Joy of Medina County Magazine January 2019

9 and the success of the programs there.

Serenite Restaurant and Culinary Institute had five students graduate in its first class in late 2018, a er launching in the middle of 2018.

“The pride and excitement on their faces is huge,” Hazeltine said, regarding students who have successfully completed the program.

In order to graduate from the program, students have to pass tests about working in the front (the public serving area) and in the back (where the food is prepped and cooked) of the house. Each must show Waiting for their next order are, from left, Keith Wagner, a graduate of the first proficiency working in the Serenite Restaurant and Culinary Institute class; Nick Tedesco, who is in the restaurant. second class; and Anthony Canterbury, in the third class.

They also have to pass the questions, gently reminding various people of ServSafe course, which covers such things as food details that should be attended to. safety, personal hygiene, cross-contamination, The various social activities that are held at the and allergens.

Recovery Center are designed to help break down There already are two more classes of students the stigma and so people can see that addiction working toward graduating. does not look like they may think it does and to “I’m going to change the world, I just haven’t increase the comfort level for those who might yet,” Hazeltine says, with her jaw set and her eyes need help. sparkling.

“You don’t have to be in recovery to be here,” Anyone who doubts her, simply has not met her Hazeltine said. yet.

The center is not a rehab facility, but rather a facilitator connecting addicts and their families to For more information about the Recovery Center, go to sources of help. Programs and classes are geared https://medinarecoverycenter.org/, and for the Serenite Restaurant and Culinary Institute, go to toward recovering addicts who need support to https://www.sereniterestaurant.com/ or call 330-952-2611. maintain their sobriety.

Classes and activities are held in a large room Project DAWN Clinics upstairs, while the restaurant operates in the Medina County Health Department downstairs part of the building.

4800 Ledgewood Drive, Medina With an end to funding looming ahead this Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. summer, the Recovery Center approached the Medina County commissioners for further funding Wadsworth Fire Station #2 last December.

338 Weatherstone Drive, Wadsworth At press time, commissioners had made no Last Thursday of each month, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. financial commitment and had requested For further information, call 330­723­9688, documentation regarding activities at the center Extension 609.

Joy of Medina County Magazine | January 2019