Middlef ieldPOST Volume 9 ~ Issue 18
April 15, 2015
www.middlefieldpost.com
Neighborly News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Communities
Inside ...
Geauga Small Business Expo
By Kim Breyley
T Village of Middlefield Page 2
Cardinal Schools Page 5-6
Plain Pages Page 10
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he Geauga Small Business Expo, now in its 10th year, took place at Pine Craft Storage Barns just east of Middlefield on April 10 and 11. Attracting hundreds of local visitors and those from several adjoining states, this event continues to grow every year. This event began in 2006, when Paul and Marvin Wengerd announced Pine Craft Storage Barns’ move to Route 528. “A few area Amish-run businesses approached us and wanted to join us for our Grand Opening,” said Paul Wengerd. “It went really well and they were tickled pink with the results.” The name of this event has evolved over the years from Pine Craft Open House to Home and Garden show and this past year the official name became “Geauga Small Business Expo”. “We’ve had people calling since last November about the dates for the show and making reservations to attend,” said Wengerd. Amish and non-Amish businesses participate, offering an extensive line of goods and services including: bakery, kettle corn (popped on open fire), building
By Christina Grand Porter
supplies, lumber, roofing, indoor and outdoor furniture, c a b i n e t r y, p a i n t supplies, flooring, milling, financing and septic. The venue at Pine Craft comfortably
accommodates 30-plus businesses. This year a lunch stand was set up with funds supporting a local Amish school. A drawing for a large storage building was offered with proceeds dedicated to area families with extraordinary needs. “There is a two-fold purpose for this event,” said Wengerd. “One, to show our
customers appreciation, and two, by pooling our advertising funds together, we can give exposure to local start-up businesses who need the visibility; I know all about how tough that it is,” he added. “This has become a community event. People look forward to coming here, getting their coffee and donut and standing around talking with friends and local business people. Its a fun time.” The Geauga Small Business Expo is held every year in early April. For more information, call 440-632-0174 or stop in at 13650 Madison Road (Route 528) 44062.
How to Make It to 101
want to live to be 101 years old, I fstayyouactive. That’s the advice of Jennie
Graziano, who is 100 years old right now but will be 101 in October of this year. Anyone in their 60s or older could glance at her and think she is probably near their own age; she’s fashionably dressed, fast on her feet and always on the move. One of eight children of Italian immigrant parents, Jennie was born and raised in Cleveland, living in the Little Italy and Collinwood sections of the city. She was married for more than 60 years, but when her husband died about 15 years ago, her son Dominic brought her from Richmond Heights to live in an in-law suite in his Huntsburg home. Jennie remains incredibly independent. She does her own cooking, cleaning, gardening and baking. She said she has never bought a loaf of bread in her life because she bakes her own, using her mother’s recipe. She remembers her mother baking six to eight loaves for her family, but she generally only makes one or two at a time. “My mother was a great cook,” she said with an infectious smile, adding that she didn’t know how her mother managed to bake such wonderful things in the oven
of their Little Italy home that had gas on one side and coal on the other. She fondly recalls huge pots of soups and stews always simmering on the stove in giant pots. She
The amazing Jennie Graziano also praised her mother for strength and resourcefulness because when she first immigrated to America, she couldn’t speak much English and didn’t understand the money. But Jennie remembers taking the streetcar with her and she knew all of the
stops and exactly how much she had to pay. Her mother had a routine and every day there were certain chores to complete. Jennie and her siblings, all four boys and four girls, were well-behaved and she attributes that to the high respect they held for their parents. The most dramatic change Jennie has seen in her time is the increase of technology. She can remember her childhood with vivid accuracy and said she always remembers having electricity and luxuries such as a washing machine, even if it was a wringer washer. Just the small difference in her and her oldest sister’s ages represents an incredible change. Her sister used to tell her she was lucky for having a bathtub and electric lights so never had to use a washtub, outhouse or candles like she had. Jennie said that she is amazed at the advancement of electronics, even just since the death of her husband, and can’t imagine what the next 10 to 15 years will bring. Jennie likes to get out every day and move around, attending to yard work, sorting recyclables or straightening up in the garage. She loves to read, especially on Continued on Page 9
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