Committed to providing our community with respectful, dignified, and professional services. We believe in giving back to the community that has supported us. Learn more about what we have to offer you and your loved ones at www.bayliffandson.com
(419) 645-4501
311 West Main Street
Cridersville, Ohio 45806
These local businesses are proud to serve our community and sponsor Shawnee Life Magazine. Their contributions make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and let them know that you saw them in Shawnee Life.
APPLIANCES
Tracy’s Appliances
(419) 223-4786
Westrich Furniture & Appliances
(419) 695-6045
BAKERIES
Miss Mel’s Bakery
(419) 333-1767
Sara’s Sweets
(419) 371-4745
BUILDING RESTORATION EXPERTS
Trisco Systems
(419) 339-3906
CANCER CARE / ONCOLOGY
Cancer Care of West Central Ohio
(419) 221-2273
CEMETERY & MAUSOLEUMS
Gethsemani Cemetery
(419) 233-0484
CLEANING
House Washable
(567) 208-0551
Mark’s Maid Service
(419) 604-0298
Northwest Ohio Kwik Dry
(419) 701-2081
DONATION PICK UP
Habitat for Humanity
Lima ReStore
(419) 222-4937
EDUCATION
Lima Central Catholic High School
(419) 222-4276
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
Brunk Electric
(800) 642-8942
ENTERTAINMENT
Westgate Entertainment Center
(419) 227-7231
FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Financial Clarity Group
(513) 752-0386
FOOD & DRINK
Old Barn Restaurant & Grill
(419) 991-3075
Purple Feet Wine Boutique
(567) 940-9944
The Meeting Place on Market
(419) 330-5630
FUNERAL HOME
Bayliff & Son
(419) 645-4501
FURNITURE
Tracy’s Appliances
(419) 223-4786
Westrich Furniture & Appliances
(419) 695-6045
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Mercy Health – St. Rita’s
(419) 227-3361
Replenish & Renew
(567) 204-7889
HEATING & AIR
Cleaves American Heating & Air
(419) 227-4328
Washam Plumbing Heating & Air
(419) 339-0729
INSURANCE
Beery Insurance Services
(419) 228-4000
JEWELER
Vons Diamonds & Jewelry
(419) 227-5616
JUNK CLEAN-UP & HAULING
Junk Patrol
(567) 242-8193
LAWN & LANDSCAPE SERVICES
Cutting Edge Lawn Solutions
(567) 242-8193
LEASING LOFTS & BUSINESS SPACE
Kelly Martino
(419) 604-2356
MANUFACTURERS & INDUSTRY
Cenovus Energy Lima Refinery
(419) 226-2300
PET MEMORIAL SERVICES
Bayliff & Son
(419) 645-4501
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Ayers, Inc.
(419) 236-8418
PLUMBING
Washam Plumbing Heating & Air (419) 339-0729
POOL CARE & INSTALLATION
Shawnee Pools
(419) 999-1505
REALTORS
Busy B Realty (419) 339-0600
Cowan Realtors (419) 222-1212
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Burton’s Ridge Assisted Living (419) 228-8412
SECURITY
Lima Security, Inc.
(419) 222-1250
SNOW REMOVAL
Cutting Edge Lawn Solutions
(567) 242-8193
SKILLED NURSING & REHAB
Shawnee Manor (419) 999-2055
TRANSPORTATION / LIMOS / PARTY BUS
Lucky Limo, LLC (419) 236-3964
WEDDINGS
The Ayers, Inc.
(419) 222-9377
Lucky Limo, LLC (419) 236-3964
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Affordable Window Fashions
(419) 991-4400
10
18 MAKING A MARK: DISCOVER THE LIMA ADULT LITERACY CENTER - A WONDERFUL RESOURCE IN LIMA THAT SUPPORTS ADULTS WITH VARIOUS LEARNING NEEDS!
6 FROM DIANE’S DESK
A message from the publisher, Diane Schoonover.
16 SAVVY SPACES
Inspiration abounds as we highlight interior design ideas, curb appeal strategies, and explain how to make your house feel like a home.
21 MORE LIKE MATT
A submission by a reader prompts us to reflect on the way in which we care for others, after losing a beloved Shawnee Township firefighter.
25 MERCY MATTERS
Learn how Mercy Health provides high-quality hometown care.
26 SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
Our sponsors have the opportunity to share who they are and how their business works.
29 CENOVUS SAYS
Get the latest news from Lima Refinery and learn how Cenovus is reducing environmental impacts, leveraging new technology, and contributing to our community.
8 KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS: THE SHINE FAMILY
30 PRECIOUS PETS
Everyone loves to share stories about their pets. Find out how many people tend to treat them like another member of the family.
32 DISH-CUSSIONS
What’s cooking in Shawnee? This is where you will discover a delicious recipe and the story behind the dish and the chef!
34 AMAZING ACHIEVERS
Our Junior Writers and special school correspondents share stories about successful students, athletes, or events in local schools
36 FINANCIAL FOCUS
Securities, Real Estate, Tax Planning. We bring the sharpest minds with their practical advice of how to strategically invest your capital to meet you family’s goals.
39 WELCOME WAGON
New people are always moving into Shawnee... meet them here!
I have realized the more I learn about the community in which I live, the more I appreciate where I live. Understanding the impact of the various charity organizations that serve our area, discovering the accomplisments of local students, participating in so many events that occur right here in Lima, getting inspired by interior design ideas, trying out new recipes, uncovering the lives of everyone’s precious pets, knowing more about the families in our neighborhoods, gaining insight on various financial topics, appreciating the back story of our wonderful sponsors, and respecting the work that Mercy Health and Cenovus Lima Refinery do to support our community, are all aspects reflected in Shawnee Life Magazine that contribute to my appreciation of this place I now call home. It is my goal and hope that the same is happening for you!
