BRUNSWICK, Ohio – The Saint Ambrose community helpers were back at it again last weekend. Crews of volunteers from the parish spread out over the area to help people and organizations and the Brunswick Area Historical Society was lucky to be one of those organizations. As third graders in Brunswick are learning about their community in May, the Historical Society will be open to field trips. The crew of eight helped clean the big red barn and equipment shed so the kiddos get a good idea of what their predecessors went through. I am looking forward and the other volunteers at Heritage Farm are eager to talk to them. I’m sure all the others join in me in giving a very big thank you to all the crews who worked so hard on our behalf. Celebrate: It’s hard for me to believe, but it’s been 15 years since Kelly’s Café opened its doors to serve us all those fantastic crepes. The official date of the anniversary is May 5 but a celebration will be held starting at 9 a.m. May 6. Kelly’s is located at 1661 Pearl Road. It’s worth a drive from wherever you’re reading this! A much older anniversary: Did you, by chance, grow up on the west side of Cleveland? Did you attend Annunciation Catholic School? If so, you’ll want to attend the 100 year anniversary celebration of Annunciation School starting at 6 p.m. May 21 at Innovation Academy West. Brunswick resident Gerry MacLeod, class of 1959 is hosting the event. Gerry is a lover of history and the evening will include a celebration of 100 years of history of the school and its alumni. It’s free to attend. No reservations needed and Gerry says, “bring a friend,” to Innovation Academy at 13111 Crossburn Avenue and he asks that you enter from Sprecher Ave. If you have questions, call 216-671-2710, ext. 207. Mom will be thrilled: The Wandering Goose in Valley City, which has unique gifts at its shop, has something special in mind for Mother’s Day. Join in to see a live demonstration of the beautiful art of TIG Welding as a talented local expert will be showcasing how to craft gorgeous copper flowers, right before your eyes. This technique of TIG is Tungsten Inert Gas Welding, so it should be really interesting to watch. It all takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Wandering Goose. 6920 Center Road on Saturday, May 3. It’s free to attend. Those handmade copper flowers will be available for purchase — the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for Mom. Listen in: Brunswick’s Jeff Miller is on You Tube and has his own official artist channel on the popular site. You can listen to his soft original piano music. Just go to https://www.youtube.com/@jmpianomusic and enjoy! Brunswick Rotary: Those busy Rotarians will be presenting the Josh the Otter program to kindergarten students at Huntington and Applewood elementary schools on May 6 and 7. All the kids I’ve talked to who have seen the program really loved it – and it teaches them water safety in a fun way. Dandelion Drive: This annual spring history event (hence the dandelion reference) is all set for noon to 5 p.m. May 18 and the tour this year includes five wonderful historical sites. You can visit: *The Spencer Historical Society at 112 North Main St. where you can see a glass slide show of Spencer the 1800s; *Chatham Historical Society, 6306 Avon Lake Road; Lodi where the Medina County Antique Power Association will have displays. There is a side trip the Old Mill available, as well. *Lodi Harrisville Historical Society, which is one of the oldest communities in the county, will have a program at 1 p.m. of Captain Wolf by John Burke (always great) and antique cars on display. *Lodi Railroad Museum, 204 Railroad St., sharing the history of the depot and railroads. *Westfield Historical Society, 6 Park Circle, Westfield Center, in the former Universalist Church which was donated to the society in 2020. Lots of displays from the village (first named Leroy) plus a display of Ohio Farmers Insurance Company there in 1848. Time for golf: Whether you’re aiming for a hole-in-one, cheering from the sidelines as a sponsor, or just here for the amazing company and great vibes, there’s something for everyone on this journey sponsored by the Northern Medina County Chamber Alliance. Don’t sit this one out—be part of an unforgettable day of golf, Around the World in 18 Holes, on Thursday, June 5, at Coppertop Golf Course, 5740 Center Road, Valley City. Get all the details at: https://members.nmccalliance.com/events/details/around-the-world-in-18-holes-presented-by-homestead-insurance-agency-3578 Latest book: With his latest novel, Draven’s Run, award-winning Brunswick author and illustrator Glenn Somodi offers a controversial and futuristic view of what the US Border might look like in 2050. Somodi’s plot weaves together scary technological advancements, a citizen base obsessed with video games, and a hacktivist group determined to keep our borders open. The novel carefully teeters between two views of immigration in the United States as epitomized by the Emma Lazarus inscription at the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses … ,” and the quote from Geert Wilders, “Without sovereignty, a nation cannot exist. Without borders, it can’t be defined or protected.” “Chilling, Clever, and Uncomfortably Plausible - Draven’s Run is a gripping near-future thriller that blends dystopian tech, political tension, and fast-paced action. Glenn Somodi paints a believable 2050 where surveillance, nationalism, and gamification collide in terrifying ways. The concept of citizens piloting robotic border patrol creatures through a game-turned-surveillance system is both fascinating and disturbingly