Tag: March

03/20/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Mar. 27 – Jim Gillespie with Disaster Aid USA – Grove City 

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• Presiding:  President-Elect Rob Radcliff
• Prayer: Assistant Gov. Jim Rogers
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Brenna Gibson ”Better Than Ever This Year”, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”
• Attendees: Carder, Catlos, C.Chamberlain, Crawford, Driesbach, Droste, Elick, Foll, Gibson, Hedges, Horning, Justinger, Lambert, Logan, Maroscher, McCrady, McNemar, G&S Montgomery, C.Neff, Nemes-Crawford, Poling, Radcliff, Rawlins, Robinson, Schreiner, Searls, Sneed, Spangler, B.Tootle, T.Tootle, I.Webb, D.Webb, Weller, D.Wolfe, R.Wolfe
• Guests: Julia Weller guest of Betsy; Nicole Allen from Grove City Rotary introduced her daughter Abi Bretthauer who has a request to help support Pickaway-Ross students attending Business Professionals of American conference. This year the school will not be sponsoring and the students are trying to raise the funds needed. Cost is $850 per student.
• Students: from New Hope Seniors Landen Parker going to be an electrician and Carter Engen who will be studying in Budapest Hungary

Announcements: 

• 4-way speech contest – Westfall was the big winner with Layla Yoe and Jaelyn Pounds competing at District Conference, April 26th! Tony thanks Warren, Kevin and Sandy for being part of the team!
• District Fundraisers:
  • Soles4Souls –  Rob thanks us for our club donations $1,070! Our district won the per capita giving trophy
  • Women Products drive: Paula Routt & Brenna Gibson chair- donations have already started being collected. Our final collection date this year will be April 17th and winner announced at the District Conference – April 26th! Please donate products or money and come to the conference to see Heidi hoist the trophy!
• Invoices for July 2025-June 2026. Please pay Daryl before June 1st. We need to have membership finalized before Rotary International sends us a bill based on June membership numbers.
• Soup Kitchen – Presbyterian Church on Monday
• After Hours – Ashbrook Distillery – RSVP Jan Shannon April 3rd
• 2025-26 – Membership Survey please check how you would like to help our club. Return to Rob or Daryl
• Rotary Zone Institute – 14 states consist of our zone. Columbus is the closest it will ever be, open to all Rotarians and guests. Sept. 4-6, 2025 or just Saturday, Sept. 6th. Hyatt in Columbus.
• Board meeting highlights:
  • Disaster Aid USA will drive through the Friday Pumpkin Show Parade and we will be their sponsor. They will receive a donation next week.
  • Piano player is authorized to purchase a digital piano which can be locked

SAA: The King – Bob Sneed (it is an honor to be recognized by the SAA)

• CHS Bronze Tiger donators – Tootle Family, Roger Wolfe, class of ‘66 and ‘72, Dave Webb, Larry Logan on his brother’s behalf
• First Day of Spring; National Proposal Day; National Incredible Kid Day; 
• Rock your Socks – (Rotary challenge for next week) 3-21 is Down Syndrome Day, during this Disability Awareness Month. A picture will be taken next week of everyone Rocking Their Socks!

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Ian Webb for $18  – Big Bean is holding at $605.

Program:  Certified Master Chef Alfonzo Contrisciani

• Owner/Manager/CEO of Alfonzo’s Italian Eatery & Event Center (Lancaster) as well as Alfonzo’s Kitchen & Bakery (Nelsonville)
• Owner Oliver Farms LLC – in Thornville
• Cookbook author and soon to be TV star!
• Partner with Brett Adams development company
• Consultant with Abigail Wexner for the New Albany Organic Farm
• Past Dean of Hocking College Hospitality Program
• Sustainability advocate
• Alfonzo’s Black Diamond Steakhouse will open in the old Gibby’s location on Main St. in late May. The Black Diamond Pub & Taproom already open
• Tuscan style steakhouse
• Bourbon Pecan Pie – baked in Nelsonville
• Dinner Trains out of Nelsonville is another of Chef’s adventures
• All dietary restrictions are recognized
• Twelve Mangia Bene! TV episodes have been taped in NYC and cookbook of the same name with 100 recipes he grew up with is in final production!
• Next cookbook – My Plate to your Plate – 300 recipes and memoir is still in the works
• He has cooked for 6 presidents, ran DC convention center and cooked all over the world
• Back of the house staff is hardest to find. Develop the staff is Alfonzo’s way
• What steaks will be featured?  Flat Iron, petit filet, bone in rib-eye, sirloin strip, Berkshire pork chop, and fish are coming to Main Street!

