Winter 2015 Edition

Transcription

Winter 2015 Edition

WINTER 2015
VOL I | ISSUE 4
HOLIDAY
FAMILY FUN
AT PINEY
PARADISE
+
SNOW DAY ACTIVITIES
‘THE O.B.’ SEEKS LOCAL,
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WINTER 2015
CONTENTS
LOCAL INTEREST
Piney Paradise.................................................... 12
Shooting Straight with Bryan Marcum............... 14
Spotlight on Steve Gfell...................................... 16
FOUR LEGS IN THE FIRELANDS
God’s Little Critters............................................ 20
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Artists’ Open Studio........................................... 24
Connie Oney: Sustaining Our Lifestyle............... 26
Spotlight on Neil Skinn....................................... 28
Snow Day Activities............................................ 32
‘The O.B.’ Seeks Local, Live Entertainment....... 34
36
STYLE
Améz Boutique Brings Trends to Norwalk......... 36
LET’S EAT
The Freight House.............................................. 42
Pizza Post........................................................... 44
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Healthy Winter Eating......................................... 46
Staying Fit in Winter........................................... 50
DWELL
Norwalk Public Library....................................... 54
The Sky’s the Limit............................................. 56
24
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Winter 2015
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t’s hard to believe I’m welcoming you to the winter issue
of Discover Norwalk magazine. Hopefully, winter will
take it easy on the Firelands area this year.
This issue of Discover Norwalk is full of a variety of
stories, many dealing with wintertime activities.
But first, I’d like to thank the contributing writers
for this issue, who are Cary Ashby, Chris Castle, Jennifer
Greco, Zoe Greszler, Don Hohler and Barbara Wrabel.
This magazine would not be possible without all of their
hard work.
Hohler came through with two great stories on local
archer Bryan Marcum and businessman and football
official Steve Gfell. Greszler tackled most of the winter
ideas, including stories about healthy winter eating, staying
fit in the winter and snow-day activities. Ashby was solid,
as usual, with stellar stories about The Freight House,
Piney Paradise and the Office Bar.
This issue features an article by Jennifer Greco about
the Pizza Post. The Pizza Post is one of Norwalk’s greatest
treasures. I constantly hear people say, “Have you tried the
pizza in Chicago?” or “Have you eaten at this restaurant
in New York City?” I’m sure those big-city restaurants are
good, but a person doesn’t need to drive any further than
222 E. Main St. to find excellent food. I think Pizza Post
pizza is the best I’ve ever had.
The cover photo for this issue, which features the
winter we all know, is of the Huron River just a bit north
of town.
Another kind of hidden treasure in the Maple City is
the Améz Boutique. Greszler did a fine job featuring this
new women’s clothing store, located at 26 W. Main St.
Hang in there folks of the Firelands this winter.
Before we know it, spring will be here.
SCOTT SEITZ
Director of Content
PRINT | EVENTS | DIGITAL
DN MAGAZINES FEATURES
Local Interest
Four Legs in The Firelands
Arts & Entertainment
Style
Health & Beauty
Let’s Eat
Let
Dwell
Discover Norwalk Magazine reaches the Norwalk
market like no other media can. Our magazine is
distributed through paid and verifed subscriptions,
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NORWALK ////////// 10
VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 4
WINTER 2015
Published by: Reflector-Herald, Inc.
61 E. Monroe St. • Norwalk, OH 44857
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Scott Seitz
419-668-3771, ext. 248
[email protected]
PUBLISHER Andrew Prutsok
ART DIRECTOR Amanda Mazzo
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING John Ringenberg
419-681-0028
419-668-3771 ext. 228
[email protected]
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cary Ashby
Chris Castle
Jennifer Greco
Zoe Greszler
Don Hohler
Scott Seitz
Barbara Wrabel
Discover Norwalk Magazine, published quarterly by ReflectorHerald, Inc., distributed through the circulation of the Norwalk
Reflector, a newspaper with a readership of more than 15,000
daily. The magazine is also provided to participating advertisers
and is placed in local businesses and professional offices.
Email us: [email protected]
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LOCAL INTEREST
PINEY PARADISE
By CARY ASHBY
ouples have gotten engaged there. Families from Lorain
and Cleveland have made the voyage to the Piney
Paradise Christmas tree farm an annual tradition.
People have even strapped their tree to a recreation vehicle so
it would make their journey home.
And running the Norwalk Christmas tree farm is a family
operation.
Gary Bauer is in charge of management. His wife Mary
handles sales and decorative materials.
Their son Scott keeps the equipment running. His wife
Jill keeps track of customers by using spread sheets. (After all,
how else would every customer from the last three years get a
reminder?)
The Bauers’ daughter, Robyn Rogers, handles Twitter and the
Facebook page. The farm’s website is www.piney-paradise.com.
“We like to invite people to our paradise,” said Rogers, who
12 ////////// DISCOVER NORWALK
finds it most fulfilling to get know the customers.
She also enjoys seeing customers pictures posted on Facebook.
Since Piney Paradise is focused on family, it’s not unusual to see
the next generation of their clients show up at their farm.
Piney Paradise has two locations south of Norwalk — on 677
W. South Norwalk Road and 1647 Snyder Road.
With 36 acres and 19,000 trees over the two spaces, the farm
is expanding. The family recently bought 15 acres at the property
west of the original South Norwalk Road location. Piney Paradise
will add 15,000 trees in the next five to six years.
“We planted the first trees in ‘79,” Bauer said.
White pine and scotch trees take seven years to grow fully. It’s
eight or nine years for spruce or fir.
Most of the customers come from Norwalk, Monroeville,
Willard and Sandusky, but there are the faithful who trek from
Lorain and Cleveland.
“It’s a family outing,” Rogers said. “They make a day of it.”
Making a day of it often means photo-ops with the
Christmas decorations.
Ironically, the outside decor didn’t start out being part of
Piney Paradise; it belongs to the Bauer family.
The decorations started in 1954.
“It just got out of control,” said Gary Bauer, a diehard Ohio
State fan.
So the first decorations passers-by will see in the fall are
focused on the Buckeyes. Next comes Halloween. Then finally,
Christmas.
Early on, the children in the family start doing their part
— whether it’s placing flags or shaping trees.
“It’s really a quality family-bonding time,” Rogers said.
Remington Bauer, Bauer’s 11-year-old grandson, readily
admits he doesn’t like to do the work many times. But by the
time he’s practiced his 4-H safety speeches with his family, “it
keeps me going.”
He definitely enjoys shaking and baling the trees.
“I like helping people out; that really makes me happy,” the
boy said.
Bauer’s wife revealed the Christmas spirit isn’t always
around Piney Paradise — at least not when her husband has to
wear a special protective suit when he applies insecticides.
“When it’s time to put the hazmat suit on, it’s a little
Scrooge-y,” she said with a laugh.
But the bottom line is making the selection and cutting of
a Christmas tree a special time.
“We enjoy seeing people being happy,” Rogers said.
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LOCAL INTEREST
Shooting Straight with
BRYAN MARCUM
By DON HOHLER
Youth is our future,” assured International Bowhunting
Association President Bryan Marcum. “It is time well-spent to
schedule seminars like this for the young shooters.”
The 1983 Norwalk High graduate saw it as the perfect situation the
last Saturday of September at the Berlin Heights Library and then the
Bow & Barrel Archery Range just down the road from this Erie County
community. He had an opportunity to go one-on-one with at least one
junior shooter who never had a bow in his hand before. And with one of
the proven all-time best shooters as his instructor, 10-year-old Marshall
Majer sent his first arrow down range right to the kill spot of a silhouette
deer target.
“We launched the (NASP) National Archery School Program in 2002
in Kentucky,” the 50-year-old Marcum explained. “It has grown from 21
schools in one state to 13,350 and 2.23 million students in 47 states. It is
now bigger than Little League Baseball.
“At the 2015 Louisville, KY NASP National event in May, we had
12,045 students from 763 schools in competition. It is a daunting task to
manage this many shooters,” Marcum assured. “But because we have taught
the students safety right from the beginning, we pulled it off without a
hitch.”
The big league of the bow world as far as adult shooters, however,
is IBO’s National Triple Crown, a three-stop event that starts in May in
Bedford, IN, goes to Fairview, PA in June, and then concludes with the
Cardinal Challenge in Marengo, OH in July.
The best shooters in the world then congregate for the 26th Annual
Rinehart, IBO World Championship in Ellicottville, NY the first full
weekend in August.
“If an individual did not think he or she (There are female divisions.)
could not win the world title, they would not come from as far away as
South Africa to try,” Marcum assured. “Every country is represented and
that includes the best marksman from Canada, Mexico, Australia, New
Zealand, France and South Africa.”
