‌
Jan. 7, 2021
Hello,

Our condolences go out to the family of Don Simmons, on his passing last weekend. Don was the co-founder of Simmons Construction, a Medina County Commissioner and the long-time chairman of the Medina County Republican party. He will be dearly missed by the community.

Congratulations to Brunswick firefighter Kevin Levstek on his retirement, after 37 years with the department. Levstek grew up in Ketchikan, Alaska and is a graduate of Ohio State University. We wish him the very best in his retirement!

Despite COVID, the Friends of the Medina County Home were able to produce a wonderful holiday dinner for residents of the Medina County Home last month. Dinner was provided by Pickle Mamas, dessert by Medina Sunrise Rotary & gift cards provided by the Brunswick Rotary Foundation. Gerry Ziemba, Carole Feron, Rosie Collier, Jane Back, Karen George & Rosemary Galish were principle planners. Interested in joining Friends of the Medina County Home? Click HERE.

What a weekend it was for Northeast Ohio football fans! Ohio State beat Clemson for the first time ever, sending the Buckeyes to the National Championship game. And the Browns beat the Steelers to end a 19 year playoff drought! It was a great way to start 2021!


I hope you have an outstanding first full week of 2021!

Mike Kovack
Medina County Auditor

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
Carl Bard
We're in the last few weeks of
dog license season!
Be sure to renew your dog tag by Jan. 31.

Here are three good reasons to license your dog:

  1. It's the law.
  2. It's their ticket home if they are ever lost.
  3. The money from the fees collected goes directly to help the Medina County Animal Shelter.

PLEASE NOTE!!! MEDINA COUNTY OFFICES ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO COVID-19.

You must renew your dog license by mail, online or at local retailers in your community. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Auditor Kovack Launches #Model Challenge Dog Photo Contest to Round Out Dog Licensing Season
MEDINA, Ohio -- Medina County licensed dogs are invited to grace the "dogwalk" and show us your glamour shots in our latest #Model Challenge photo contest.

This is the second contest in as many months launched by the Auditor's Office to highlight the importance of licensing your dogs (while having a little fun at the same time). Dog licenses can be purchased or renewed by Jan. 31.

The contest rules are as follows:
  1. Submit a photo of your dog looking his or her model best. Props and clothing can be used but are not mandatory. Cute expressions and poses are encouraged. Sometimes less is more! Dogs MUST be licensed in Medina County to be eligible.
  2. Include a clever caption with the photo that identifies the dog by name and breed.
  3. More than one dog can appear in the photo.
  4. The dog with the most likes on the Auditor's Facebook page during the contest period determines the winner.
  5. The winner gets a $50 gift card to Cool Beans Cafe in downtown Medina.
  6. Send entries HERE. Deadline for submission is Jan. 25.


More than 35 dogs from all over Medina County recently took part in our holiday Deck the Dogs contest. Those who entered that contest are still eligible to enter the #Model Challenge but we hope to see some new furry faces, too!

And don’t forget to purchase or renew your dog licenses now through
Main Street Medina and Medina City Ask Businesses, Households to "Leave the Lights On" in Support of Front-line Workers
ca
The City of Medina and Main Street Medina will join other cities in Ohio to thank and honor our healthcare workers, first responders and victims of the virus by "Leaving the Lights On!"

We encourage all households and businesses to join us in support by leaving up your outside lights until Feb. 7, 2021, the downtown organization announced on its Facebook page.

  
Medina County Park District's January Makers Series Focuses on Creating Snowmen
Take the opportunity this winter to get creative and showcase your artistic endeavors along the trail at Wolf Creek Environmental Center.

Make snowmen out of any material you like (except real snow), but be sure your snowmen are able to withstand being outdoors for at least two weeks. Each household will be limited to a five foot by five foot square in which to display its snowmen. Setup will occur between Jan.13 and 16. Registered individuals/households will be contacted with further details regarding setup. Snowmen will be on public display through Jan. 30.

Call 330-722-9364 or visit facebook.com/MedinaCountyParkDistrict to learn more. To register, go HERE.

Farmers Market Application Deadline is Jan. 8 for 2021 Season
Medina
The Medina Square Farmers Market is now accepting vendor applications for the 2021 season. The application and rules and regulations may be found at www.medinafarmersmarket.com. Application deadline is January 8, 2021.

Vendors are welcome to submit an application for consumable products for review by the Medina Farmers Market Advisory Committee.

Please mail inquiries to 39 Public Square, Suite 305, Medina, OH 44256 or email to [email protected].

​At this time, we are not accepting applications for makers/artists. For additional information, call 330-722-6186.

Save the Date for the 2021 Medina Ice Festival

The 27th annual Medina Ice Festival will be held Feb. 19-22 on Medina Square with some Covid restrictions in place. Please note that the event is one week later than usual this year.

Ice sculptures sponsored by local stores will be placed throughout the historic district and south town, and the Medina Square will be turned into an ice sculpture gallery with larger pieces on display.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no carving contests or demonstrations and masks are required to be worn at all times.

The event, presented by Elegant Ice Creations, is free and open to the public. Sculptures will be on display from the time they are put out on Friday, Feb 19, through Monday, Feb 22 (or until they melt). Leashed pets are welcome.

