Page 12A THE BEACON February 2018

By Debby Stutz

Community Correspondent

bright @ goBEACONnews . com

Happy Birthday to Denise ( Stutz ) Kirchgassner , Diane ( Stutz ) Vollner and Daniel Stutz ! It was quite a commotion thirty-three years ago when they were born . I remember the headlines in the local paper , “ Bright Couple has Triplets .” I always wanted to send that to Jay Leno back when he made jokes about newspaper ads and headlines . No doubt , some people would think we weren ’ t too bright for having triplets . It has been an adventure that Don and I have thoroughly enjoyed . Happy birthday , kids !

I ’ ve been thinking a lot about Bright history with all the changes coming in 2018 . I can remember as far back as Norman Nowlin in the 1970 ’ s . After Nowlin ’ s , the proprietors became Rick and

Sandy Reese . Rick and Sandy added the apartments on top of the building . I ’ m not sure when Gus Grote bought the building . I tested some older memories ( thanks , Dad !) about earlier ownerships . He recollects that once upon a time , it was a car dealership owned by Mr . Smith . Mr . Smith then renovated the building into a grocery store . Please let me know if you have anything to add to this history .

Bright spots in the midst of this gray winter are that Don and I get to visit warmer climates a couple of times . Thank goodness Thelma Jean Stutz likes someone to accompany her to see Denny and Becky Stutz who live in Ft . Meyers , Florida . My hand is always in the air , and I ’ m saying , “ I ’ ll go !”

The North Dearborn Library hosts Lego Mania on Tuesday evenings in January at 6:30 . Build creations around a theme for the evening . You can use theirs , or you ’ re welcome to bring your Legos . Builders in grades 1-6 , please . The Pinterest Craft Club meets Jan . 18 at 6:30 . This month the craft is string art . A lot of activity at the Library is yours to enjoy .

Take advantage of the opportunity to learn something new and meet new friends .

The Bright Area Business Association hosted the Annual Christmas Breakfast and presented an award to Diane Bender for Business Member of the Year . Celeste Calvitto received a Community Service Award . BABA presented donations to the Bright Lions Club for $ 500 , the North Dearborn Pantry for $ 1500 , and Bright Fire & EMS for $ 9005 . BABA meets the second Friday of each month at 8 a . m . at the Lions Club in Bright . Come and meet the business owners in and around Bright .

Just keep in mind that no matter how long the winter is , spring is sure to follow . While you wait for spring , stay warm and enjoy the sunny days , laugh out loud every day , and give as many hugs as you can .

By Linda Ickenroth

Community Correspondent

mooreshill @ goBEACONnews , com

Our “ Winter Walk and Luminaria ” was a huge success . Many people attended and walked around , and the weather was perfect . All the luminaries were bright and flickering . The night was good for celebrating the eightieth birthday of Jean Hargis Hesser . Her family had planned a surprise for her with son , Ron and his wife Gracie flying in from

By Korry Johnson

Community Correspondent

hvl @ goBEACONnews . com

Happy New Year everybody ! 2018- what a year it ’ s going to be for all of us ! First of all , let ’ s bring on the snow if it ’ s going to be cold outside . Sled riding , making angels , snowmen / women , skiing , snowshoeing . I ’ m sure not everyone wants snow , ( yikes ) but when you grow up in Western NY , January is full of snow fun ! Thank you to all of the HVL residents who donated to our local folks in need . Special thanks to the HVL Fish & Game Club who presented a check

Texas . Randy and his family came from northern Indiana , near Elkhart . Dawn Hesser Bugni lives near her mother , Jean . The family , including several grandchildren , numbered fourteen . They all walked with Jean down the streets and around the town of Moores Hill .

They wanted to know many things about life in a small town in the 40 ’ s and 50 ’ s . What better way to learn the answers than to walk with all of your family and to hear the stories straight from the lips of mom / grandma ? Jean told them where some friends lived , where the telephone exchange was located and how it was almost like a phone booth , that ’ s where you went

to the North Dearborn Food Pantry . The HVL Garden Club also donated to many local charities . Amazing ! The residents in The Valley make this a top community in the Tri-State . Kudos !!

February Birthdays : Angi Hall , Walt Shroyer , Katie Lainhart , Joe Sparhawk , Susan Timberlake , Shelley Fricke , Kim Lewis , Carson Kitts , Charlie Kitts , Chris Kitts , Bobbi Ray , and Me ! Welcome , New Home Owners ! Dyllon & Kristen Dekok , Douglas & Pamela Duty , Lawrence Ferneding , Robert & Nancy O ’ Brien , Kevin & Katrina Collins , Daniel & Nicole Mickelson , Gregory & Lauren Morton , Scott & Alisha Carney , Nathan West , Jill King , Jim & Karen Cole , Ryan & Brandi Herath

Email me at hvl @ goBEA- CONnews . com . Cheers to a happy and healthy 2018 !

to make a phone call home . On the way to Carnegie Hall , Jean told them that after basketball games , they would go over town to a restaurant for a sandwich . The building is no longer there , but they seemed excited that she had an option to do that . Mom / grandma said they could go over town from school to get lunch . That was a shock to several grandchildren . One granddaughter asked , “ You mean you could walk right out the front door of the school and down the sidewalk to town at lunch time ?” Mom / grandma said , “ Yes , and when the weather was nice , you could bring your lunch and go out on the front lawn under the big trees and sit and eat with your friends .” Most of Jean ’ s children had been to Carnegie but still looked at the class pictures on the walls . Jean and family went to the museum at Carnegie . Some of the Carnegie board members were there to answer questions from the evening ’ s visitors . Jean has been on the board for several years , along with good friend and fellow graduate of 1955 , Carol Russell Calhoun .

Wouldn ’ t most of us enjoy a beautiful winter walk with our mothers or grandmothers to step back in time to reminisce in their hometown ?

See ya next time !

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