And Marcum knows what kind of skill it takes to win a title of this
stature. He has won three World and four National Championships. Little
wonder when the previous president decided to retire three years ago,
Marcum, a board member for four years previously, was the choice to head
the organization. For 18 years, Marcum had competed in the Pro Division
as a finger-release shooter, a much harder division than those shooters who
use a mechanical release of the arrow.
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Marcum, who for 30 years was employed by the City of Norwalk, first
in the Park & Recreation Department and then upon the merger of the
departments, the Assistant Superintendent of General Services, had one of
the proven best shooters in the nation as his instructor starting at age 3, his
father, John, the owner of a small archery shop based at the family home.
“We spent countless hours on the family range,” Marcum recalled.
“When he thought I was ready for competition, we took to the road to see
if I really was. The rest is history.”
It was 1992 when Marcum entered his first big-time event, the World
Nationals in Anniston, AL. He was ready. He came home with the title.
Two years later he won his first of four National Championships, this one
in Flatwoods, WV. He would win his third World Championship in 2011
and fourth National in 2012.
It was in 2011 when Marcum teamed with his son, Brad, for a family
sweep. The father won the World Pro Championship and the son won the
World Amateur.
And just how good do you have to be to win a World event that draws
2,500 entries and 1,500 for a National?
The kill ring in the silhouette target located as far as 50-yards down
range is the size of a 50-cent piece. That, however, is just the aiming point.
It is the “11” ring in the middle of that 50-center piece that is the prime
target. That is the size of a dime. Bonus points are given for an arrow in
that area.
The modest Marcum would not say just how many arrows he put in
that “11” ring but over the years it can safely be said it was many.
“You can’t win without bonus points. What we call 400 points an “even”
score, all the arrows in that first ring. A perfect score is 440 which means all
of the arrows are either in or touching the “11” ring. No one has ever come
close to that,” he assured.
Because most of his time is spent staging and managing events and
running the Vermilion office, Marcum no longer competes. When he does
have free time, he tries to spend at least a few hours in the woods, deer
hunting. But, even that took a back-seat the day he ran the seminar at
Berlin Heights. That just happened to be the first morning of Ohio’s 2015
bow hunting season.
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LOCAL INTEREST
Spotlight on
STEVE GFELL
By DON HOHLER
orwalk’s Steve Gfell certainly knows pizza but he knows probably
even more about football.
Only recently, Gfell purchased his 18th Domino establishment, that
being the Norwalk store from long-time owner Skip Wilde. And the 48-year
1985 Norwalk High graduate is not stopping there as he has No. 19 under
construction in Sagamore Hills.
But that’s not what this story is all about. It’s about the love he and his
father, Dr. Larry Gfell, have for football, more precisely, the officiating of the
game.
Dr. Gfell, perhaps better known for his full-time occupation that of a
veterinarian, introduced his son to the sport when the latter was still in grade
school.
“I well remember Dad dragging me to games when I was seven years old,”
Steve explained. “I would be as close to him as on the sidelines.”
Dr. Gfell wore the stripes for 37 years, officiating with other members of
the Firelands Officials Association. In his first crew was another local doctor,
Norm Ross. Dr. Gfell’s expertise as an official earned him assignments at
North-South games in Mansfield and Columbus. Upon retirement, he was
presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ohio High School Athletic
Association for his years of service.
63
Steve started his officiating career on his father’s crew in 1986 and
stayed with that team, one that included long-time local official Wayne
Bennett until his father suffered a stroke on Memorial Day in 1997.
During their tenure on the gridiron, Steve attended both Ohio
State and Terra Community College where he earned a degree in
Business Administration. His first job was driving for Pizza Brothers. He
transitioned to Domino’s, working for Skip Wilde as a driver in 1987.
“I was only on the road for eight months,” he recalled. “I asked to
work inside so I could learn that aspect of the business. Shortly after that
I took over as manager of the store.”
Gfell’s first franchise purchase was in 1992 when he bought the
Vermilion store. The following year he purchased one in Sandusky.
“My store ownership count fluctuated around 2008,” he explained. “I
pretty much settled on eight but in 2011 I decided to start growing again.
It will be up to 19 when we open at Sagamore Hills later this fall.”
One would think the owner of this many establishments spread over
such a wide area would leave no time for a second job.
“Have the right people in the area of management and it works fine,”
Gfell claimed. “I have nine Directors of Operation and that includes two
in the office and five in the field.”
It was in the fall of 1985 when Gfell got up close and personal with
the game of football.
“And it was not as an official,” he explained. “I worked as the Special
Teams coach for Joe Widman at St. Paul. I remember Dad telling me
at the time that I should give up that free gratis coaching and get paid
for what you do by working as an official. Heck, at that age, I thought
officiating was for old guys. Suddenly, I realized that young guys could
join in the fun and I’ll be the first to admit that working with your father
every weekend on the football field was a dream-come-true for me.”
Steve was 18 years old when he got his officiating permit, one that
allowed him to work everything but varsity games for the first two
seasons. He worked his first varsity game as the umpire in 1988, the St.
Paul-Sandusky St. Mary contest. He was on the crew with Tom Swick,
Dale Perkins and Tom Joseph, filling in as a replacement for Denny
Foltz. He worked on that crew for two years before joining his father’s
crew in 1990
“I well remember Dad telling me that I needed to get some
experience on another crew first before I joined his team,” Steve joked.
“Dad was the head linesman. I was the umpire. I just remember we had
one guy who will not be named that always got us in trouble. Let’s just
say those were memorable years.”
After his father’s stroke, Steve became the referee of that crew, one
that stayed intact from 1998 to 2013.
Continued on page 19 >>
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Gfell would make his initial move toward
college officiating in 1999 by attending college rules
interpretation meetings in Akron every Wednesday
night during that season. The bottom line was he had
to be known. It would lead to his working a game in the
Ohio Athletic Conference.
It was in 2003 when he was offered two games in
the Hartland Conference.
“I was officially “in” with that offering,” Gfell
stated. “I filled the rest of my open dates with games in
the NCAC and worked with the same seven guys from
2003 to 2011.”
Gfell moved up to DIV II football in 2012, working
for three seasons in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Conference, a league that includes Ashland University.
As he put it, he got the “big call” in in May of 2015,
the one that put him in front of DIV I football crowds.
“The key to moving up in collegiate officiating
is knowing someone with clout,” Steve assured. “In
my case it was knowing long-time Mid-American
Conference Supervisor of Officials, Carl Paganelli, a
man who has three sons currently working on NFL
crews.
With the door open to the Collegiate Officiating
Consortium, the group who assigns for the Big 10,
Mid-American and Missouri Valley conferences, Gfell
is now numbered in an elite group of 40 DIV I officials
in the state of Ohio.
The Missouri Valley Conference crew he presently
works on includes one official from Wisconsin, Iowa
and Pennsylvania and two from Indiana.
Steve worked his first game involving a Big 10
school when he traveled to Penn State to work as the
field judge for the game against San Diego State the last
Saturday in September. He is still a “swing” official in
the Big 10 but as a “crew” official in the Missouri Valley
he is assured of a full schedule the rest of the season.
Although he did not relate his fee for working
a game at this level, he did say that a generous fee is
payed for working the game but the official pays all his
expenses. Generally, he drives to the games.
He was quick to add, “no one is retiring from their
full time job.”
FOUR LEGS IN THE FIRELANDS
GOD’S LITTLE
CRITTERS
By ZOE GRESZLER
aribeth Taylor has the dream job of any animal lover,
albeit stressful, as the founder of God’s Little Critters,
a state and federally licensed 21-year-old nonprofit
organization that helps injured, orphaned and diseased wild
animals.
“It is by far the most stressful job I have ever had,” the former
music teacher said. “You never know if you’re getting a disease
when an animal comes or how the animal is going to react or
what’s wrong. …(But) it’s wonderful work.”
Currently Maribeth, with the help of her husband, Stan, care
for two red-tail hawks, two turkey vultures (Henrietta and Vince),
a peregrine falcon (Valentine), a barred owl, two screech owls and
three great horned owls, amongst other birds and mammals. All
of these birds were injured in some way by humans, however some
are kept for educational purposes.
“Very seldom are their injuries from nature,” the volunteer
said. “It’s almost always from something we have caused, either
from a glass window collision, getting hit by a car, being shot or
with trees that are taken down. It’s rare that I have one that was
hurt from nature.”
One animal that was harmed in nature that she has in her
care is the great horned owl. He has been at God’s Little Critters
for about three months.
