaker has been an active Family Medicine Physician in Darke County, Ohio for 35 years. He has a masters in Marine Science (biology) in addition to his Doctor of Medicine Degree.

He had a three-year Family Medicine residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. He was Board Certified in Family Practice in 1978. In 2005 he became Board Certified by examination by the ABIHM (American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine). He practices and does consultations in Integrative Holistic Medicine at 404 Wagner Ave., Greenville, Ohio. Since 2005 to date, he has devoted his time to Vitamin D research both in office and academically. Guests will find his discussion of Vitamin D immediately valuable for their own health and longevity as well as that of their family and acquaintances.

The Power Over Parkinson’s session will be led by Shannon Condon, speech therapist, and Gina Boerger, physical therapist. They will lead the group in vocal and physical exercise. Shannon and Gina hope to offer positive resources to people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. The Power Over Parkinson’s group will take place Wednesday, May 8 at 4 p.m. It will be held at the Rehab Clinic at Versailles Health Care Center. This is a free meeting. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. There will also be a door prize giveaway, good for a free entrée, compliments of Michael Anthony’s at the Inn.

For more information or to RSVP, call Shannon at 937-526-0130.