Bellefontaine Magazine - Issue 03

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table of

CONTENTS 3

PUBLISHER'S LETTER

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COVER STORY

Hague Water Conditioning

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ASK THE EXPERT

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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NINA MC PHERSON

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OCTOBER EVENTS

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Five Steps to Help Create an Estate Plan

Business Of The Month

Selfless, Kind, Giving, Encouraging, Inspiring, Remarkable

ASK THE EXPERT

Identity Theft Protection for Your Children

I WANT YOU TO BE ENCOURAGED About the magazine

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CONTEST WINNERS

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//publisher’s letter Dear Readers, I can’t believe how quickly a month can go by. When I look around the county the leaves are starting to changed and the harvest has started. The school’s are back in session and everyone is getting into the routine of it all.

I would like to say that each month the magazine seems to be growing and more and more people are finding it.

They can be found throughout the city, from doctor and dentist offices to hair salons, insurance offices, restaurants and many other places of business.

As I am around town I get the question “Do you publish the new magazine?” and I always get positive feedback. I am glad there is a desire to read the positive things that are happening in the community.

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PUBLISHER Rachel Brumbaugh

rachel@bellefontainemagazine.com

CONTRIBUTORS Kate Andre Annetta Chappell Bill Minken David Andre Stacey Longshore ADDRESS PO Box 73 Bellefontaine, OH 43311 Phone. 937-539-2224 FACEBOOK facebook.com/bellefontainemagazine

www.bellefontainemagazine.com

Thank you for all your support and I hope you enjoy this months magazine!

Bellefontaine Magazine is a monthly publication. Any reproduction or duplication of any part thereof must be done with the written permission of the Publisher. All information included herein is correct to the best of our knowledge as of the publication date. Corrections should be forwarded to the Publisher at the address above.

Rachel Brumbaugh Publisher

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within Bellefontaine Magazine are not endorsed or recommended by the Publisher. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies.

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Hague

Water Conditioning Story by kate Andre

In 2005, Bill minken, then employee of Hague Water Conditioning of West liberty and hiswifemaryAnnmovedfrommarysville to rural urbana, where they still reside.

“We needed a farm,” he said with a smile and a shake of his head.

“We looked for a year and a half and ended up buying the very place the realtor had wanted to show us first.” Bill’s two daughters, katie and lisa, had started showing llamas in middle school for their local 4H chapter. After a couple of years, the girls decided they wanted to show their own llamas, a choice he says that paid off well. His oldest daughter showed A.B., a reserve grand champion at the 1997 ohio State Fair. they boarded their llamas while living in marysville. the girls and his wife helped to take care of the herd. When the owners of the farm decided to move to 4

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Florida, they gave mary Ann the whole herd. the move not only gave them the room to house their llamas, but also located him close to West liberty, where the majority of his work day was.

His daughters are now grown and pursuing their own careers. katie is in her 7th year of teaching music to elementary students in the olentangy School district and lisa is a marketing PR director for CAPA(Columbus Association of the Peforming Arts) in Columbus.

Although they have moved on, Bill and his wife still have a herd of llamas on their eight acre farm. mary Ann has just a little more time to spend with the llamas now. After 34 years as an Rn, she just retired.

Having grown up in the most northeastern city in ohio, Conneaut, Bill started his first job in the 10th grade. He worked at kroger’s for eight years, bellefontainemagazine.com

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Soft Water vs Hard Water

continuing his career there after graduating from high school. He was a jack of all trades, cleaning, stocking shelves, and running a cash register. “Oh, and I sorted glass pop bottles,” he added. “Do you remember that?

At that time, pop came in primarily glass returnable bottles.” Over time, he worked his way up and into the position of assistant manager.