realistic.” According to a Read4Fun review. Draven’s Run features illustrations, including an inset with 10 of Somodi’s 3D renderings depicting some of the book’s terrifying mechanical characters. Somodi will be doing a book launch starting at 9 a.m. May 4 at Black Cat Books & Oddities in Medina. Additional images, a book trailer, and more can be found at http://www.DravensRun.com Two chances: Retired teacher and Medina County Historian from the Medina Town Hall and Engine House Museum, Roger Smalley, tells of the county’s participation in the Underground Railroad. This factual report based on solid research, will be held at 7 p.m. May 15 at the Emmanuel United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 6656 Center Road, Valley City. It is hosted by the Liverpool Township Historical Society. And, if you can’t make that one save 6:30 p.m. May 29 for the Brunswick Area Historical Society presentation at the Big Red Barn at Heritage Farm, 4613 Laurel Road. There you can also see the historic marker that once stood at West 130th St. and Laurel Road, honoring Hiram Miller. Civil War: The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, whose headquarters is located in Valley City, is hosting “Beyond the Battlefield, Civil War Life at Home. This includes a special exhibit from the private collection of National Historian, Lynne Bury, features artifacts including a fife and drum corps bass drum, two union soldiers’ diaries, a two-man Civil War tent and the personal items of an average soldier. Also, an Underground Railroad quilt exhibit is on display. The site is open May 18, June 22, July 27, Aug. 17, Sept. 28, Oct. 11 and 12, Nov. 23 and Dec. 14. The LGAR headquarters is at 6703 Center Road and you can learn more at https://lgarnational.org/ Arrow of Light: Congratulations to the 15 Brunswick area students who earned the prestigious Arrow of Light badge, the highest achievement in Cub Scouting! This honor reflects their leadership, responsibility, and personal growth as they continue their journey in the Boy Scouts. Way to go, Balter Allen, Dominic Antill, Logan Boyes, William Burkhardt, Landon Dobson, Max Fox, Alejandro Franco, Carson Hucks, Dublin Jones, Mark Meyer, Oliver Ripple, Brooklyn Smith, Trent Tuma, Bryson Valichnac, and Westley Vicory. A first: According to communications director Dawn Allar, The Brunswick girls swim team had a historic season, winning its first-ever district title. Congratulations to team members Mariia Belytska, Cameron Briggs, Alexandra Burns, Cayla Carl, Hayley Cooper, Anastasia Dragan, Lillian Giacomazza, Marley Glover, Olivia Hruschak, Ruby Jaskolka, Sabrina Kaczmarski, Chloe Kash, Zoey Lesko, Reese Nolan, Chloe Parr, Ainsley Pedrick, Lily Richard, Lyla Rodriguez-Gedeon, Rylan Sheets, Reagan Sherry, Kylie Skoch, Fiona Smith, Katherine Smith, Payton Stein, Breigh Worsencroft and, of course, Coach Mike Milliken. Don’t miss this: The Medina High School Choral Music Department, continuing its 55-year tradition, presents Showtime at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 9, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10 at the Medina Performing Arts Center, 851 Weymouth Road, Medina. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for students. After seeing the MHS musical in April, I’m predicting this should be absolutely spectacular. DSP University Graduates: The Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities, in collaboration with the Medina County Career Center and the Ohio Alliance of Direct Support Professionals, proudly recognized the latest graduating class of the Direct Support Professional University program on April 17. Held at the Career Center, the ceremony honored students who have completed a rigorous and nationally recognized training program designed to prepare them for meaningful careers supporting individuals with developmental differences. “This group of students has shown a remarkable commitment to making a real difference in the lives of others. Their dedication and compassion give me great hope for the future of direct support services in our community,” said Stacey Maleckar, Superintendent of MCBDD. “The demand for skilled, compassionate professionals in this field has never been greater. Programs like DSP-U are essential to building a strong, prepared workforce ready to support people with disabilities in achieving their goals.” DSP-U introduces students to a high-demand, high-impact career path. Through the program, students gain hands-on experience, classroom instruction, and the opportunity to earn the Certificate of Initial Proficiency. This credential allows graduates to immediately step into roles as direct support professionals, a field projected to see continued growth in the coming years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The program also benefits local service providers by connecting them with a talent pool of already-trained and credentialed professionals. Internship partnerships with several local organizations offer students real-world experience while helping to fill critical workforce gaps in the county. The success of DSP-U in Medina County underscores the importance of community collaboration and innovation in addressing workforce challenges in the disability services field. “Watching these students grow, not just in their skills but in their passion for this work, has been incredibly rewarding,” said Pam Wheeler, MCBDD Health Services Coordinator and the driving force behind DSP-U’s launch in Medina County. “This program is changing lives—not just for the students, but for the individuals they’ll go on to support.” Contact Boyer at samboyersunnews@yahoo.com