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to Anne’s Smiles of Ashville

03/13/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Mar. 20 – Chef Alfonso from the upcoming downtown restaurant

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• Presiding:  President Heidi White
• Prayer: Brenna Gibson
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Stacy Young “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover”, “My Wild Irish Rose”
• Attendees: Ankrom, Brown, C.Chamberlain, T.Chamberlain, Crawford, Driesbach, Droste, Elick, Foster, Fountain, Gibson, Hedges, Hooks, Justinger, Lanman, Logan, Mavis, McCrady, G&S Montgomery, Nemes-Crawford, Poling, Radcliff, Rawlins, Reitano, Riegel, Robinson, Sneed, Spangler, B.Tootle, I.Webb, D.Webb, Weller, White, Wilson, D.Wolfe, R.Wolfe, Wolford, Young
• Guests: Brenna brings her future Rotarian daughter, Taylor; Stacy Young has brought back Morgan Windsor; PICAA represented by Exec. Director Jonna Motter; future Rotarian Ezra Herron was helping grandpa be Exec. Secretary; Mollie Hamilton – Atomic Credit Union
• Students: not today

Announcements: 

• Bonus Community Kitchen – thank you Warren, David & Marie, Gary, Bob Mc, Rob, Daryl
• 4 way speech contest – 11 students registered. 10:00am at the Library for volunteers March 15th.
• District Fundraisers:
  • Soles4Souls –  Rob thanks us for our club donations $1,070!
  • Women Products drive: Paula Routt & Brenna Gibson chair- donations have already started being collected. Our final collection date this year will be April 17th and winner announced at the District Conference – April 26th! Please donate products or money and come to the conference to see Heidi hoist the trophy!
• Invoices for July 2025-June 2026. Please pay Daryl before June 1st. We need to have membership finalized before Rotary International sends us a bill based on June membership numbers.

SAA: The King – Bob Sneed (it is an honor to be recognized by the SAA)

• National Jewel Day; Good Samaritan Day; 1877 – earmuffs were patented 
• Ides of March – trivia

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Judy Wolford for $18  – Big Bean is holding at $587.

Program: Rockmill Brewery owners Austin & Taylor Caulk

• Located in Lancaster – Belgian style beers
• Water used at Rockmill has similar mineral composition to beer in Belgium
• Rockmill was in foreclosure and the Caulk’s took it over
• Started as managing the Brewery for the previous owner because they didn’t want the brewery to close
• The previous owners used to live on a horse farm, therefore the brand has a horse
• Wanted to create a place where you can experience relationships – bring a pet, your kids and return to nature
• The Farmhouse – where owners used to live has been turned into event center, booking weddings and corporate events
• 5705 Lithopolis Road. Lancaster, OH
• VRBO – can stay at the Farmhouse – 5 bedrooms and 8 baths
• Food options – BBQ food truck – Back Country BBQ
• Thursday’s – Singer-Songwriter night 6-8pm
• Friday’s are wine tastings
• Rockmillbrewery.com and follow on social media for coming events

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to Anne’s Smiles of Ashville

