Vol. 6 No. 10
Feb. 15, 2012
Get O
Helen McAuley, Volunteer of the Year
ids! nd Build K y a Sn He ide a s ut
Win Prizes!
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Special Health Section Inside
Also Inside This Issue ...
By Nancy Huth & Kim Breyley
On Jan. 21 Helen McAuley of Middlefield was surprised with a arrives she washes and sorts out pinnys, orders bridle numbers, banquet in her honor. Sometimes called “South Farm’s Little Helen,” organizes ribbons, stains cross-country jumps and paints show the petite 85-pound jumping poles. Helen senior, now in her 70s, collects all the daily mail was recognized by a and organizes entries. large gathering of family As we get closer to the and friends for winning show she demonstrates the National Governor’s her God given talent and Cup “Volunteer of the uses her 85 pounds to set Year” award at the US up a dressage ring faster Equestrian Association than four grown men. in December of 2011. Helen is the superstar People came from far of all volunteers. She can and wide. Eric Buller, secretary any show, give from Cleveland and out packets, and still 25-year-friend to Helen take time to ask about said, “Helen was always competitor’s horses. No the person you go to one is ever a number to in the barn; she’d help Helen; she makes each you with anything and person feel at home. She always had a smile on knows both horses and her face.” riders by name. Helen (l-r) Chris Gable and Sarah Greer, owners of South Farm with Helen has an amazing voice Sarah Greer, the McAuley and her husband, Thomas McAuley. owner of South Farm and at most of our horse east of Middlefield, shows, it will be her calm nominated Helen for the award. During the honorary dinner Sarah expressive voice announcing horse after horse, ride after ride. She read from her letter of recommendation. puts up cross-country flags, decorates fences, puts up stall cards, “Most volunteers show up the day before or the day of a horse and can steward any of the warm-up areas. Helen also manages trial, but Helen is there from the beginning. Long before the day Continued on page 2
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlefield Post P.O. Box 626 Middlefield, OH 44062
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
VFW Post 9678 Helps Soldiers
(l-r) SPC Andy Smith, VFW Post 9678 Commander Jeff Gardner, 1 Cpl Corey Shaw. Post Photo/Carol Gardner
Since 1947, Middlefield VFW Post 9678 has been supporting veterans by providing help with medical prescriptions, prostheses, and transportation to VA hospitals and clinics. Recently they have expanded their support to active duty military and their families. The post has adopted B Company 237th BSB National Guard Unit out of Youngstown; a unit of soldiers from a wide geographic area, including Claridon and Huntsburg. Support was mainly offered through donated phone cards for deployed soldiers and VFW attendance at family readiness gatherings, but when one of the soldiers needed help with major engine work on his family vehicle, the VFW stepped in. Claridon’s SPC Andy Smith’s 1994 Silverado was proving to be unreliable transportation for his wife and two young children. Commander, Jeff Gardner took the vehicle to his shop, removed the engine and replaced two cracked heads. He also cleaned and completely serviced the engine, all while Andy trained for his deployment. Just as Smith’s vehicle was completed, the post received a call from a Chardon native, First CPL Corey Shaw of the 3rd BR 8th Marines, who also Continued on page 2
6th Annual Snowman Contest See page 18 for all the details
Get Your Pancakes! Details On Page 4 And See Plain Country For Sweet Memories
MD Realty Celebrates “25 Years” Page 9
“Out ‘N’ About” Pages 10-11
Precision Orthopaedics Opens New Office Health Section Page 5