VOL. 7 NO. 14
May 8, 2013
special local Cuisine Guide Inside Inside This Issue ...
Three Generations of Giving Back
By Christina Porter
Middlefield Village Page 10 - 11
“Out ‘N’ About” Page 12-13
See Inside ~ Home Inside and OUt
See inside Plain Country
Don’t Miss What We Have By Joe Novak
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
W OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlefield Post P.O. Box 626 Middlefield, OH 44062
I
t all started with a love of bluebirds. who many roads, such as Sperry, were District first started in the early 1960s. Fran Tretera first volunteered at the named for. She loves Geauga County She is passionate about staying busy: as Holden Arboretum she stated it, she had to about 17 years ago, caring “fill retirement.” Maddie for bluebird nests. Then agrees they are a busy she began volunteering for family. “Not crazy busy, The Geauga Park District but not boring.” and has been tending the This is a family of bluebird houses at Swine animal and nature lovers. Creek Park for 13 years. She Both Fran and Annie have just earned her 500 hour bluebird houses and bird pin from the Geauga Park feeders in their yards. District; her husband Don is They also have webcams close on her heels with 467 set up so they can watch hours in so far. Following in baby birds hatch and their footsteps is daughter grow. Annie said she Annie Fisher and 10-yearfeels the best education old granddaughter Maddie. for her children is They are all park volunteers learning by seeing. Fran and the three women also stated she puts out her volunteer at St. Helen’s hummingbird feeders Eucharistic Ministries, where every May 1, which led Fran is a Lector and Maddie to a discussion about is a Server. signs of spring and Fran, a Chesterland how to know when the native who now lives in Three generations of volunteers. (l-r) Fran Tretera, Maddie Fisher and Annie season is finally here. Middlefield is a retired Fisher. (front) Simon, who can’t wait to be old enough to be an official Geauga Maddie solved the matter Notre Dame Cathedral Latin Parks volunteer. definitely by saying, “I librarian. Maddie’s current teacher was and said, “The parks and library never look at the calendar.” one of her students. Fran’s father was also have to work for my vote.” She added a Geauga native and knew the people that she can recall when the Geauga Park Continued on page 2
e have all heard the saying you don’t miss what you have until it’s gone. This is especially true with our mothers. Most of us just assume that mom will always be around to kiss our booboo’s and make all things right in our lives. My mother was a strict disciplinarian and even at a young age I knew this is what I needed in my life or I would just now be getting out of prison. She instilled Christian values into my life, a fear of God and respect for all things living. When my first marriage started falling apart, she was there for me. When I was in the Army, the care package from home with the cookies and 30 Proof rum balls would arrive on a regular basis, endearing me with the entire platoon. When I was in high school, she would pack homemade nut roll in my
lunch and I would sell it and buy the hot lunches in the cafeteria. I would also have enough money left over to buy my favorite donut the next morning before school. The Sunday fried chicken dinners were out of this world and mom was so happy to teach me how to cook; something I have enjoyed doing every day for the 28 years of my marriage. This Mothers’ Day why not write your mother a letter telling her how much she means to you and mention some of the things she does that make your life a little bit better? I guarantee, you can’t buy a better gift. My mother left this earth 37 years ago. She wasn’t around to share most of my accomplishments in life and I missed Continued on page 2