Did everyone receive their Shawnee Life gear from Gray’s Sportswear? Please send me a photo of you in whatever gear you ordered...I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to see it and possibly feature you in the magazine or on our Facebook page, if you are willing!
I’m also really looking forward to delivering eggs for Austism Life Center’s Egg Your Lawn fundraiser! This is an amazing service offered to our neighborhoods and I am grateful to everyone who placed an order to support Tera Viola’s all-important organization that focuses on empowering individuals with Autism, their family and professionals.
Please remember, this is the Story of Us, so if you ever want to contribute an article, I would love to receive your submission at Diane@ShawneeLife.com. I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of spring and has a lovely Easter holiday!
Diane Schoonover Publisher / Advertising
Michael Ayers Photographer
Janine Douglass DISH-cussions
Georgianna Damschroder Precious Pets
Julie Lundin Know Your Neighbor
Nicole Davis Welcome Wagon & Mercy Matters
Tara Reynolds Bales Talk of the Town Lifestyle
Shandon and Stacie Shine reside on Galvin Lane, located in the Sheffield Rise neighborhood off of Shawnee Road. They moved to Shawnee from Bluelick Road in October 2022. While they loved their home, they found this home to be everything they were dreaming of: a finished basement with a pool table and a lot of storage - which is every woman’s dream! They love their Sheffield Rise neighborhood - it is peaceful, the neighbors are friendly, and they love the location as it is central to everything that Lima has to offer. They have finally found their forever home!
Shandon grew up in Lima and graduated from Lima Senior High School. He attended the University of Cincinnati, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. He also played football for the University of Cincinnati. Shandon has worked as a Correctional Officer at Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution for over 23 years. Both Shandon and Stacie are also proud members of the Fraternal Order of the Police.
Stacie grew up in Columbus Grove and graduated from Columbus Grove. She earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Northwestern Ohio, finished her coursework for her Ph.D. from Tiffin University, and is currently writing her dissertation. Her Ph.D. will be in Global Leadership and Change. Stacie is employed by Sinclair Community College where she is an instructor in prison institutions for incarcerated students pursuing higher education. While she has been employed for over 12 years with Sinclair Community College serving those in the prison system, she served as a Regional Director supporting prisons and the higher education programs within those institutions. Stacie is a past board member of Crime Victim Services, Big Brother/Big Sisters, and the YWCA. She serves on the Wapakoneta Loaves and Fishes Board of Directors as their Marketing Director.
Shandon and Stacie have five children: Tyler (Lauren) Kohls, who recently moved from Nashville to Columbus and is employed in the insurance field;
Ali (Tim) Payton, who lives in Spring Valley and is a teacher; Morgan (Steve) Palte, resides in Columbus Grove and is
a registered nurse; Mason Shine, attends the University of Cincinnati and is majoring in physical therapy; and Taran Shine, who lives in Fort Wayne and works in construction. They also have four grandsons: Carson (6), Grady (4), Nixon (2) Palte, and Timmy IV (7 months) Payton. They keep Shandon and Stacie very busy and are hands down the best thing since sliced bread!
Shandon and Stacie, by nature, are very competitive. They enjoy board games, shooting pool, throwing darts, and any other game or sport that one can brag about winning. Their competitive nature also results in a house divided during the football season. Shandon is a Steelers fan and Stacie is a Bengals fan. You can find them hosting a football party most Sundays - but particularly when the two teams play each other. While Shandon has had many years of “bragging rights” these past couple of years have looked a bit different in their household. Their love for both of their teams leads them on a trip every year to a different stadium either supporting the Bengals or the Steelers. They have visited the Vikings Stadium, Arizona Cardinals Stadium, the Dolphins, and Tampa Bay - to name a few and are looking forward to the upcoming NFL schedule to plan their next trip to watch one of their teams (Stacie thinks she’ll win this one). However, they both share a love for the Buckeyes, which makes Saturdays bearable in their household.
While their football trips have led them to different travels across the states, they enjoy all-inclusive destination travel to Punta Cana and Jamaica and anywhere tropical that offers a pool, beach, sun, food, and drinks.
Shandon and Stacie love hosting in their home. They enjoy bringing family and friends together for holidays, special occasions, and parties - why not? They love to eat at La Charreada but enjoy spending time together cooking and grilling out
while trying different recipes. Christmas and Easter are two of their favorite holidays to celebrate with family and friends. They enjoy hiding eggs for the grandkids and “egging” their yard. They also want to wish you and your family a very happy Easter and beginning of spring!
Morgan, Tyler & Ali
Family Promise’s 7th annual “Have a Heart for the Homeless Valentine’s Day Benefit” occurred on February 11th. The proceeds benefit homeless children and their families in the community. Their mission is to show the love of God, and offer help for homeless families’ with their immediate needs for shelter, meals, and comprehensive support services. They offer a safe haven for families, while they work to complete three developmental phases (budgeting, parenting classes, and keys to good tenancy) in order to gain new tools for future success.
Each of the families can stay at the shelter 24 hours a day to gain structure while they work on rebuilding their lives. They have host organizations and volunteers come in to serve the families dinner and fellowship with them to ensure them someone cares.
As of May of last year, they moved to their new facility at 604 Gloria Avenue at Westside United Methodist Church and can now assist up to six families at a time, instead of two! So far, Family Promise of Lima has served 27+ families at the new facility, which includes 41 adults and 43 little children.
Executive Director, Hellen Douglas, began the evening by stating, “We are not a homeless shelter. We shelter the homeless.” Family Promise is about changing lives. They want to give them the tools and resources so when they get in their own homes,
The Family Promise Team from left to right: Jamie Brannan, Leroy Eddy, Lindsey Foreman, Michael Wilson, Bev Beery, Hellen Douglas, and Randi Weldon
Executive Director, Hellen Douglas
they stay there. Hellen Douglas believes in meeting families where they are at.
