The Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club met in Cal’s II, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville, on June 20 for their regularly-scheduled meeting at noon. The business on the agenda was varied :
First up was a recap of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Championship Game, followed by the reading of a thank you note from Jane Rader, of James A. Garfield High School, who, together with Christian Crawford and Michaela West, had attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program recently. Announcement that “Art” is on the Rotary Youth Exchange west coast trip. Notice that next year’s exchange student from Germany will probably be arriving in August.
More discussion on the location of the Little Free Library installation led to a motion to purchase one of the available to-be-assembled units to be placed near the Headwaters Trail leading from the South Street Park. The assembly and mounting of the facility are likely to be a part of an Eagle Scout project proposed by Kyle Collins, recently returned from Japan and aiming to reach this level of scouting before college in the fall. The motion carried.
The walking loop around the South Street Park is still an item of interest and a presentation to the planning commission, along with the required paperwork is being formulated. Issues of interest in the project and maintenance will be addressed. There is considerable thinking that this would be a boon to parents whose children are at the park for games and practices.
Paperwork and zoning are also to be dealt with concerning new signage for the Headwaters Trail which will conform to the park district standards and boost awareness of businesses and facilities of the Garrettsville community.
A proposal was made that Rotary should be investigating the possibilities for joining with other community organizations—Lions, Eagles, Garden Club, etc.—for larger projects which any one group might find daunting but all could join in for the betterment of the community. More discussion will surely follow.
Iva Walker gave a brief program focused on the Garrettsville Veterans’ Memorial, outlining the contributions of various families and individuals across the years. From John Garrett, founder of the village, who participated in the Revolutionary War, to Robert E. Armstrong, decorated serviceman in the Viet Nam conflict, recently honored in the James A. Garfield Hall of Fame, and beyond, the community has “stepped up” when the nation called, women and men, young and old. Pride and remembrance are their due; this is the message of the memorial, it is the wish of the community.
