BRUNSWICK, Ohio – It is Thanksgiving and I was very thankful I wasn’t born any earlier in time. I often say this when I go through some of our local history, but when Carol Foote gave a program about conditions during the Civil War, I was even more grateful.
A “history speaker” with the Brunswick Area Historical Society, she immediately drew attention as she walked into the Brunswick Rec Center wearing a bloody apron. She is a re-enactor among her many talents and she had all of us who attended her program how anyone made it out alive, especially when she explainedcaring for the wounded.
She definitely had us grimacing at many of the items she brought along. While she and I have done historical programs together, I’d never seen this one. I’m grateful I got to see it – and thankful I didn’t go through it.
The Brunswick Recreation Center has a place to donate non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Brunswick Food Bank by Seth Greenfelder.Sam Boyer
Spotted it: One of our favorite people, Seth Greenfelder, is helping others again. He has a contribution box at the Brunswick Recreation Center where you can drop off food items to be donated to the food pantries.
Music, Music, Music: Brunswick Schools invite the community to celebrate student musical achievement through a series of winter concerts this December. These free performances showcase the talents of students from both Brunswick Middle School and Brunswick High School.
The concert series includes the following performances starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 with the Brunswick High School Band Concert in the Brunswick High School Performing Arts Center.
7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Brunswick High School Choirs Winter Concert featuring Alumni Performance in the Brunswick High School Performing Arts Center.
Saturday, Dec. 7- Brunswick Middle School Winter Concert Series all at the middle school starting at 10 a.m. with the 6th Grade Choir, Main Gym; 10:45 — 8th Grade Orchestra in the Performing Arts Center; 11:30 – 6th Grade Band in the Main Gym; 12:15 p.m.- 7th Grade Orchestra in the Performing Arts Center; 1 p.m.- 7th Grade Band in the Main Gym; 1:45 p.m. – 7th and 8th Grade Choirs in the Performing Arts Center and 2:45 p.m. – 6th Grade Orchestra in the Main Gym.
6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Brunswick High School Orchestra Concert featuring Jazz Band Performances in the Brunswick High School Performing Arts Center.
7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11- Brunswick High School Wind Ensemble & 8th Grade Band Concert in the Brunswick Middle School Performing Arts Center.
All concerts are free and open to the public. For a detailed schedule of performance times and locations, visit www.bcsoh.org.
Santa Paws: Get ready for a festive, furry-friendly event! Hounds Town Cleveland-Brunswick is hosting its 3rd annual Photos with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec/ 7 at 1148 Pearl Road. The outdoor event is open to everyone who wants to capture a special holiday moment with their dogs and family members. In collaboration with Angela Nicholson of Conrad Mortgage and Robert Andrews from ReMax Crossroads Properties, the event is raising funds for Rescue Me Pawsome Style, a Medina-based foster rescue group.
“We’re proud to host this event once again to bring the community together while supporting a wonderful local rescue,” said Roger Burzanko, co-owner of Hounds Town Cleveland-Brunswick. Come for your photos with Santa: Perfect for pets and families alike. The suggested donation is $10 per family.
Reserve your spot online at https://ticketstripe.com/SantaPaws-NEO. You can also go the Facebook events to register at . https://www.facebook.com/events/1279920769993349/permalink/1279920783326681
Attendees will also find a donation table in the lobby with suggested items to support Rescue Me Pawsome Style. A full list of items can be viewed at Amazon Wishlist. Proceeds and donations directly support Rescue Me Pawsome Style’s mission to rescue, foster, and find forever homes for animals in need.
It’s a great way to join the holiday fun, meet Santa, and make a difference for pets in need!
