By Merri Hanjora, The Lima News, Ohio
Aug. 3–HARROD — Linda Evans, formerly of Harrod, now of rural Pineville, Ky. has recently become a published author. Her children’s book, “The Sleepover,” is available on the website pineorchard.com for $12.
Linda and her husband, Jerry, lived in the Harrod region with their five children. They became grandparents and Linda’s creative touch took hold. She explains that she would make up stories to entertain her grandchildren. This story is about four boys spending the night in a house. Linda explains that this took a couple of months to write, but she had always told it to her grandkids. At one point, they corrected her saying, “no grandma, that’s not how it happened,” she said laughing.
She wrote this for children ages six to 12, but points out that her neighbor across the street from them in Kentucky grabbed the first book once it was delivered. He asked her to sign it and put the number one on the inside. He left and then came back telling her that he couldn’t wait to finish it. “So, it’s not just for kids, adults like it too,” she said. Her neighbor snatched another book from Linda’s home and had her autograph it for his sister, “just in case I became famous,” Linda added with a laugh.
The illustrations in her book are from Vince Whitehead, another Harrod native. He had never illustrated a book, but complied with Linda’s request.
Evans has been back to the area once already autographing her books. She is coming back to The Anderson’s at 3000 W. Elm St., Lima on Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will be signing her books. She will be at Stites Grocery, located at 8100 Harding Hwy., Lima on Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. autographing her book.
She is currently in the process of writing not just one, but two more books. “My Life As I Lived It,” is an autobiography depicting her life story.
Wapakoneta and Van Wert
buildings make Ohio’s Top
Preservation List for 2008
WAPAKONETA — The Elk’s Lodge in Wapakoneta and the Marsh Hotel in Van Wert have made the Top Preservation Opportunities List for 2008 by Heritage Ohio.
The preservation and revitalization organization chose 10 buildings located throughout the state. The ten structures represent a variety of building types and a variety of opportunities to investors and communities. The Top Preservation Opportunities show the public that what may appear as a vacant building today, could be a showpiece building tomorrow. Suggestions such as loft housing, restaurants or retail establishments or new commerce center could spring from these buildings.
The criteria for selection takes into consideration the historic significance; the potential impact for the community and the readiness and availability of community support.
The 1924 Elks Lodge in Wapakoneta is listed as a contributing building to the Wapakoneta Commercial Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, and is located at the corner of West Main & Perry Streets. The mixed styles representing both Prairie and Spanish Colonial Revival make the 13,000 square foot building distinctive in the community. The lodge was dissolved in late 2007. Unfortunately a neighboring business would like to see it demolished, but the community sees more potential with adaptive reuse. The fraternal lodge is for sale.
The Marsh Hotel of Van Wert was built in 1884. This hotel boasted 90 fireproof rooms, proclaiming itself “Best in the Middle West.” Later its location along the Lincoln Highway as well as two additional national highways kept this hotel busy and well known. Much of the building is left intact and has great potential in the thriving Main Street district of Van Wert.
Heritage Ohio’s Top Preservations Opportunities List is in its second year, and has partnered with the Durable Restoration Company to provide the technical support communities may need to prioritize rehabilitation work; finding appropriate adaptive reuse options and understanding how their historic assets contribute to the economic vitality of each individual community. Representatives from Heritage Ohio and Durable Restoration will visit each site to meet with the building owners or community members, provide a basic building assessment and suggest reuse options.
Shawnee United Methodist
Church helps Haitian attain
goal of college in the U.S.
LIMA — Michele Imler can barely contain her enthusiasm when talking of David Philippe Auguste. She spouts off information so fast, just so she’s sure to get everything in. Shawnee United Methodist Church members have been instrumental in the fulfillment of Auguste’s dreams of becoming a doctor.
Church members have been going to Haiti on mission trips for 12 years. The last five years some members have gone two to three times a year. An important entity to have during these mission trips is an interpreter. In 2005, the church members met David Philippe Auguste when he served as Dr. Imler’s interpreter.
Auguste has a mother, an older brother and younger sister in Haiti. Life in Haiti is hard, as they have no electricity and no running water. David’s mother works at a local hospital cleaning so that her children can attend school. In Haiti, you must pay for your children to attend school, if you can’t pay, they don’t go. By enabling David and his brother and sister to further their education, she opened the doors for them to succeed in life. English and French are taught at their school, which is how David became proficient enough in English to become an interpreter. But David had the drive to learn more than what he was taught at school. “He learned so much more and self-taught and studied,” said Imler. Imler and her husband advised David to further his education in Haiti. He was interested in the medical field. He attended medical school in Port Au Prince. The church members and congregation helped finance his schooling in Haiti. Unfortunately, there were so many kidnappings due to students getting foreign aid, that they closed the school.
Imler, her husband and the church have worked for two years getting David accepted into pre-Medicine at Pensacola Christian College in Florida. He was accepted, but then was denied a student visa. More waiting and praying ensued. Finally, when David tried again for the visa, it was approved.
David has one month in the United States to prepare for his college time. He is coming with virtually nothing. There are needs for spending money, clothing to fit the school’s dress code, travel expenses, book purchases, etc. The church has set up a donation center to help David in his quest to obtain a college education. Donations can be sent to SUMC, 2600 Zurmehly Road, Lima, OH 45805. Clearly mark on the envelope that this is to help David Philippe Auguste, and clearly mark to the attention of Charlotte Hefner.
St. Marys Community
Public Library announces
Artfest winners
ST. MARYS — The St. Marys Community Public Library announces the winners of the 19th annual St. Marys Summer Artfest, judge by Jaye Bumbaugh and Doug Drury.
Jessica Davis won the Hunter Printing and Office Supply Best of Show Award for her painting, Ooops! Charlotte Wallace won for Kalispell, Montana: 19th Annual Friends of the Library Award; Barbara Sailor for The Old Crow; WSULake Campus Watercolor Award; Wanda Dammeyer for Red River Cowhand, Donald Glaser Three-Dimensional Award, Alice Schneider for Cades Cove Church, Coldwell Banker-Plus One Professionals Photography Award; Mary Jo Knoch for One Sad Tuesday, Doris Lawler Ohio Theme Award, Patti Keister for Fort Wayne Rose Garden, Bill and Jamie Carpenter Charcoal/Pastel Award; Jessica Davis for Ooops!, The Peoples Bank Co. Acrylic/Oil Award; Jerry Whited for Timeless Afternoon, First Financial Bank 1st Place; Marcy Shaner for Beautiful, WSU-Lake Campus 2nd Place; Doug Gray for Old Truck Graveyard, First Financial Bank 3rd Place. Honorable mentions were awarded to Barbara Sailor for Bountiful and Phil Hugo for The Louvre.
The exhibit will be on display beginning with a Meet the Artist reception today, from 2 to 4 p.m.; then carrying on Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and next Sunday from noon until 4 p.m.
The St. Marys Community Public Library is located at 140 S. Chestnut St., St. Marys, or visit the website at http//www.stmarys.lib.oh.us. They can be reached by phone at 419-394-7471.
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