Then in 1971, like so many young men his age, Bill was drafted. He spent two years in Germany. His father, who had also been in the service, gave him one simple piece of advice: never volunteer for anything. “Well, apparently all the other dad’s gave that same advice,” he remembered. When they arrived there was a request for volunteers. They asked for 11 volunteers, but not one hand in the crowd was raised. So, names were pulled

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and as luck would have it, the first name drawn out was his own. “It really ended up being a good thing,” he said. He was trained as a military police officer and had rotating weeks guarding the gates, walking patrol and driving patrol. “We had terrorists then too, the Red Army.” He was put on special duty once, due to the recurrence of officer’s cars and living quarters being blown up. “I didn’t see anything, but as it turned out, they were on our base.”

After completing his military duty, Bill returned to the job he had left. He continued to work at Kroger and life went back to normal. That was until, according to him, he was bitten by the “love bug”. He met his future wife at work, where she was a cashier. Just a short time later in 1976, they were married over Christmas break and have been married for 37 years. They were both taking classes at the time and living in Columbus and Bill was also working at Fazzios, where he was employed for nearly three years. Then, only six months after purchasing their first home, Fazzios was bought out due to a scandal and Bill was left without a job.

“I answered a blind ad in the paper,” he recalled. “It said ‘Do you want to make $45,000 a year’.”That was a bit more than he had made in the grocery business, so Bill called and interviewed for the position. And that’s how in October of 1980, Bill Minken first became an associate with Hague Water Conditioning.

After selling for a year and a half, Bill was promoted to Sales Manager. He held the position for over ten years. He then became General Manager overseeing the region that covered Groveport, Marysville, Piqua and West Liberty. In 1993 Hague bought out

National Soft Water in West Liberty. Bill remained the general manager through the end of 2007.

On January 2, 2008, Bill was hired as the National Sales Trainer for Hague Quality Water International in Groveport, Ohio. The National Sales Manager had sat in on nearly 20 of his regional sales training sessions through the years and although he wanted to hire Bill, the company did a nationwide search for qualified trainers. The competition was whittled down to seven highly competent persons and eventually he was the last man standing. It is no mystery why the position was highly sought after. During the four and a half years Bill held the position, he traveled all around the United States (visiting 38 of the 50) and the world. His first trip was to Cairo, Egypt. “You cannot believe just how big the pyramids are until you are standing at the base of one,” he recounted.

“The base is 13 acres! That would cover my entire farm and then some!!” He also visited Sweden and Spain, each three times. “I could live in either of those countries,” he said reminiscing on how enjoyable those trips were.

He also visited Romania, going to a former labor camp that had been turned into an industrial park that needed very large water conditioning units. Although he loved his time as national sales trainer and still occasionally gets asked to head up a training session, Bill found an opportunity too good to

pass up.

And that opportunity was nestled into the quiet and charming community of West Liberty. In March of 2012, after going through the loan process, Bill bought the West Liberty office. Before it was even for sale, he had let it be known that if it ever was, he wanted the first shot at ownership. "I could have sold any equipment out there. I chose Hague for some very good reasons." He stated that the choice was easy. Not only did he have experience with Hague, but Hague is a family owned business, American made product, American owned, manufactured in nearby Groveport and most importantly, they flat out get the job done. Of the top four water conditiong manufactures today only Hague has chosen to remain American made and American owned. "That means a lot to the folks I talk to, especially veterans."

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helps people understand that water conditions" Bill said, " saves their money!"

can view a full list of the charities that they support, including the West Liberty Fire Department, Cedar Bog, and Pelatonia, a cancer research organization his daughter was involved in. And the generosity doesn’t end there. The Minken family has Christmas traditions that include giving Christmas to families who are less fortunate to the point they wouldn't have a Christmas. Nothing pleases Families of four save on average $102 per them more than to see their daughters both month with soft water. Third parties have following this tradition. Bill's employees tested and endorsed these money savings. share stories about his willingness to proIn 2010, the Battell Institute found that appliances and plumbing last 50% longer in homes with soft water. Some appliance warranties, if you read the fine print, require the use of a water softener. Families save money using 75% less soap and cleaning products with soft water and soft water helps clothes last 30% longer. With the economy being what it is, most families are thrilled to see these savings stay in their tight family budgets.

