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CENTER IS RIGHT ON TARGET

Adult evening paint classes by Lora Russell. (Submitted photo)

The East Liverpool Area Community & Learning Center was created to serve the needs of the greater East Liverpool area. For over two years the Center has set its sights on discovering the needs of our citizens in the greater community and seeking to meet them. It is time for a report card on the Center. That is a purpose of the Board of Directors of the HHH Foundation. The Foundation is preparing to file its third tax return with the IRS. At the meeting this past week the Directors took a hard look at how successfully the Center is accomplishing its mission.

The first step was to determine how the Center has been doing financially. The Center passed this test with flying colors. Donations and other revenues exceeded the goals that the Board set for itself back in 2016. The value of the assets significantly exceed what the Foundation began with two years ago. There is still much that will need to be done in the years ahead, but the needs of the Center have been met and then some.

Center Manager Jim Lewis and Center Coordinator Michel Parkes have lined up a team of loyal and dedicated volunteers who make certain that the Center is open to the public seven days a week. Volunteers also make sure it is available to tenants for their activities after hours. New activities continue to grow with new programs developing constantly to replace those that have accomplished their purpose.

That leaves the question of what remains for the Center to offer the greater community as it reaches out to other residents who have not yet visited the facility. That was the subject of a brain storming session at the July meeting of the Board. The Trustees don’t have all the answers and they would welcome input from the readers of this article. Please contact a Center volunteer with your thoughts and suggestions or contact any member of the Board of Directors.

Each member of the Board of Directors represents his or her own segments of the community served by the Center. Directors are Chamber of Commerce President Darlene Kinsey Johnson, retired pottery executive David Conley, Stephen W. Cooper with Minor Insurance Agency, author/collector Bill Gray, former Principal of the East Liverpool High School Linda Henderson, retired Bank executive and attorney Charles Lang, a member of the former Trinity Presbyterian Church and Lion member Jim Lewis, CPA William L. Miller, retired officer of a local industrial company Michael Parkes, and former banking officer and Calcutta Rotarian Roger Sanford.

At its meeting this past week, the Board of Directors decided to invite photographer and loyal volunteer Don Jones to join the Board. Don has been videotaping the Legacy & Legends Lecture Series, collaborating with Bill and Donna Gray on their upcoming book about the ceramic industry and he volunteers regularly while maintaining his photography business. Don also operates a candle company and has participated in several Vendor shows at the Center.

The Board discussed several possible new activities that could be offered at the Center in the future. These include: Restoring the former Hi Teen or a similar type weekly event for area youth offering a safe and enjoyable place for them to gather after school events for dancing and socializing with friends and fellow students from throughout the area; a repeat performance of the June Center Expo with live music, art displays by the Lora Russell’s students, a Vendors Show, food and live band performances and the Center Youth Choir; another wine tasting event sponsored by the Ohio Wine Growers Association; monthly or quarterly talks presented by area scholars and speakers on historical matters: and weekly local bands with meals in the Banquet Center. Your ideas on these or other activities for the Center would be appreciated.

Center Coordinator Mike Parkes reported that the East Liverpool Rotary Club, in conjunction with the East Liverpool Carnegie Library, are ready to launch a Little Library Box project locally. Decorative boxes have been designed and constructed to house books that will be available for the taking. Books will be donated by the Library for people to borrow and then return, or they may simply keep them. When books are returned or new books donated through the Little Library Box, they are recycled and shared with others who would like to read them.

In March of this year, the Cleda Marie Fitzjohn Memorial Music Trust was created. The HHH Foundation has been named as Trustee of the Trust. The purpose of the Trust is to promote opportunities for young people ages six to twenty-one from the greater East Liverpool area. Funds will help underwrite the expense of education and training on musical instruments.

Requirements for an individual to receive funds include a demonstration of need and a likelihood of success on the part of an applicant. Applicants may apply through the Community Center or through their individual school systems. The Trust Board of Directors will select recipients based upon need, qualifications and the availability of funds each year.

The Trust Board held its first meeting at the Center this past Thursday to get organized and set up the program that is being launched this year. The newly elected Chairman is Michelle Bernardi and the Vice Chairman is Matt Cashdollar. Michelle is a teacher at the Oak Glen High School and Matt is a school counselor with the Oak Glenn School District. Other Trustees are Holly Pickens, a music instructor with the Beaver Local School District, Carol Rosenlieb, a school board member and Senior Vice President with Hancock County Savings Bank and Atty. Charles Lang representing the HHH Foundation.

The Trust Board members decided to accept applications until September 30th for funds to be used this year for scholarships, music projects, supplying musical instruments and providing used pianos to students taking the free piano lessons from Nancy Hornick at the Center, or others. Grants will be awarded before year end to successful applicants to be distributed as funds are needed. The HHH Foundation will distribute the funds as directed by the Trust Board. Donations to the Trust are deductible for income tax purposes. Additional information will be available in the future.

A group of Columbiana County teachers will tour the East Liverpool Area Community & Learning Center next Wednesday as arranged by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center. This is part of the group’s tour of significant attractions in the community of interest to students. The visit will acquaint the teachers with opportunities for field trips and other possible activities for their students.

Center Volunteer Linda Henderson will be in charge on the part of the Center. The Harker Pottery Exhibit will be open with Bill and Donna Gray present to explain the significance of chinaware to this area. The Hans Hacker and Homer Laughlin Exhibits will also be open. The teachers will also view other activity areas including the Jay Room for elementary students, the Teen Zone for older youth, the art studio of Lora Russell, the piano classroom and the Mentoring Room for helping pre-school and elementary students in need of instruction with their studies.

The six Legacy & Legends programs for the 2018-19 have been set. Precise dates of each program will be assigned as they can be scheduled to accommodate the presenters of each Lecture. Solicitation for members of the Lecture Series is just getting underway.

The subjects of the Lectures this year are: History of the origin and the significance of the Point of Beginning used in surveying of the Northwest Territory of our country in it earliest days; Story behind the Louis B. Tiffany stain glass windows and marble pulpit with imbedded shards of glass at the First United Methodist Church dating back to 1922; local writer, producer and Director of documentary films for PBS Lance Shultz; a Musical program presented by students of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center; East Liverpool High School Alumnae founder and author of books about our greater community Frank C. Dawson; and local artist Craig Wetzel who has commemorated the area through his beautiful wall murals depicting the early days of the city and including his book entitled Come Home and Remember. These subjects were chosen by the past members for presentation in the next Lecture Series.

The cost of joining the Legacy & Legends Series for six evenings of enjoyment and socializing is a one-time tax exempt donation to the Center of $100. The events are held on Tuesday evenings beginning with a reception honoring the speakers at 6:30 PM and then followed by the educational and entertaining presentations. Applications can be picked up at the Center and they will also be mailed to former members. Call the Center for more information at (330) 303-2110.

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