Parents get a break: Hope Church Ignite is hosting Parents Night Out on Dec. 13. Teens will provide free childcare to parents from 6-9 p.m. Donations will be gladly accepted to support students attending LIFE 2025. If you know parents who need a night out, invite them to attend! If you’d like to make a donation to support the students who’ll be providing the childcare that evening, click here and choose “Give to Life Scholarships” in the drop down box. https://hopebrunswick.breezechms.com/give/online/
Annual event. The Brunswick Kiwanis Christmas Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Brunswick Recreation Center at 3637 Center Road. Admission is free and over 100 vendors will be there with 95% of tables offering hand crafted items. Questions may be directed to Kim at 440-821-7799 or email [email protected].
It takes of village to help feed Medina County residents, especially children, who need a little help to thrive.Courtesy of David Lariviere
Helping others: Many organizations and individuals volunteer with Feeding Medina County to reduce food insecurity among children. Janet Newcomer, executive director of Feeding Medina County, stated,” Feeding Medina County is grateful to Rotarians, Kiwanis, the US Military, veterans and many other organizations and companies that made today possible and successful.”
“Thanks to the generous support of this community, we were able to provide the ingredients for a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey, for over 1,000 individuals. It was a frosty November morning but our hearts were warmed by the gratitude of the people we were able to help.
Men of St. Ambrose Parish were out decorating for Christmas.Sam Boyer
And even more: Saint Ambrose Parish was blessed according to the Rev. Fr. Bob Stec. He told a large gathering at Hilkert Hall recently that 1400 turkeys had been donated to their cause to help make 10,000 meals for people in need throughout northeast Ohio. How great is that?
Give it a try: Medina City Schools is excited to announce its upcoming “Drive the Hive” Bus Event, an opportunity for community members to explore what it’s like to drive a school bus. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Transportation Department, 1122 W Smith Road, Medina.
This event allows attendees to test drive a bus in a safe, supervised environment. Participants must register by Thursday, Dec 5, by visiting www.medinabees.org. A valid driver’s license is required to participate.
Thanks Rotary: The Rotary Club of Brunswick is stepping up again and putting together Thanksgiving baskets for 12 families who have been selected. Club members have come through year after year to help those who made need some help. I think I speak for the community that says we’re thankful for their kindness.
Remember when? You will have the opportunity to return to your childhood and to celebrate the season with Mr. Jingeling, Santa’s famous key-keeper and St. Nicholas. Everyone is invited to meet Mr. Jingeling, receive a special “Christmas Key,” sing the traditional Mr. Jingeling song and enjoy a festive atmosphere filled with Toyland delights and Christmas miniatures. Children of all ages will enjoy the fun from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 14 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 317 E. liberty St., in Medina. Please RSVP by Dec. 12th by calling 330-725-4131.
Holiday performances: Medina High School’s award-winning Encore Entertainment Company show choir, including the group’s singers, band, and crew, invites the Medina community to the Encore Holiday Extravaganza. The musical portion of the Encore Holiday Extravaganza, beginning at 7 pm, includes singing and dancing to medleys of many holiday musical favorites as well as several small group performances and sing-alongs for the entire family. The performance is an expanded version of the holiday show typically seen by many hundreds of students and adults in the Medina community each year.
Before the performance, beginning at 6 pm, younger audience members will enjoy holiday crafts, games, stories, cookies, and a chance to take pictures with Santa Claus. Children are welcome and encouraged to attend both the activity portion and the musical performance. The Encore Holiday Extravaganza welcomes audience members of all ages, especially those who may be too young to attend other performances.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. Get tickets for this and other events by going to https://medinachoir.com/ just scroll down and click on the flyer for the event.
A Krazy Christmas: Kitten Krazy will hold its Christmas cookie bake sale and tree lighting ceremony from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at Kitten Krazy, 930 Lafayette Road, Medina, Unit A. You can purchase ribbons from www.kittenkrazy.org or on site to represent your pet(s), either past or present, to decorate the tree. They will be blessed before lighting of the tree. If you need information, contact [email protected].
A lot of work: Members of St. Ambrose Parish have to go to great heights to decorate the campus for Christmas. We happened to catch them decorating the tree in front of Hilkert Hall last week. I’m always amazed by the beautiful decorations and it was pretty cool seeing them go up.
Contact Boyer at [email protected]