June 5, 2008 Edition

<Groundbreaking at Westwood 20-Unit Expansion
Project Begins

Westwood Landing has launched the start of
construction on the new 20-unit expansion in
Woodsfield. Attending the groundbreaking ceremony at
Westwood Landing were, from left,  Bill Bolon,
Woodsfield mayor; Ruth Workman, Monroe County Chamber
of Commerce secretary; Dee Vargo, Westwood Landing
residence director; Harry Hastings, construction
supervisor; Laura Taliaferro, residence sales manager;
Vi Miller, resident; Kelly VanDyne, R.N., wellness
director; and Jeff Woodell, Woodsfield village
administrator.                                                               
Photo by Martha Ackerman

        Westwood Landing, an Assisted Living Center
residence, held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 29 to
launch the start of construction on the 20-unit
expansion in Woodsfield.
        Representing Westwood Landing were Dee Vargo,
residence director; Laura Taliaferro, residence sales
manager; Kelly VanDyne, R.N., wellness director; and
Vi Miller, resident. Also present for the ceremony
were Bill Bolon, mayor of Woods-field; Jeff Woodell,
village ad-ministrator; and Harry Hastings,
construction supervisor.
        “We are so excited about our new addition,” said
Vargo. “This senior community provides choices to our
Monroe County residents not offered in this area
before. Westwood Landing offers an independent and
accommodating lifestyle that helps seniors maintain
their sense of self and community as they advance in
years.”
        Westwood Landing is located on Airport Road next to
Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Westwood
Landing promotes independence and individuality, while
providing seniors with extra assistance in their daily
routines. Residents enjoy the freedom and advantages
of living independently in an environment surrounded
by friends and a caring staff.
        Construction is expected to be completed by Oct. 1,
2008, with the Grand Opening of Westwood Landing’s new
addition occurring soon thereafter. “We encourage our
friends in the community to come see the progress on
our new addition, stop by for a tour or a lunch with
us and discover for themselves all the amenities that
Westwood Landing has to offer,” said Taliaferro.
        For more information about Westwood Landing, contact
Vargo at 740-472-2200 or visit www.alcco.com.

<Project to Propel Bee Population Heard by County
Commissioners

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        Bids and bees were topics on the agenda for Monroe
County Commissioners as they met May 27.
        Bob First, Buckeye Hills RC&D, explained that an RC&D
area north of Monroe, Cross-roads RC&D, is working on
a bee keeping project. The project goal is to
establish new bee keepers.
        According to First, Crossroads is part of the Omega
Regional Planning District, a 10-county region,
including Belmont  County. He said the group obtained
money to buy supplies and materials for the bee
project. Their goal was to establish 100 new bee
keepers in the 10-county area and to help turn around
the bee colony collapse disorder.
        First reported the RC&D got such a good price on
supplies and materials that they are now able to get
110 new people established as bee keepers.
        In reviewing an ODNR map, First said they found that
statewide, Noble and Monroe counties have the lowest
number of bee keepers. Therefore, he said they were
able to include Noble and Monroe in the project area.
        Applications will be available for interested persons
to complete and submit if they wish to be bee keepers.
Those selected must go to four three-hour training
sessions to learn how to keep bees. There is also an
application fee; however, the new bee keepers will
receive over $500 worth of materials and supplies,
including two bee packages. The packages include 300
worker bees and a queen - the packages are worth about
$70 each.
        There are currently 48 hives in Monroe County and
about a dozen apiaries. The apiary inspector is Jerry
Haney
         In an unrelated matter, First told officials that
Sardis is the recipient of a Natural Resources
Conservation and Development Fund Award in the amount
of $600.
        The endowment funding will help Sardis Community
Improvement Organization (SCIO) with a downtown
beautification project at the site of the historic
town pump.
        Bids for CDBG projects were approved for Lewisville
and Woodsfield.
        Ferguson Waterworks, Marietta, submitted the low bid
for the purchase of 1,520 feet of pipe for drainage
work in Woodsfield. Their bid was $7,478.40. Also
bidding was Northern Panhandle Pipe, Wheeling at
$8,768.78.
        The sole bid for three catch basins was received from
Northern Panhandle Pipe. The total cost is $1,107.
        Three bids were received for playground  equipment in
Lewisville: Anderson Recreational Design,  Medina,
$9,000; CLV Creations, Brunswick, $9,995; and David
Williams & Associates, Inc., Alliance, $9,999.
        Funds for the projects are through CDBG monies.
        On recommendation of Summit Township trustees, the
low bid was accepted.
        On a motion by Commissioner Bill Thompson, officials
will advertise for engineering to design an assisted
living addition at Monroe County Care Center.
According to discussion, they will apply for grant
funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The vote was 2-0. Commissioner Francis ‘Sonny’ Block
was absent.
        On a motion by Commission President John Pyles,
Franklin M. Ellis was appointed to the Monroe County
District Library Board. A resident of the Sardis area,
Ellis fills the vacancy created by the resignation of
Vernon ‘Butch’ Rush, who had submitted his resignation
prior to his death.

