Paige Brinkman, Moving On

by Paige Brinkman

I’m Paige Brinkman and I have been the junior writer for Shawnee Life over the past school year. I graduated from Lima Central Catholic in May and will be attending the University of Dayton in the fall, so this will be my last article.

Writing for Shawnee Life has been a great experience for me. Doing this has allowed me to expand my writing skills, l learned how to write more creatively versus writing school papers and following strict guidelines. I also enjoyed writing, and learning, about my school and highlighting events and people in the LCC community. Through this experience I have become a more confident and creative writer. Diane has been a great help through it all and I am very thankful for her guidance and tips.

As I leave my high school era it is very bittersweet, I have created amazing memories and friends that I will miss a lot but I am excited for the new adventures and people that college will bring me. Now that high school is over I am already planning and shopping for college. At the University of Dayton I will be majoring in business but am not quite sure which direction I want to go. I was undecided for a long time on what I wanted to even go to college for and that brought a lot of stress, especially when people would ask what I would be doing and the only answer I had was “I’m not sure.” Everyone says you have “a long time till you have to decide” and while that is true, it does not feel like that. I have found assurance through others when I did job shadowing in the spring. Most of whom I shadowed said they were undecided going in or switched half way through. Hearing from younger people that it is okay to be undecided helped me find comfort that it’s okay I don’t have it all figured out right now.

Over the summer I will spend lots of time with my friends and family, relaxing at the pool, working, and probably shopping and packing for college. My family and I spend many weekends at the lake boating, jet skiing, and relaxing in the sun. When I’m not at the lake you will often find me at the pool for swim practice, with friends, or working as a lifeguard. I love to sit by the pool and enjoy the sun but I am always down for the water slides! I plan to make many more memories with my friends before we all go our separate ways and off to college.

LIMA WEST Meet the New Owner, CHASE MASON!

New Business Owner

In December of 2022 Chase Mason purchased his first Padrone’s Pizza location in Bluffton, Ohio! He has a long history of almost eight years working for various Padrone’s locations. Owning his own store was something he has always wanted to do since high school. In April of 2023, he opened the Padrone’s Pizza Lima West shop on Allentown Road! He is so proud to own and operate two wonderful locations!

Chase loves the Padrone’s brand, and he is grateful to not be restricted by a corporation to tell him what should or shouldn’t be on his menu. For example, they have a wider variety of gluten free products (subs, garlic bread and cauliflower crust pizza) in Lima, but not in Bluffton. “I have full control to tailor my locations to the communities we serve!” said Chase.

Chase’s favorite thing about being a business owner is the opportunity he has to listen to the customers and staff, in order to make positive changes to better serve his patrons. He is excited to announce that online ordering is now available and a mobile app can be downloaded on iTunes and Google Play stores.

When asked what his favorite pizza is, he said he personally loves the White Pizza, while his daughter, Aubrey is a Cheese Pizza girl! He also added, “If you haven’t tried the homemade ranch then you don’t know what your life is missing!”

A Personal Look At Chase

Chase was born in Lima, Ohio, but was raised in Defiance where he graduated in 2007. He is very dedicated to his church and enjoys having the opportunity to play the piano there. In Defiance he was heavily involved with the school’s music programs and community theater. He has done everything from vocal direction, orchestral direction, and has even been a stage director.

Chase is a single father. He brought his niece, Aubrey, home from the hospital, and they’ve been together ever since! She turned two this past February. She’s the adorable poster girl for Padrone’s. She loves going to the pizza shops because she can get some pickles. When Aubrey isn’t munching on pickles, their family’s favorite place to vacation is Disney!

According to Chase, “being a business owner with a toddler at home has obviously come with many challenges. But God has blessed me with amazing people at my church, Lima Missionary Baptist, that are effectively our second family. Without their support, and time watching my girl, it would be an impossibility to be where I am right now!”

Check out Padrone’s Pizza Lima West by dining in at their location on Allentown Road, giving them a call at 419-331-3111 to place an order, order online at PadronesPizzaOnline.com or try the new app! They also have fantastic Facebook and Instagram pages so be sure to follow them! Padrone’s Pizza Lima West