When I shopped for Christmas presents for my niece and nephew last month, I realized it was getting difficult to find a toy or game that didn’t require batteries.
It’s frustrating to depend on all these batteries for things we don’t really need and then throw them away soon after. Granted, they do save valuable energy, [...]

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The ethanol industry’s appetite for corn is going to surge in the coming months, and producers will likely lower corn acreage for the 2008 crop, said a Purdue University expert.
“This has two major implications,” explained Chris Hurt, Purdue Extension agricultural economist. “First, the corn-based ethanol industry will have excess production capacity and therefore narrow [...]

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Purchased at a pet store, 5-year-old Cody, advertised as a Chihuahua puppy, now is a 23-pound dog standing 16 inches tall.
“He’s always had an attitude problem,” said owner Mindy Williamson. Even after training at a doggy summer camp last July, Cody’s bad behaviors still included aggression (biting), being possessive with items, pulling on the [...]

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A bus ride to Chicago for only $1?
Hard to believe, I thought. A dollar’s worth of gas won’t even get me 10 miles these days, let alone 345.
But I’m up for any travel deal I can find.

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You may already know it doesn’t cost a dime to walk down Chicago’s Magnificent Mile (if you stick to window shopping, of course) or to stroll along the Navy Pier.
But if you really want to maximize your travel budget, there are plenty of unique, free things to do in Chicago:

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The cold, wet night did nothing to stop hundreds of people from attending an invitation-only preview reception of the renovated Medina Library Jan. 10. Guests were greeted at the door and invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres prepared by The Madd Chef Restaurant of Brunswick as they toured the facility prior to dedication speeches presented in [...]

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The Decadent Chocolate Dessert Contest and the Children’s Cookie Contest, affiliated with the American Red Cross Chocolate Festival, have been moved to the day before the Chocolate Festival on Feb. 1 at the Buehler’s River Styx Community Room.
In order to free up much-needed space for the Chocolate Festival on Feb. 2 at the Community Center [...]

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Walter J. Dewar, 85, of Spencer, passed away Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin.
He was born April 4, 1922, in Cleveland to Walter John and Julia Valek Dewar Sr. He grew up in Cleveland, resided in Valley City and later moved to Spencer in 1950. Mr. Dewar was an electrician. He [...]

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Russell A. Dickerman, 96, of Medina, passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, at home with his family.
He was born Aug. 4, 1911, in York Township. He retired from Bennett Lumber with 37 years of service and worked previously for Lance & Co. Mr. Dickerman was a Medina volunteer fireman. He was an avid golfer and [...]

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Michael E. Gerin, 67, of Columbus, previously of Medina, passed away Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, in Columbus.
He was born April 20, 1940, in Rockford, Ill.
Mr. Gerin is survived by his sister, Maureen (Patrick) Catlin of Medina; nephews, Michael, Douglas and Matthew Gerin, all of Charlotte, N.C.; and sister-in-law, Lynette Gerin of Charlotte.
He was preceded in [...]

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