On Oct. 3, as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Medina County Board of MRDD held a recognition breakfast at Rustic Hills Country Club to honor local businesses who have helped those with disabilities be part of “A Winning Team,” the event’s theme.

Dr. Greg LaForme, MRDD superintendent, welcomed the large gathering in the ballroom, thanked Lynee Bixler and Patti Hetkey for organizing the event, thanked all who have given their support to help place people with disabilities in the workforce, then asked Ed Dryer to take over as host/emcee of the program.

Dryer introduced Joe Tait, “The Voice of the Cavs” for the past 35 years. A hobbling Tait, who had taken a fall, said this group needed no motivation — it was already strongly motivated.
Tait talked about the Cavaliers, but also compared those in the room to a team that kept getting better and kept achieving its goals. After a short question and answer session, Tait said, “I commend this group for what it does, salute its efforts and applaud its accomplishments.”

Dryer and John Krebs then presented awards. The Golden Briefcase Awards, given to individuals who successfully achieve their goals of working independently in the community and meeting an individualized goal for their employment, went to Julie Lantz at Brunswick’s Buehler’s, Scott Phillip of Westfield Country Club, Matthew Canter of Alexandris Restaurant, Jennifer Douglass of Brunswick’s McDonald’s, Marc Slencsak of Minnehaha Water in Hinckley Township, Amber Buchanan of Wadsworth’s Giant Eagle, and Amy Frickey of Happy Tails Dog Ranch in Sharon Township.

The Employer Milestone Recognition Awards were: Commitment Award — Buehler’s, Medina County and Westfield Country Club, Westfield Center; Longevity Award — Hinckley Hills Golf Course in Hinckley Township; Opportunities Award — Galaxy Restaurant in Wadsworth; and the Extra Mile Award — Home Depot in Brunswick.

More than 60 local businesses were recognized for employing persons with disabilities.
A few who helped celebrate the occasion included Betsy Gilder, Steve Hambley, Bob Gibbs, Gene Goebel, David Cavalier, Linda Bohner, Kathy LaPinta, Katie Cureton, Colleen Rice, Norm Renner, Jason Miller, Michelle Connors and Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty.

In closing, Dryer paraphrased Jack Dempsey’s words reminding us that nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody deserves a chance.

Michelle’s Leading Star
Several people attended when Michelle’s Leading Star Foundation hosted an invitation-only tribute Oct. 2 to unveil a granite memorial bench and plaque in Medina High School. Michelle Sanderbeck lost her life March 4, 2006, as a result of a tragic non-alcohol, non-drug related teen automobile accident.

The emotional evening began with Medina City Schools Superintendent Randy Stepp speaking on behalf of the school as well as a parent of a 16-year-old daughter with a new driver’s license. Medina High School principal Susan Huth described how this tribute evolved with Michelle’s parents, Ray and Debbie Sanderbeck, and students working together.

Finally, Ray Sanderbeck quietly addressed the audience, saying with difficulty they could not protect their own daughter but hoped to protect others with an interactive drivers education curriculum and virtual/simulated driving courses.

Michelle’s Law, a dedicated reminder to all Medina students to please drive safely, is inscribed on the memorial bench for all to see: “I agree to obey the speed limits, not to drink and drive, to buckle up, to be responsible, and to keep my mind on the road.”

Five members of the Medina High School Choir — Andrea Leach, Kevin Maas, Travis Nevels, Beth Joseph and Ethan Starkey — closed the evening singing “Amazing Grace.”

Medina County Sheriff Neil and Pat Hassinger, Bill and Bonnie Meadows, and Joanne Rau, who framed the portrait of Michelle, were among those who shared the unveiling.

The foundation sponsored a Fun Run/Walk Oct. 7, and a formal silent auction/cocktail hour/live band event is planned for Nov. 3. For additional information visit www.michelles
leadingstar.org or write to Michelle’s Leading Star Foundation, 4412 Lakeview Glen Drive, Medina, 44256.

Wonderfully Outrageous Women
“The entire afternoon’s program is a girl thing,” said Chairwoman Janie Parish. She and members of Women Helping Women — Chris Baker, Michele Cottrill, Jean Daniel, Linda Grand, Judy Heller, Mitzi Kerr, Beth Kilchenman, Bev Kreiner, Mary Ludwig, Deborah Moore, Cindy Namerow, Dottie Nemec, Michelle Pletka, Kathy Schmidt and Beth Trubachik — promised the 120 guests at the second annual WOW (Wonderfully Outrageous Women) Brunch a fun and engaging, yet educational program, “What Are You Wearing Out There?” That is exactly what they got Oct. 7 at Blue Heron Banquet and Conference Center.

Featured national speaker and author Dawn Waldrop, founder of Best Impressions, LLC and a leading expert on business attire, involved many participants from the audience as she demonstrated how individuals could personalize and emphasize their strong points to look and feel their best every day.

Dulcimer and guitar entertainment was provided by Lois Derr, Lois Middleton and Richard Swartz, and this year’s “hunks” who sold raffle tickets were Ron Hager, Bob Hollis, Dave Kreiner, David Parish and Bill Schemmel. One cancer survivor shared an incredibly moving story about her ordeal with cancer while pregnant.

The top level event sponsors were The Gazette, The Medina County Women’s Journal and Medina County Commissioner Sharon Ray. Waldrop graciously donated back her fee. Event proceeds will provide free cancer screenings for qualifying women in Medina County.

Poetry Night
Guests attending the September Brunswick Art Works Poetry Night were greeted outside Insights Coffee and More by lines of poetry taped to the sidewalk, an effort on the part of featured reader Dan Smith to get listeners to think of poetry in a different way.

Smith, who is familiar to the poetry scene in northeastern Ohio, read several poems from his “Crooked River” chap book. He has been published online at thepedestalmagazine.com, understatement.com, seinundwerden.com, thecitypoetry.com and deepcleveland.com.

Miles Budimir, Robin Crawford, Karen Stets, Jamie Lahman and Theresa Gottl all read works during the open mike period.

Brunswick Art Works will welcome Mark Kuhar Nov. 8, and Dan Iannoni Dec. 13. For information about this free event, call Julie at 330-273-2888 or e-mail Brunswickartworks@yahoo.com.

Huston may be reached at areanews@ohio.net.

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