03/06/2025

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

Mar. 13 – Rockmill Brewery owners Austin & Taylor Caulk

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• Presiding:  President Elect – Rob Radcliff
• Prayer: Norm Wilson
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Stacy Young “Happy Birthday”, “ROTARY”
• Attendees: D.Wolfe, Crawford, Nemes-Crawford, Wilson, Elick, McNemar, Young, Gibson, Logan, Droste, Sneed, I.Webb, D.Webb, Riegel, McCrady, Hedges, Poling, Driesbach, Robinson, G&S Montgomery, Spangler, C.Chamberlain, Radcliff, Rawlins, Fountain, T.Chamberlain, Horning, Lanman, B.Tootle, Carder, Schreiner, Hooks, Searls
• Guests: Brenna brings her future Rotarian daughter, Taylor!, Stacy Young has brought back Morgan Windsor
• Students: New Hope could not make it today

Announcements: 

• Bonus Community Kitchen – Monday, March 10th. 4-5:30pm Presbyterian church
• 4 way speech contest – 11 students registered. 10:30am at the Library for volunteers March 15th. More help is needed – see Tony Robinson
• Thank you Community Kitchen Feb. 24th: Betsy, David& Marie, Warren, Bob Mc, Gary & Sandy
• Marquee sign is needed for Mount Oval event – please see Gary Montgomery if you know of one to borrow
• Winter workshop – Michele Lanman update. Please consider going to district events to learn more about how Rotary works. Also opportunity to meet district leadership and network with other clubs.
• District Fundraisers:
  • Now until March 14th – Soles4Souls – monetary donations are being collected to give children in need new shoes. This is the state-wide fundraiser pitting all 5 Ohio Districts against each other. Winning District will be announced at President-Elect training weekend, March 15th. Our District 6690 is currently in second place to the Toledo District. Daryl can accept cash donations if you do not want to use this link – https://charity.pledgeit.org/allohioPETS/teams/@district6690
  • Women Products drive: Paula Routt chair- donations have already started being collected. Thank you to Creative Chaos customers and Brown Memorial. This is a District 6690 campaign with clubs competing against each other. Last year Warren collected our trophy as first place out of 58 clubs in our District with over 6,000 products! Our final collection date this year will be April 17th and winner announced at the District Conference – April 26th! Please donate products or money and come to the conference to see Heidi hoist the trophy!
• Invoices for July 2025-June 2026 membership handed out today. Please pay Daryl before June 1st. We need to have membership finalized before Rotary International sends us a bill based on June membership numbers.

SAA: The King – Bob Sneed (it’s good to be recognized by the SAA)

• National Dentist Day! (Bob Tootle)
• National Oreo Cookie Day
• 1950 – Silly Putty went on sale in the US
• OU Pickaway county deans list – any relatives? No??
• Scholarship Euchre tournament – sponsor or played please stand, others $1
• Our Ian Webb fined – Director of the Sarasota Ballet is an Iain Webb (Bob, you went to the Sarasota ballet in between rounds of golf?)
• Academy Awards trivia

Scholarship Drawing:  This weeks winner is Jim Hooks for $17  – Big Bean is holding at $569.

Program: Alexis Conrad & Katie Logan Hedges – Inspiration Station

• 18 months – 15 years is the age range the museum is targeting
• We will be the only museum affiliated with a library that has been found after touring museums around the country
• 9,000 sq feet
• $1.5 million for construction and $1.5 million for exhibits
• Feb. 2024 – construction phase started and now ready
• Feb. 2025 – Winter Wonderland was first event with 89 people
• Raised $400,000 so far for the exhibit $1.5 million needed
• Exhibits typically stay, sometimes new seasonal special events will have other displays
• Water table is a $300,000 investment – the most expensive exhibit
• Multi-use flex space will be rentable with tables and chairs with 80 people capacity
• Once remaining money is raised, it will take nine months for completion
• Employees? Executive Director will be one full-time, maybe a few part time employees, there will be a Guild for volunteers and education committee which will consist of retired teachers who are already meeting
• Admission charge – $6-$9 range…maybe. As well as family membership. We want it to be inclusive for our community.
• Circleville Rotary and Sunrise Rotary are part of the original sponsors

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to Anne’s Smiles of Ashville