One of the families currently staying at the shelter, took to the stage to share a bit about their story. The mother simply said, “It’s like a family here,” and that truly sums up the vibe of Family Promise. Pastor Leroy also shared that “the staff and the community lean in together,” to fulfill their mission, which is quite obvious when you see their wonderful team and supporters in action.
Lauren Bondrowski’s culinary class from Lima Senior High School created the delicious dinner at the event, along with the help of the Workplace Coordinator for the Career Tech Department, Misty Lee. The menu featured Chicken Marsala on top of a nest of pasta, Italian salad, breadsticks and Valentine’s Day themed cupcakes. Bath Boy Scout Troop 82 served all three courses of the dinner and took care of each and every table’s needs.
Cathy Fetters was the lively auctioneer for the evening’s live auction. Donors generously gave a multitude of fantastic items for the live and silent auction. A record-breaking amount was raised to
support the mission at Family Promise through the auction, event tickets and charitable sponsors. Board Member, Bev Beery said, “This was our best fundraising event ever due to 31 sponsors, many donors and our wonderful attendees.”
Remnant Worship provided the entertainment for the night with live music! The beautiful voices of Jodi Holtsberry and Dale Ann Ross filled the space with hope, glory and inspiration! Audience members were truly moved and enjoyed every note.
To learn how you and your organization can be a part of Family Promise’s mission, call 419-8794600 or email: familypromise2008@gmail.com. Family Promise welcomes the opportunity to speak to your organization or any group who is interested in serving the mission of helping homeless children and their families.
Music provided by Remnant Worship Dinner organized by Workplace Coordinator, Misty Lee & Lauren Brondrowski’s Culinary Class from Lima Senior High School St. Charles Parent Task Force
The Hollander on Main was the perfect venue for Mercy Health’s latest speaker series event, held on February 16th. “Women’s Wellness and Wine” was the theme. Over 150 women gathered together to listen to a panel of experts speak about various topics related to women’s health. Chef David Lani and the team at The Hollander on Main, catered the affair in their swanky event space by offering a collection of mouth-watering appetizers. Keaton Wheeler served beautiful wines and a delicious signature cocktail called, “The Very Sexy Martini.” The Hollander’s event coordinator, Mechell Broadwater said, “We were honored to have Mercy St. Rita’s seek us out. We’ve only been open for a month and look forward to continuing to serve the community.”
Ann Stiles, Mercy Health’s Community Affairs Coordinator, arranged for each guest to take home a gift that promotes wellness: an exercise band, a sleeping mask & face roller, an on-the-go meal kit, or a wine/bottle opener. Ann summed up the evening by saying, “It’s so amazing to see so many woman gather together for an evening of health, wellness, great conversation, laughter and simply taking time out for ourselves.” Look for the next event in Mercy Health’s speaker series in May at a new location and check out The Hollander on Main when you can!
Built in 1903-1904 by Clair M & Lulu Tolan
563 West Spring Street, Lima
by Ken Blanchard, Executive Director, The Lima Adult Learning Center
Clair was the son of D.H.Tolan, who started a newspaper in Delphos, The Delphos Herald in 1869. Clair took over the operation in 1894 and changed the name to the Delphos Daily Herald. At the same time, Clair was interested in the banking business and joined the Lima Trust Company as the head teller. It appears he did both until 1910 when the Delphos printing and publishing company was formed. Eventually, he rose to the position of vice president.
The two were very well connected in both the Lima and Delphos communities. They maintained a house in Delphos as well as Lima for quite a few years. The society columns of the day mentioned the couple quite a few times as entertaining and attending functions with the Wemmers, Diesels and MacDonnells among other wealthy families. They also vacationed in Sarasota, FL in the winter in the 20’s.
Clair died on the evening of Saturday, August 13th, 1932 here in the house, after an undescribed illness of five years. He was 70. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Lulu continued to live in the house, still entertaining, until her death on October 19, 1954 at St Rita’s. She was 90. The couple had no children, but did raise a foster son, Everett
Breese. It was because Lulu Tolan was still in her home post WW2 that this fine old gem was not converted into apartments, a fate that fell to many large homes at the time.
The house then sat empty for a few years. In 1956, a gentleman named Kenneth Chapman, was operating a Kirby Sweeper business at the house as well as living there.
In 1958, Fred John of John and Doty Accountants purchased and occupied the building until about 2005, when they finally ceased operations. The Northwest Ohio Literacy Council purchased the building in the spring of 2009 and in the summer of 2011, the Lima City Schools Aspire/GED program moved their administrative offices into the building. With this collaboration, we are able to serve adults with the greatest educational needs for the benefit of our entire community.
1903-1904, when the house was built, represented the height of the Arts & Crafts and Aesthetic Movements in America and Europe. The house itself is a perfect embodiment of the merger of those two complementary movements. For example, the carved foliage on the oak fireplace in the Sitting Room of the Entrance Hall summons up the Middle Ages through a Green Man carving. The green man was a Celtic pre-Christian
woods deity who was so engrained in the popular imagination that he often showed up as an ornamental carving in Christian Cathedrals, for example Winchester Cathedral in England. The Medieval motif is further developed by the inclusion of two carved wyverns, imaginary sea dragons, who resemble sea horses carved beneath the green man on the same fireplace. These motifs were common elements of architectural design during the Middle Ages, but their use had disappeared until it was revived in the Late 19th Century by the Arts & Crafts Movement.
The inlay pattern and wood floor presentation varies in every room. First off, that demonstrated the affluence of the owners to anyone walking through the door, but it also underscored that the eye of a master craftsman was at work in each room, clearly emphasizing the hand-made quality of the design in line with the Arts & Crafts ideal. The shear variety of the ornamental design of the woodwork and the wallpaper – bellflowers, corn-flowers, Greek key, egg and dart, acanthus leaf, leaf and dart, ionic column etc, are the typical motifs of the Arts & Crafts Movement, richly realized throughout the home. Since the Entrance Hall, The Guest Sitting Parlor and the Dining rooms were designed for social engagement, the patterns in those rooms are particularly stunning. The hope of the owner and designer was probably to elicit a gasp of wonderment when visitors first walked in the door and were assaulted by the richness of detail and accomplishment (a strategy that certainly still works on me).
