BRUNSWICK, Oho – The sun finally came out and the temperatures rose enough to help Special Olympics champion, Seth Greenfelder, was cars to benefit the Brunswick Police and Fire Department Law Enforcement Torch Run. It all took place Sunday, May 25 at Wendy’s on Center Road and Firefighter Brad White and Greenfelder were busy laying out the hoses and setting up prior to the 10 a.m. start. “We’re trying to raise as much money as we can,” Greenfelder said as he prepared for what he hoped would be a very busy day. White said, “I’ve known Seth since high school and we ran into each other at the gym one day. He and his mother asked if I’d become involved in Special Olympics and once I did, I really look forward to these events.” High school students arrived to start helping out. Some would carry signs along Center Road urging people to stop for a car wash, others would be cleaning vehicles. Reagan Fridley, who is entering her senior year at Brunswick High School, said it was a great way to have fun and meet her National Honor Society volunteer requirements. Ninth grader Mady Likovic said she wanted to help Special Olympics with her friends and Hayden Ansberry, an 11th grader also wanted to have fun and help out. The Torch Run will be coming through town soon as Greenfelder will be competing in track and field events at the State Summer Games the weekend of June 13-15. Wonderful gesture: I had the chance to accompany my longtime Brunswick friend, Jan Moll, to the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Cleveland’s 24th annual celebration of achievement. Her late husband, Don, was instrumental in the success of the annual Masonic walk/bike event that raises funds to provide scholarships for the center that provides much-needed tutoring. For the last several years, the event has been held at the Western Reserve Masonic Community in Medina. Jan didn’t realize, until we got our programs, that they had named the event in his honor. It is now the Donald G. Moll Walk and Bike Event. This year it will be held Sept. 20, so watch for details. While we were there we ran into another old friend that many of you may also know, John Youngblood. His wife, Bonnie, was ill and unable to make it. Almost time: Everyone looks forward to the St. Ambrose Summer Festival and this, the 17th annual, will be June 19-22. Want to know more about all the fun? Go to https://stambrose.us/festival/ Important: Vacation season is here and that means the likelihood of fewer blood donations and potentially more accidents, so it’s important to donate if you can. Those who come to give June 1-30 will get a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email and will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. (Terms apply and you can learn more at RedCrossBlood.org/June. You can donate blood locally at the following Bloodmobile sites in Medina County: Brunswick: 3-8 p.m. June 5 at Saint Ambrose Church, 929 Pearl Road; noon to 6 p.m. June 9 at Brunswick United Methodist Church, 1395 Pearl Road; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 14 at St Mark Church, 1330 N. Carpenter Road. Medina: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 6 at Medina Hospital, 1000 E. Washington St. Wadsworth: noon to 5 p.m. June 11 at Wadsworth YMCA, 623 School Drive. The American Red Cross and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation are teaming up to encourage donors to help save lives this summer. Those who come to donate blood at select blood drives in the Northern Ohio Region this summer will receive a free Cedar Point ticket in addition to other Red Cross incentives. One of those is from noon to 6 p.m. June 18 at the Medina Performing Arts Center, 851 Weymouth Road, Medina. Did you know: InMedina County, 11.4% of residents – approximately 1 in 9 individuals – struggle with food insecurity, while the rate for children is even higher at 11.9%. And did you know the new Meijer’s in Medina is supporting Feeding Medina County? Just grab a $10 Meijer Simply Give donation card when checking out at the new store through June 28. June 14 is double match day, so mark it on your calendar. Under the stars: Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach brings to the region an eclectic mix of professional music with its Jazz/Opera under the Stars concert series in Medina’s Uptown Park again this summer. Now entering its 15th year, Jazz/Opera under the Stars is one of the preeminent summer concert series in Ohio. The season kicks off on Saturday, June 7, with Erin Nicole Neal and Jazz in the Blue. Neal delights audiences with her strong, soulful voice that flows easily from heartfelt bluesy delivery to agile jazz-style phrasing. Her band performs a mix of music that includes blues, rock, pop, soul, and jazz in the style of artists such as Dinah Washington, Low Rawls, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, and many more! Opera under the Stars graces the gazebo on Saturday, June 