03/28/2024

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

April 4th-  Jon Melchi – Building Industry Association of Ohio

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• Presiding:  President Warren Spangler
• Prayer: Joe Brown
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Rob Radcliff selected “Sunny Side of the Street”, “Singin’ in the Rain”
• Students: must be on break today
• Guests: John Lambert introduced Mandy Thompson, branch mgr from Atomic in Athens, moving to Lancaster branch; Lexi Heidish introduced Joe Allen, Village Administrator from South Bloomfield and Mayor, Steve Welsh from Ashville

Announcements:

• 4-way speech contest – Thank you from Tony Robinson to Warren, Bob Foster, Ellery Elick, Gary Montgomery, Tom Duvall, Bob Sneed. Great event – 11 students competed and 2 are being sent to the District competition at Deer Creek, April 19th. Our club’s winner is Crystal Candlish, Sunrise’s winner is Julia Weller.
• Women’s Products March Madness collection with the winner being announced at the District Conference! Paula and Michelle will shop for you. 2,100 items to date, which surpasses our third place win last year – but Paula is shooting for 3,000 products! She wants Warren to pick-up the trophy at District Conference!
• Fill out next year’s service forms for President-Elect, Heidi White
• Thank you: Community kitchen crew: Bob Tootle, John & Clayton Lambert, Gary & Sandy Montgomery, Bob Sneed, Chef McCrady, Warren Spangler, David & Marie Crawford
• Dues for both Rotary International and the District are going up over the next three years. There is discussion with our board on our next steps.

SAA:  P3 is donating to our SAA fund so speakers for the month will have more than the usual 20 minutes

Scholarship Drawing:  John Lambert was the winner of $22! The jackpot is $679 and it will continue to grow!

 Program: William Murdock – Exec. Director, MidOhio Regional Planning

• MORPC serves a 15 county region – including Pickaway
• 87 member communities and organizations
• 100+ board members
• MORPC’s focus is on mobility, sustainability and local government in Central Ohio
• Central Ohio is growing – planning has been going on for the growth
• Another 700,000 people expected by 2050
• Pickaway county – 20,000 more people expected by 2050
• Pickaway is within a 60 miles radius between the Intel development to the north and the Honda expansion to the west
• Housing production remains lower than Central Ohio peer markets
• Columbus is largest community east of the Mississippi without access to mass transit – we travel to Cincinnati to pick up Amtrak. Talks are happening to connect with Cincinnati and Cleveland and Pittsburg and Fort Wayne
• Working on new trails for hiking and biking

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to the Foster Care Program of Pickaway County through Jobs and Family Services

03/21/2024

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

March 28th – William Murdock – MidOhio Regional Planning

April 4th-  Jon Melchi – Building Industry Association of Ohio

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• Presiding:  President Warren Spangler
• Prayer: Norm Wilson
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Daryl Wolfe selected “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, “Happy Birthday to Bob McCrady!”
• Students: Logan Elm represented by Becka Jenkins, Lyndsey Vanhouse, Alden Williams
• Guests:  Paula Routt introduced a friend of hers; Steve Welsh (Mayor, Ashville); Joe Allen (Village Administrator, South Bloomfield); Becky Hammond (Exec. Director, PICCA); Lexi Heidish (P3 Assist. Director); Jeff Phillips (Business Development Director, PICCA)
• Visiting Rotarians: Catherine Farynowski and her sister Carolyn

Announcements:

• Women’s Products collection with the winner being announced at the District Conference! Paula and Michelle will shop for you. Shampoo, deodorant and the like also accepted. Last year our count was 1,800 products and we received third place in the district.
• Community Kitchen at the Presbyterian Church, Monday, March 25th. Use Mound Street doors – use doorbell on right wall. 4:00pm-5:00’ish.
• Heidi White – passed out activity sheet for next year. Please sign up for at least one committee and return the sheets to her in the next few weeks
• Thank you from Mason Barnes – we sponsored him for Sea Camp

SAA:  P3 is donating to our SAA fund so speakers for the month will have more than the usual 20 minutes

Scholarship Drawing:  Drexel Poling was the winner of $23! The jackpot is $657 and it will continue to grow!