Sponsors include Serpentini Chevrolet Medina, the City of Medina, P.J. Marley's, Main Street Medina and Excalibur Auto Body.
Through Jan. 20
The Wadsworth Public Library is hosting a Comfort Food Recipe Showcase to warm up the cold winter nights. Share your culinary treasures virtually. Cooks can submit their comfort food recipes and a picture of the finished product, which will be displayed on the Library's website and social media outlets from Jan. 25 through Feb. 8. Submit your recipes HERE.

Thursday, Jan. 7
The Medina County Office for Older Adults will host a virtual technology class at
10 a.m. titled “What is the Cloud” with Pieri from PC Computing. Learn all about the cloud and how to use it. To sign up, contact the activities coordinator HERE or call the office at 330-723-9514.

Leadership Medina County will offer an online course titled Self-advocacy, Self-awareness and the Importance on Career Intention from 9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The speaker will be Cathy Posner and cost is $59.The deadline for registration is Jan. 6 at noon. Register HERE

Friday, Jan. 8
Forever Amber Acres, a local animal sanctuary, is hosting a one-hour guided meditation at 9 a.m.called Meditation and Mindfulness with Horses in a socially-distanced, round-circle setting (chairs provided) in its indoor horse arena. $20 donation (payable by cash, check, PayPal or credit card). Go HERE and click "donate" to sign up.

Make Me Happy Hour will be hosted virtually by the Medina County Office for Older Adults at 11 a.m. with Cindy McQuown. To sign up, contact the activities coordinator HERE or call the office at 330-723-9514.

Main Street Medina will hold its inaugural First Friday of 2021 from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come to the downtown Medina shopping district for a day of shopping, dining, live music, pop-up art shows and performances, and themed celebrations.

Saturday, Jan. 9
A Drive-thru Personal Care Pantry event will be held at Living Hope Church, 6288 Wooster Pike (Route 3) from 8-9:30 a.m. Participants will receive at least 12 items, including toilet paper, paper towels, soap, tissues and laundry detergent. You must be a resident of Medina County to participate and no registration is required. People are asked to remain in their cars and a bag will be delivered to each car.

Sunday, Jan. 10
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) opens the 2021 monthly free concert/workshops at 2 p.m. with singer-songwriter Jerry Allen in a program of country music. Formally known as Jerry Channing when he recorded for the MGM record label as a teenager, Allen had two releases with MGM- “Little Girl in the Magazine” and “You Loved Me”. Access this streaming concert on the ORMACO Facebook page.

Monday, Jan. 11
Social Isolation and the Pandemic is the topic of this virtual talk that begins at
1 p.m. offered by the Soprema Senior Center of Wadsworth. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many normal family traditions this year. Not being with family and friends over the holidays has exacerbated feelings of social isolation and depression among older adults. Kerstin Yoder & Tamar Cooper from the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging via Zoom as they provide tips for helping a loved one cope when you can’t be together, and learn how to help yourself let go of feelings of guilt you may be experiencing at this time. To register, call Soprema Center at 330-335-1513 or via email HERE.

Wednesday, Jan.13
A virtual author visit with Amy Stewart, the New York Times best-selling author of the Kopp Sisters novels, will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Medina County District Library. The novels are based on the true story of one of America’s first female deputy sheriffs and her two rambunctious sisters. The books are in development for a television series. Her popular nonfiction titles include The Drunken Botanist, Wicked Plants, and Flower Confidential. The Zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants before the event. You must have the link to access the event. To register, call Mary Olson at 330-722-6235 ext. 2946 or email HERE.

Not sure how to use Zoom? The Medina County District Library can help! From 6:30 to 8 p.m.,Pieri walks you through how to use this popular video platform. Register for this program HERE or call 330-725-0588 for more information.

Thursday, Jan.14
Learn how to write your autobiography in this free, 10-week virtual session that begins today at 10 a.m. It's offered by the Soprema Senior Center in Wadsworth and those interested in signing up should contact the Center at 330-335-1513 or via email HERE.

Friday, Jan. 29
A Veterans Breakfast will be held 9-10:30 a.m. at StoryPoint Senior Living, 122 Medina Rd. in Medina. Call to register at 330-239-1100. The breakfast is carryout/drive-thru style until further notice.

News Around the County
Brunswick High School Senior Receives Certificate for Lifesaving


BRUNSWICK - A local Brunswick High School senior received a Civil Air Patrol Lifesaving Award for her actions in May to save two children.

Colonel David Jennison, commander of Ohio Wing, awarded Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Nicole Dimos the Certificate of Recognition for Lifesaving.


Read story at
Wadsworth High School Begins New Year With In-Person Instruction

WADSWORTH - Wadsworth High School returned to in-person instruction Jan. 4 due to changes to Ohio Department of Health guidelines. COVID-19 exposed students will no longer be required to quarantine at home unless mask use and social distancing in school is not possible.


Read story at
Medina Courthouse Issue Could go to a Ballot in May


MEDINA - City Council held a special meeting at the end of December to discuss a proposed May ballot issue that would allow the city to move its municipal court into the 1969 section of the Medina County Courthouse.

This came about after Issue 7 passed in November, preventing the city from moving forward alongside the county on a new combined courthouse project involving the historic buildings on the east side of the city square.

Read story at
Resources
basicImage