Notes From Last Week

Well sir, here we are at the end of September. Another summer has passed and we're facing the heating season. For those of you that are thinking about cranking up the furnace please do not take any chances with safety and don't overload electrical lines with space heaters. We want you around for a while yet. Please use all precautions.

Went up to see the quilt display last Sunday at the Thompson House put on by the EL Historical Society. It was our first visit up there. Not only were the quilts impressive the Thompson House itself is worth the trip. It offers an excellent look into the past when this area was the Pottery Capitol of the World. Historical Society Treasurer Bill Gray tells me they hope to have two discs ready for the Christmas season. One is a digital CD of the early 1900s book Hills & Kilns. From what I've seen it's an excellent recount of the early pottery industry in the area. The second is a DVD collection of the works of the late artist Hans Hacker. A German native Hacker came to EL just before the days of WWII. He is noted for his warm paintings of many area scenes. He was the chief artist at the Commercial Decal Co. and did paintings as a hobby in his free time. Many times Mr. Hacker donated a painting to help out a charitable cause. Since I'll probably never be able to afford one I'm excited about getting a DVD along with a digital reproduction of Hills & Kilns. Gray says the CD of the book with have searchable reference links.

Crime Watch Committee Chairwoman Janet Taggart tells me WPD Officer Jeff Weekly will be at the next meeting. He is going to speak on the village drug scene. That meeting is Thursday, October 15, at 6 P.M. at Village Hall. WPD Officer Shawn Bloor has agreed to be the liaison between the committee and the PD. Volunteers are still being sought for the "orange hand" safe house program for villages youngsters. If interested in providing a refuge from danger for the kids call the WPD at 330-532-1522 to register.

In the papers last week it was reported that the Port Authority is getting ready to apply for EPA grants to clean up abandoned industrial sites for rehabilitation once again. Wellsville was mentioned as one of the possible sites. Wonder if the old Sterling China property is on that list?

Tom Giambroni reported that CC jobless rate declined in August by 1%. We haven't seen a decline in that rate since last March according to the MJ article. Still there are 7,400 CC folks out of jobs. The US House of Representatives is getting ready to vote on extending unemployment benefits for another 13 weeks for states with unemployment rates of 8.5% or higher according to a related AP story. Ohio came in at 10.8% for August.

A village woman was recently given a six month expulsion from town as part of her sentence after being found guilty of charges against her. That's a new twist.

It was reported in the papers last week the mound of dirt along Main Street is going to be removed on the Wellsville Terminal property. Not true according to the Mayor & Village Administrator. It will be cleaned up and renovated with new top soil to approve the appearance.

We're going to see a couple of gambling issues on the ballot in November. One is for a vote on the slot machines Governor Strickland authorized to help with Ohio's budget. The other is once again to consider allowing casinos to be built & operated in some of the bigger cities.

The CC commissioners recently authorized additional funds to the Sheriffs Dept. to cover insurance costs for that department. The Sheriff has been after them all year & now the Prosecutor's Office is also asking for more money. Unfortunately I think it is only the beginning as we head in the year's final quarter. I don't envy the Commissioners.

Some good news for the area was offered up by the Homer Laughlin China Co. last week. It was announced that they are recalling some employees and even hiring new ones. There is an increased demand for their Fiesta Ware. Although they suspect it's all because of the approaching holidays it is nice to see that those happy colored dishes are keeping some people busy. Hopefully it's a trend and not just a spurt.

Seeing the press release and hearing Ergon's V.P. Neil Stanton speak last week about "cap & trade" made me wonder about the tree huggers. Bet they are in hog heaven with that legislation as it's written. Let's hope cooler more sensible heads prevail.

Did you see WHS Mikyla Tipton's letter in the paper this past Sunday? This bright young lady was alerting us to the excitement of volley ball & girl's basketball. Although they don't get much press some of those games are intensely played and very entertaining. She's right. Those ladies work just as hard as anyone and contribute to Tiger Pride just as much too. You're missing it if you don't get to their matches.

Seems there's a internet scam making the rounds lately. Hackers are getting into computers and e-mailing friends in the address list asking for financial help after losing their wallet while traveling in England. I got one of those not too long ago and last week I was told about some one else in town that got hacked. It sounds realistic. If you're like me your first impulse is to help out a friend in need. It's a rip-off. Use common sense and get in contact with your friend that the hackers are trying to get you to think it's them. Even if you haven't heard from them for a while they ain't in England. It's just a phone call away to verify.

Here's an opportunity to help out Wellsville Boy Scout Troop 29. For the whole month of October the Ponderosa restaurant in Calcutta will donate 10% of the cost of any meal to the troop. All you need to do is tell the cashier you want the 10% designated to the Wellsville Boy Scouts. It doesn't cost you any extra and the scouts appreciate it very much.

Next week is the annual Fire Prevention Week. It goes from October 4 through the 10th. It's a good time to teach your young ones about the hazards involved with any kind of fire or heat sources. It's also a good time to refresh your memories on all you learned about fire prevention over the years.

This coming Saturday, October 3, is going to be a fun filled and entertaining day in the ville. Starting off is the Howlin' Harvest Moon Festival. It's being jointly sponsored by the Alley Cat Aid Brigade & Wellsville's Chamber-of-Commerce. It starts at 11 A.M. at the ACAB's facilities on Commerce. There's a pet food give away, crafts, games, raffles and lots of other stuff. They will even have a money haystack for the kids to search through. Then at 6 o'clock there's the Dash for Mat's Bash that starts at Village Hall on Main Street. It's a Halloween costume dash with door prizes and goodies for the kids. Proceeds go to the Matugh Johnston Scholarship fund. Tim Long said as of yesterday he still has about 40 XL t-shirts left for late registrations. Costumes are optional. Organizers for the Dash will be on-hand at 3 P.M. at Village Hall for your race packets.

Sunday is the first "Thank Your Clergy" gathering starting at 2 P.M. at the New Life Worship Center on Main St. There will be food & refreshments available. All area clergy & their congregations are invited. It's a non-denominational social get together just to meet & greet each other and a way of thanking clergy members for all they do.

The WHS Alumni Committee is currently taking reservations for an evening of entertainment by Irish tenor Cahal Dunne. Dunne is a well known Irish singer plus he's an accomplished piano player and comedian. Reservations are $20 and they will have refreshments at intermission. It's scheduled for October 28 at 7 P.M. Get your reservation in early by calling Carmelia at 330-532-1932, or Carrie at 330-843-6338 or Toni at 330-532-1517. Seats are limited and they expect them to go fast.

Finally is this sage observation on life from the American Legion magazine that goes "By the time a man's son realizes his dad was right he has a son of his own that thinks he's wrong". How true, how true...

ole nib