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At the Oktoberfest held at Thompson Park last week, a local businesswoman spoke to a Center volunteer about what she has been reading in the newspaper about the East Liverpool Area Community & Learning Center. She was quite impressed with all of the activity at the Center. She congratulated all volunteers who generously help to make a difference in the lives of people of the area, particularly the youth.
The volunteer thanked her and expressed his satisfaction with the progress that has been made over the past two-and -a-half years. The volunteer told her that in the last few weeks there have been numerous tours of the exhibits given to visitors, several dozen young people on each Saturday and Sunday using the Teen Zone gaming equipment and the Play Station games in the Jay Room, watching movies or there just to escape the boredom of their weekend. It is very satisfying he said to see so how many people are enjoying the facilities,
However, the Center is also active during weekdays with visitors sharing in educational and recreational activities that include bridge, piano and art lessons, tutoring, two alcohol rehabilitation programs, the Valley Nurses Parish Ministries' exercise program and their Abbey Counseling Care Notes. And there are many organizations that regularly hold their meetings at the Center. There are occasional parties, meals, programs, classes and other special events that are held in the many venues and other areas at the Center.
Wedding bells will ring on Saturday, Oct. 6, when the Community Center becomes the site of a very special wedding reception. Three years ago the couple first met at a movie in the Farmers Bank Conference Room. Then six months ago, a proposal of marriage was extended in that same Conference Room. It was accepted by the bride- to-be. Because so many volunteers at the Center will be involved in this marriage celebration, the Center will take a rare day off and will close its doors to the public. Regularly-scheduled meetings will not be affected by the Saturday closing.
Recently the Center was contacted by a group wishing to promote their position on a statewide issue on the November ballot regarding drugs in Ohio. Their opinions may not express the views of the Center, but it is important that the public has a forum where they can freely voice their opinions. The event took place with considerable media publicity. The Center will always extend an invitation to federal and state political officeholders, candidates and sessions on public issues scheduling meetings there in order to get the message out to constituents.
A great Exposition is scheduled on Oct. 27 at the Community Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A Vendors Craft Show will run the entire day. Drawings for gifts donated by participating vendors will be randomly chosen hourly throughout the day.
That morning there will be activities in the Auditorium including a welcome from East Liverpool Mayor Ryan Stovall and a performance by the East Liverpool High School Alumni Band. A youth talent show is also scheduled. During the afternoon there are several bands that will provide musical entertainment from 1 p.m. to closing.
The locally-produced movie about the pursuit and slaying of Pretty Boy Floyd will be screened in the Center Theatre. Attorney Timothy Brookes, president of the East Liverpool Historical Society, will be present for his comments on the film and to answer questions about the gangster's death at the hands of the FBI. A car show will be held in the Center parking lot that will include vintage cars reminiscent of the days of Pretty Boy Floyd. The Guardians of the Children motorcyclists, who are committed to protecting and befriending abused children around the county, will be present. They will have their bikes on display for public inspection.
During the afternoon, volunteer Scott Kidd will show several scary Halloween movies (suitable for both children or adults) from his collection of vintage films in the Center Theatre. In the Reception area, the Beacons club will conduct a raffle with Homer Laughlin Halloween Fiesta ware as the prize. The Valley Parish Nurse Ministry will explain their weekly exercise program held at the Center and invite everyone to join them each Monday evening.
Center exhibits are available for viewing, including paintings by local artist Hans Hacker, the Harker Pottery ware collection, a display of Homer Laughlin china and the model of the Ohio River tow boat, the W.W. O'Neil. Students of Lora Russell will display their artwork with prizes awarded in various categories. This will be the Center's second Student Art Show and Competition. The brand new Little Free Library Box is located in the Reception area.
The Teen Zone will be open for fun and games such as the ping pong and pool tables, foos ball, air hockey and cornhole toss games. Students wishing to participate in a Talent Show should pick up an application from the Hospitality Desk at the Center during daily open hours..
On Nov. 6, the Center will be the polling site for two East Liverpool city districts and one in Liverpool Township during the much-publicized midterm elections. The Center will be closed for the day to everyone except those participating in the vote and a regularly scheduled activity that meets each Tuesday morning.
The Cleda Marie Fitzjohn Music Trust has made applications available to interested students wishing to further their music studies with help from funds that are available through the Trust. The Trust Board of Directors is seeking applications from interested students of the Tri-State Area. Applications are available at all area schools and at the Community Center. Grants will be awarded in November.
The Little Free Library Boxes, courtesy of the East Liverpool Rotary Club and decorated by students of Center Resident Artist Lora Russell, have now been placed in Thompson Park near the manager's office and inside the Community Center. Donated books in the boxes are available to anyone who wishes to help themselves to any book or who wants to share their books with their neighbors. The Carnegie Library has donated some of its books to get the program launched. The two boxes are part of a nationwide movement for promoting reading.
Last Sunday afternoon, the newly-chartered Guardian of the Children motorcycle club held its first public meeting at the Center. Five new members were enlisted. Members voted to participate in the upcoming Center Exposition, made plans to participate in the city's Trunk 'n Treat events and have reserved the Center for a breakfast event on Dec. 8 for children from the area. The Club was organized primarily to help abused children in Columbiana County.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, at a social function at the Center, The Ohio Wine Producers Association will present to the community an opportunity to learn more of the intricacies of properly storing, serving and enjoying wine. Members of the Legacy & Legends Lecture Series, which supports the Center through tax-deductible donations, will be admitted free. The public is invited to attend upon payment of a fee of $10 to cover expenses of the event. The evening includes an opportunity to sample some of Ohio's fine wines. Reservations by non-members may be made by visiting the Center during regular Center hours or calling the Center at 330-303-2110.
The next Legacy & Legends lecture is Nov. 13. The subject of the lecture will be the Point of Beginning. This was the starting point for surveying of the Northwest Territory during American Revolutionary days. A monument commemorating the site is one of many of our unique local attractions. The Point of Beginning site is located at the eastern edge of the city of East Liverpool, near the Pennsylvania state line. Recently a historian speaking at the state's capital stated he didn't understand why such an important part of the history of the state of Ohio and its point of origin receives so little attention in East Liverpool.
Presenting the program will be a team of experts who will share their knowledge on the subject with our community. Explaining the historical events surrounding the Point of Beginning that would open the Northwest Territory to settlers will be historian Matt Butts, associated with Kent State University. At Kent State, Matt oversees Kent's regional campuses, particularly its unique Rural Scholars program. Matt resides in Canfield and is an avid student and scholar of history.
A discussion will follow about the frustrations faced by the early surveyors who set out to mark the area that would later become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and part of Minnesota. Problems stemmed essentially from the difficult terrain that needed to be traversed by the volunteer surveyors and attacks from native Indians who sought to protect their rights to the land that had been granted to them by the French and the British. Presenting the viewpoint of the Indians will be an impersonator of the Seneca Chief Logan, Daniel Cutler of Nelson, W.Va. Local engineer Thomas Smit, who is quite familiar with surveying of the Northwest Territory, will relate the challenges confronting the surveyors who had been assigned this daunting task. A video of the event will be recorded to be included with other DVDs of the Legacy & Legends lectures. They are archived at the Center for their historical significance.
There will be no further regular bi-weekly articles in the Review about the Center for the next month due to absence of its writer. The next article will appear following the Oct. 27 Center Exposition. The Community Center and the community greatly appreciate the cooperation of The Review in publishing these articles the last few years. Look for the articles to resume in the Community section of The Review on Sunday, Oct. 28.