The Aesthetic Movement emerges throughout the house, particularly in the frequent and eye-popping use of Stained Glass (much of which has been lost) and Art Tiles, which have for the most part been retained. This was the era of Louis Comfort Tiffany and all the other great glass, ceramics and tile makers.
While I could go on about the wonderful achievements of various elements in the house, they still speak eloquently for themselves, and reveal this home for what it is, a cultural treasure for Lima and Allen County.
The Tolan House has been and will continue to be the home of the Northwest Ohio Literacy Council, along with the Lima City Schools Aspire/ GED program. The house is an integral part of our efforts to teach low literate adults in our region. When a student comes to our office they can’t help but feel relaxed and reassured as they embark on a new journey in their lives.
by Ken Blanchard, Executive Director, The Lima Adult Learning Center
The mission of the Northwest Ohio Literacy Council has been the same for over 37 years; to provide oneon-one tutoring to those members of the adult population that want to improve their reading, speaking, comprehension, computing and basic math skills. We also assist adults who want to make English their primary language. The staff assesses new clients and matches them with a suitable tutor, scheduling a time and place where the tutor and the adult learner can meet regularly. This is a free service and the council provides the books, manuals and other teaching materials needed for the team.
Our services are open to any adult in the community that feels the need to improve their literacy skills. One would think that we would have a line of people at our doors, but that is not the case. Our biggest single problem is getting adults into our programs. As you may imagine, being unable to read carries a stigma all its own. Many adults don’t even realize that they are well below proficiency in literacy skills, having been exposed to it generationally in their families.
Low reading skills are not a singular problem. Our clients normally have poor writing, comprehension, math and basic computer skills. We are in a unique position to be able to work on whatever is needed, or is desired by the client, because of our one-on-
one tutoring and our partnership with Lima City Schools Aspire/GED.
One of our greatest successes is when we can work with an individual adult to raise their literacy skills and desire to read, and then pass that on to their children, thereby helping to prepare that child for school, ready to learn. Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72 percent chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. Secondly, improved literacy leads to better health care. Nearly half of American adults have difficulty understanding and using health information. Lack of understanding impedes adults’ abilities to make appropriate health decisions and increases the likelihood that they’ll incur higher health costs or make life threatening decisions. Honestly, it is difficult to follow and understand the health care minefield as a fully functioning adult, let alone one with poor literacy skills.
Increasingly, we find a greater need for computer education. Regardless of the amount of “computer classes” that are available in the community, low literacy adults (roughly 1 in 6), have even poorer computer skills, severely limiting them in the job market. Instead of computer classes, which invariably have wildly varying skill levels in attendance, we work with clients on an individual basis to improve everyday computer skills.
Our primary partner is the Lima City Schools Aspire/GED program, who maintain offices in our building. We are the only Literacy Council in the state that has developed this partnership. What is unique to us is that we provide a full range of adult education services, from basic literacy to GED completion and beyond, in one location. Our clients are served by our programs seamlessly, whether it be tutoring through the Literacy Council or GED classwork. Often, they receive services from both at the same time, all with the same goals in mind, higher reading proficiency and GED completion.
The Literacy Council is funded entirely through fundraising, corporate grants and private donations. We hold only two fundraisers per year, our primary being the Purse Lottery which is highlighted on the next page in this issue.
We always welcome visitors to our office, if just to see our treasured old home, but one will definitely hear the real reasons that we are here.
I was processing what to write for this month’s article, but all of what I have been thinking about is how the community has lost an amazing man. With the passing of Matt Myers, many in this community were left with a lasting impression of someone who cared, who asked the right questions, who probably helped or even saved one of your family members, and an amazing firefighter for over 20 years right here in Shawnee!
If you were as blessed as I was to know Matt, you knew a great dad, a loving husband, and every time you would see him, he would lead the conversation with a question like… How’s the family, or how’s business. It was never about Matt! I think we can learn a lot from that!
In life, we (I know I do) leave conversations sometimes, and we think, man I did too much of the talking. Something I have been working on lately, is listening more, asking more questions, not to pry, but to truly be the person that is focused on leaving that person you are talking to, knowing that you care about them!
To Rebecca, Breonna, and Josh(y) (I could never just call him Josh), I am beyond sorry for the loss of your rock!
I pray we all become more like Matt in the way we care for our family, our community, and the way we interact with each other!
Please join us for our monthly Parkinson’s Lunch & Learn!
Open to all community members who are living, or caring for someone who has Parkinson’s.
Along with our certified Big and Loud Therapy team, guest speakers will be discussing ways to excel with this illness.
Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month
January - June from 11:30 AM - 1PM. Lunch will be provided.
RSVP to Connor Niese at 419-302-4489 or Connor.Niese@hcfmanagement.com
TakeLifeOUTSIDE
DelphosOH419-695-6045westrichfurniture.com
by Nicole Davis
Outside may have been gloomy, but inside The Hollander on Main, Mercy – St. Rita’s hosted an extraordinary Women’s Wellness and Wine event. This was the third of a continuing series brought to our area thanks to St. Rita’s. Women gathered on February 16th, along with a panel of local experts, to discuss sleep, mental health, family medicine and fitness. Around 150 women attended this free event that included heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine, and a take-home gift of your choice! Through the welcoming ambiance of the evening, women were able to take a minute to think about their own wellness with friends and health care providers.
The event began with a warm welcome and introduction from Beth Keehn, the Director of Government and Community Affairs for Mercy Health. As she explained, there is more to women’s wellness than just mammograms and babies. Previous events covered topics such as heart health and stroke as well as everything below the belt. This evening focused on ways to stay healthy all around and avoid those winter blues. Each guest speaker also made an introduction and gave some quick tips about their specialty. They each then answered prompted questions, as well as questions from the crowd.
