County News Teen’s 4-H Fighting Hunger charity enters third year
GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2014 • 1B
Student Philanthropic Board formed at St. John
BY ZACHARY DZURICK Gazette Newspapers JEFFERSON – Two years ago, Brad Kobernik wanted to make a difference. Kobernik will be entering his senior year at Jefferson Area High School in the fall. But in 2012, he was a sophomore. “I wanted to start my own charity,” Kobernik said. “A long time ago, my brother had done a food drive and I briefly saw how bad a need there was for food collection in Ashtabula County. I called the OSU Extension Office and talked to them and they said they would be more than glad to help.” Kobernik founded 4-H Fighting Hunger. The charity is now entering its third year. “I asked all of the 4-H Clubs to help and we have a competition. The club that brings in the most food by weight I reward with a pizza party at the fair. I get ice cream cones for the secondplace club. In 2012, we collected about 2,000 pounds. Last year it was less, but I got a late start. This year I started very early and it looks good. I am putting more time and effort into it,” Kobernik said.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Recipients of the grants from Saint John Philanthropic Board with representatives from the Ashtabula Foundation and the student board of Saint John.
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP - Young people who care about their communities are increasingly getting involved in philanthropy. The Ashtabula Foundation has assisted Saint John School in forming a Youth Philanthropic Group. The Foundation wants schools in the county to educate student about what philanthropy involves. Under the leadership of Mary Ann Hartwell, the group formed in January. They studied how they wanted to set up the grants program and then sent out letters of interest to local non-profit groups. Pete Bernardo ’63, Director of Major Gifts for John Carroll University, spoke with students in April, and he shared with them the importance of engaging others in the mission of See CHARITY page 7B organizations.
Ashtabula County YMCA hosting Lighthouse Swim
After receiving the grant applications, the students studied the proposals and also made site visits to various agencies. In June the group awarded four grants to the following groups: Saint Vincent DePaul Society, for their work with the underprivileged, the Catholic Charities HALO Christmas project, Ashtabula County Medical Center (ACMC) for their research on Diabetes and Ashcraft for their marketing efforts. The students realized that, anybody can be a philanthropist, why not us? Students in the group have a lot of ideas and energy to bring to the table, and want to make a difference – today and well into the future. The students believed they learned about the
The Big Top sets up in Geneva BY DEE RILEY Gazette Newspapers
BY ZACHARY DZURICK Gazette Newspapers ASHTABULA – Inspired by a young lifeguard, the Ashtabula County YMCA will host its first Lighthouse Swim on July 19. Eighteen-year-old Paige Watson and her coach Bob Ward came up with the idea. The swim will help raise funds for the Aquatic department. “Paige is a lifeguard for us and she is an open-water swimmer,” Aquatic Coordinator Tia Sprounz said. “She has been involved with swimming her whole life and she always wanted to swim to the lighthouse.” There will be two swims on July 19. Both groups will swim from the east end of Walnut Beach to the historic Ashtabula Lighthouse, around the lighthouse and then back. The course is approximately 2.4 miles. A competitive swim will depart at 9 a.m. while a non-competitive group will leave at 10 a.m. Swimmers must be at least 14 years old. Children under 18 will need a waiver signed by a parent and swim instructor. Trophies will be awarded for the top three men and women in the competitive division. The fee is $30 if registered by July 18 and it increases to $40 the day of the event day. There is an additional $5 fee if ordering a tshirt.
See YMCA page 14B
world of philanthropy and will be in a stronger position in the 2014-15 school year to make the process better. Caroline Kovacs, president of the group, noted, “”it isn’t as easy to give away money, as people might think.” On July 10, 2014 the 4 groups met at Saint John’s to receive their checks for their projects. Each will be asked to submit a final report to the Youth Board indicating how the grant funds were spent. Also present was Dr. Jerome Brockway, trustee of the Ashtabula Foundation. The support of the Ashtabula Foundation has made this program a reality. Educating young people about the importance of giving instills a message about their role in making the community a better place to live.
PHOTOS BY DEE RILEY
Isabell, six years old, and A pair of boys on the aerial Connor Reynolds, nine, platform were the youngest show of f their face performers for the Carson & paintings done by a Barnes circus. painting artist at the circus.
GENEVA - The Carson & Barnes circus set up on a lot in Geneva on South Broadway for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows with excited children and an awestruck audience. The circus featured elephant and camel rides, clowns, acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, a petting zoo, carnival food, face painting, a dog show, a hula hoop professional, the cycle globe of death, and beautiful spotted horses performing in the ring…and, of course, elephants. The ring master shouted out the various acts and entertained with the clowns. The word was “awesome,” “fantastic,” and “wonderful” from the crowd of attendees And what would a circus be without elephants! Two as they were exiting after a elephants performed and gave rides to the crowd at the fun-filled performance. circus.
Ashtabula County CHAMBERS of Commerce kick off The Business Compass BY STEFANIE WESSELL Gazette Newspapers
ing series for successful business navigation, on Wednesday, July 9. JEFFERSON – The CHAMBERS of ComAshtabula County CHAM- merce President Bob Schultz BERS of Commerce kicked said the idea came about off the first session of The from feedback the Chambers Business Compass, an ongo- have gotten from the community that it’s becoming PHOTOS BY STEFANIE WESSELL more difficult to operate and Roy Bean talks about how start up a business. “So we’re putting together businesses can fail for a series of forums to help personal reasons.
business people,” Schultz said. The first presentation was held at the Jefferson Community Center, 11 E. Jefferson Street, Jefferson. Guest speakers Roy H. Bean and Hattie Grubke-Barnard discussed the right ways and wrong ways of doing business in Ashtabula County. Bean was born and raised in Conneaut, Ohio, graduat-
ing from Ohio Northern University with a dual degree in business administration and business education. He was employed as a banker for 30 years—working part time as a certified business advisor for Lake County Economic Development Center and Youngstown State University (YSU) as a
See CHAMBERS page 7B