Oh deer! These youngsters turned heads on their stroll: Whit & Whimsey

BRUNSWICK, Ohio — We often see youngsters walking down our narrow street, but two particular youngsters — a pair of deer — surprised me last week!

Mind you, they were strolling along the side of the road, stopping when they heard something, so they weren’t holding up traffic. I’m hoping they were just on their way home, because their mom wasn’t with them.

She did it! Thanks to generous donors, Brunswick’s Mariah Payne has reached her Go Fund Me goal and she is now able to enter the Miss Ohio USA competition. Wishing her luck at the state competition and on to the nationals!

Fun for the family: Uncle Dave and the Goodyear family are ready for fun again. Spring Mist Farms has opened for its Fun on the Farm Wednesdays.

After making it through the pandemic year, the farm at 961 Pearl Road is now open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each Wednesday.

I’m sure the animals — farm and exotic — will be happy to see lots of admirers again. And I’m sure everyone will be ready to celebrate Charlie the Camel’s birthday again. You can always check them out at www.springmistfarms.com.

Flea market returns, too: Brothers Antique Mall annually has a spring and a fall flea market at both its locations. This year, however, the store on Wooster Pike south of Medina won’t be able to host a spring market, so everything is moving north to Brothers Antiques North at 2768 Pearl Road (between Brunswick and Medina).

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, with vendors in the pole barn and lots of things going on inside and outside the store. There will be a food truck, music and more.

A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Brunswick Area Historical Society, which will also have a presence at the event.

If you’ve never stopped at the store, you’ll love exploring! There are so many fantastic items. Hope to see you there. Check them out at http://www.brothersantiquemall.com/.

Great nomination: Dr. Caesar Carrino — former mayor of Wadsworth, published historian, founding board member for Main Street Wadsworth and all-around philanthropist — has been nominated for Heritage Ohio’s 2021 “Spirit of Main Street” Award for his longstanding support of downtown Wadsworth’s revitalization efforts, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has always been very involved in all things Medina County.

Over the past year, Dr. Carrino, 90, grew concerned about the nationwide decline in volunteerism due to the pandemic. Determined to keep the momentum going for downtown Wadsworth, he became Main Street Wadsworth’s most stalwart volunteer. Main Street Wadsworth is honored to nominate Dr. Carrino for this prestigious award.

Dr. Carrino has a family tie to the other end of Medina County, too. His wife, Lynda (Barnes), is a recipient of the Brunswick High School Distinguished Alumni award. You probably have seen her family home many times without knowing much about it.

She grew up in what most long-timers call the Hitchcock House on Center Road. The classical revival style house was built circa 1900 by Alijah Stearns. The barn was built in 1881. At that time, there was another house on the property, which was subsequently razed.

In 1951 Edmund and Wanda Barnes purchased the house, barn and five smaller outbuildings on three acres of land. Lynda and her siblings grew up there.

We want to lend our congratulations to Dr. Carrino and family.

Ellie Radabaugh (Photo Courtesy of the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities)

Scholarship winner: Ellie Radabaugh is the winner of a $1,500 scholarship from the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Ellie is graduating from Brunswick High School this spring.

Ellie said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but a few new friends and four years of working with individuals with developmental disabilities later, it became very clear that special education is her passion.

She has been devoted to volunteering in her high school’s special education classroom for much of her high school career, where she helped students with their academics, social skills and IEP goals. She also worked with students on art projects in an Adapted Art Class during her junior year.

Once the pandemic hit, she was unable to volunteer the way she normally would, but she quickly adapted and became an E-Buddy through Best Buddies.

Outside of school, Ellie has spent time assisting with and attending events for Special Olympics, and has always been sure to cheer on her friends who were participating.

She also dedicated time to providing physical and emotional support for riders through Camp Cheerful’s Therapeutic Horseback Riding program.

On top of her work with individuals with developmental disabilities, she has developed a “Seniors for Seniors” pen pal program, taught peers about leadership through Junior Leadership Medina County and sewed and sold face masks for Brunswick High School’s Students of the Year Leukemia Lymphoma Society Campaign.

In the fall, Ellie plans to attend Bowling Green State University, where she will be majoring in special education. She will attain her mild to moderate and moderate to intensive licensures through Bowling Green’s Intervention Specialist program, with a goal of one day working in a moderate to intensive classroom in a public school.

You can learn about the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities at https://www.mcbdd.org/.

From left: Medina City Schools PACE president Deb Chester, assistant band director Megan Snide, band director Jason Locher, assistant band director Margaret Blasko and coordinator of gifted services Shayna Samosky. (Photo Courtesy of Medina City Schools)

PACE Award winners: The Medina Parents for Academic Challenge and Enrichment Team (PACE) annually seeks to recognize teachers for their outstanding contribution and investment in gifted students within and beyond the school day.

PACE Award winners get to know students and encourage each one to excel. These individuals also take the initiative to grow and develop programs to challenge and inspire students. Written nominations for this award are accepted from any parent or student in the district.

This year’s recipients are band director Jason Locher and assistant band directors Margaret Blasko and Megan Snide.

Shayna Samosky, coordinator of gifted services, and Deb Chester, president of PACE, presented the award, sharing these comments: “This year’s nominee represents himself and his department in an exemplary manner. He and his assistants work tirelessly to bring out the best in each student. They dedicate long hours and seemingly are never finished with all of their duties and extracurricular involvement. You will see them at every fundraiser, at every competition, supporting their students.

“Their expectations are high and students rise to meet them, as they know these teachers are spurring them to success. In constant work mode, these individuals labor in the heat, the cold, long days, and sometimes longer evenings and weekends.

“Even during the pandemic, they made the best of a difficult situation, going above and beyond to provide a safe opportunity for students to participate. Their dedication is unmatched in reaching the whole child; education must always be inclusive of the arts and never underestimate the power of students’ lives. Our musically talented students here in Medina have been nurtured with passion, kindness and encouragement under their direction.”

Medina Fest returns: Main Street Medina will bring back Medina Fest, sponsored by PNC Bank, on Saturday, Aug. 28. This full day of fun, food, music, shopping, games and celebration is a favorite way to bring the summer to a close.

Organizers are actively seeking Medina-based art/craft/small business vendors, food vendors/trucks and sponsors for the event. See more at http://www.mainstreetmedina.com/.

Up and running: It’s so great to see people back at all the county farmers markets again. Medina’s have been running for a couple of weeks, Litchfield continues and Brunswick starts June 13. Let’s just be careful and hope we can go without any setbacks. We don’t want another year like 2020.

Interesting stuff: I really enjoy reading newsletters I get online or via mail. One of my favorites is that of the Friends of the Medina Cemetery, with all kinds of interesting information. I loved this month’s front-page story on Medina’s Old Town Graveyard. If you are interested in helping to support the cause, visit www.friendsofmedinacemetery.org.

Deadline: If you want to help volunteers working to finish and furnish the “old school” building at Brunswick’s Heritage Farm, the deadline to sign up for the virtual 5K run/walk is June 15. Enter to receive a T-shirt and a chance at some prizes! Just go to https://runsignup.com/RACE/OH/Brunswick/SavetheFarmVirtual5K.

Contact Boyer at samboyersunnews@yahoo.com.

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