Beginning with Dr. Glen Aukerman, MD, Family Medicine, women heard about healthy eating. He shared, “You were born perfect, it is the nutrition that changed.” Through research using a diet map and blood tests, he confirmed genetics haven’t changed, it is the food and water that we consume. The crowd also went in an uproar when he added that if the sides of your fingers were wrinkled, you are low on water! Dr. Aukerman also shared his book “Better Health in 120 Days” that uses the WEE Protocol to create Genomic-Specific Nutritional Plans, which would allow the audience to find more information. Next on the panel, Jennifer Nyitray, PA, Pulmonology, discussed the importance of quality sleep. She finds that asking how you feel and if you have problems sleeping, is a good place to start. It is recommended to get 7-9 hours of sleep, but it is also important that you look at how well you are sleeping during that time. There are many factors in your daily life that
impact this quality of sleep and supplements are not always the best answer.
Dawn Mansfield, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, Behavioral Health, reminded the women in the group to think about what they can control to create a balance in their lives. Things that are in your control include diet and exercise. This balance will help alleviate stress and shows that things can be done in moderation. Last on the panel, Caitlyn Stoner, CPFT, CSCS, CCFT, USAW1, Fitness Coordinator, offered some great reminders about keeping physical fitness in your routine. When it comes to keeping our functioning bodies strong, you must first think about what you enjoy. For women, this often includes group classes and finding a coach to teach you the right way to benefit your body. She also suggested eating 4-5 smaller meals a day, keeping hydrated, and starting with small goals that you can build on.
Ann Stiles, Community Affairs Coordinator, Mercy Health –St. Rita’s, summarized the evening perfectly. “It’s about us as women feeling healthy and good. The venue provided the perfect space and enabled women to ask questions, get together and socialize. It’s a wonderful event that keeps growing and we are going to continue to do it three times a year.” If you are interested in learning more about women’s health and taking some time to treat yourself, keep an eye out for information on the next Women’s Wellness and Wine event coming up in May. Watch on social media or contact the hospital to get details on how you can sign up to attend!
Our mission at Lima Security is to give your family, your property, and your investments, the professional protection and security they deserve. When dealing with Lima Security, you will often be speaking directly with the owner or a dedicated technician, rather than an unhelpful sales representative.
We feel it is important to have a security system not only for home or business security, but also for peace of mind in knowing that your loved ones and valuables are being protected. Whether it be a home invasion or fire, our 24/7 monitoring team works quickly to protect what is important to you. We also offer sump pump alarms, which alert you regarding rising water levels and potentially help save a very messy and unwanted situation. We are the best choice with our knowledgeable and friendly service team that is here locally to service all your security and fire needs.
In 1976, our founder Chuck Pugh had a dream of protecting others and their assets in the Lima area. This inspired him to begin building Lima Security from the ground up. After years of hard work, the Pugh family had created a business that kept Lima, Ohio more secure than ever before.
Eventually, Chuck’s son, Brad Pugh became the owner and transformed Lima Security into the security provider that it is today. In his 30-year career, Brad has gained plenty of experience and has evolved into a true security pro. Today, Lima Security protects over 1500 local customers, including many local independent banks.
Lima Security, Inc. is the leading provider of residential and commercial security devices and services in Lima, and surrounding areas. From security cameras to fire alarms and access control panels, and even mobile medical devices, we have it all! We are the dependable security firm for all your protection needs.
Brad Pugh has been working with his dad since he was in high school, and then immediately started working full time at Lima Security after he graduated. Brad took over the comapny when his father retired. He has spent the majority of his life with this business and his expertise shows. Brad has been married to his wife, Sheri, for over 25 years and they have two sons, who actually work for the business when they are on school breaks.
Tyler is a sophmore at Pandora Gilboa High School and Bryan is studying business at Bowling Green University. When they aren’t working, they like to go up to Canada to go Muskie fishing together. Although Brad enjoys a break, his commitment to the business is obvious when he takes calls from customers or needs to call staff regarding imporatant matters, even when it is outside of business hours.
Greg Bradley is an experienced technician and is on his eighth year with Lima Security. He was born in Spencerville with his twin brother, but now lives locally in Lima. Tom Stevens is
the Head Supervising Technician and has dedicated 17 years to providing outstanding service to Lima Security customers. Kelly Stevens is the Office Manager and has been with the business for almost three years. She is often the first person you meet, when stepping into the office, and everyone comments on how personable and helpful she is. Tom and Kelly are married and have five kids ranging in ages from 17 down to 7, and they all attend Bath schools.
One thing people notice about the owner, Brad Pugh, and his technicians is that they wouldn’t sell you a system that they wouldn’t use in their own homes or with their own family members. The systems offered at Lima Security are tried and true! They are reliable and bring the next level of safety to your home or business.
Lima Security is also proud to operate a location right in downtown Lima, so customers can actually walk in and ask for support or service.
Our commercial-grade camera systems allow for nearly limitless customization to ensure that each customer can keep an eye on what is important to them. Lima Security also extends the full three-year manufacturer warranty (one-year labor, three-year equipment) on each system.
Worried about your home or business? With our cameras, you can keep an eye on anything you choose in 4MP or 4K quality 24/7. Our camera systems are equipped with expandable storage to ensure that the user can view as much older footage as needed. With our security systems, when an alarm is triggered, a signal is sent to our 24 hour monitoring and they handle contacting you and the appropriate authorities.
Have a worry-free trip out of town with our advanced digital camera systems. With the Guard Viewer app, you can monitor your home and business establishment online and on your phone 24 hours daily while you are on the road.