As passionate as Bill is about helping people to see the importance of clean, conditioned water, he is equallyas passionate about giving back. “Most people would think the best part about owning your own business is being the boss, but what I enjoy most is giving back.� On the businesses website, you

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Soap in Soft Water

vs Hard Water

vide services to those on fixed incomes and mention that you saw them in Bellefontaine Magazine, they will fill your empty BBQ proserving our county. pane tank anytime for the rest of 2013 for Bill’s business model for success is simple. only $9.99.§

"If your customers and employees get what they want, everything else falls into place."

Along with his loyal team of five, Bill and Hague Water Conditioning offer next business day installation and service in addition to their combined 100 years of Hague experience. Debbie, the office manager has worked there over 15 years. Both of the installation techs, namely Brian and Terry, have totaled more than 45 years in the business.

Chris, who is in his seventh year, delivers salt to homes and Shane, our water tech, just placed number 3 in the nation among all other Hague sales reps in August. “I can’t say enough good about all of my employees.

They go above and beyond. We make a great team!”

Bill is quick to share his vast knowledge about water quality and the improvements water conditioning can make. But even beyond that, he has a contagious passion for the community, which is demonstrated not only through his love of his work but also in his joy in giving back.

You can contact Bill and his team at 937465-6060 or 800-262-6060. If you don't have a softner and are curious, please call, they still make house calls. You can stop in to see them at 107 S.R. 508, West Liberty. They are located on the corner of 68 and 508. If you bellefontainemagazine.com

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Estate Planning:

Five Steps to Help Create an Estate Plan When it comes to estate planning, procrastinating is easy. The task of getting your house in order can seem daunting and the topic uncomfortable. In fact, while the majority of Americans believe that all adults should have an estate plan,

only 44% have actually created one according to a 2011 LexisNexis survey.*

“The time to devise an estate plan is now, if you haven’t already,” says John Padberg, Vice President of Life Event Services and Estate Planning for Wells Fargo Advisors. Many people equate estate plans with wills, he says, but a well-thought-out structure involves much more. There are many tools, such as living trusts and financial and health care powers of attorney, that can help trusted professionals and family members manage your affairs if you cannot.

Unplanned estates may be left to wind Planning needn’t be stressful, and the retheir way through probate court, leaving sults often confer the comfort given that state law to determine the disposition of comes from knowing your assets will be distributed in an orderly way. Padberg offers your assets. five steps to help you create an estate plan to accomplish that goal:

#1 Work with an experienced estate planning attorney.

It takes specialized expertise to create a plan that includes all the necessary elements and meets your specific needs. A solid estate plan will likely consist of several documents, which may include the following:

//Ask the expert Financial Katterhenry Investment Group 800-593-4627 http://www.katterhenry.wfadv.com/ Locations in Bellefontaine, Troy, and Minster

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How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Anne Frank bellefontainemagazine.com

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• A will, which states how individually-owned assets are to be distributed upon death • A living will, which communicates your wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatments

• Powers of attorney, which designate another individual to handle financial or health care matters if you are incapacitated • Revocable trusts, which can be useful in avoiding the probate process in states where probate is burdensome, and can be altered or canceled according to your wishes Creating a well-designed plan will require input from both your attorney and your Financial Advisor. Your Financial Advisor may be able provide some options for legal assistance, if you do not yet have an estate planning attorney.

"You want to make sure your estate planning attorney’s skill level is commensurate with the complexity of your plan."

– says Padberg

#2 Assess your assets.

Before drafting your estate plan, ask your Financial Advisor to prepare a financial net worth statement for you. This will give you a clear sense of what you are working with.

Also, review your beneficiaries listed on critical documents such as life insurance policies and retirement plans. Beneficiary designations determine how those assets will be distributed, Padberg cautions, so you want the named beneficiaries to reflect — and not undermine — your intentions.

