Middlef ieldPOST Volume 9 ~ Issue7
Oct, 15, 2014
www.middlefieldpost.com
Neighborly News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Communities
Huntsburg’s Pumpkin Festival By Nancy Hrivnak
Judy Rogers, Pumpkin Run organizer; Nancy Hrivnak and Jodi Tusick, volunteer timers. (Post Photo/Judy Rogers)
Pumpkin, eat it, grow it into a giant uberfruit like champion Jerry Rose, smash it or roll it. Carve it, make it glow, run for fun to celebrate it or just admire it. People do all this and more each October at the Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival. The versatile pumpkin again took center stage during the 45th annual Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival earlier this month. Everything about the two-day festival at the intersection of Routes 322 and 528 shouted down-home living, “Yay, pumpkins!” and free family fun in the country. A committee of dedicated volunteers made sure visitors could run or walk a four-mile course, take home trophies, stroll through a car show, shop crafters’ wares, enjoy pancake breakfasts and take mini-lessons in archery shooting. Pumpkin baking, growing, rolling, and smashing contests and children’s king and queen contests were judged and won. The festival committee provided free parking and a shuttle service to festival grounds.
Breakfasts each festival morning at the town hall featured all-you-can-eat pumpkin or buttermilk pancakes and Belgian waffles, sausage, orange juice, real maple syrup and hot beverages. Nancy Saunders and helpers served the Fowler Milling Company’s pancakes and Bob Evans sausage links with natural maple syrup from Huntsburg producers. “What I like is being able to see the kids enjoy the attractions here for free. Some are things maybe they couldn’t afford to do at other local fall events,” said Mark Pegritz Jr. Mark is a volunteer who managed the food vendors and the new and popular children’s bungee jump at this year’s pumpkin celebration. He hopes to add a rock-wall climb and additional children’s attractions next year. The healthiest event–and likely the best-kept secret in Huntsburg–seems to be the Pumpkin Run and Fun Walk during the festival. “This is a fun, familyfriendly adventure race,” said Spire Institute’s group Continued on page 5
AUBURN CAREER Offers More Than You Knew
By Christina Grand Porter
time to each student. Auburn also offers adult full-time or modularized programs. Auburn has established numerous successful partnerships with area businesses, and employers are anxious to work with them, knowing Auburn’s students will graduate with valuable skills and great work ethics since they have already experienced full career exposure. Graduates in certain fields of study also have the advantage of already having earned their 10-hour OSHA safety certificate; employers could have reduced workman’s compensation costs if a certain percentage of their staff is certified. The school recognizes what employers need. Wayne Reed’s HVAC students work with both modern and older equipment so they are up on the latest technology but could still go out in the field to service an older unit that has been in someone’s home for years. They build their own HVAC systems, inside and out, and by graduation they have a portfolio showing all the things
they have fabricated. The class also recently worked in collaboration with budding electricians to make a Rubens’ Tube, a standing wave flame tube that demonstrates sound waves. When gas is pumped into the tube, fire responds by “dancing” to music and other sounds. Reed has recently been promoted to Auburn’s business partnership coordinator. “We market through relationship building,” said superintendent Margaret Advanced manufacturing instructor, Terry Colescott works with Lynch. Auburn has student, Hanna Jernejcic. feedback sessions and monthly employer opinions of their business partners because open houses and is always seeking more it is only the employers who can tell them businesses with which they can partner to how well their training is working. offer their students workplace experience. A new Industrial Arts Building opened They value and always welcome the Continued on page 2
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Auburn Career Center is training the future of this region. The school presently works with high school juniors and seniors from Lake and Geauga Counties but will soon expand to help direct students from seventh grade and up in career readiness. Auburn offers students a unique education of hands-on working experience, internships and mentorships that lead to the development of real workplace skills. It also gives the kids an opportunity to meet students from other area schools. There are presently about 325 juniors and 280 seniors enrolled. There are 22 programs offered and class sizes are limited to 20 students so instructors are able to dedicate sufficient
It’s Your Wellbeing Middlefield Village Page 4
Cardinal Schools Page 9
Recipe Contest Page 11
Plain Pages Page 11
Berkshire Schools Page 13