“He was sprayed by a skunk, and it sprayed him in the
eyes,” she said. “He was temporarily blinded for a few weeks. We
thought he could have had a fractured wing too. We weren’t sure.”
To her relief though, the owl was able to fly once his vision
was restored and upon x-ray the wing was not broken.
“He’s an adult so we’ll take him back to where we found him
since he had a nest nearby,” she said. “They store food in their
nests and hunt all year round and then they store it in the nest in
the winter where it freezes. Then they can sit on it long enough to
thaw it and eat it.”
“When an animal first comes (needing love and care), they’re
placed in quarantine, and checked for diseases,” Taylor said. “Once
they’re evaluated, we place them in a small enclosure, and once
they start doing better, into a bigger enclosure and then a larger
one and eventually into the large flight cage.”
The flight pen stands 18 feet tall and has a high perch where
Maribeth is able to gage their ability to fly without releasing them
before they are ready.
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“I never want to release any animal until I’m positive
they are ready,” she said.
And the organization rarely turns an animal away.
“Sometimes they don’t really need our help, the baby’s
parents may be nearby or it could just be able to take care of
itself. Most don’t need saving,” Taylor said.
“That’s why we ask that people call rather than just
bring the animal out here directly. …We would get more
donations if we allowed people to drop them off, but I
would rather lose a donation and make sure whether the
animal needs saving.”
That’s a lot coming from a woman who runs a business
that relies on the kindness of others to keep running.
“We hope to keep it going for another 10 years, but right
now we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to make it
through next year,” she said.
It takes about $60,000 per year to run God’s Little
Critters and to help save hundreds of wild animals in that
same amount of time.
“Our mouse bill alone is $1,500 each month to feed the
birds,” Maribeth said.
The organization applies for grants each year and has
a few generous major donors such as local United Funds
and Bronson’s conservation, however, otherwise, Taylor said
they get most of their donations from doing educational
programs at no charge with several of the birds that have
been glove trained for places such as schools, churches and
other organizations. Visitation is available by appointments.
Because the organization is entirely non-profit all donations
are tax-deductible and much appreciated.
Anyone interested in helping an animal, making a
donation, touring the grounds or hosting a wildlife program
can call the 24/7 organization at 419-935-1782.
If you want your home to
come to life for Christmas
this year, come to Miller’s.
We specialize in
bringing things to life!
Serving Norwalk
for over 30 years.
www.MillerLandscapeAndGardens.com
4352 Sand Rd. | Norwalk | 419-668-3670
ACCURATE
AUTOMOTIVE & ALIGNMENT
We service all makes & models
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No job too big or too small
FREE drop off & pickup service
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CALL MIKE ROMELL OR ANDY MILLER TODAY!
(567) 424-6681
Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
29 N Hester St., Norwalk
Proudly Supporting
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Over 65 Years of Combined Experience
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For more information and menu ideas, visit our website:
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175 Cleveland Road
419-668-5833
Drive-Thru & ATM
346 Milan Avenue
ATMs Only
99 Whittlesey Ave. & 117 Whittlesey Ave.
www.firelandsfcu.org
Federally insured by NCUA
ARTISTS’ OPEN STUDIO
By BARBARA WRABEL
t’s a Thursday afternoon in early autumn, and
the artists begin to straggle into the ceramics
studio at Christie Lane Industries, pulling
on aprons to protect their clothing against the
inevitable stains from glaze and clay. Bill Young,
Artists’ Open Studio’s ceramics guru (and a
gifted ceramic artist in his own right), asks for
input on the session’s background music for the
day; his volunteer assistant, Linda Feltis, greets
the participants and ensures that the necessary
supplies and tools are close at hand for each.
It is clear from the outset that the artists are
encouraged to work and create as independently
as possible, drawing upon their untapped
creativity to bring to life something that was
previously no more than an idea. Some of the
most interesting pieces, according to Bill, are the
result of “happy accidents” at times. And others—
like the mosaics created by studio regular James
O’Dor—are the products of a skilled artisan who
has found a way to express himself without words.
James, who is hearing-impaired and neither
speaks nor uses traditional sign language to
communicate, sits down at a table by himself and
takes the photograph of a duck in flight that Bill
hands to him while gesturing at a blank piece of
paper. James nods, examines the image carefully, then picks up a pencil in
his left hand and begins to interpret what he sees, referring frequently to
the original photo as he does so. The drawing is striking as it develops in a
near puzzle-like form; it appears that James “sees” images as mosaics, in parts
that come together as a whole when the work is completed. He glances up
periodically and offers a shy smile, as well as an occasional thumbs-up, to his
observer. It is the beginning of another unique work of art from a man who
clearly finds peace in the creative process—and has, through his connection
with Artists’ Open Studio, found his place in the world.
“James has been with AOS since 2006, and has been prolific in both our
painting and ceramic studios,” said Lynda Stoneham, managing director of
Artists’ Open Studio. “He began working with mosaics in 2008, and, aside
from his other art, he’s created 36 mosaic pieces—32 of which have sold.
James’s work has also influenced some of the ceramic tile designs that are
produced for sale by the studio in cooperation with Christie Lane Industries,
particularly the frog, dragonfly and sunflower coasters. He is a talented artist
with a very clear vision in his work, and we are honored to have supported
him in discovering that gift.”
Artists’ Open Studio currently supports the creative talents of 42
artists on their roster, and represents three others. Artists with and without
disabilities are welcome to sign up for the studio sessions. Information about
the studio, artwork and products currently for sale, or the Featured Artist of
the Month may be found at ArtistsOpenStudioInc.org or on Facebook.
CHRISTIE LANE
INDUSTRIES
Grateful to be
a part of the
Norwalk Community
since 1976!
www.christielane.com
CONNIE ONEY:
Sustaining Our Lifestyle
By SCOTT SEITZ
reenwich resident Connie Oney is proud to
announce the release of her new book, “Sustaining
Our Lifestyle.”
“Anybody interested in family, gardening, cooking, farming and
all things “country” should enjoy my books,” she said.
“Sustaining Our Lifestyle” is a companion book to my
first, “Cultivation of a Lifestyle”, though it is also a stand alone
book. I begin the book by stating that “There was only one
thing I knew for sure growing up – I was NEVER going to
marry a farmer!” she said.
“As it turned out I married the farmer of all farmers and
life has been good. I wrote the books to let people know what
farming is like today for modern family farmers,” Oney said.
“It’s not the farm of your grandparents, nor is it a huge
conglomerate that comes to the minds of many. We also aren’t
standing around chewing straw like Hee-Haw people were,”
she added.
“We are just like most small businesses and face the same
problems they do. We have large farms to fight as the small
grocer fights Walmart or the little book store fights Barnes &
Noble,” Oney said.
“People wee always asking me when I would write another
book (which I had no intention of doing because I felt I’d
said what I’d wanted to say.) I kept a website to help sell the
original book and my husband kept telling me I should publish
the material on that. He finally convinced me and I thought,
easy, I’d simply take the material I’d already written on the
website,” she said.
“It wasn’t to be that easy and I ended up spending about 1
½ years on it before it was done. I needed lots more material,
new pictures because some of the pictures on the site were ones
I’d taken from ‘Cultivation of a Lifestyle.’ Of course there is
more than one person involved in creating a book, especially a
photo book and there were months of back and forth between
me, the publisher and the designer. I’m proud of what we
finally came up with though,” Oney added.
“A thread running through the first book was the trial
we face getting work done while facing constant uncertain
weather. In the new book there is a little story running
throughout of our granddaughter and challenges she had with
a fair calf,” Oney said.
“I owned and operated my portrait studio for over 25 years
while working on our dairy farm as bookkeeper, calf feeder and
doing various other jobs required of anybody owning their own
business. I’m mother of five, grandmother of nine, active in
community and church,” Oney said.
“I take photos because I see so much beauty around me
that I just can’t resist recording it. Ninety-nine percent of
the photos in the two books were taken in one country block.
There is so much beauty around us in ordinary things that we
miss.”
Both books are available on Amazon or at your local book
store. Some of the places they can be found: in Norwalk at
Gabby Road Studio; in Willard at Missler’s IGA; in Planktown
at the fabric store; in Greenwich at Sandy’s Painted Chair and
at Ashland’s Local Roots.
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Spotlight on
NEIL SKINN
By SCOTT SEITZ
eter Frampton, holder of one of the biggest selling live rock albums “Frampton Comes
Alive,” is partnering with an inventor originally from Norwalk to assist his company
raising funds, promoting their new products and finding industry partners.
Neil Skinn, a Norwalk native, founded TransPerformance Inc in Fort Collins, Colo. in 1987
to develop and manufacture “self-tuning” systems for musical instruments.