#3 Define your goals.

An estate plan is also your opportunity to direct how your wealth will be passed on to the next generation. “You want to think as much about how you want to pass your assets-outright to your heirs or distributed through a trust—as you do the amount that each person should get,” Padberg says.

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Interested in growing your business?

Why join?

To network weekly with like minded local business professionals. To share ideas, strategies, and most importantly business referrals.

Come see how the “Givers Gain” philosophy can add revenue to your business.

Logan County Chapter Meeting

EVERY WEDNESDAY 7:30–9:00 a.m.

Homecoming Restaurant (1330 U.S. 68 N) Bellefontaine, OH 43311 VISITORS WELCOME!

For instance, leaving a large sum to a child or young adult may create long-term issues if the child lacks the skills or maturity to manage such a windfall. Ask your Financial Advisor about trusts that might be established to control the distribution of inherited funds.

If you want to bequeath money to a charity, ask your Financial Advisor and estate planning attorney about the many charitable giving strategies that are available. They can offer guidance on choosing the technique that best fits your philanthropic goals.

#4 Determine your tax liability.

Under the “fiscal cliff” agreement enacted in early 2013, individual estates worth $5.25 million or less — and double that amount for married couples — can avoid federal estate taxes.

Amounts that exceed the exclusion amount are taxed at a rate of 40%. Work with your Financial Advisor to determine your current estate tax liability and project any future liability. Consider the impact those taxes might have on how you wish to eventually pass your assets on to your family.

"The planning will be different, and more sophisticated, if you’re planning for a tax bill."

– says Padberg

#5 Update your plan.

Life is about change, so it’s crucial to make sure your instructions are always current. That means updating your estate plan whenever you experience a major life event — a new baby, a bellefontainemagazine.com

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marriage, a divorce. Otherwise, not only will your plan fail to contemplate new circumstances the way you want, but it could also increase the potential for outside challenges, such as those from disgruntled family members.

Ghostwritten Article (e7667 – Estate Planning/Five Steps to Help Create an Estate Plan) CAR Approval Number: 021303517

Ambiguity and conflicts about your intentions could have a disastrous impact on your family, Padberg notes, so preventing them is typically well worth the investment of time and money. “If you don’t have a comprehensive estate plan in place, you’re leaving it to state law and the courts to decide your legacy for you,” he says.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, and provided courtesy of Darrin Haubert, Associate Financial Advisor, in Bellefontaine, Ohio at 800-5934627.

* “EZLaw Survey Finds Most Americans Recognize the Importance of a Will or Estate Planning, Yet Few Have Necessary Documents in Place,” LexisNexis, 19 July 2011, https://www.lexisnexis.com/ media/press-release.aspx?id=1311095221427043.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE

Trust services available through banking and trust affiliates in addition to non-affiliated companies of Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors and its affiliates do not provide legal or tax advice. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state. §

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Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Katterhenry Investment Group is a separate entity from WFAFN.

don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seed that you plant. – Robert louis Stevenson

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KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken The Logan County Area Chamber of Commerce

September's Business / Entrepreneur of the Month The restaurant is currently owned by Darren and Johni Whitaker, however, it has been in their family since 1977. Darren’s uncle became a KFC Franchisee in 1971 and in 1977 he convinced Darren’s parents, Tom and Janice Whitaker, to move from their hometown of Jeffersonville, Indiana to “Belly fon taine” to get in the chicken business.

A gentleman had 2 KFC stores for sale, one in Kenton and one on 817 S. Main Street in Bellefontaine. The Kenton store sold quickly to another franchisee so his parents purchased the Bellefontaine store. Janice Whitaker is originally from a the little town of Henryville, Indiana; the same town KFC founder Col. Sanders was born…can you say destiny?

traveling while Darren was in the army. They returned to Bellefontaine to help run the family business with two children in tow.

