Around Randolph / Opinion / Randolph
Around Randolph: Walk a mile for veterans
- Sandy Engle
“Great things can be accomplished with enthusiasm.” – Rudolph Steiner
In a time when it’s easy to dwell on the world’s problems, Portage County Auditor Matt Kelly is choosing action over apathy. He was inspired by a friend who walked 22 miles a day across America to increase awareness of the 22 veterans a day that lose their life to suicide. Kelly — a veteran himself — is leading a county-wide effort to bring attention to the mental health struggles many veterans face.
His initiative, “One Mile for the 22,” consists of 22 one-mile walks — one in each township and one in each of the four largest cities of Portage County. Each walk is a quiet, powerful tribute to the 22 veterans who lose their life to suicide every day, but more than that, it’s a call to all of us to listen, support, and to act.
Honoring Our Heroes: Sept. 12 Event
The next walk will take place Friday, Sept. 12. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the main gate of the Portage County Fairgrounds. Participants will walk to Randolph Home Furnishings at 3991 Waterloo Rd., where the Veterans Awareness Open House will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This event, hosted by Laurie Warner of Randolph Home Furnishings, is designed to honor veterans and connect them with vital services. Attendees will find:
*Veteran support organizations and resources
*Lunch and refreshments from The Slop Truck, Katie’s Korner and Farmhand Coffee
*Mental health and suicide prevention materials
*Opportunities to speak directly with elected officials, including Portage County Recorder Lori Calcei, Congressman David Joyce, State Representative Heidi Workman and others
Shuttle service will be available from the Randolph Community Center for those attending the open house but not participating in the walk.
“Each mile is a message,” Kelly said. “We walk to honor their service, to acknowledge their struggles, and to build a community that listens, supports and acts.”
Whether you’re a veteran, a family member or simply someone who cares, you’re invited to walk, gather and help spread awareness. Let’s make every step count.
Local veteran David Stotler now has a fruit market at 522 Horning Rd. in Atwater that will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-October. Over the summer, David, his daughter Stacy, and grandsons Joshua and Ryan built the shed between the time they were thinning and picking apples. David grows over 50 different types of apples along with plums, pears and peaches. Please support this wonderful family by buying their locally grown produce.
Tragedy has struck a family in Randolph. Due to the unexpected loss of Justin Huffman, there is a GoFundMe fundraiser for Maggie Huffman and her daughters to help with funeral costs and daily living expenses. Please keep them in your prayers.
The Balloon A-Fair will be at the Portage County Fairgrounds on Sept. 26-28. Admission is $5 per person. Children 12 and under will be admitted free. Some of the many activities include: a variety of rides (hot air balloon, helicopter, train, pony and mechanical bull), craft and food vendors, car/Jeep shows, axe throwing and more. A tribute band will perform each night from 7 to 10 p.m. For a full schedule, go to https://www.ravennaballoonafair.com/scheduleofevents.
More than 20 local vendors will be at Randolph Home Furnishings from 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18. What a perfect opportunity to pick up early Christmas gifts. A free shuttle will be running from the Randolph Community Center.
RANDOLPH LIBRARY EVENTS
*Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-noon: Family Storytelling for ages 3-6
*Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon: Fall Baby & Toddler Storytime
*Sept. 17, 3-4 p.m.: Constitution Day for children
*Sept. 20, 3-4 p.m.: Food Preservation Tips
*Sept. 22, 2-3 p.m.: Secrets of the Underground Railroad
*Sept. 27, 1-2 p.m.: Yoga for Children with Judith Hilinski
*Sept. 30, 4-5 p.m.: All about Fall for Children. Presented by Holly Stoneburg of the Portage Park District
*Oct. 1, 1-2 p.m.: Computer Basics for kids
*Oct. 6, 4-5 p.m.: Fire Safety for children. Presented by Randolph firefighters
*Oct. 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Randolph True Crime Club
*Oct. 14, 4-5 p.m.: Book Club for Middle Schoolers
And remember:
“Don’t take for granted the advantages you have. If you can attend any meeting you want — political, religious, social — then you are luckier than three billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, then you are richer than 75% of this world. We all have struggles, but in the big picture, we are all blessed beyond belief and have tons of advantages simply because of where we were born. Pay that forward. You don’t have to be Mother Teresa. But choose something you care about, something bigger than yourself and give. Make the world a better place.” – Dr. Joe Clark
If you have any events, news or stories you would like published, please contact Sandy Engle at 330-569-4801 or at sandyengle83@gmail.com.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that proceeds from the Balloon A Fair will support the RSA Food Shelf. This is not the case, and proceeds will support the fair itself.
Sandy Engle