“I’ve known Neil Skinn for many years. We first met due to my interest in his
TransPerformance self-tuning guitar system. I loved this self-tuning method due to its accuracy
and also the custom tunings. I’m very excited and can’t wait to start using the newly proposed
AxCent Tuning system. There are other self-tuning guitar products out there, but none come
close to the fail safe accuracy of AxCent Tuning,” Frampton said.
Skinn’s self-tuning guitar systems give artists the ability to change the tension of the strings,
in real time, to thousands of alternate tunings and provide the ability to touch up the state of
tuning and, most importantly, change the tuning while playing. Skinn said these features are a
major advantage to artists in live performance, composing and recording.
Frampton partnered with Skinn to raise funds through the sale of equity. Frampton is the
“headliner” for a crowdsource funding investment round through Crowdfunder.com.
Additionally, Frampton is using his stellar reputation as a “guitar player’s guitarist” to
promote the company and its products on news outlets, technology spots and late night talk
shows. Frampton and his band did a national tour in the summer of 2015 and used Skinn’s selftuning guitar system for certain songs that he wrote using their systems. Frampton also signed a
five-year consulting agreement to help with the sales and marketing.
Skinn first conceived the idea for the tuning system in 1983 and made the breakthrough on
how to put it all together in 1985 by employing concepts he learned while performing research
at a scientific instrumentation company in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
He assembled a team and began developing self-tuning guitar systems in 1987 and
founded TransPerformance in 1989. The first working system was delivered to Jimmy Page of
Led Zeppelin in early 1991. In 1993, Skinn married Vickie Channel and he and his partners
were listed in Guitar Magazine’s Top 100 Most Important People in the Music Industry. The
company’s list of endorsers and artists reads like a “who’s who” of the music business and includes
legendary artists: Page, Joe Perry, Pete Townshend, Eddie Van Halen, Pat Metheny, Graham
Nash, Mick Fleetwood, Kenny Loggins, Peter Buck, Rick Springfield and many more. In 2008
the company was reformed under the name AxCent Tuning Systems LLC.
Skinn said his company was unable to reach commercial success through the years because
the technologies needed to get the costs down weren’t available.
“We were ahead of technology, but as the technology advanced, each advancement was
applied to the design until recently the final breakthrough came with the advent of the smart
phone,” he said.
DISCOVER NORWALK ////////// 29
His new systems are wireless and are controlled by Apple and Android devices. He said
removing the user interface components of the system from the guitar body simplified the
installation and removed the associated costs making the new systems affordable for the
average musician. Skinn said their technology is far superior to anything presently in the
marketplace.
Recently, AxCent Tuning Systems, with the help of Frampton, launched a capital raise
campaign via Crowdfunder.com. Crowdfunder is a crowd-funding community of accredited
investors that has seen tremendous success recently and the company plans to leverage the
combination of Crowdfunder’s platform along with Frampton as the headliner to raise the
capital necessary to build initial inventory and launch a marketing plan for their affordable,
broad market, self tuning guitar systems.
Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history.
At 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British band the Herd. At 18, he co-founded
one of the first supergroups, the seminal rock act Humble Pie. His session work includes
collaborations with such legendary artists as George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, John Entwistle and many others. His fifth solo album, the
electrifying “Frampton Comes Alive!,” is one of the top-selling live records of all time.
Skinn studied industrial electricity at EHOVE Career Center and graduated from
St. Paul High School in 1974. He served six years in the Navy, where he studied advanced
electronics in the field of SONAR and advanced music theory through the U.S. School of
Music in Chicago. Skinn studied mathematics, physics and electrical engineering at Mesa
College in Grand Junction Colo. and Colorado State University. His company has hundreds
of investors in Norwalk. He is the son of the late James and Charlotte Skinn, of Norwalk.
Skinn was indoctrinated into the Museum of Science and Discovery in November
2012 by the city of Fort Collins, Colo. as the “top innovator” in the music field in Northern
Colorado.
In 2014, Page released a book titled “Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page” chronicling his musical
career in photographs. Skinn said he feels honored that several photos of Page playing and
posing with his guitars appear in hs book.
A guitar player himself, Skinn is working with some of the legendary guitar greats
to produce an interactive software package that will converse with his self-tuning guitar
systems to teach guitar players how to play in alternate tunings, transpose fingerings among
alternate tunings, and incorporate alternate tuning into musical compositions.
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DON GRAHAM & ASSOCIATES
COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES
HELPING YOU PURSUE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
Don Graham: President, Registered Representative of
Commonwealth Financial Network
Don works closely with CPAs and attorneys in providing clients
with comprehensive estate and retirement planning
Kaysie Ludewig:
Senior Registered Administrative Assistant
Kaysie processes client financial transactions and
provides personal services to clients.
Kathe Graham:
Business Manager
Kathe is responsible for facets of business
management, accounts payable, receivables, and also
serves as a Customer Service Representative.
Derek W. Baker:
Director of Financial Planning Operations
Derek has focused his time helping our advisors
strategically plan for their specific client needs.
AT DONALD M. GRAHAM & ASSOCIATES,
WE USE A “TEAM APPROACH” in the
process of working with our clients and
prospects to make sure we don’t leave
anything out of your financial needs. We have
been in business for 38 years and each of the
staff members are truly, specialists in various
fields of financial services business.
Crystal Channing:
Manager of Client Services
Crystal is our receptionist who always greets our clients
with a smile and a cheerful, upbeat attitude.
Kip Matteson: EVP, Registered Representative
of Commonwealth Financial Network
Kip is responsible for the risk management,
retirement and business sector of the company.
Terry Adams: Registered Representative of
Commonwealth Financial Network
Terry is an independent stock broker specializing in the
selling and trading of stocks, corporate and municipal
bonds, mutual funds and retirement planning.
Gregg Berkshire:
Insurance Specialist
Gregg is responsible for the sale and review
of life, health, long-term care, and medical
supplement insurance.
Eric Schwieterman:
Director of Corporate Strategies
Eric works closely with our advisors on individual
client planning and also works to maintain
develop corporate strategies.
Put our experienced team to work for you in meeting your financial planning needs.
Stop by our office at 205 Myrtle Avenue in Willard or call for an appointment at 419-933-2081.
We have four office locations for your convenience in Willard, Norwalk, Ashland and Strongsville.
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor.
www.grahamassoc.com
SNOW DAY
Activities
By ZOE GRESZLER
t’s another cold day with two feet of snow piled high and school has been cancelled.
This scenario may be all too familiar if you enjoyed winter in Ohio the past couple of years.
After the first day or two, ideas for activities and things to do may begin to run dry and the
children may begin to gravitate towards their electronics.
It may take some creativity and Pinterest searching, but keeping them engaged and away
from the screens may actually be better.
“My big thing with any kid is (knowing) it’s important to keep them stimulated and active,”
said Norwalk’s Pleasant Elementary principle Janice Smith. “It’s not good for them to be on the
computers all day.”
Instead of sending them off to do an activity, Smith recommends using
rare this time to bond.
“It’s great when you get to be engaged with them. Then you can learn
and play together,” she said.
Smith’s children have grown into adults now, but when they were younger, she
said they had a few favorite activities they enjoyed together when the cold
weather shut them.
“Kids love board games, or storytelling,” Smith said. “I would like to do
storytelling with the kids or reading a chapter book together. Watching family
home-videos. Kids love that, or looking through their baby photo albums.
Kids still enjoy having the simple things to do. Bake cookies, put on a play.
You can find things around the house to use as props and to dress up in.”
When ideas run dry, Smith recommends looking on the internet.
“Pinterest has a lot of ideas of things for kids to do. Like a snow day
survival kit,” she said. “Have a tub set aside filled with toys, games, anything
you can pull out during a snow day so it’s all ready to go. You could change it
from time to time or better yet, make it a surprise for your kids.”
Here are some other ideas to make the next snow day a positive, fun
experience. Whatever you do, just have fun and get involved together.
• Build a fort.
• Use a few drops of food coloring to dye the snow and make art.
• Do a science experiment. They don’t need to be complicated to be fun.
• Ask your child to teach you something.
• Shovel a neighbor’s yard.
• Build a village and people from popsicle sticks and markers. You can find
them pretty cheap at craft stores, or wash ones left over from snacks.
• Make cards.
• Practice math skills with special treats (M&Ms, Legos, etc.).
• Use (clean) snow to make hot cocoa or ice cream (recipes online).
• Color together.
• Have an indoor picnic or Safari adventure (used stuffed toys).
• Take silly pictures.