Darren and Johni’s two children, Kyle and Meagan, came to work for the business. Just like their parents, Kyle and Meagan met their significant others at KFC. Meagan married Zach Woodruff last year and this coming spring Kyle will marry Skyler Cronkleton. All four have worked at the restaurant both part time and as supervisors. Three generations of Whitakers have served customers in BelleDarren was 12 when his parents relocat- fontaine for over 36 years. ed to Bellefontaine. With the exception of They are proud to serve original recipe five years out of state and abroad in the US chicken, extra crispy and Kentucky grilled Army, he has called Logan County home. chicken as well as several off the bone prodHe worked through high school for his par- ucts to their customers every day. Also it ents and met his wife in 1983 when she was should be noted that KFC has zero grams of hired to work at the restaurant. They mar- trans fat in any of their products. They also ried in 1986 and spent the next five years have a buffet daily in the restaurant, which

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ber one ranked KFC in the United States for QSC. Darren also introduced BBQ Crispy Strips to the entire system in a recipe contest about 11 years ago and more recently helped to get the cheesy bacon bowl promoted nationally.

Darren and Johni continue to support local business by contributing to safety programs in the local schools and fundraiser programs.

They support the Logan County Fair as well having the Grand Champion Chicken trophy for over 30 years and usually attend the livestock auction purchasing many animals over the years as well. They make their living in was added in 1992. Catering is also an opthe community and feel it is important to be tion for their customers. They have bulk or visible and certainly to give back. ยง individual meals for any size group.

Because Tom and Janice were hard working and very strict when it came to their standards, they won many awards from KFC for quality, service and cleanliness and years later Darren and Johni strive to maintain the high standards they always held. They have earned Promise Pride certification as well as White Glove awards and have had the num-

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Selfless Kind Giving Encouraging Inspiring Remarkable Story by Stacey Longshore

Nina Mc Pherson

These are just a few words I would use to describe a volunteer of 49 years in our community. It may seem unbelievable to even know such a person. However, I recently had the honor of meeting and speaking with such a person. Nina Mc Pherson is currently in her 49th year of working as a volunteer at Mary Rutan Hospital. She has dedicated her life to serving others through volunteering at Mary Rutan and several other organizations within our community. Her continued service has had a tremendous impact on so many at the hospital throughout the years.

Many have been inspired by her gift of giving to others.

Nina was born into a large family with six brothers and sisters and was often considered to be quite shy. She seldom chose interaction with adults outside of her own family.

Although she lacked self-confidence in her younger years, she has been through many life-changing seasons that have brought about changes in her ability and desire to have constant interaction with others. Upon

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graduating high school, Nina decided to continue her education at Capital University. It was there she began to discover just who she was and how God had wired her.

Nina said she will never forget her college friends that took her under their wing and helped her to realize that she was a beautiful person with a great purpose in life. She went two years but was one subject shy of a degree in the Two-Year Executive Secretarial course, and then came home. She married and had two sons, one of which works as a registered nurse and the other as an associate of Honda of America.

Shortly after she married she decided she wanted to begin giving back to her community through volunteering at Mary Rutan Hospital. In 1964 Nina joined Guild I, an organization for those who volunteer and quickly found that serving in this way was something she was born for. Her first position was at the reception desk by the emergency room on the north side. Despite her shy nature she began to truly enjoy interact-

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. – thomas A Edison

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true joy in life comes from helping others ing with people. She then was made chairman of the cart service. This cart contained magazines, snacks, and other incidentals that were sold to patients and their families.

Before patient rooms were equipped with televisions, there were TV carts that Nina and other volunteers would deliver and set up in patients rooms upon request. She has also volunteered in the Gift Shop at the hospital and also in the Mammogram Clinic. On top of her hours, often two or three days a week, she would spend hours at home making therapy weights out of buck shots. Before modern physical therapy, home-made weights would be used for patients in the hospital that needed them for rehabilitation.

