PeopleClips

Tiffin Rotary President Mimi Johnston opened the Jan. 14 meeting at the Chandelier Event Center. Rev. Charlene Thomas gave the opening prayer. Guests today included students from Sentinel: Macey Webb and Jaylyn Toy and Calvert: Cameron Bagent. Attendance today was 26. The Basket Fund raised $33. The Weekly Drawing was won by Rosalie Distel and the Free Lunch by Kelly Hohman. Charlene Thomas said that the Centennial Committee is meeting on Jan. 22 at 8:30 am at the library and that the Four-Way Speech Contest would be in March. Beth Schweitzer reported that the Membership Committee will hold a New Member Non-food Pantry next week (Jan. 21). Our speaker today featured Amy Kinney, Executive Director of First Step Domestic Violence Shelter. The shelter serves Wood, Wyandot, Seneca, Sandusky and Hancock counties. Since 1980, First Step has provided shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children, a 24-hour support line, advocacy and outreach support programs for men, women and children. It was the first shelter in Ohio to be built from the ground up and the fourth in the nation. Their slogan is "empowering survivors one step at a time." Amy noted that in 2023 they provided 4,200 nights of care and that the shelter is completely full and has been for about two years. People can help the shelter by donating supplies, time and dollars. For more information, go to: www.firststepfostoria.org. Attica Woman's Literary Guild The Attica Woman's Literary Guild met on January 14, 2025 at the Seneca East Public Library with 12 members and 1 associate member present. President Paula Karr called the meeting to order and all members joined in reading the Collect. Due to inclement weather President Karr stated our business meeting would be abbreviated and we would go directly to the presentation by our speaker. Program member Nancy Reichert introduced our guest speaker Irene Schiefer. Irene gave a talk on her grandfather, Ralph J. Williams, the first manager of Rural Electric Association, which today is called North Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. He was the man responsible for heading a major project with the help of ten very dedicated men from the Attica-New Washington area. This project was to provide electricity to the people of Kelleys Island and took place in 1953. Irene spoke of all the hard work and planning that was required to accomplish this. From dynamiting rock, laying the pipe, running the cables through the pipe and connecting to Lakeside. This involved transporting of a large transformer and huge reels of cable to the island by boat. It included men in the water directing the pipe and unloading the huge transformer and transferring it down the street on rollers by hand. The crew also replaced the prior electric system on the island to a more modern distribution system. This involved digging holes for poles and wiring across the island. The project took 2 years (no winters) to complete. The men stayed on the island Monday-Friday a couple weeks at a time taking turns. Her grandfather stayed the whole time. Irene gave credit to one of the men, Danny Heydinger, for giving her the pictures showing every step of the process and information which she compiled along with her detailed research into an informative book and display on the project. Irene related many humorous stories of her beloved grandfather. It was a wonderful presentation of a small co-op with a visionary manager, Ralph J. Williams, who completed a very successful operation when no one else wanted the job. We are appreciative of Irene bringing this local history to our Guild. Pennies for the library were collected and roll call was answered by "What I Wish I Could Have Been." Meeting was then adjourned for safe travel home. Our next meeting will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Seneca East Public Library with a presentation by Larry Lepard on the "History of Omar Chapel". Respectfully submitted, Carol Martin Fostoria Garden Club Ann Montgomery of Haslinger Orchards in Gibsonburg presented a program titled "Running an Orchard" as members of the Fostoria Garden Club recently met at the Fostoria Learning Center. Garden club members learned that the Haslinger family business started in the 1940s in a front-yard tent. The business still operates at the same location. Montgomery talked about the produce at the orchards, how the business operates and provided samples. Becky Heiser's horticultural tip was on growing garlic. Discussion involved what may be done for nursing-home residents and the club's Garden Tour and Flower Show, scheduled for July 13. Members were encouraged to attend ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital's Red Dress Luncheon, scheduled for Feb. 14 at Stacy's Place in Fostoria. Kiwanis Club of Tiffin Diana Coleman, Salvation Army Board Chair, was the featured speaker for the Jan. 23 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Tiffin. Twenty-four were in attendance at Kiwanis Manor in addition to two members who joined via Zoom. Diana said that the approach of the Salvation Army is best expressed with the three "S's" – Soup, Soap, and Salvation. During 2024, the local Salvation Army provided 4,593 meals to those in need. In addition, the organization operates a food pantry. Each bag contains $50 worth of food and is available once per month for those in need. This represents the first of the three "S's" – soup. The second, soap, is fulfilled through the Salvation Army's hygiene closet. In addition, a clothing closet is available on a quarterly basis. Diana said that the organization's leadership finds more each year about what they can do to benefit local residents. The third "S" –salvation is fulfilled through church services and Sunday school that take place on Sundays mornings. A women's ministry is held on Thursdays. Services for children take place on Tuesdays. She also spoke about the ARC (Adult Recovery Center). The center is available to house and/or feed those in need. Utility assistance is also available. Donations to the Salvation Army are accepted on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00am – 3:00pm at 505 East Market Street. With more volunteers, more hours could be offered. Diana said that any items left outside of the door outside of those hours are not accepted and have to be discarded. Red Kettle Days are the primary way to raise funds. The meeting opened with president-elect Pam Greene leading members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance and Kiwanis Mission Statement. Kurt Huenemann provided the prayer. Calvert honor student Emma Collins, Brody Lang, a student at NCOESC, Mary Schubach, and Aktion Club member Sean Allison were welcomed as guests. Members were asked to help make calls for the upcoming Kiwanis Cooking Show. Posters and tickets are available and the cooking show committee is asking for members to email their favorite recipes to TiffinKiwanis@gmail.com. The coloring contest for schools will take place from Jan. 27 to Feb. 21 with the winner to be announced on Feb. 24. Pam said that four members were attending the Division 12 Council Meeting that will take place in Collins, Ohio on Jan. 29 and asked that anyone else that would like to attend to let her know at the end of the meeting. She spoke about the After School Nutrition Program; the Berlin Heights Kiwanis Club Trivia Contest, and the mid-year education day on March 15 in Westerville. Members are being asked to sign up to get speakers for the Thursday meetings. Someone is needed for each month May through August. Pat Nee won the 50/50 and the free lunch. The speaker for the Jan. 30 meeting will be Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager Donna Gross.