Shirley Mars

It never occurred to me that I would someday have a best friend who is 80 years old. Last weekend I found myself at her birthday party, along with over 200 of her other friends. It caused me to ponder on the importance of friends in our lives. When I searched the internet, I came across an intriguing study on friendship and happiness.

There were days when we all wondered if summer would ever come. Well, it came. Summer is in full swing, and my advice…wear sunscreen! Some may remember that “song” from the late 1990s written by a man named Baz Luhrmann [yes, the director] entitled “Wear Sunscreen.”

During the year, Meijer generously sponsors “Simply Give Double Match Days”. Donations made on Double Match Days are effectively tripled. These funds are used to purchase meat for pantry families. The next Double Match Day is on Saturday, June 13.

Bill and I recently had the privilege of attending the swearing-in of Brimfield’s new chief of police, Christopher Adkins. Rest assured that the police department is in very capable and qualified hands, as he has been serving our community since 2001 in the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, captain and now chief.

As of April 20, there will be a new chief in town! Captain Christopher Adkins will become Brimfield’s interim police chief, pending an employment agreement to offer him the full-time position.

For over 45 years, the spirit of neighborliness has been alive and well in our community, as residents wholeheartedly lent support to the Brimfield Community Cupboard and created a legacy of caring for our own.

Ben Wolford’s thoughtful comments about “values that we should be able to agree on” reminded me of why I allowed him to talk me into reviving the Around Brimfield column a few years ago. Freedom, safety, respect, dignity, decency, diversity and seeing others as neighbors – I share those values and find comfort in knowing that most of The Portager readers share them as well. If we are to “hold the line” as Ben suggests, we cannot be complacent or naïve.

In the summer of 2014, Bill and I met a darling young couple at the Brimfield Farmers Market selling bread and pizza.

Those driving through the recently renovated Brimfield Plaza may have noticed a storefront’s windows filled with festive Christmas trees adorned with beautiful Hallmark ornaments.

While the leaves have not been as brilliant as in some past years, there is still plenty of beauty in Brimfield, and, for the most part, the weather has been pleasant. Nothing says fall like a 4-year-old picking out pumpkins at Dussel Farm on a perfect autumn day. My husband and I enjoyed watching Dylan McSweeney as he was laser-focused on filling his wagon with his treasured pumpkins.

Nov. 4, 2025, General Election Day, is about a month away. Studies have shown that healthy democracies, where people vote in higher numbers, lead to healthy communities because elected officials are accountable to voters. I consider voting a privilege and a responsibility. It is my “super-power”! The official general election ballot for Brimfield is not long, but the results of the election will affect every person who lives in Brimfield. The ballot consists of candidates running for:

Brimfield is going through some changes and struggles of late and will hopefully emerge stronger and better. A controversial fiscal officer has been hired and must run for election in November to keep her spot, and the human resource/business manager position has been dissolved.

Coincidence or a miracle? You can decide for yourself. I was fascinated by a short post on Facebook that had a Brimfield connection, so I asked Kim Davis, the person who posted it, for more of the story. She was happy to share. It seems that she and her husband, Mark, were visiting their son, Jerry. In her words:

July 4 – Happy Independence Day! Two hundred forty-nine years ago, on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, establishing the United States of America! It is a day to be celebrated! May we ever be free!

Negativity seems to be rampant in these uncertain times and can feel quite overwhelming. While social media can be a great way to stay connected to people, it is also a purveyor of negativity. Many studies have proven that choosing to consume a diet rich in negativity can be harmful to one’s mental health.

Although tornadoes can occur anytime, tornado season is between March and June, with May typically being the peak. According to the National Weather Service, nearly 70% of all tornadoes occur during this period. Natural and human-caused disasters can strike suddenly, at anytime and anywhere.

I was recently intrigued by an article about Rogers Secret Recipes (RSR), reasonably priced upscale prix fixe meals (full course meal for one price) being served from 3-9 p.m. on Wednesdays at Wild Goats Restaurant in Kent. Of course, we had to check it out!

How do chickens stay fit? They eggs-ercise! Speaking of chickens, is anyone else wondering what egg-actly is going on with the price of eggs? After some eggs-haustive research, I am still not an egg-spert, but let me try to eggs-plain what I have learned.