Nina doesn’t recall how many weights she crafted but numbers really don’t matter to

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her, people do.

Because of her dedication to the hospital and her natural knack for relating to people, Nina was chosen to serve as Patients Care Service. She oversaw all services related to patient care from the early 1980’s until right now and has done a wonderful job. Nina has also volunteered within other community organizations including Cub Scouts, teaching Sunday School classes, forming an MS support group, teaching music classes at MRDD, and helping at the Moose Lodge of Lakeview. She loved volunteering with different community groups because it was there she got to meet all kinds of people and formed many lasting friendships. Although her life has been filled with many obstacles, Nina always chose to remain positive, she continued to serve, and has overcome so many of the obstacles. From serious, and often painful, physical conditions to heartbreak, she has never given up. When it would have been easy to just step away and be done volunteering, she continued to faithfully give to

others. At one time she took a short leave from the hospital and after a few weeks just didn’t feel right about it. She said she felt like God was telling her, “Nina, you’re not giving back.” She knew she needed to return and that is just what she did! To her, true joy in life comes from helping others.

Another joy in Nina’s life is genealogy. She has spent many hours over the years completing her family’s genealogy. She has been an active member of the Historical Society and often is helping others with their family records. She loves finding and going through old pictures and making sure families get those pictures to enjoy. While we were looking though her scrapbook she noted that she needed to get copies of pictures to community members because she feels it is important for them to have pictures of their family members…like finding a lost treasure and returning it to its rightful owner. She so often thinks of others before herself. She was created to be a helper, an encourager, and a friend to many.

As Nina and I sat and chatted in the hospital lobby, I realized quickly that she was someone I could sit and talk with for hours. She spoke openly, honestly, and shared about her personal life experiences that helped shape her into the person she is today. It is no wonder she ended up in patient care! She has the ability to relate to anyone and make anyone feel comfortable with her. Not only can she relate, she is an encouragement and inspiration to people as well.

Nina doesn’t think of her service as something to be recognized. One true sign of a remarkable person…they truly don’t believe that they do anything remarkable. § bellefontainemagazine.com

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IdEntItY tHEFt PRotECtIon FoR YouR CHIldREn Attention Parents, It’s that hectic time of year again when you’re repeatedly asked to share your child’s personal information for school registration, sports sign-up forms, dorm move-ins, and other extracurricular activities.

But you may be exposing your child to fraud when you’re filling out those forms. Every year, nearly 500,000 children under the age of 18 fall victim to identity theft. Identity thieves often target kids because they have pristine credit profiles and dormant Social Security numbers (SSNs).

Before providing sensitive data to schools, daycare centers, sports programs, activity clubs, doctors’ offices and libraries, ask how the information will be used, stored, disposed and accessed. You may be surprised to find that “required” information isn’t so necessary after all.

Here are some tips to protect your schoolage children.

• Daycare and preschool. Some organizations may ask for a Social Security number and birth date before allowing your child to participate. Always ask how necessary that information really is. They may be satisfied

with a month and year for a birth date or a pediatrician’s phone number instead of a medical ID number. Never underestimate the power of selective forgetfulness—“Gee, I forgot to bring that information with me.”

Chances are, you won’t be asked for it later.

• Sports. You’re sitting on the bleachers at your child’s sports practice and a clipboard of signup information is making its way through the stands. Do you know the parents who will see your information as it’s passed along? And who will use the information once it’s collected? Many organizations perform meticulous background checks on their staff and volunteers. Others don’t. You are unable to control where that sheet of paper will end up once it reaches the end of the bleachers. If in doubt, write “Information to come” and ask after practice.

•

New school enrollment. Many kids

//Ask the expert insUrAnce

See Annetta Chappell at the A.C. Agency, she can help you with your needs in Auto • Home • Farm • Commercial • Life • Health • Disability Income • Annuities • College Preparation 920 N. Main St., Bellefontaine www.myacagency.com (937) 593-4444 acagency@ctcn.net

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need booster vaccinations for kindergarten and middle school. That may mean a trip to a new healthcare provider. Some doctor’s offices still ask for patients’ Social Security numbers even though they track them with some other ID number. Unless it’s needed to bill insurance, skip it.

place. Many people store personal information on a cell phone. If your phone is lost, contact your provider immediately.