Only selling systems they trust, is also true for the mobile medical alert device that is now available at Lima Security. Brad decided to use the Belle X Mobile Medical Alert device with his own mother because it provides both of them with a sense of security and peace of mind, knowing she has a necklace to wear that protects her well-being, as well as her home’s safety, with the press of a button. This device works from anywhere, so she can wear it when she goes grocery shopping, to visit a friend or traveling! A live agent is always available and can summon medical help or authorities to offer protection during a home invasion or fire emergency.
mobile emergency alert system
emergency response system that offers you fast access to help on the road and in the field. Speak with expert care specialists 24/7 through the pendant with the press of a button, anywhere in the US with 4G LTE cellular coverage. Belle X is certified on AT&T and Verizon 4G LTE networks. Belle X is available in white* and black.
With this powerful speaker, it’s easy to hear the specialist answer your call.
Just press one button to speak with a specialist and get help. It’s that simple.
The light on the button lets you know when a call is in progress and when the pendant needs to be charged.
Dual noise-canceling microphones allow you to speak with a kind, courteous specialist. They can send emergency help or contact a loved one to assist.
Belle X lasts 6-16 days per charge, depending on operating mode, and it comes with a simple charging cradle to make recharging easy. Belle X is incredibly lightweight and is easy to wear or carry with the included lanyard and belt clip. It includes A-GPS and WiFi location services. It is IP67 water-resistant but should not be submerged.
*The white Belle X device is certified on the Verizon 4G LTE network only.
We offer many different products that can be added to your system to make you feel safe. Everyone’s needs are different, so we can meet with you to discuss the best choice for you, during our free, no hassle estimates and consultations. To learn more about our services, give us a call at (419) 222-1250.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today. We would love to help you feel safe and secure, whether you are inside or outside of your home or business.
Belle X is a small, easy to use mobile personal
At Cenovus, we are committed to creating positive impacts and to making people’s lives better. In Lima, that means safely and responsibly producing products we use in our daily lives, and strengthening our community as a trusted partner. CENOVUS.COM
Lima Refinery. “I’m very proud of how far we have come. We’ve taken accountability for how we can affect this change, and we’re seeing the value of doing this together.”
In 2022, Lima Refinery formalized training around a set of life-saving rules. The rules help us manage the risks associated with our activities on a day-to-day basis and prevent incidents that could have life-altering outcomes. The rules are recommended by Energy Safety Canada and used by many of our industry peers.
The petroleum refining recordable injury rate is 0.5. The 2021 Cenovus Lima Refinery sat just a bit below that, at 0.42, slightly better than average. Building on previous culture change successes, we set a strategic priority for a 2022 recordable injury rate of 0.22. With increased expectations and supports for our employees, we blew the doors off our own target, and ended 2022 with a recordable injury rate of 0.10, which is a record for the site and world-class performance.
A step increase of this size can’t be achieved by a single program or initiative. We achieved these results by being intentional in our discussion of occupational safety, increased and improved field visits with quality interactions between leaders and front-line workers, and opportunities for employees to contribute to site safety and be empowered to make lasting improvements.
“Safety will always be our top value, as a company and a site. We’re doing what we need to do to send people home safe,” said Dean Hempfling, Acting Vice-President,
Also in 2022, we asked a question: What can we do to improve our building of trusting, collaborative relationships? Our senior leaders had already committed to weekly field visits, so that leaders visiting with front-line employees was a norm, not an exception. We improved the quality of the interactions and set a strategic priority of 3,000 visits for the year. We ended 2022 with more than 4,000 visits.
The refinery provides multiple ways for employees to own their own safety. One such avenue is our Accelerator program, which establishes cross-functional, employeeled teams. Employees see an issue, form a team and utilize an Accelerator coach to guide them in a problemsolving process. Our employees are engaged because a concern doesn’t fall on deaf ears, and the solution sticks.
Cenovus Lima Refinery is seeing the result of multiple years’ worth of culture-changing conversations, and follow-through. While we realize the number is a result, safety itself is not a result; it’s an every-day process that must be prioritized and tended. By being intentional about our desired outcomes and committed beyond flavor-of-the-month ideas, we’re seeing engaged employees who ask questions and raise concerns because they have been empowered to contribute to solutions.
Eggs are one of the most common breakfast foods in the world. No matter what restaurant you choose to go to in the morning, you are sure to find some kind
hens, the Leghorn, will diligently tend to around 300 eggs every year.
A flock of these egg-bearing birds live with the Wendroth family on Hawthorne Drive! The coop consists of fourteen hens, named Sunshine, Zelda, Lilith, Minerva Louise, Charlotte, Gertrude, Usurla, Cruella, the trio of Snap, Crackle and Pop, and the three birds referred to as The Bandits.
Becky and Scott, wanted to show their children, Abby and Henry, where their food comes from. And, with the family’s love of eggs, all signs seemed to point to it was time to welcome some feathered friends into the family! The hens arrived as tiny chicks, carefully sealed away in a box and shipped to the local post office where they waited to be taken to their forever home.
of egg on the menu; in fact, so popular are these shelled delicacies that the average American will eat around three hundred each year. But while most are familiar with your average brown chicken egg, this is only one of the many things you may find in a coop. For example, a woman in New York was in for a surprise when she cracked open one of her hen’s eggs and found not one, not two, but a whopping nine yolks inside. Or perhaps it’s never been a bunny behind all those magically colorful eggs you find on Easter, as a kind of chicken aptly known as the Easter Egger, lays beautiful, pastely eggs. The colors of their shells can be blue, green, pink, or red. One of the most hardworking
Once settled in their homemade coop, the chicks were lovingly raised into full-fledged hens. Each
bird looks a little different, leading to a menagerie of assorted hens in the Wendroth backyard. For example, Sunshine’s feet are adorned with feather fluff, which Abby and Henry call her “slippers.”
Aside from their regular feed, the chickens are spoiled with lots of treats. Spaghetti is a fan favorite among the coop, and watching them attempt to peck at the slippery noodles is always entertaining. When
the weather gets hot, the hens are kept cool with popsicles made of frozen corn!
