Sixteen years ago, I was approached by Roger Di Paolo, then editor of the Record-Courier and a friend of mine, to write a monthly column about the people and happenings in Brimfield. I had never aspired to write a newspaper column, so I laughed and quickly discarded the thought, but the thought kept coming back. After reasoning that I did not need one more thing to do and it certainly would not pay enough to make it worth my while… the thought still kept coming back.
In the end, I could not pass up the opportunity to cheer for people of our community, share the joys and sorrows of the wonderful people who live here, and post about events and happenings to keep community members informed.
In 2014, I quit writing because of my objection to the “Sound Off” column that consistently contained hateful, ignorant, misinformed and prejudiced comments from people who hid behind anonymity.
Here it is, nine years later, and Ben Wolford extended an invitation to revive Around Brimfield. Again, I laughed it off and thought of the many reasons I would not be interested. After all, our large family has grown larger since then, and I am busier than ever. For some unknown reason, the thought kept coming back… and here I am. Welcome to Around Brimfield!
Since moving to Brimfield 43 years ago, there have been many changes and incredible growth. While there are those who dislike the growth, it is my opinion that with managed growth comes opportunities.
One such opportunity is the development and growth of our park system. To highlight a couple of our parks: Cranberry Creek offers great sledding, a pavilion and a dog park. Lion’s Community Park has a children’s playground, ball fields, pavilion and walking trails. The Brimfield Community Center came to fruition with the help from an Ohio NatureWorks Grant in 2019. The facility was a former split-level home, renovated to accommodate up to 89 guests with its two large meeting rooms, two indoor bathrooms, and a spacious kitchenette. Rental of the facility for a day (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.) is $150 for residents or $250 for non-residents, plus a $50 refundable security deposit. To reserve the facility for your special event, visit store.brimfieldohio.gov.
Upcoming Brimfield Parks and Recreation programs and other events:
Sunday, Feb. 12: noon to 2 p.m., Valentine card-making activity at the Community Center (4538 Edson Road). At this free event, participants can make cards while enjoying sweet treats and a family-friendly movie. All materials are supplied. Finished cards will be delivered to local nursing home residents. Anyone wishing to make cards at home may drop them off at 4125 State Route 43 by Friday, Feb. 10. Please put them in the drop-box. For questions, contact Cassie Weyer (Parks & Rec Director) or Erin Bowman (Assistant) at 330-678-0739 Ext. 1470.
Friday, Feb. 24: 3-5 p.m., E-Waste and Shredding Event sponsored by Portage County Recycling at 3588 Mogadore Road in Brimfield. Residential documents will be accepted for shredding and electronic waste will be collected and disposed of. There will be a $20 fee for TVs and CRT monitors and a $10 fee for printers. Other E-Waste, such as PCs, laptops, phones, scanners, etc. will be disposed of free of charge.
Friday, March 10: 7:30 p.m., Woodcock Walk at Cranberry Creek Park (2211 Lynn Road). Witness the fascinating aerial courtship display of the American Woodcock under the guidance of the Brimfield Parks Department.
The Little Free Library (LFL) has a new home. With the construction of the Brimfield Fire Department at Town Center, the LFL was taken down and put in storage for a while, then relocated near Pep’s Car Wash, and now has a new home in the parking lot of the forthcoming Brimfield Library (former daycare center). Thanks to Mike Kostensky for making it happen and the Brimfield Road Department crew for installing it.
The golden question around Brimfield these days is, “When is Aldi opening?” I have seen dates on social media, but according to the Brimfield Zoning Department, they have not been given a date yet. They were told it should be between mid-February and early March, all depending on one very important electrical component.
While waiting for that important date, you should check out Dickey’s Barbecue Pit located at 3975 Cascades Blvd., a few doors up from Marshalls. We stopped in four days after it opened and were very impressed. The owner, Dan Unsworth, who lives right here in Brimfield, was busy training crew members, who were fast learners. They were polite and efficient in preparing our order. The restaurant’s vibe is an upbeat Texas atmosphere, and the food was delicious, with ample portions. Dickey’s is well-known for beef brisket, ribs, chicken, kielbasa and their big yellow cups. Once you buy a soft drink, anytime you bring the cup back, a refill is only a dollar.
I had never heard of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit before, so of course I Googled it and found out that it has become the largest barbecue franchise in the United States. It is an American family-owned restaurant chain based in Dallas, established in 1941. According to their website, “It took 3 years, 2 fist-fights and 1 small kitchen fire before we perfected the sauces that we serve today. Now you can choose from 7 different sauces, 2 rubs and an assortment of toppers to create your barbecue go-to.” They must be doing something right, because it has been around a very long time. Dickey’s menu can be found online or by downloading their app. We will definitely be back.
My favorite day in February is the celebration of love on Valentines Day. Too often we neglect to express our love and appreciation to those we love most. In the old television series, M*A*S*H, Hawkeye exclaimed, “Without love, what are we worth? Eighty-nine cents worth of chemicals walking around lonely.” When you add love to those chemicals, a person becomes priceless. Who do you love and how do you show it?
Until next time… Got news? Share it by contacting Shirley Mars at 330-673-0241 or at [email protected].
