The Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville met on October 3, 2024 at the home of Jane Hill, who was assisted in hostessing by Linda Fitt and Connie Pesecky. Roll call was answered by noting one’s favorite walking trail; winter residences, the Headwaters Trail, Lake Erie Bluffs, the Hiram Bio Station, in the backyard with the dog all got mentions but a clear favorite was “chair-to-refrigerator”.
Program for the evening was presented by Jennifer White, education/outreach with the Portage Parks District. She gave out “D-Cards” with a map of the system, illustrating the district mission rooted in conservation. This began in 1991 but was actually funded in 2021; it offers residents astronomy nights, birding, senior hikes, an online newsletter, numerous hiking opportunities and–in certain locations–bathrooms. A Nature Education Center is on a “wish list”, improvements are constantly being made, a “Wild Hikes Challenge” is out there and so is expansion/extension of the system (dependent on willing landowners). She also offered info on how to report and prevent violations (motorized vehicles, for example). All of these activities are accomplished by an extremely small but dedicated staff. Clean water and clean air for Portage County are the goals; we can all enjoy…and contribute.
The business meeting included discussion of the budget–how to increase it, acceptance/welcome of a new member, a belated installation of a new historian–Kathy Countryman, Karen Ziarko’s status as an honorary member, a volunteer co-hostess available, club contribution to the new Garrettsville time capsule to be opened on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the settlement now known as Garrettsville. The Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville will be beginning its third century. Huzzah !
