Around Brimfield

Around Brimfield: How to help your community, even when you're snowed in

Feb 2, 2026 - Shirley Mars. 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.

Around Brimfield: Happy 10 years to Brimfield Bread Oven

Jan 5, 2026 - Shirley Mars. In the summer of 2014, Bill and I met a darling young couple at the Brimfield Farmers Market selling bread and pizza.

Around Brimfield: Meet Brimfield's new ornament business

Dec 1, 2025 - Shirley Mars. 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.

Around Brimfield: Chilly weather won’t stop these November events in Brimfield

Oct 31, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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.

Around Brimfield: Getting ready for voting

Sep 29, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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:

Around Brimfield: Meet the township trustee candidates

Aug 29, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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.

Around Brimfield: Brimfield breaks ground on new senior living facility

Jul 30, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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:

Around Brimfield: Happy July 4 and lots of events coming up this month

Jul 2, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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!

Around Brimfield: Positivity and resilience against the odds

Jun 2, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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.

Around Brimfield: How to prepare during tornado season

May 2, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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.

Around Brimfield: A love story at Wild Goats

Apr 2, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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!

Around Brimfield: Egg free baking, plus news and events in Brimfield

Mar 3, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

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.

Around Brimfield: Reflections on finding everyday happiness for the new year

Jan 3, 2025 - Shirley Mars.

Happy New Year! It seems an appropriate time to share a few thoughts on making improvements in our everyday lives.

Around Brimfield: Santa comes to Brimfield, plus more news around the township

Dec 2, 2024 - Shirley Mars.

​​A quote by author Nora Roberts caught my attention the other day. She said: “Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room.”

Around Brimfield: A Gild Pizza shop pays homage to an Akron pizza legend, coming soon

Nov 4, 2024 - Shirley Mars.

Over the past few weeks, the Ohio trees certainly put on a vibrant color display, and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Now the leaves are rapidly falling and reminding us that November is here, and it is the start of the holiday season when we are reminded to live in gratitude. Oprah Winfrey wisely counseled, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” So, what are you thankful for?

Around Brimfield: Community shows up in droves to support the Sumego family

Oct 7, 2024 - Shirley Mars.

Hundreds of Field community members showed up to support the family of Blake Sumego, a young man who tragically lost his life way too soon. The event started at 5 p.m., but vehicles were already lined up in every direction by 4:45 p.m. Within one and a half hours, about 1,000 meals were distributed.

Around Brimfield: Brimfest is coming up and the new town hall is finally complete

Sep 2, 2024 - Shirley Mars.

A few years back, I saw a comic strip that made me laugh out loud. It showed a person sneaking in the dark of the night to leave zucchini on his neighbor’s porch. The neighbor suddenly opens his door, rifle in hand, demanding that the man step away from his porch, take his zucchini and move on. If you have considered doing this with your excess garden produce, there is a better solution.

Around Brimfield: Falcons help community member fight cancer, Bread Oven enjoys a community gathering, and more

Jul 1, 2024 - Shirley Mars.

Gen and Jud Smith, owners of the Brimfield Bread Oven, wondered if anyone would come to their community pizza party, and were they surprised and pleased when the crowd began gathering before the 4 p.m. start time.