• Run a credit check to stay informed and correct any inaccuracies.

Here are some links to receive a FREE credit report:

• College. Students ages 18 to 24 face the highest risk of identity theft. o www.transunion.com They often live in dorms or share aparto www.equifax.com/answers/rements where others can access their belongings. Before they head back to cam- quest-free-credit-report/en_efx pus, equip your college students with the o www.freecreditreport.com right tools and habits: **Please use these at your own discreo Buy a cross-cut shredder. Shred tion and check to insure that you have preapproved credit offers. Dumpster-div- adequate security on your computer or ing is an epidemic on campuses because other mobile devices. thieves know most students throw these Identity Theft protection can be enoffers away unopened. dorsed onto your property insurance o Use a safe. Lock up important pa- policy, call your agent to get detailed inpers like student loan and enrollment formation. documents so they won’t be left lying Pekin Insurance-Theft 911. around where anyone could see them.

Call Annetta at the A. C. Agency Inc. if o Review bank statements. It’s an early tip-off to identity fraud, yet only you would like additional information.§ about one-third of college students balance their checkbooks.

o Protect your computer. Even if you think you can trust your roommate, the same might not be true for the roommate’s friends or classmates. Use strong alphanumeric passwords with combinations of special characters and capitalization and update security software. o Use secure mail boxes for outgoing mail. Use secure U.S. Postal Service drop boxes, instead. o

Store login information in a safe bellefontainemagazine.com

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I Want You to be Encouraged Story by Kate Andre Rachel Brumbaugh had not expected to come home from her trip with an idea for a new business. She and her husband, Mark, had gone to Florida to attend a conference on investing. As an aside, there were businesses presenting at one of the meetings. It wasn’t something Rachel had anticipated being interested in, but she was intrigued as the North Carolina businessman shared about a hometown magazine he had started.

Since her two sons, Eric and Gregory, had graduated and moved on to their respective careers, Rachel had wanted to transition her extra time to a job that would be fulfilling and also flexible. Starting a community magazine, she began to see, could give her both.

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She flipped through the pages and began to envision how a local magazine could have the potential to bring a community together.

Although Rachel and her family have now lived in Logan County for 13 years, she remembers how long, at times difficult, it was to learn about the area and truly feel integrated into the community. That was the thought in the back of her mind as she listened to the

vision of the community magazine in North Carolina. When the presentation was over, Rachel picked up a copy of the magazine. She flipped through the pages and began to envision how a local magazine could have the potential to bring a community together; something she would have relished during her early years in the county. Not only were the stories and personal profiles about local people, but also written by local people. Businesses were highlighted not just for their products and services; instead the articles included a focus on the business owners and workers. She took the magazine with her, contacted the group putting out the publication in North Carolina and began to seriously consider starting a community magazine in Logan County.

Start up businesses are notoriously challenging and creating a magazine from scratch isn’t an exception. Rachel had always worked alongside her husband, Mark, in their own various business ventures taking care of the details. So she had plenty of experience and knowledge about what it takes to make a new business succeed. And although Rachel had previously also spent a good deal of time being a homemaker and homeschooling her sons. she also made time to manage her church’s office.

I’ve always been a problem solver

While serving at her church, Rachel had undertaken the task of doing weekly bulletins and putting together workbooks for various classes. Those experiences combined with the advertising and design work she had done for their own businesses gave her a leg up on learning how to do a layout for magazine. “I’ve always been a problem solver,” Rachel said with a chuckle, recounting a few of the many times her husband had come to her with a detailed issue that needed figured out. So, like she had done many times before, Rachel began to figure out how to put together magazine.