 Program: Claire Jennings – COTA  

• How can COTA better connect with communities is Claire’s 
• Serves mostly Franklin County – with small amount into Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield as well (charter members expanded into other counties)
• PICCA Pilot project April 1st launch to serve Rickenbacker
• Mobility Center is being created by COTA near Rickenbacker with hope of opening spring of next year. It will have childcare on site, food pantry, training facility partner with Columbus State
• LINKUS project – with Central Ohio projected to grow 1 million people of the next 25 years, how can COTA improve transit?
  • Increase services by 45 percent
  • Support bike, walk infrastructure improvements
  • Create 5 rapid transit lines
  • $250 million in roadway/sidewalk improvements
• COTA seeking permanent 1% Franklin sales tax and bonds for funding and grant opportunities

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to the Foster Care Program of Pickaway County through Jobs and Family Services

03/14/2024

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

March 21st – Claire Jennings – COTA  – LinkUS & Rickenbacker Mobility Center

March 28th – William Murdock – MidOhio Regional Planning

April 4th-  Jon Melchi – Building Industry Association of Ohio

• Presiding:  President Warren Spangler
• Prayer: Norm Wilson
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Rob Radcliff selected “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” and “My Wild Irish Rose”
• Attending: 40 members today: Spangler, Poling, Crawford, Nemes-Crawford, E.Liggett, M.Rhodes, Ankrom, Elick, Wilson, McNemar, Catlos, Lambert, Dean, Robinson, Sneed, C.Chamberlain, Riegel, D.Wolfe, R.Wolfe, Radcliff, Duvall, Fountain, C.Mullins, Colburn, Wolford, McCrady, Schreiner, C.Chamberlain, Montgomery, Routt, Mavis, Ellis, Beavers, Reitano, McCrady, Brown, Hafey, Lanman, Rawlins, B.Tootle
• Students: New Hope sophomores introduced by Alison Catlos today Eric Catlos and Andrew Poleman

Announcements:

• Jayme Fountain Paul Harris +1 goes to Chris Mullins and Carly Neff is a 125 new Club member
• Board meeting next Tuesday here at Watt St. 11:30am
• Women’s Products collection with the winner being announced at the District Conference! Paula and Michelle will shop for you.
• Paula announced Buyer & Seller Marketplace – Sunday, April 7th 12-5pm Pickaway Ag & Event Center. Vendors will be there: home inspectors/contractors/landscapers/food trucks, etc. Free entry. 
• Soup Kitchen served 123 meals – Thank you Gary Montgomery, Bob Sneed, David & Marie Crawford, Chef Bob, Rob & Dodie Radcliff, John & Clayton Lambert, P3 for desserts.
• March 23rd – 4-way Speech contest volunteers show up at 10am – We have 17 students signed up. (Great job Tony Robinson!!!)
• Community Cupboard sign-up sheet if you can help monitoring to keep it full. Health Department holds our supplies for us.

SAA:  P3 is donating to our SAA fund so speakers for the month will have more than the usual 20 minutes

Scholarship Drawing:  Tim Colburn was the winner of $25 – donated to hygiene products! The jackpot is $634 and it will continue to grow!

 Program: Tom Kitchen – Director: Pickaway County Education Service Center

• ESC provides an umbrella of services schools need
• Dept. of Ed initiatives (literacy support, high instructional materials support)
• Contract services  
• Growth & effectiveness (professional development)
• Speech, occupational, behavioral therapists, curriculum and special ed consultation, grant coordination
• Alternative Education programs
• Assist four public school districts as well as Pickaway Ross
• Future of ESC – moving to old Mound St. school from Stoneridge. Currently alternative school is also included in the building
• Partnership with P3 to promote and market the advantages of location business in the county; promote a stronger business environment by facilitating retention and expand efforts to local employers; add programs to existing businesses
• [email protected] if you can think of something ESC can do for you!
• Behavioral therapists: 3 social workers are in the county schools. They help families obtain services they need and working with teachers, as well as students.
• How can a Rotary club help education in the community? Volunteer with the schools – kids are behind and might not have support system at home. ESC can help you get connected.