<Monroe Memorial Pool Opens
Renovation Project Completed

The renovation project at Monroe Memorial Pool has
been completed. A $300,000 CDBG Distress Grant award
made the $128,172.38 project a reality. The changing
and restroom areas have been completely redone with
new plumbing, electric, windows, doors and roof.
Attending the ribbon cutting were, from left, Jeff
Woodell, Woodsfield Village Administrator, Chris
Tamasovich, pool manager; Don Harmon, 20-year park
board member; Brian Jackson, project contractor; and
Bill Bolon, Woodsfield mayor.                                                               
Photo by Martha Ackerman


        Visitors to the Monroe Memorial Pool were pleasantly
surprised to see all the improvements made during the
renovation project.
        The $128,172.38 renovation project was made possible
by the CDBG Distress Grant. The Village of Woodsfield
was selected by Monroe County Commissioners to compete
for the $300,000 CDBG Distress Grant.  Mary Jo
Westfall of Monroe County OSU Extension wrote and
administered the successful grant application.
According to Westfall, Roxby Engineering helped submit
the plans to the state.
        Brian’s Refrigeration was awarded the contract for
the renovation project and Perry Schumacher
Construction replaced the roof.
        “Brian did a tremendous job and made adjustments
along the way that were very positive for the pool. He
was very accommodating and went out of his way to make
this project a huge success,” said Jeff Woodell,
Village Administrator. “When visitors walked into the
pool this year, they thought they were somewhere
else.”
        According to Mayor Bill Bolon, all the state
guidelines were met.
        The changing areas have new textured gray floors,
ceilings, walls, private changing stalls, restrooms
and shower cubicles as well as handicap accessible
facilities.
        Altered from the original plans are glass block
windows which enable natural light into the changing
areas.
        Sixty lockers with keys, available for a very small
charge, are located in the changing and pool areas.
        New plumbing, water fountains, electric, windows and
doors have been installed. There is a new roof, doors
and roll-up windows on the concession stand which has
new flooring and shelving.
        Chris Tamasovich, who was a lifeguard during his high
school days, returns as pool manager. Chris also is in
a management position while attending college at
Youngstown State.
        “We are fortunate to have Chris with his credentials
and enthusiasm,” said Woodell. “He has good ideas for
the pool including moonlight swims and pool
volleyball.”
        The swimming pool is open Monday thru Saturday, Noon
to 7 p.m.;  Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. Moonlight swims are
scheduled every Thursday and private pool parties are
available for bookings.
        According to Westfall, other projects included in the
$300,000 grant were the foam system, turn-out gear and
pagers for the fire department, jump suits for
emergency-squad personnel, paving at the Parry Museum,
caution lights on Oaklawn Avenue and drainage projects
involving the village water and street  departments.   

<KFC, Taco Bell, SuddenLink Topics at Woodsfield Council
by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        Although mention was slight, information enough was
gathered at the June 2 meeting of Woodsfield Council
to know that a KFC and a Taco Bell will  be
constructed on North Main Street in Woodsfield, and
that a deal with SuddenLink to secure the cable
company is at hand.
        Council  agreed to deed over a portion of sidewalk
seven-feet by 33-feet to Gary Rubel for the
restaurants. The area was needed in order to meet KFC
space requirements. According to Jeff Woodell, village
administrator, the sidewalk will be altered (extended
outward) so that walking area will not be lost.  Mayor
Bill Bolon explained the strip deeded to Rubel is near
the Schumacher building, which will be razed along
with a second building to make room for KFC and Taco
Bell.
        At least one of the structures being razed was
damaged by an August 2005 fire which destroyed a two-
story building housing two businesses and an
apartment. The second structure slated to be removed
currently houses the office of the prosecuting
attorney. Rubel is owner of the properties.
        Five minutes prior to the meeting, Woodell received
what he said looked like a final bill of sale from
SuddenLink. He said Solicitor Bill Frank will review
the document and if there are no surprises, “The
village is on its way to owning a cable company.” He
noted also that he is interviewing individuals to work
for the cable company.
        Woodell stressed once again that the village does not
plan to increase cable rates.