‘The O.B.’ Seeks Local, Live
ENTERTAINMENT
By CARY ASHBY
bout 25 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of live
music in Norwalk. But that didn’t stop The Office Bar from
giving it a go. “Lorraine was always willing to try different
promotion ideas, including live music playing the
smallest bar in town,” manager Ray Sizemore said,
referring to his mother, who owns the bar at 11
Whittlesey Ave.
So, starting in the 1990s, The Office Bar
started booking pop, rock/classic rock and country
acts such as Lee & Joel, Paul Noga, Mark Outland,
Tim Blake, Cold Sweat, Spina & Sullivan and Paul
Christensen.
“Lee & Joel, for a stretch of about three years
in the early-to-mid 90s, were packing the house
for four to five hours a night, every Wednesday,”
Sizemore said.
The group was so popular the bar created
T-shirts with the phrase “Wednesday Warrior.”
“They became one of the hottest cover bands in
the area, often playing twice a day six to seven days
a week. They came back for a one-shot reunion a
couple of years ago, which brought a lot of familiar
faces back to The O.B.,” Sizemore said.
In the 2000s, The Office Bar booked local
performers doing pop, rock and plenty of original
material such as Emily Keener (who was featured
in the first issue of Discover Norwalk), Chris Castle
and the now defunct Womacks (earlier called The
Womack Family Band). Also performing have been:
The Relations, Dan Fester, The Heartbeats, Paul
Frank, Lance Horwedel and a local classic rock and
blues singer who goes by Great Grandpa Beebe
(who was interviewed in the summer issue).
Over the years, Sizemore said he’s seen when
out-of-town acts have drawn better crowds than
local performers — and then when clients prefer the
opposite.
“What people look for in bar entertainment has
changed a lot over the years, several times. There
were times when people didn’t really care much for
䜀愀礀洀漀渀琀一甀爀猀椀渀最䌀攀渀琀攀爀
live acts either way (and) times when specific acts were
massive draws,” he said.
“Of late, we tend to see a better response for local
acts. Even at times that bands haven’t drawn well, people
tend to be happy that there’s entertainment in town
and surprised that our (nearly) 50-seat tavern hosts it,”
Sizemore added.
Cory Boomer and Tommy Christian host Tuesday
Open Mic night.
“With few exceptions, we’ve had karaoke at least
once a week since about 1995. This is another place
where opinions evolve; there are times when I only see
a handful of singers and there have been times when I
was hosting karaoke three nights a week (with) 20 to 30
singers a night,” Sizemore said.
In recent years, a duo named Tony & Noah started
playing Thursday nights. “They brought in a friend or two every once in a
while, then two friends, then three. Eventually, they
became a five-piece act called The Womack Family
Band. We’re pretty proud of the fact that The Womacks
basically formed at The Office Bar,” Sizemore said.
“Performers are generally excited to play (here)
again, though we lose some of them to Lake Erie and the
islands for the summer,” he added.
For the near future, The Office Bar is concentrating
on one- to two-piece acts from Norwalk.
“Imagine Norwalk seems to be either revealing
or spurring the development of a lot of local talent,”
Sizemore said, referring to the summer event in
downtown.
Advertising the performances by Lee & Joel and
The Womacks means The Office Bar has seen everything
from “overwhelming business” to “a mild bump.”
“And yes, we definitely see The O.B. as an
entertainment destination. We provide two nights of
entertainment a week — three, if you count the Trivia
Championship of the Universe on Thursdays — with no
cover charge and we’re always looking for new talent to
showcase,” Sizemore said.
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SMETZER PAINT & SUPPLY
419-624-9007
10007 US Highway 250 North | Milan, Ohio 44846
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
STYLE
AMÉZ BOUTIQUE
Brings Trends to
NORWALK
By ZOE GRESZLER
méz Boutique, located at 26 W. Main St., about a block
from the Library, is one of Norwalk’s newer businesses and
so far things seem to be going pretty well for shop and
owner Amy Nevills.
“We’re about (five) months in at this point. We have people
coming back in regularly,” Nevills said, enthusiastic about the shop’s
progress.
“They know we get new stuff regularly now. But we also still
have people discovering we’re here. … Everyone says how they love
to shop local and support local shops. There is nothing else around
here that is like this. And sometimes you just don’t want to go to
Sandusky.”
Amy said her sources help encourage interest and business as
well.
“I try to buy U.S. made,” she said. “I can’t find everything U.S.
made, but I do with whatever I can, and people who come in have
learned that. I try to find USA made items of good quality and
well-priced.”
And business seems to be growing.
“We still have people referring their friends and telling others
about us.”
Nevilles said she thinks it’s the buzz of ‘something new.’
“When someone gets a new outfit for work or class, everyone
wants to know, ‘Oh, where did you get that at?’” she said. “They like
how there’s not 30 of one thing. It’s unique. Not everyone in class
or the office is going to be wearing the same thing. And it’s trendy.”
Amy said stylish approach can also present a challenge for the
shop though.
“Every day, every week, we’re working on new stuff. It’s a
challenge sometimes, like ‘okay, what do I do now? What’s next?
What’s going to be the new thing?’” she said.
“It’s nice that we’re not like New York. They’re very fashion
forward, trying to make new statements. We’re fashion-on-target in
Midwest, so it’s easier.”
However, Nevills said she has adopted it as part of her
personal mission to help to close the gap a little, and so far it’s been
something exciting for the community.
“Our best experience so far has probably been just how happy
everyone is with us offering this in Norwalk,” she said. “We’re
trying to fill in the gap. I know we can’t fill everyone’s closet, but we
can help fill the gap.”
And despite what you may think, this shop isn’t just for the
young, but also the young at heart.
STYLE
“We’ve had grandmas come in with their
granddaughters and everyone’s found something,”
Amy said.
Right now Nevills said she has a few things
in particular that are popular with the community
women.
“Cardigans, flannel and plaid tops and beanie
caps,” she said as examples. “Anything they can layer,
stay warm with and look good in.”
Nevills said she intends to try to continue to
live up to her customers’ expectations.
“We’re adding more shelving and we’re trying
to have more selection,” she said. “I want to continue
to offer more variety. I’m definitely learning all
the time, constantly asking ‘What can I bring to
Norwalk?’”
One stop in the downtown store and it’s clear
she’s already brought quite a bit.
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眀眀眀⸀氀漀渀稀氀愀眀⸀挀漀洀
T ILE C LE A NING S P E C IA LIS T S
77 E. Main St., Norwalk
419-668-4665 | (toll-free) 800-423-1310
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Open M&F 8:30-5; Tu&Th 8:30-4; Sat 9-noon
For all your floor covering and carpet cleaning needs, visit:
WWW.BALDUFFS.COM
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Mon.-Fri. 7:30-5:00
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419-668-1160
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240 Cleveland Rd.
Norwalk, Ohio
PICK UP & DELIVERY AVAILABLE
LET’S EAT
The
FREIGHT HOUSE
By CARY ASHBY
ans Hoffmann had wanted to have a sports
bar in Norwalk for quite some time.
With the Nov. 9 opening of The Freight
House, his dream became a reality.
“I’ve always wanted to put something in
Norwalk,” Hoffmann said. “I’ve been trying since
2011. I’ve always wanted to do a sports club.”
In 2013, he tried to buy the Mill Street Bistro,
but the deal fell through.
“My partner backed out,” Hoffmann said.
He envisions The Freight House as a destination
— especially when there are televised Ohio State,
Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers and Indians games.
“This will be the place to go,” he said, looking
around at the eatery with obvious pride.
Friends of the business partners have let them
borrow dozens of pieces of OSU, Browns, Cavs,
Indians, Norwalk and St. Paul memorabilia. The
baseball items are Hoffmann’s. The decorated walls
are a feast for the eyes of any local and/or Cleveland
sports fan.
Enclosed in LED-lit cases at the vestibule are
footballs autographed by the OSU 2002 and 2014
national championship teams.
“We have a Paul Warfield-signed jersey from
Ohio State,” Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann and his business partners, Andrew
Stroud and Donald Edwards, all of Norwalk, started
renting the property at 50 N. Prospect St. in January.
They assumed the lease from Chef ’s Market.
Actually, Hoffmann had never been at the deli/
eatery. It took some encouragement from Edwards,
who liked the architecture.
“He said, ’You need to look at it,’” said Hoffmann,
who was hooked when he saw the possibilities.
As soon as Hoffmann saw the inside of the old
Chef ’s Market, he had a vision for what he wanted.
He knew where the large-screen televisions and bar
should go.
“I could see it. I literally could see what I wanted
to do,” he said. “It was like my brain was ahead of me.”