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to the Foster Care Program of Pickaway County through Jobs and Family Services

03/07/2024

Marie Nemes-Crawford, Editor

March 14th – Tom Kitchen – Pickaway County Education Service Center

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• Presiding:  President Warren Spangler
• Prayer: Fred Mavis
• Piano: Ellery Elick
• Song Leader: Rob Radcliff selected “In The Good Old Summertime”, “Sing Rotarians”
• Attending: (Drexel has official list)
• Visiting Rotarians: Charlie Hedges stopped in from Hilliard
• Students:  We say Happy Retirement to Pam Younkin from Teays Valley, we welcome Eric Farrell who will replace her and Pam’s niece, Kennedy Younkin was our student this week.

Announcements:

• Board approved Tanya Lowe-Winfield for membership. She is sponsored by Michelle Stephens.
• Thank you to the committee for last week’s Rural Urban Day
• District Conference at Deer Creek –  April 19&20. Please consider attending – great speakers and the service project is “feeding the funnel” (preparing meal packets). Room block at Deer Creek is released March 15th.
• March starts the Women’s Products collection with the winner being announced at the District Conference! Paula and Michelle will shop for you.
• Soup Kitchen Feb. 26th– Thank you to Judy Wolford, Tom Duvall, Gary & Sandy Montgomery, Bob Sneed, David & Marie Crawford – Chef Bob did check to make sure we were staffed appropriately
• March 23rd – 4-way Speech contest volunteers show up at 10am – Circleville Library. Speeches start at 11am. Tony Robinson does not have enough help.  Please call him to volunteer. Judges / score counters are needed. He will teach you at 10am.
• Bonus Soup Kitchen on Monday – 3:30-5pm at Presbyterian church. P3 will donate desserts. 120 people are usually served.
• PICAA will have Easter Egg Hunt – March 23rd
• Warren, David and Connie represented the club at the District Training during the snow storm, Saturday, Feb. 24th
• Community Cupboard – Island Road, behind Hardee’s. Please stop after you go to the grocery –  soups with pull tops is the best option. 

SAA:  P3 is donating to our SAA fund so speakers for the month will have more than the usual 20 minutes

Scholarship Drawing:   Rob Radcliff was the winner of $21! The jackpot is $609 and it will continue to grow!

 Program: P3 overview by its Executive Director, Tim Colburn

• Mission is to serve as a catalyst, promoting investment, growth and job retention in Pickaway County.
• DuPont – $350 million expansion of Kapton & Vespel film lines adding 60 employees
• Sofidel – $185 million expansion adding 100 new employees. Third paper machine is having its ground breaking March 21st.
• Rickenbacker exchange now has 4 million square feet of warehouses and fulfillment space and about 600 new employees
• Rickenbacker Intermodal campus has 15 million square feet under roof – over 4,000 employees (in Pickaway County)
• West of Intermodal is another project in the works. Now looking for grants to improve infrastructure in the 23/762 area
• Working on capital budgets
  • Barthelmas Park Multi use path on Ohio Street
  • Earnhardt Hill water expansion along US 23
  • Cooks Creek Nature Center
  • GE & RCA Thomson Sites
• Site visits around Pickaway County are being featured in the Circleville Herald
  • Willow Wood – largest manufacturer of prosthetic limbs – NW Pickaway County
  • Novelis – 75% of aluminum steel rolls for Amazon trucks comes from Ashville
• ODOT plans to fix 762/23. Date is 2027 or 2028
• Roundabout at 762 and Ashville Pike is a future plan
• Rathmel Rd. and 23 is Google – 7 buildings are being built to house data centers
• Pickawayprogress.com    [email protected]. 

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In appreciation for the speaker today, a donation will be made to the Foster Care Program of Pickaway County through Jobs and Family Services