In need of a free, home-cooked meal or just the company of others?
Then you’re invited to St. Eugene’s Thursday Night Men’s Non-Smoking Group’s 19th annual post-holiday dinner 3 to 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at St. Eugene’s Hall, 1821 Munroe Falls Ave., Cuyahoga Falls. The hall is behind the church.
“We served almost 400 hungry folks last year, so each year the event seems to be gaining in popularity, said Tim Myers, one of the planners.
“Lots of great food for anyone in need of a hot meal and/or companionship. Once again this year, we will be having ham and turkey with all of the trimmings, plus dessert and unlimited coffee and lemonade.”
For more information or to make a donation, please call Rich at 330-688-1515, Mark at 330-686-7940, or Dick at 330-283-4776.
Cards for Andy Holcomb
Those wanting to send cards to Andy Holcomb — the young man featured in Saturday’s column who lost the lower half of his body in a horrific industrial accident seven years ago — please do so at the following address: P.O. Box 6209, Akron, OH 44312.
Burial-expense aid
The staff and management at Lynn’s Bar, 334 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, is hosting a benefit at 8 p.m. Thursday to assist Jeremiah Hileman’s family with his burial expenses. “Jeremiah was the kindest person we knew. He is missed by so many,” event spokeswoman Christine Ransweiler wrote.
The 35-year-old, a transportation specialist at City Yellow Cab, died Jan. 9 in a car accident in which he was a passenger.
Lots on the menu at the fundraiser: $1 a slice pizza; raffles including a 50/50, Mountaineer trip and a three-hour limo ride.
Tennis exhibition
American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, ranked the world’s No. 1 doubles tennis team, are coming to Springside Racquet & Fitness Club in Montrose Feb. 17-18 for its sixth annual “Swinging for Victory” benefit.
Proceeds will go to Victory Gallop, a therapeutic horse-riding program in Bath Township operated by Sue Miller and Kim Gustely for children with emotional and behavorial challenges and life-threatening illnesses. Victory Gallop also is home to Petie the Pony, who makes bedside visits to hospitalized children.
The 33-year-old Bryan twins recently clinched the year-end No. 1 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) doubles team ranking for a record seventh time. Their stellar 2011 season includes two Grand Slam crowns (Australian Open and Wimbledon), giving them 11 in their career.
They will play an exhibition match at 1 p.m. Feb. 18, and then challenge Ross Wilson and Scott Green, the 2005 Ohio State University No. 1 doubles team, in a mini-exhibition. A meet-and-greet and question-and-answer will follow.
Saturday’s event, sponsored by the McLaughlin Family Foundation, also includes a silent auction featuring tennis memorabilia.
Friday’s schedule includes a morning and afternoon pro-am and an evening with the brothers.
Tickets for Saturday’s event — $30 adults and $20 children — are available by calling Victory Gallop at 330-666-0300. Tickets also available at the door. For information on the other events, visit www.victorygallop.org.
Hikers help out
Marty Franck — a 72-year-old dedicated park patrol volunteer at Summit Metro Parks since 2003 and the subject of an earlier column about his lost, prized walking stick — has good news.
“Marty did not get his walking stick back,” his wife, Christine Franck, reported. “But because of some very generous folks he will be able to replace his stick and the 15 shields from the Fall Hiking Sprees. He was notified by the Summit Metro Parks that some staff and volunteers have shields for him.
“He also received a call from a park volunteer that had a stick with some shields on it, that was given to him from a family of a man who passed away. He would like to thank everyone for their concern and generosity.”
Scooter for student
Who says teachers don’t care about their students?
The battery-operated, three-wheel scooter originally destined for Canton’s Barb Beamer, who has multiple sclerosis, is going to a 16-year-old Tallmadge High student.
The chair was donated by Mary Westerfield of Cuyahoga Falls; her beloved husband, who has a neurological disease, is unable to use it.
Janice Price, intervention specialist at Tallmadge High, made the pitch:
“My wonderful new student who has cerebral palsy recently transferred to our high school and is currently using a wheelchair that is extremely outdated and cannot go in reverse. His life’s goal is to become as independent as possible. Currently depends on an adult to push him from room to room and activity to activity. He also needs to start getting job training ...
“The family lives in a trailer court which currently has no ramp, so the wheelchair he does use has to sit outside.
“This young man gets few opportunities to go anywhere but school, and has to crawl at home from room to room. Service providers are keeping him on a waiting list for help, but have tied hands, citing shortened staff and long waiting lists.
“I really want to help him reach his goal. We do have many opportunities for him to practice independent living skills here at school. We take many field trips in the community, go to our Tallmadge Recreation Center for exercise one time weekly, and have a great transition-to-work program in partnership with KSU that my student would definitely benefit from attending.”
“My idea,” Price continued, “is to give this young man his independence at least while attending high school. This can be accomplished by storing the motorized chair (kindly donated by your reader) in my classroom. Let him transfer to the motorized chair upon arrival, and let him learn all about the things he can do on his own with this newfound ability to move from place to place.”
Barb Beamer will be getting a power chair, almost like new with two batteries, from a very generous Anne Hudgins of Green. Her late husband used the chair.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com