In the midst of colony collapse, extreme weather patterns, pesticides, neonicotinoid treated seeds, and varroa mites, Mary Lovin has found ways to help bees thrive. Since a third of all food is pollinated by bees, all of us in Randolph are fortunate that Mary (and other local beekeepers) are enhancing the productivity of our farms and gardens.
Atwater Fire Department Chief Jason Brock presented information on the increasing call volume the department is facing (there were 51 incidents in May). Data showed the need for the station to be staffed from 4 to 10 p.m. as this is the second-busiest call time after the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. time slot.
The Randolph Lions intertwined a diversity of local groups into a meaningful Memorial Day parade honoring the 700 veterans buried within Randolph. Allie Makin, Waterloo senior, gave a thought-provoking speech at the memorial service. The morning concluded with the adorning of local veterans with Quilts of Valor.
Once the calendars turn to June, the Waterloo Local School District will again have a new superintendent.
Mogadore will have its annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, May 26. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on James Street by the Mogadore Branch Library and conclude at Greenwood Cemetery at 3809 Mogadore Rd., where the ceremony will be held.
Before Covid my daughter and I journeyed to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. to see Matilda. When we heard Waterloo students would be performing The Matilda Musical we knew we had to see this.
The Atwater Township Clean-Up Days will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 2 and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3 in the Town Hall parking lot at 1219 State Route 183.
Over 100 people attended “Spring into Health” at the Randolph Community Center. The keynote speaker, Klaas Martens, was the first farmer in his county to use glyphosate (Roundup). He was a successful conventional farmer for 20 years. One day while wearing protective garb and following precise herbicide instructions for 2-4-D, he became paralyzed within an hour. The entire summer, his right side was paralyzed.
Recently, the Board of Education allowed the Waterloo football team to place their equipment after practice in an unused visitors concession stand. The football coach began the meeting by expressing his gratitude, explaining how about two hours of labor previously went into putting all the equipment away in its previous spot.
Zoning official Tori Walker presented sample resolutions that could allow the township to have an actionable solution for properties with junk vehicles, tall grass and trash and debris issues. Upon recommendation from zoning, a resolution for each property would be required with a deadline for compliance. A lien could be placed on the property if non-compliant. Hardship cases would be handled on a case by case basis.
The truth is, none of us would be alive without farmers. Unfortunately, farming is becoming even more challenging with weather changes, reduction of farm aid and frozen funding for conservation/easement programs (which make farms more resilient against droughts and floods). Farmers have the highest suicide rate of all occupations. However, people in Randolph care.
For the first time in eight years, Waterloo Junior and Senior High School in Atwater has a theater program — all thanks to community support, parent and teacher volunteers and a passionate mother who, as she admits, doesn’t really like musicals.