Hoffmann took pictures of the interior and then
SCREEN PRINTING
EMBROIDERY
LASER ENGRAVING
SIGNS/BANNERS
NEW LOCATION
LOCATED AT THE HURON COUNTY AIRPORT HANGAR
manipulated the images to his liking on
Photoshop.
“It took me less than a week,” he said.
Getting the right shade of orange
on the walls took a bit longer. Hoffmann
used four different shades before he was
completely happy with the results.
In April, the crew started its
renovation work, going at it seven days a
week.
During the first four months of
work, Hoffmann said the focus was
telling people that Chef ’s Market and
its deli weren’t there any more. For the
last four months, he had to explain “we
were coming; we just didn’t know when.”
Various electrical and plumbing issues
held up the opening.
Eventually, Hoffmann started telling
people The Freight House would be open
in three weeks. The fictitious timetable
soon became an ongoing joke.
Burgers are one of the featured menu
items. The meat comes from Smith’s
Country Counter (aka Smitty’s) in
Norwalk.
Shroud, a graduate of the LeCordon
Blue Institute of Culinary Arts in
Pittsburgh, is the chef for The Freight
House.
“Andrew makes fantastic homemade
sauerkraut balls and he has delicious
perch bites,” Hoffmann said.
While The Freight House has “bar
food,” Hoffmann said the menu has
affordable items and the sports bar is
family-friendly.
“There’s a kids menu,” he added.
Lunches range in price from $6 to
$10 while dinners run $8 to $12.
“That’s counting your beverage,”
Hoffmann said. “We won’t be the
cheapest, but the atmosphere will be
worth it.”
The interior has local and area
touches.
The back of the booths are made
of refurbished wood. The train tracks
along with the ceiling that were in Chef ’s
Market now has a functioning train from
1853, the year the property was built.
“We had someone from Norwalk
who donated his time to get it up and
running,” Hoffmann said.
A Sandusky carpenter was in charge
of the wood work.
“He did a great job with the wood
work and the vestibules,” Hoffmann said.
“There are 20 more seats in here than
what they had (at Chef ’s Market).”
Customers might recognize where
they order their drinks. The dark wood
once was the 29-foot long bar from the
old Waldo’s Bar on Benedict Avenue.
The crew cut it down to 14 feet and
used two parts for point-of-service areas.
A third piece of the old bar is for the
handicapped-accessible portion of the
new one.
“We have 16 beers on tap and we
have full liquor (service),” Hoffmann said.
The Freight House is open from
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through
Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight
Thursday through Saturday and 12 to
9 p.m. Sunday.
Residents with experience as cooks
or servers are encouraged to stop by 50 N.
Prospect St.
961 US HIGHWAY 20
NEW SERVICES
LASER ENGRAVING AND CUTTING
$25
OFF
ANY LASER
ENGRAVING ORDER
LIMIT ONE USE
PER TRANSACTION
VALID UNTIL
DECEMBER 31ST 2015
LET’S EAT
PIZZA POST
By JENNIFER GRECO
great option for Italian food in Norwalk is
the Pizza Post Family Restaurant, located
at 222 ½ E Main Street. While not new,
the original Pizza Post opened in 1970, Pizza Post
offers some great Italian dishes.
Current owner Patti Jackson, continues the
Pizza Post tradition of treating all guests as family.
Jackson, along with her husband Mark, who passed
away in 2004, purchased the Pizza Post in 1991and
is proud to say that the business is very community
and family oriented. All four of Jackson’s children,
Beth, Tyler, Jenni and Chris have worked at the
Pizza Post at one time or another. Beth continues
to be a strong presence and assists her mother with
running the restaurant.
Jackson is proud that the interior and décor
of the restaurant have not changed much since the
1970’s but notes that the kitchen has been kept up
to date. Quality food, a family oriented atmosphere
and a diverse menu keep locals coming back for
more. While Italian cuisine is a popular option at
the Pizza Post, the menu offers many other options
including sandwiches, subs, salads and dinners.
A special section of the menu offers Joseppi’s
Homemade Recipes. Recipes including lasagna,
meatballs, chicken and veal Parmesan and spaghetti
come from the Borgia Family who owned a local
restaurant called Joseppi’s. When the restaurant
closed, Jackson purchased the secret recipes and
have included them on Pizza Post’s menu for years.
The recipes include a special tomato sauce that
brings extra flavor and spices to these menu items.
Pizza Post’s own sauce is also a treat and is very
popular.
PINEY PARADISE CHRISTMAS TREES
Two locations to Cut-Your-Own Trees!
677 SOUTH NORWALK ROAD FARM:
Located 1 mile west of U.S. Rt. 250
Open Weekdays, starting November 27, 3 -5 p.m.
Weekends November 28, 29
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20
Saturday 9-5, Sunday 11-5
1664 SNYDER ROAD FARM:
Located 6 miles south of Norwalk
On St Rt. 61, then 1/4 mile west on Snyder Road
Open November 28, 29,
December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20
Satu
Saturday
9-5; Sunday 11-5
Jackson believes part of Pizza Post’s success is based on the
consistent quality of the menu. A pizza ordered today will be the
same if ordered next month or next year. Jackson has been told
that residents who have moved away from Norwalk but return for
a visit, have tasted her spaghetti and found it to be as excellent as
when they lived in town. Fresh vegetables, house-made sauces and a
dedication to providing a great family experience makes guests want
to return.
During a recent visit to the Pizza Post, several menu items
were sampled. Two very good appetizers, fried pickle chips and
wings, were thoroughly enjoyed. The pickle chips were crispy and
very flavorful especially when dipped in a side of ranch dressing.
The wings were deep fried, meaty and delicious. They were not
spun in a sauce but a choice of sauces was offered for dipping. Pizza
Post’s traditional garlic bread was also appreciated and was full of
garlicky and herby flavor. A Joseppi’s Italian sub, which was full of
cheeses, Italian meats, lettuce and Italian dressing (other choices
include mayonnaise and pizza sauce) and toasted was a great treat.
A different take on chicken Parmesan with Joseppi’s sauce was
interesting and tasty. The dish came with spaghetti, chopped white
chicken bites, covered in sauce and cheese and baked to a lovely
brown delight. Lastly, a non-traditional but totally enjoyable BBQ
chicken pizza was presented. Pizza Post’s stand out dish is certainly
their pizza and the BBQ chicken did not fail to impress. If you
have room for dessert, the apple dumpling and hot fudge brownie
are great options.
Pizza Post has been a fixture in Norwalk for 40 years and the
Jackson family is proud to offer a great variety of delicious food
at reasonable prices with a family atmosphere. Their commitment
to the Norwalk community can be seen in the diversity of
their 32-member team (which includes many high schoolers),
involvement in community sports and schools and the joy they
share in welcoming back guests. They also offer catering for large
groups and can open the dining room to special events on Sundays
before opening for the evening. Be sure to visit Pizza Post on
Facebook, Twitter and at their website at norwalkpizzapost.com for
coupons, specials and menus.
BOTH SITES FEATURING:
Shaking and Baling of Trees, Pine Roping,
Holiday Photo Opportunities, Swags, Wreathes,
Table Arrangements, Greens, Christmas Crafts,
FREE Hot Cocoa and Cookies!
Our Horse Team has been retired. We are looking for replacements.
Watch our website and Facebook for updates.
419-668-9334 | PINEY-PARADISE.COM
Find us on Facebook!
222 1/2 E. Main St.
Norwalk, OH
See our online menu at
NorwalkPizzaPost.com
FIND US ON FACEBOOK!
HEALTH & BEAUTY
HEALTHY
WINTER
EATING
By ZOE GRESZLER
hen it’s cold outside most of us have the
tendency to find warmth and coziness in
delicious comfort foods. Unfortunately, come
swimsuit season, we can see just how bad all of those sugar
cookies and buttery rolls really were.
It can be hard to keep to the diet or just to eat healthy
period.
“A lot of people tend to gain more weight in the
winter because they move less and burn off less and so
they gain more,” said one area mom. “We’re usually more
busy in the summer than in the winter due to being able
to get out more, so it’s probably a lot more mindless
snacking and boredom than anything.”
Many would agree. How then could you combat the
munchies and what are some healthy alternatives to the
high calorie, high fat foods we crave during this season?
Tracy Adcock has worked at Berry’s Restaurant for 5
years and now serves as the basement kitchen assistant and
Sunday Brunch supervisor. She suggests a few easy swaps
and tips to help.
“Try healthier options of your favorite foods, like a
veggie lasagna,” Adcock suggested. “Then it’s not fatty
meats plus it’s less cheese. Or a good home cooked soup.
Use more lean meats, at least 80-20.”