Birds are notorious for getting in trouble, and the chickens are no exception. Sunshine and Crackle are often put in timeout when they attempt to take over the coop’s nests and refuse to let the rest of the flock lay their eggs, trying instead to care for all egg clutches themselves. This behavior is known as brooding, but after some penal alone time, Sunshine and Crackle learn to keep their feathers to their own side of the coop and are allowed to rejoin the others.
The chickens are all cared for and doted on by Becky, who stays at home to care for the kids, Scott, who works with the Lima Pathologist Associates, Henry, who attends Shawnee Elmwood in kindergarten at five years old, and two-year-old Abby, who has yet to start school. Every Wendroth is part of the flock, and the whole family enjoys the chickenkeeping life!
Tish and Heath Barnes love having parties on their patio while serving Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos and freshly made Tequila Sours when the weather is just perfect outside! This active couple has lived in the Indianbrook neighborhood for the past four years. Heath enjoys making delicious drinks, like this Tequila Sour after a long day of work. Tish’s work as an interior designer contributes to her ability to create beautiful dishes. She has a large collection of recipes but these tacos seems to be a favorite for anyone she serves.
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
12 Servings Prep: 20 min Cook Time: 10 min
Super crisp shrimp tacos drizzled with the most amazing and epic sweet creamy chili sauce. It will be hard to stop at 1, or 10!
• 1 c panko
• 12 6-inch corn tortillas (fry quickly in oil)
• 2 T chopped fresh cilantro
For the Slaw:
• 2 c shredded green cabbage (use pre-shredded cabbage to make it easier)
• 1 c shredded red cabbage
• ¼ c sour cream
• ¼ c mayonnaise
• ¼ c chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of one lime
For the Sauce:
• ¼ c mayonnaise
• 2 T sweet chili sauce
• 1 T honey
• 2 t Frank’s Hot Sauce
Directions:
1. Slaw – combine cabbage, sour cream, mayo, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
2. Sauce – whisk together mayo, sweet chili sauce, honey and Frank’s Hot Sauce in a small bowl; set aside.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. If you have a deep fat fryer, I prefer this method.
4. In a large bowl whisk together buttermilk, flour, cornstarch, egg and hot sauce; season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Working one at a time, dip shrimp into buttermilk mixture, then dredge in panko, pressing to coat.
Ingredients:
• ½ c vegetable oil, or more as needed
• 1 c buttermilk
• ¾ c all-purpose flour
• ½ c corn starch
• 1 large egg
• 1 T hot sauce
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 ½ pounds medium-large shrimp, peeled and deveined (devein both sides of the shrimp)
6. Working in batches, add shrimp to skillet and cook until evenly golden and crispy; about 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
7. Serve immediately with tortillas, slaw drizzled with sauce and garnish with cilantro.
- 2 oz reposado tequil. Now don’t go cheap on the tequila. No Patron Casamigos at a minimum. Azul if you are feeling sporty. My favorite is El Tesoro but it’s not always the easiest to find.
- 1.5 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice. Seriously fresh squeezed. You are making a cocktail with love. None of that stuff in the bottle.
- 1 oz agave nectar. Yes you can find it at Mejiers. You can adjust the ratio on the agave. If you like it a little sweeter add a little more; if you want it more bitter add a little less.
- 1 egg white. Now don’t freak out - yes it is a raw egg. But hey, the tequila will kill any bad stuff.
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- Add all the above into a shaker. Shake dry for 10 or 12 shakes. No magic number here, just when you think it feels right. Now add some ice to your shaker. I like to add crushed ice because it makes the drink nice and frothy and feels good on the tongue. Now give it a good shake. Continue to shake until you have frost forming on the outside of your shaker. You have hit the flavor jackpot when this happens. You know that drink you are about to pour out of that shaker is going to be mouth-watering delicious.
- Double strain out of your shaker into whatever glass makes you feel fancy. For those that don’t know what double straining means. You use both your Hawthorne strainer and a mesh strainer. Why, you might ask? Remember, we added crushed ice which makes your drink nice and cold and achieves the perfect dilution rate. Well, it also forms small ice pieces in your drink and we are going for perfection here. Friends don’t let friends not double strain a drink straight from the heavens.
- Add a couple drops of Angostura Bitters on top of the foam and you have a drink even your mother-in-law will be raving about.
Congratulations to the Shawnee High School students who have earned recognition in the 2023 Scholastic Art Awards of Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio. This year, 2055 artworks were entered and 666 were admitted into the juried exhibition. Nineteen Shawnee High School students have received recognition in this juried competition. Their twenty-two creative works (14 honorable mentions, 4 silver keys, 4 gold keys) will be on display at the FWMoA (Fort Wayne Museum of Art) from February 11-April 8! The four gold key artists will now be competing at the national level.
Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists and writers while they were teenagers, including Stephen King and Andy Warhol. We are proud to count the students among these esteemed Scholastic Awards alumni!
Brian Krawetzke and Gayle Trueblood are the Art Educators at Shawnee High School and they are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of their student artists. Thank you to our community that continues to value and honor the importance of the Arts!
Shawnee
Art Department, Gayle Trueblood & Brian Krawetzke
Lena Parsley, photography
Kendal Vogelgesang, fashion
Teacher, Gayle Trueblood, with students
Olivia Miller, photography Aitana Lopez, photography
SILVER KEY & Honorable Mention: Maggie Stoddard, jewelry Gracie Monday, photography
Honorable Mention: Thomas Cover, jewelry
Berkley Fisher, jewelry
Mr. Brian Krawetzke recognized as a Teacher of Honor
Lauren Niesen, photography Jazmyn Scott, photography
Brady Gabes, photography
GOLD KEY: Grace Freiberger, photography
Chelsea Manuel, photography
SILVER KEY: Sydney Burris, photography
Adam Rigali, photography
Carter Kohli, critical essay
Honorable Mention: Nick Pasion, photography
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Grylls, metals/mixed media
To make sound financial decisions, you need a bird’s eye view of everything - and records are a big part of it. This means not only receipts and bank statements, but also things like payroll records, invoices, and more. Not only will this help keep your business afloat, but it will also help avoid any problems when tax season rolls around again.