<The Union Army Prepares for Battle

President Abraham Lincoln reviewed his Union troops
before the Battle of Monroe held June 1 at the Monroe
County Fairgrounds during the encampment spearheaded
by Kyle Yoho, a recent graduate of Monroe Central.   
Photos by M. Ackerman

Union soldier, Kyle Yoho, discusses battle strategy
with Mr. Lincoln.

by Martha Ackerman
Staff Writer
        White tents spanned the upper end of the Monroe
County Fairgrounds, ladies and children strolled in
their Civil War-era apparel and the smell of campfires
was in the air as Union and Confederate soldiers and
their families settled in May 31 and June 1 for the
2008 Encampment. The event was spearheaded by Kyle
Yoho, recent Monroe Central graduate and Civil War
re-enactor.
        According to Yoho, approximately 80 re-enactors
participated in the two-day event. “I think it went
very well,” said Yoho.
        Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, provided through an
Ohio Humanities Council grant, strolled the grounds.
President Lincoln gave a speech, spoke with a crowd
and reviewed his troops. Mrs. Lincoln hosted a Ladies’
Tea and spoke to visitors.
        Portraying Mr. Lincoln was Jim Rubin, whose uncanny
resemblance to President Lincoln, has brought him to
television, various programs, schools and
re-enactments such as the Woodsfield encampment.
        Joyce P. Browning, of Lexington, Kentucky, has been
portraying Mary Todd Lincoln since 1996. Out of
research, admiration and talent, Browning’s portrayal
brings Mrs. Lincoln to life.
        “I think everyone enjoyed seeing President and Mrs.
Lincoln,” continued Yoho.
        Also new this year was the Ohio State House Battery,
1st Ohio Light Artillery Battery A from Columbus. They
brought two original six pound cannons cast in 1864.
Also new was leather working demonstrations by Greene
Leather and Fur, of Burton, Ohio, which also provided
games for the children.
        The encampment featured company drills, artillery
demonstrations, a children’s mock battle, a shooting
contest, band concert, artillery night fire and a
battle with cannon fire.
        The Confederacy’s cannon was one of 26 cast in 1837,
according to West Virginian re-enactor Kevin Thomas.
He explained the cannon, numbered 12, is believed to
have been used in both the Civil and Mexican Wars.
        The Sunday afternoon battle began with the Union
soldiers marching to the far end of the grounds. The
boom of the cannons could be heard as each side
volleyed. When the mortars were spent, the Confederate
foot soldiers advanced and were defeated as each fell
to their “death.” The Confederate flag was “captured”
and the Union army regrouped to fight another day.
        Special grant support was provided by Susan Pollock
of Woodsfield and The 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Co.B.

 <Our Readers Write

Dear Editor,
        If you think it is “just a dog” think again…
Just a Dog
        From time to time, people tell me, ‘lighten up, it’s
just a dog,’ or ‘that’s a lot of money for just a
dog.’ They don’t understand the distance traveled, the
time spent, or the costs involved for ‘just a dog.’
        Some of my proudest moments have come about with
‘just a dog.’ Many hours have passed and my only
company was ‘just a dog,’ but I did not once feel
slighted
        Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by
‘just a dog,’ and in those days of darkness, the
gentle touch of ‘just a dog’ gave me comfort and
reason to overcome the day.
        If you, too, think it’s ‘just a dog,’ then you will
probably understand phrases like ‘just a friend,’
‘just a sunrise,’ or ‘just a promise.’
        ‘Just a dog’ brings out the compassion and patience
that make me a better person.
        Because of ‘just a dog,’ I will rise early, take long
walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and
folks like me, it’s not ‘just a dog.’ It is an
embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the
moment.
        ‘Just a dog’ brings out what’s good in me and diverts
my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the
day.
        I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not
‘just a dog,’ but the thing that gives me humanity and
keeps me from being ‘just a man or a woman.’
        The next time you hear the phrase ‘just a dog’ just
smile…because they ‘just don’t understand.’
Marsha Stalder
Humane Society of Monroe County

Dear Editor,
Answering Machines
        I got the shock of my life the other day, when I
called a yarn company, and after only two rings an
actual human voice answered. I was so taken aback, for
a few minutes I did not know what to say. Finally, I
remembered the question I wanted to ask. The friendly
woman not only gave me an answer, but also took the
time to look up information that was very useful. I
certainly thanked her and told her how helpful she had
been.
        Just think, by a mere telephone cord I had been
connected to a human who cared, instead of a moronic
answering system. It frustrates you by repeatedly
asking the same questions and makes you feel like an
imbecile if you don’t answer specifically to their
demands. But even if you do give them all the right
answers, they generally do not have the information
you are looking for. I wouldn't call that customer
service.
        The world would be a little better place if we were
all connected to people who cared instead of machines
that degrade you.
Mag Springer
Sardis