Middlef ieldPOST Volume 9 ~ Issue 11
Dec. 10, 2014
www.middlefieldpost.com
Neighborly News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Communities
Inside ...
Festival of Trees Then and Now By Christina Grand Porter
Middlefield Events Pages 4-5
The Middlefield Historical Society held its Festival of Trees Dec. 5, 6 and 7. Businesses, industries, civic and school organizations, churches and individuals all participated by bringing in decorated holiday trees for the family-friendly event. And similar events are now taking place all over the world. No matter what your origins, Christmas trees have undoubtedly been a big part of Christmas traditions for generations. It is thought that plants that remained green during the winter months have always held special meaning Continued on page 7
The Festival of Trees offered two contests over the Dec. 6 weekend. The winner of the Merchant’s Tree valued at $600 was Rebecca Peric from Burton and Lynn Davet submitted the winning Peoples Choice tree.
Cardinal Schools Page 9
Berkshire Schools Page 9
Plain Country Section Inside
Raise a Puppy, Change a Life By Nina Berschig
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
L
ast year, like most teenagers, I thought puppies were perhaps the cutest things in the world. So, of course, I decided I wanted a puppy. However, as a 15-year-old who is leaving for college in three years, my parents were not too keen on the idea. My grandmother came up with the solution. She knew a lady who was a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Puppy raisers are volunteers who train a puppy from 8 weeks old until it is around 18
Nina Berschig and Manfred spending time together
months. It involves socializing and teaching the puppy the basic commands until it goes in for training with a professional guide dog instructor. I started attending dog classes once a week in January and occasionally walked on the weekends with the intention that this would allow me to spend enough time with dogs that I would no longer want one of my own. Instead of that being the case, I fell in love with them even more. By May, I was given my own Guiding Eyes puppy to raise. My parents agreed because we would only have the dog for about a year and a
half and they would not end up with a dog after I leave for college. I received an 8-week-old German shepherd named Manfred. Middlefield Pet Hospital was extremely generous and agreed to sponsor his veterinarian care. At this point, I still thought this puppy would be all fun. That was when I found out that puppies don’t sleep through the night. This was the first time I truly understood responsibility. That is how I spent my summer. Instead of going over a friend’s house I was getting up at 5 a.m. to feed my Continued on page 2
i r s h t m C as y r r e MHappy New Year! See our Christmas Section Inside