Especially in the early days of a business, it can be natural to want to handle as many day-to-day tasks yourself - bookkeeping included. Sometimes, it's in an effort to save money. Often, entrepreneurs just feel like they're in a better position to handle everything themselves. Regardless, this situation does seem to play out regularly.
But as your business continues to grow and evolve, those day-to-day tasks become harder. Your finances become more challenging, which naturally adds complexity to the bookkeeping process. Mistakes are more likely to be made and some of them, particularly as they relate to cash flow, can cost you dearly.
Thankfully, all hope is not lost. By simply paying attention to a few key red flags, you can become immediately aware when you need help with your bookkeeping so that you can do something about it quickly.
Even if you’re keeping everything that you should be, you may not have an ideal system in place to help make sense of it all. Suppose at the end of the year, you have to wade through 12 months’ worth of documentation just to find information on certain expenses. In that case, you’re spending a significant amount of time that could be better used by focusing on more important matters. Enlisting the help of an accounting professional can absolutely help to that end.
By far, one of the biggest warning signs that you need a bit of additional help with your bookkeeping has to do with when you find yourself in a situation where your existing records leave a lot to be desired.
Another critical part of the accounting process is the endof-the-month reconciliation. This is when you take your bank statements and compare each cash account transaction with the information you have in your records. Essentially, you’re trying to make sure that the two line up. Doing so gives you a complete financial picture that you can use to make decisions in the coming month.
In no uncertain terms, this process should be done as soon as you see your bank statements posted online. If you wait too long - or worse, if you can’t find the time to do it - you’ll be making decisions based on incorrect information. Sometimes this might not be a problem, but more often than not it will - and it could be avoided by calling in a bit of additional help.
This is another one of those reasons why having clear, concise financial records pays off enormously. If sales are strong and profits aren’t, you can dive deep into the records to quickly find out why. You can find opportunities for cost savings to help get those two numbers closer together. At a bare minimum, you’ll have actionable information to work from in terms of what must be done to optimize profits as much as possible. As stated, there will come a day when it becomes too difficult to do this on your own and when that day comes, a financial professional is the first person you should call.
For many small businesses in particular, one of the biggest warning signs that they need bookkeeping help comes by way of the fact that their long-term goals are expanding and growing but they lack the capability to help meet those needs on the financial side of the equation.
In the early days of your business, your goals were probably simple: “keep the doors open and the lights on.” But at a certain point, you’re going to want to think about expanding. You’ll need to hire new people and you need to know how many you can reasonably afford. You’ll need to think about what other investments you’ll need to make. All of this leads to a bookkeeping process that instantly becomes more complicated and at that point, you don’t want to attempt to go at it alone.
At best, you’ll just make it harder for yourself to accomplish those goals that you’ve set for yourself. At worst, you’ll be creating a series of bigger issues that will only escalate over time if things go unchecked.
Similarly, one precarious situation that business owners often find themselves in involves one where sales may be strong, but profits don’t line up with those expectations. You’re making a lot of money, but it’s also going somewhere and without the right approach to bookkeeping, you’ll likely have little-to-no visibility as to why that may be the case.
In the end, these are just a few of the many red flags that point to the fact that your bookkeeping efforts likely need a bit of additional help. While it can be a frustrating situation to find yourself in, it’s also a critical one. Acknowledging the problem early on puts you in a far better position to address it quickly - before it has a chance to become a much more volatile situation later on. Enlisting the help of a professional will also give you a rock-solid financial foundation that you can build on moving forward, which is truly the most important benefit of all.
If you’d
find out more information about all the signs that indicate you may need some help with your bookkeeping, or if you’d just like to talk to a professional in our office about your situation in a bit more detail, please don’t delay - contact us today.
Deifendeifer Accounting has been in business for over 60 years. Gene Deifendeifer founded the firm in 1961. Later in 1993, his son Steve joined the firm, and in 2012, his granddaughter Anca joined the team.
The firm specializes in working with only small businesses such as many within the local community. The team works exclusively for business clients, as well as their owners to provide the best possible service. Business owners are encouraged to be proactive when it comes to their business rather than reactive. This helps them make more money and enjoy their business, while they maximize their wealth.
DEIFENDEIFER ACCOUNTING www.LimaCPA.com Office: 419-222-6355 Info@LimaCPA.com
New to Shawnee? Welcome to our Community!
If you’re new to the area, we have a beautiful gift basket full of wonderful donations from our magazine sponsors and friends.
Introduce yourself and your family by emailing our Welcome Wagon Coordinator, Nicole Davis, at WelcomeToShawnee@gmail.com, and we’ll deliver a gift basket to your doorstep.
Welcome Basket made possible by:
Affordable Window Fashions
Bayliff & Son
Brunk Electric
Cleaves American
Kwik Dry
Mercy Health
Purple Feet Wine Boutique
Sara’s Sweets
Tracy’s Appliances
Westgate Entertainment Center
Welcome JACOB & JULIA SHUBERT to INDIANBROOK!
Please give a warm welcome to Jacob and Julia Shubert, the new homeowners on Arapaho Trail in Indianbrook! The Shuberts have been married for almost four years and met in Tennessee, where Jacob is from. Together they moved to Texas, where Jacob was stationed in the Army for four years. Then, they moved here to Lima, where Julia is from, and Jacob joined the family business.
Jacob now works as a Registered Investment Advisor at Hardy & Hardy and Julia is an Occupational Therapist at The Springs of Lima. Julia and Jacob enjoy lifting, working out together and water skiing at the lake in Tennessee. The Shubert’s also have welcomed a new member to their family, their sweet little kitten named Phoenix.