So now, with Bellefontaine Magazine in its third monthly publication, there are a few things Rachel would like for the community to know. “I want this to be everyone’s magazine; it is everyone’s magazine,” she emphasized. “I want this to be something everyone would like to read. I want you to be able to flip through the pages and see people you know and I want you to be able to read inspiring, true stories from people in the community that you might not get to know oth-

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erwise. I want you to be encouraged to buy local because you feel a connection to the stories of the business owners.”

While Rachel hopes the magazine is already accomplishing those goals, she also has come to realize that often, “most people who are doing great things don’t go around tooting their own horn”. And here is where she hopes the community will take ownership of the magazine by contributing to its content. While the magazine would love to receive fully written articles for consideration, doing so is not necessary. “We need eyes and ears in the community,” she comments, expounding on her desire to hear story ideas from persons within the county.

We need eyes and ears in the community one community. So if you know of a truly inspiring individual, whether they are a senior or a teenager, or hear about someone doing something exceptional, or want to share about an event in the community or even if you have some neat photos from around the area, we hope you will share those stories and ideas with Bellefontaine Magazine. After all, it is your magazine too.

Let’s do something good together!§

Do you love to write? Send your story or Story ideas can be submitted story idea to us. We would love to publish it! through Bellefontaine Magazine’s We are about local writers, local stories, and website bellefontainemagazine.com

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Believe you can and you're halfway there. – theodore Roosevelt

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october's Featured Events Blood drive location: Bellefontaine Masonic Center date: October 23, 2013 time: 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM Website: givingblood.org

Event description:

• Have a Photo ID • Must be at least 17 years of age or 16 year old with signed Community Blood Center Parental Permission form, available at givingblood.org

Public Blood Drive, Appointments encouraged, made at donortime.com or 1.800.388.4483

Questions or concerns about blood donation or eligibility?

Requirements to donate:

1-800-388-GIVE(4483) or givingblood.org

• Weigh min. of 110 pounds

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Horsehoe Hill Climb Trail Race Location: Marmon Valley Farm 7754 State Route 292 S Zanesfield, OH 43360 Date: November 17, 2013 Time: 8:00 am Check-in 9:00 am All races begin All runners must be off the course by 4:00 pm Website: premierraces.com/viewevent. asp?eventID=871

Event Description:

Marmon Valley Farm will be hosting a 10K, 20K and 30K trail race to raise money for

summer horse camp scholarships. The trails and terrain at Marmon Valley are ideal for trail racers who are looking for a challenging run. Whether you choose the 10K, 20K or 30K you will traverse through hardwood forest, up and down ravine trails, around fields, across creeks and along scenic overlooks. None of the trails are paved. All may be muddy! The course is laid out as a 10K loop. Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishers (men & women) in each race. All other finishers will receive a participation medal. bellefontainemagazine.com

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last months Winner: gloria taylor SoutHvIEW PARk

1

RAtlIFF PARk

2

HollAnd tHEAtRE

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Change your thoughts and you change your world. – norman vincent Peale

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Take your business local.

Get your story in the Bellefontaine Magazine today.

Call Rachel 937-539-2224

PUBLISHER Rachel Brumbaugh

rachel@bellefontainemagazine.com

CONTRIBUTORS Kate Andre Annetta Chappell Bill Minken David Andre Stacey Longshore ADDRESS PO Box 73 Bellefontaine, OH 43311 Phone. 937-539-2224

FACEBOOK facebook.com/bellefontainemagazine

www.bellefontainemagazine.com

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ellefontaine M

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A •G •A •Z •I •N •E

Bellefontaine Magazine is a monthly publication. Any reproduction or duplication of any part thereof must be done with the written permission of the Publisher. All information included herein is correct to the best of our knowledge as of the publication date. Corrections should be forwarded to the Publisher at the address above.

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within Bellefontaine Magazine are not endorsed or recommended by the Publisher.

Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies.