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Letter from the Front
from Carol Bretz, Executive Director
As I write this on 15 June 2007, the windows are open to the soft breezes, and I can hear and see the Head Start children playing on the playground next door. June is a lovely month with azure skies and early summer flowers. Before we know it, September will be here. So get outdoors and have some fun.
This wonderful county is rich in cultural, recreational and historical attractions. Families who are looking for affordable activities should consider visiting the following placeswhich are all located within Columbiana County and don't require a lot of gasoline or money. To help plan your summer, we've added new links to our website. You can access these links for directions, admission fees, dates of special events, and other information. Take advantage of the excellent educational and recreational opportunities close to home, and help support these institutions so they can be there for future summers.
One of my recommended stops around the county is the Burchfield Homestead in Salem. Charles Burchfield grew up in Salem, Ohio and is considered one of America's premier watercolorists. He moved to upstate New York where his career and reputation as an artist flourished. The neighborhood and home in which he was raised on 4th street in Salem have not significantly changed since Burchfield lived there. You can look out the windows at local scenes he painted during his years in Salem. The house is listed on the National Historic Register due to the efforts of Dick Wootten; who recognized the importance of preserving this historical homestead. Hours are listed on the website. If you have a budding artist in your family, this is the place to go.
At the opposite end of the county is the East Liverpool Museum of Ceramics, one of the Ohio Historical Society's sites. This Museum offers an excellent opportunity to understand the history of the area's pottery industry. There are dioramas of the pottery manufacturing process, old photograpgs and memorabilia as well as many examples of locally produced pottery including a display of the beautiful and delicate Lotus Ware. Through the skillful use of photographs , artifacts and life-size dioramas, the exhibits vividly portray the products and life of one of Ohio's most unique cities, notes the Ohio Historical Society website. The Museum of Ceramics also offers seasonal programs and lectures.
Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center is located at the entrance of Beaver Creek State Park. Although the Wildlife Education Center does not have its own website yet, you can obtain information about summer hours and special programs by calling 330-301-0019. The Center has one of the largest collections of mounted animals and birds in the State of Ohio. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities the Wildlife Education Center would like to talk with you.
Beaver Creek State Park is home to Gaston's Mill, a restored pioneer village which affords young and old alike a look into Columbiana County's past. The park is a great place for a family picnic and has picnic tables and grills located throughout.Beaver Creek State Park staff provide a variety of activities throughout the summer months. Visit the Beaver Creek State Park website for a list of activities and events.
Beaver Creek State Park is included in the designation of the lower Little Beaver Creek watershed as one of Audubon Ohio's Important Bird Areas. This designation is given to areas in Ohio that have habitat that supports a diversity of bird species. Little Beaver Creek is home to the Blue-headed Vireo, Common Mergansers and Black-throated Green Warblers, which all nest in the watershed. Documentation of nesting Common Mergansers, a large waterfowl, was a first as there were no previous records of nesting Mergansers anywhere in Ohio. Many other bird species, including various warblers and vireos, also breed in the watershed. So grab your binoculars and field guide and take to the woods!
The Columbiana County Fair Board will hold this year's County Fair, from July 30th through August 5th. This is a "don't miss" event that is affordable and entertaining for all ages. One can learn a great deal about the strong agricultural heritage of Columbiana County through a trip to the County Fair. A number of the honorees in the County Agricultural Hall of Fame have accomplishments of national significance such as Harvey S. Firestone. The accomplishments of the county's 4-H program are on display as 4-H club members show off their projects and the animals they have raised for market.
The Demolition Derby is a popular attraction and there is entertainment in the Grandstand every night of the Fair. This year's headline act is the PovertyNeck Hillbillies, an up and coming country group from Western Pennsylvania. There are also food vendors of all kinds located throughout the Fair. The Community Action Agency is proud to be one of the sponsors of this year's County Fair.
Well, I'm out of space and haven't even mentioned other attractions such as the River Museum in Wellsville, Ohio, or the many festivals in the county that take place throughout the summer and fall. So stay tuned for next month's Letter from the Front.
Check out May's Letter from the Front