Ralph Waldo Emerson was an essayist and philosopher who was a prolific writer of great words of wisdom. Said he, “I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.” Lifetime Brimfield resident Nikki Husted knows more about a chickens’ motives than anyone I have ever met.
Nikki taught for many years at Brimfield Elementary School and left her career to focus on her children. Believing that caring for animals is a way to teach responsibility, respect for life, compassion, and kindness, her family acquired a menagerie of animals, including three goats, two rabbits, a dog, a cat and a few dozen chickens. Nikki has become an expert on raising chickens and is passionate about teaching others about what has brought her so much joy.
She is a popular social media “chicken-fluencer,” with a huge following on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube as @purelychickens.
A couple months ago, I happened upon a Facebook post about a book that one could pre-order, Chicken Keeping Pure & Simple — A Fun, Friendly Guide to Backyard Chicken Keeping, written by our very own Nikki Husted. I do not have any plan to raise chickens (I was lucky to keep 10 children alive!), but I like to support local efforts, enjoy learning, and found the cover intriguing, so I pre-ordered a copy. It came a couple days ago, and it is nothing short of impressive — so much so that it is tempting to buy a few chickens. The book is a comprehensive, easy to read guide for “chicken keeping.”
The Amazon website describes the book as follows: “Keeping chickens can look almost glamorous online. It’s all beautiful chickens, cute baby chicks, and coops that look nice enough to spend the night in. The reality is that keeping chickens is rewarding — but also a lot of work and, well, poop cleanup. If you follow her online, you already know that Nikki shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of this popular hobby. In her first book, she remains unfiltered while she shares the essential techniques and helpful stories from her own experience with backyard chickens. That’s right: you can learn from her own successes and mistakes! With instructive photos and helpful tips throughout, this is the perfect book whether you’re just getting started with chickens or still dreaming of your first flock!”
The stunning photography throughout the book was done by Nikki’s friend, Kristen Marie Luchka, who is also a Field graduate, a Brimfield Elementary School teacher, and a talented photographer and owner of Four Blessings Photography (fourblessingsphoto.com). Chicken Keeping Pure & Simple can be ordered from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most online bookstores.
The new Aldi: Eternity finally came … Of course, I had to attend the grand opening of the Brimfield Aldi store out of curiosity of who would be first in line and how long they had been there waiting. I pulled into the parking lot at 8:20 a.m., fully expecting to hear the “Hallelujah Chorus” playing at full blast. While that did not happen, I did find a line of excited people snaking alongside the building and into the parking lot. The first two people in line were from Akron and had set up camp at 6 p.m. the evening before. The wife slept in the car while her husband slept on a camping chair to hold their spot in line. They reported that they were there for the “golden tickets.” I later saw them in the store as they were spending the $110 that their tickets were worth. The first Brimfield resident, Cynthia Stahl, was sixth in line and had been there since 6:45 a.m. I hope she got a good golden ticket. Aldi is a welcome addition to our community.
Paper Shredding — I am excited to announce that beginning June 2, Portage County District Recycling Center will be offering paper shredding for Portage County residents only (no businesses) between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Friday. Please remove any paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, folders, and any kind of binding. Hours are subject to change at any time to accommodate staffing changes. The Recycling Center is at 3588 Mogadore Rd, Brimfield. For questions, call the center at 330-678-8808.
Happy Father’s Day on June 18 to all fathers, grandfathers, male heroes and nurturers, and single mothers who have a dual role! “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it,” Charles Kettering wrote. “Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example, not his advice.”
Brimfield Parks and Recreation Department has some exciting programs for all ages.
June 17 (Sat.) — Touch-a-Truck: FREE EVENT for kids and families from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. (Sensory-friendly hour: 11 a.m. to noon) at Lions Community Park (4484 Edson Road). Kids and families are invited to get up close and personal with fire trucks, police cruisers, construction vehicles, military vehicles and more, all while enjoying treats from Brooks BBQ and Kona Ice food trucks.
June 23 (Fri.) — Summer Concert – Featuring American Steal: FREE EVENT for all ages from 7-9 p.m. at the Brimfield Historical Society (4158 OH-43).
July 8 (Sat.) — Summer Outdoor Movie – Finding Nemo 20th Anniversary: FREE EVENT for kids and families at Lions Community Park (4484 Edson Road). The event begins at 8:30 p.m., and the movie will start at 9p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult (no drop-offs).
July 10 (Mon.) — Fossils for Kids: FREE PROGRAM from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Brimfield Community Center (4538 Edson Road, outside). Kids will learn about Ohio fossils and how to find them; then they will search for fossils in the park! Children must be accompanied by an adult (no drop-offs). Recommended for ages 5 years + older.
Until next time, got news? Share it by contacting Shirley Mars at 330-673-0241 or at [email protected]