When it comes to eating your vegetables, it can be
hard in the winter when very little is in season. If you can’t
get it fresh, Adock suggests not skipping them altogether.
“Get canned vegetables or frozen vegetables, they’re
still good for you,” she said. “Frozen are more nutritious.”
One area grandmother tries to get creative while eating
healthy.
“I recently bought a Spiralizer for vegetables so now
zucchini noodles replace refined flour pasta. (And) I try
to have a variety of real food dishes parceled out into
serving size containers so they are handy to grab and put
something together,” she said.
“For example right now in the fridge I have a
container of some kale pesto I whipped up in the food
processor, a Brussel sprouts with apples side dish, roasted
spaghetti squash, carnitas meat, cauliflower rice and some
salmon. Another tip is to have a bowl of hard boiled eggs
for quick protein on those busy mornings.”
One area mom suggests doing more crafts and
hobbies to avoid the afternoon munchies.
“You’ll be eating less because you’ll be keeping your
hands busy. If you’re able to keep your hands busy you’ll
keep them from going to your mouth thoughtlessly.”
HELPFUL TIPS:
• Look into healthier snacks. If you like fries, bake them instead of
frying, and use less oil.
• If you like carbs, try to eat more whole grains or go for the healthier
rice option.
• A potato has fewer carbohydrates and calories if you bake or
microwave it twice (such as, a leftover)
• Don’t be afraid to grill out. Even if it’s cold. It’s healthier and
alternative to frying and offers a different flavor and more pro-health
options.
• If you’re craving sweets, try foods that are have natural sugars, like
fruit or carrots.
• After the crunch? Try celery, carrots, nuts, etc.
• Making a cake? Try substituting some of the oil with more water or
all of the oil with plain, smooth applesauce
• Protein (eggs, nuts, barley, yogurts) satisfy hunger longer
• Chew slower and eat things (like M&Ms, raisins, etc.) one by one.
You’ll eat less.
• If you’re prone to get seconds and thirds, start with smaller plates and
smaller amounts. You will full your mind into thinking you’re eating
more.
• When choosing canned goods, such as fruits, select the ones that are
packed in natural juices if at all possible, otherwise, go with
those packed in light syrup, never heavy.
• Always drink a glass of water before meals and try
a glass before you go for the pie or cookies.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
TRY THIS TWO-DAY MENU:
•
•
•
•
•
BREAKFAST: Protein & Veggie Breakfast
3-4 stalks asparagus
Onion, diced
2 eggs
5 spice blend
1/2 avocado, sliced
1. Roast up at least 3-4 stalks of asparagus ahead of time
to taste and store in the fridge.
2. In the morning take out 3-4 stalks and cut into 1/2”
pieces. Throw in some diced onion into a heated skillet
with ghee, cook them then add the asparagus and
reheat them.
3. Sprinkle with 5-spice blend. Push to the side of the
skillet to make room to cook two beaten eggs. Once the
eggs are cooked, stir the veggies in. Serve with avocado
slices.
LUNCH: Grilled Kabobs with Fruit of Choice
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fruit may be fresh or canned, but packed in juice, not syrup
About 10 bamboo skewers
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 bell peppers (different colors preferably)
1 small onion
1 zucchini
15-20 cherry or grape tomatoes
1 head of garlic
1. Tip: Cut chicken and vegetables the night before to
save time.
2. Soak about 8-10 bamboo skewers in water for 30
minutes. This prevents burning.
3. Cut chicken breasts into chunks, being sure to cut off
excess fat.
4. Chop bell peppers (different colors preferably), onion
and zucchini into large chunks. Wash tomatoes and
peel and separate garlic into cloves.
5. Alternate skewing chicken, vegetables and garlic with
soaked skewers.
6. Grill about 10 minutes, or to desired doneness, turning
occasionally. Serve two skewers with 3/4 C fresh or
drained fruit.
7. Tip: Use your favorite vegetables. This is a guide, but
feel free to substitute (mushrooms, lamb, different
squashes, pineapples, ginger, bananas, etc.)
DINNER: Butternut Squash Soup with
Maple Bacon & Baked Apples with
Whole Grain Bread and Salad
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A recipe from Berry’s Restaurant contributed by Tracy Adcock
4 butternut squash
12 ounces maple falvored bacon
3-4 red delicious apple
1/2 - 1 C brown sugar
1 quart water
Salt
Pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1. Cut squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Place
squash in a roasting pan with a 1/4 inch of water, cover
and bake at 350 degrees until tender, about 20 minutes.
Once done remove the squash from the shell and place
in a bowl. When cool enough puree in a blender until
smooth, then add to a 6 quart stock pot. Add the quart
of water to the pureed squash.
2. Remove bacon from package and place on a cutting
board. Using a sharp knife cut bacon into pieces and
place on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Cook
bacon until crisp stirring often. Once done remove and
add to stock pot.
3. Wash and cut apples into quarters, then in half again.
Dice the apples into bite size pieces, place on a baking
sheet and place in the oven. Bake until crisp and hot
then add to stock pot.
4. Blend all ingredients together in the stock pot adding
salt and pepper to taste.
5. As the soup continue to simmer, add the brown sugar,
starting with a half cup, and stir in. Taste to determine
if you need to add more. Add the cinnamon and
nutmeg to taste as well.
6. Let soup simmer for 40 minutes, stirring once or twice.
Taste for flavor.
7. Before serving add a dash of nutmeg to the soup, serve
with a nice whole grain bread and green salad.
SNACK: Carrots and Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt
•
•
As many carrots as you want
1/4 C low-fat vanilla yogurt
1. Tip: Try dipping your carrots in the yogurt.
BREAKFAST: Easy Potato, Egg Scrambler
•
•
•
•
•
Serves 3
3 eggs
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2-3 potatoes, chopped or shredded
Optional: salsa, hot sauce or other topping
1. Cook potatoes in pan with extra virgin olive oil or
grapeseed oil until almost done.
2. Cook eggs to preference. Add onion, green pepper, salt
and pepper to taste. Add potatoes.
3. Reduce heat and cook together to allow flavors to
marry, a few minutes. Serve with desired topping or
plain.
•
•
•
•
LUNCH: Fall-Time Squash Salad
with Low-Fat Greek Yogurt
1 butternut squash, halved
2 apples, cored and chunked
1/4 C pecans
2 Tbs brown sugar
1. Microwave squash 2-3 minutes, until soft enough to
peel. Peel and cube.
2. Mix. Enjoy with about 1/2 C favorite low fat Greek
yogurt on the side.
3. Tip: add spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie,
allspice, etc.) for more flavor.
4. Optional: you can also bake or roast this recipe for a
slightly less healthy version. Add 1-2 Tbs of butter so it
does not dry out.
DINNER: Italian Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
with Multigrain Bread and Salad
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A recipe from Berry’s Restaurant contributed by Tracy Adcock
1 lb. Boneless/skinless chicken breast
Fat free Italian salad dressing
4 Ribs of celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
2 C of prepared wild rice
1 15 oz can of Seasoned diced tomatoes
1 1/2 quart of chicken broth
Salt, Pepper, Italian seasoning and dried Oregano.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cut chicken breast into 1/2 in. cubes and marinate in
the fat free Italian dressing for 30-45 minutes.
Prepare wild rice according to package instructions.
Place 1 quart of chicken stock in a 6 quart stock pot.
Add celery, onion. Salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer
until celery and onions are tender. Add the can of diced
tomatoes to pot, stir.
Strain chicken and cook until chicken is fully cooked.
Add the chicken to the stock pot. Add the wild rice and
lightly stir in. Add additional chicken stock if needed at
this time.
Add 1 Tbs of Italian Seasoning, 1/2 tsp of oregano. Let
soup simmer for 45 minutes, adjusting seasonings just
before serving.
Enjoy with a slice of multigrain bread and a green salad.
SNACK: 1-2 Cran-Nut-Chip Cookies
3/4 C all-purpose flour
3/4 C whole wheat flour
3/4 C regular rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C dried cranberries
2 1/2 Tbs finely chopped walnuts
2 1/4 Tbs semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 C packed brown sugar
5 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
2 Tbs honey
1 1/4 Tsp vanilla extract
2 medium eggs
1. Combine first nine ingredients (through chips) in a
large bowl.
2. Combine sugar and butter in a mixing bowl; beat at
medium speed until light and fluffy. Add honey, vanilla
and egg; beat well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture.
Beat at low speed until well blended. Cover and
refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350°.
4. Drop batter by the spoonful onto a baking sheet. Tip:
cover with wax paper for easier cleanup and healthier
cooking.
5. Bake for 10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on pans. Remove
from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
STAYING FIT
in the Winter
By ZOE GRESZLER
et’s face it, once the outside temperature hits about 40
degrees, there are few things as wonderful as
curling up the couch with snacks and goodies while
watching your favorite show on Netflix for hours. It’s just
the way winters are meant to be spent.
Unfortunately, our hearts, arteries and love handles
won’t thank us later for the three months of comfort foods.
So here are some tips to help you stay warm, cozy and still
active while it snows the days away.
Why not join a gym? Some enjoy the little extra
incentive of having a membership and the nice equipment
to look forward to when they lack motivation.
Norwalk offers a couple of options, including the
recreation center and Anytime Fitness at 265 Benedict Ave
Suite 100.
Jessica Clum works as the club manager at Anytime
Fitness and says it is important to stay active in the winter.
“We tend to get lazy in winter,” Clum said. “Regular
exercise is good for your health and we tend to stay inside
and not go out or really do much unless we need to when
it’s cold.”
“People tend to feel sedentary when the weather is not
nice,” said Norwalk-area doctor Seth Ruggles. “And we’re
getting into the holiday season. During the holidays, many
tend to overindulge.”
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Life is short.
Clum said you don’t need to already be active to start now. We’re all beginners
at some point.
“As far as our programs run, most people don’t have any idea what to do
at first. This gives them a place to start and incentive to keep going,” she said.
“Anyone 18 or older can join. We even have members who are people in their 80’s
and 90’s.”
A gym can make it easy, no matter your age or preference.
“We offer assessments, orientation and a one-on-one with a personal trainer.
They’ll work with you and write up a personal program,” Clum said. “We also
have group fitness as well.”
“I would say (it’s important). Get in a gym or anywhere and just get moving,”
she added. “We don’t just want (people) to be members here but to be active
anywhere.”
Ruggles agrees. If public exercise just isn’t your thing, it doesn’t necessarily
need to be a gym that keeps your body moving while mother nature freezes over.
“There’s walking at the mall. I know this has become a popular form of
activity for the older generation especially. Almost anyone can do it,” Ruggles said.
“Or even if the weather is decent enough, going for a brisk walk outside. Or just
basic exercises. You can do knee bends or try walking the stairs a few extra times
a day other than just when you need to go take care of something upstairs. Those
will keep you moving which is what you want.”
For some other easy alternative ideas, why not also try a few sit-ups, squats or
jumping jacks during commercials, taking a walk around the office on your next
break, delivering a message personally rather than through email or a call, parking
a little farther from the mall, playing with the kids in the snow or join a fun dance
or aerobics class with a friend.
However you do it, make sure to keep your body moving this winter and
ward off the extra pounds. You’ll stay warmer and your body will thank you.
Live it well.
Stein Hospice offers services
that can help.
· Guided Imagery
· Reiki
· Labyrinth Walks
For more information, please
contact us at 800-625-5269
or steinhospice.org
DWELL
NORWALK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
By CARY ASHBY
orwalk can boast that its library is an original Carnegie building.
“Not too many communities have a Carnegie building,” said Heidi
Sutter, director of the Norwalk Public Library, which was built in 1905.
“There aren’t many of those and there won’t be any others,” she added.
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American industrialist, was a philanthropist
in America and the British Empire. Before dying Aug. 11, 1919 at age 83, he is
credited with giving away about 90 percent of his fortune to charities, foundations
and universities during the last 18 years of his life.
“His big focus was making information available to everyone,” Sutter said.
So it stands to reason that Carnegie would donate money to have the
Norwalk library built.
The upstairs, which now houses a large area for patrons to use computers,
originally was a young men’s reading room. The men paid 50 cents for one month
of access to the room and the material it housed. Rates went up to $3 for one year.
“Only men were allowed to use the reading room,”
Sutter said.
The main room in the upstairs features a stain glass
“window” on the ceiling. It was refurbished in 2013.
“It’s a focal point. I don’t know how of many other
libraries that have an art glass installation,” Sutter said.
“That’s original to our building.”
Given that the building is 110 years old, space is the
biggest challenge for staff members. Another is updating
technology.
In 2012, the Norwalk Public Library joined the
Clevenet system, which has access to what’s offered in 48
libraries from Fremont to the Pennsylvania border. The
partnership also allows online access to downloadable apps
for mobile devices.
“It’s upped our circulation. It has given our patrons
access to anything from anywhere — free,” Sutter said. “I
think the biggest thing that Clevenet brings to us is a large
collection of items — any movie, any book.”
Assistant library director Stacey Church said the library
isn’t just an advocate for “early literacy,” but “we support
literacy for everyone.” Having grown up in Collins and hired
in April, she said “this is the library I’ve used as a kid.”
With so much information available online, Sutter said a
library’s struggle is to prove to residents it’s relevant and they
often forget there’s a wide range of free services available.
“I always want libraries to be your first choice, not your
last choice,” the director said.
The library has been emphasizing community outreach
and regularly offers children activities.
“We want to be part of the revival of Main Street
Norwalk,” Sutter said, referring a weekly community event in
the summer featuring musicians and vendors.
“Imagine Norwalk has allowed us to position the library
as the cultural center of Main Street Norwalk,” she added.
DWELL
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
How a Norwalk Anchor is
Still Soaring After 100 Years
By CHRIS CASTLE
laude Martin was just twenty seven years old when he became a
foreman for the Faultless Rubber Company in Ashland, Ohio. It
was 1910 and northeastern Ohio was already positioning itself
to be the rubber capital of the United States. Martin would spend nearly
a decade with the company, honing his craft and learning all that he could
about the industry, before setting out to start his own business with his coworker and brother in law, Charles Switzer.
44 E. Main St., Norwalk, Ohio
Santa
stores
his bikes
with us!
The Red Cross Rubber Company opened its doors at 855 Newton Street in 1915,
manufacturing gloves, mats, hot water bottles and balloons. The duo decided to change
the company name to the Maple City Rubber Company in December of 1917, after
reaching an agreement with the American Red Cross, who was afraid that they might be
confused with the fledgling rubber manufacturer.
Charles Switzer died in March of 1920, and the company was run solely by Claude
Martin until Mr. Switzer’s son returned to Norwalk after college to join his uncle at
the company’s helm in 1927. Millard Switzer managed sales and played a major role in
guiding the Maple City Rubber Company through unparalleled growth for more than 60
years. Profits had steadily increased until the stock market crash of 1929, though not even
the Great Depression was able to stifle that growth completely.
In 1936, the Maple City Rubber Company constructed a new factory along Cary
place (between Newton and Pleasant Streets) to better meet the growing demands
of their business. Not long after that investment, the US would enter World War II.
America was then utilizing 50% of the world’s natural rubber and the Japanese conquest
of Asia was strangling the global market. 90% of all natural rubber became unavailable
during the war. In response, Maple City Rubber introduced their new synthetic line of
Tuf-Tex balloons, only to have production suspended soon after. The United States had
created a rubber reserve to stockpile natural rubber and to regulate synthetic rubber
production in 1940. But with the war’s end, the company resumed production and the
Tuf-Tex line of balloons became the industry standard for durability and vibrant colors.
In the 1950s, the Norwalk Reflector-Herald called Maple City Rubber the “oldest
manufacturing establishment in the city; in the point of continuous operation under the
same management”.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Maple City Rubber began to focus more on
distribution to advertising venues like movie sets, concerts, sporting events, and balloon
drops. Since that time, Tuf-Tex balloons have become synonymous with strength and
durability. They are widely regarded as the finest balloons in the world. Maple City
Rubber has designed promotional balloons for recording artists like Elton John and
Rihana, college athletic programs such as the Ohio State Buckeyes and University of
Michigan Wolverines, and for Hollywood blockbusters including “Man of Steel” and
“The Hobbit”.
Today’s leadership team of Mike Kilbane and Paul Bennett recognizes the legacy
created a century ago by Martin and Switzer. They also understand that one hundred
years in business is something to be proud of. This makes it easy for them to focus on the
future through unparalleled product quality, customer service and market initiatives. The
sky’s the limit for this cornerstone Norwalk industry. And given their past and their focus
on the future, I have no doubt that the Maple City Rubber Company will continue to do
business in Norwalk for another hundred years.
www.ExcelBikeNorwalk.com
[email protected]
(419) 668-3027 • (800) 224-5381
NOW
and
Then
Gifts for all Seasons
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u
O
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l
sca Wednesdays 9am - 5pm
p
An U
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G
&
tlet
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q
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t Bo
Second Saturday 9am - 2pm
Special Appointment 419-663-3377
90 N. West Street - Norwalk
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Winter 2015 Edition

Transcription

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