21 featuring Medina resident Marian Vogel (soprano), Akron-based Laura Best (mezzo soprano) and Cuyahoga Falls-based baritone Brian Johnson. The trio will delight audiences with familiar opera tunes, as well as lesser-known works, as well as beloved melodies from operettas and musicals. All these free concerts take place at 7 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnics. Light concessions will be available. In the event of rain, the concerts will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 E. Liberty Street, Medina, OH 44256. For more information visit www.ormaco.org or call 419-853-6016. Great news: Saint Ambrose Catholic School received official STEAM School redesignation equivalent status from the Ohio STEM Committee of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce! This prestigious recognition affirms their forward thinking and continued commitment to their Next Generation learners and excellence in faith-based Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. The announcement from the Ohio STEM Committee included the compliment, “with high accolades and a high bar set,” as the school was confirmed as a STEAM-designated school for the next five years. “This STEAM redesignation affirms our work and compels our ongoing efforts to provide a transformative learning environment that prepares our next generation student-leaders for their bright and hopeful future. We are blessed with a very special team of dedicated and innovative teachers and staff members who help provide Everything for every one of our young saints and scholars every day. Thank you to them and to our school families and partners who make all this possible! Thank you to the Ohio STEM Learning Network team for challenging us and cheering for us!” said Lisa Cinadr, Head of Schools/Principal. “Saint Ambrose Catholic School was the first STEAM-designated school in the state of Ohio, in 2018 and we are proud to continue to pave the way and build up leaders for tomorrow with this redesignation status in May of 2025.” Saint Ambrose Catholic School, Cinadr added, “would like to thank its STEAM partners for their dedication and collaboration and celebrates with them: The Ohio STEM Learning Network, FinMango/Bob Gillingham, Cuyahoga Community College, NASA, STEM Goes Red, General Motors- Parma Stamping, School of Rock, Padua Franciscan High School, the Medina County Career Center, Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra, Brunswick Rotary, TELPI, Sherwin Williams and the Medina County Parks. This list is not exhaustive and we would like to extend our thanks to the many other organizations with whom we celebrate!” “This is another powerful testament to the work our faculty, staff, team and students are doing each day at Saint Ambrose Catholic School. We are working to equip our students with strong faith, bright minds and the capacity to make a real difference in the life of our world,” affirmed Father Bob Stec, Pastor of Saint Ambrose Parish. Saint Ambrose Catholic School is now enrolling for the 2025-26 school year. Call to schedule a personal tour at 330-460-7318 or visit www.saintambroseschool.us. More opportunities: By popular demand the very popular “Not Just a Pretty Dress” display at the McDowell-Phillips House Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 31 at 205 S. Prospect St., Medina. This exhibit consists of wedding gowns, related apparel and traditions from 1810-1980 presented by the Medina County Historical Society. Over 25 wedding gowns and apparel from its collection, some never displayed before and some you may never see again! Admission donation is $10 per person. The museum will also be open on the 3rd Sunday of the month, June through August. Private tours are also available. Call 330-722-1341 or email mchs@zoominternet.net for information and to schedule. Invasive species: The Medina County Soil & Water Conservation district and Medina County Park District are sponsoring an invasive species buy-back program and have several management workshops open to the public. You can learn different techniques on how to properly remove invasive species from your property, what to expect when removing them, suggestions for native plant replacements and more. The presentations are set for 10 a.m. to noon June 7 at the Oenslager Nature Center; 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Letha House Park Shelter; and 5:30-6:30 p.m. July 22 at the Brunswick Library. Learn more about this and other events including streamside community improvement events at https://medinaswcd.org/. Dems event: The Medina County Democratic Party will hold its wine and cheese Spring Fling from 6-8 p.m. June 11 at High & Low Winery and Bistro, 588 Medina Road. Tickets are $50 ($25 for students). Special guest will be Senator Casey Weinstein. Get tickets and information at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/winecheesefling25. Contact Boyer at samboyersunnews@yahoo.com.