The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce held the eighth annual Raven Awards at the newly constructed Ravenna Elks Lodge on April 23. The building is very impressive.
I attended especially for my brother Tony Nagella and Dave Morris and the Veterans' Memorial. We sat with family and Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley, who is running for his fifth term.
Honored were Phyllis Cettomai, Daryle Fullum and Ravenna School Superintendent Tim Calfee. New construction awards went to Ken Porcase, Robinson Memorial Hospital and the Veterans' Memorial.
It was a lovely evening.
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The Friends of Reed Memorial Library featured Neil Zurcher at their annual meeting in April. He was a huge hit with his slide presentation of his "road trips." This program was open to the public and many people brought in copies of his books to be autographed. The library also sold copies of his various titles. He stayed after the program to chat with folks and was a gracious guest. If you ever get a chance to hear his program, don't miss it. He was great.
That same evening, Friends Scholarship Chairperson Rosemary Reyes presented first-place winner Kaylee Lohr and second-place winner Corey Trusso with scholarships for their research papers.
Refreshments were served. It was a fun evening.
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My friend Nancy Youngblood invited me to the recent "What's in Your Purse?" benefit and luncheon sponsored by Christian Life Center Women's Ministries. At her table were seated Clara Jobes, Jody Nunn, Connie Smith, Charlene Hurley and Patty Mays.
Sisters Mary and Sara Pierce did an outstanding dance to the song "You Are." It was impressive. After the purse auction, a salad luncheon was served. The speaker, Tonya Pierce, was the girls' mother.
The whole affair was well done and I enjoyed it, and I thank Nancy for inviting me.
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Bill Conroy promised Mary Dean that if she purchased a raffle ticket and won, her name would be in this column. Mary bought her ticket from him at the Immaculate Conception Parish spaghetti dinner last month. Guess what -- she won! Congratulations to Mary.
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Mike Prendergast, brother-in-law Chuck Merchant, former neighbor Jim Burry and college roommate Ron Mambu went to Pinehurst, N.C., recently for a golf weekend.
Dr. Rufus "Mac" McCormick and wife Florence are living there after selling their condo. The McCormicks, who are both in good health, still miss Ravenna but read the Record-Courier online every day. They are happy in North Carolina, since they can be near three of their children and several grandchildren. Each Sunday morning, the family meets for breakfast together. "Dr. Mac," who is 91, stays very active by visiting the nearby hospital's medical library and maintaining his computer skills. "Flo" keeps busy with her artwork and cookie-making. (Mike let her force-feed him six oatmeal cookies during his one-hour stay.)
While he was there, their daughter, Jane, called to inform them that a tornado had been sighted 20 miles away. They watched on local television, but fortunately it blew away from Pinehurst.
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Dr. Rufus "Mac" McCormick and Mike Prendergast enjoyed some time together when a group of men from Ravenna visited the doctor in North Carolina.
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Ravenna High School's class of 1958 will be celebrating its 50-year reunion this year. Festivities begin Friday evening, Oct. 17, at the Italian-American Club. On the next day, the group will travel to Roses Run Country Club in Stow. Classmates who have not received a letter should contact co-chairs Pat (Horvath) Hashman at (330) 673-5440 or Bill Damicone at (330) 297-6618. The committee has been meeting at regular intervals to plan this event since the 45-year reunion in 2003.
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Neighbor Russ Tisher is still very much involved in the Ravenna Lions Club and has been for more than 30 years. His projects now include collecting used eyeglasses for Dr. Brinker's mission trips to El Salvador and the selling and making of reflective house number signs. The signs are $15 each. Proceeds go to local eye projects. Give Russ a call at (330) 297-0409 and order your numbers now and support your local Lions Club.
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For Ravenna news, call Angie Reedy at (330) 297-7228.