Category Archives: Activities and Clubs

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Half Marathon at Maize Valley Farm: Stomp the Grapes!

UPDATE:

For those interested in photos of themselves from the Marathon, they are available at the following link: Purchase Photos

Half Marathon at Maize Valley Farm: Stomp the Grapes!

Saturday was another beautiful fall day, and even if you’ve never pounded the asphalt in a pair of trainers (or don’t care to), that’s no reason to run for the hills when it comes to watching the area distance runners do their thing at the annual Stomp the Grapes Half Marathon at Maize Valley Winery in Hartville, Ohio: Needless to say, these folks are as sleek as the bottle of wine and wear their running gear like a second skin (of which I am jealous, quite naturally

Although this was my first race (as a spectator, of course), it will not be my last. Just watching these athletes test themselves is inspiring.

I hope this selection of photos will allow you to get a quick taste of the start and end of the race (and some intervening moments at Maize Valley). You’ll also note a few sequences within the group of images below. I felt they were just too precious not to share

Enjoy!

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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Maize Valley: Part 3

The Rest of the Story

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Anyone who’s been to Maize Valley Winery’s Fall Festivities already knows that there is no way to capture the whole “rest of the story” in an afternoon of shooting (photos). What follows is a selection of images from its Pumpkin Patch and the back half of Maize’s wonderland of play.

Two points of interest:

1. I hung out in the pumpkin patch for a couple of rounds of visitors, all transported there by hayride. I chuckled at the following observations:

Most kids literally jumped off the hayride and sprinted through the pumpkin patch, driven by the excitement of finding the perfect pumpkin.
I had to laugh at how kids I saw in the 8-and-younger set who were transfixed by the a small number of green (still-growing-and-not-quite-ready-for-pickin’ pumpkins). It’s like those things had a kid magnet on them! And every Mom made one or two retorts to the kids who wanted the green ones: It was either, “Honey, I think that’s a watermelon,” or, “Honey, let’s get a bigger orange one.” lol!

2. While watching a handful of teenage boys jumping haystacks to some made up game of their own, I overheard one say to another, “Hey, this is actually pretty fun.”

Now, speaking as one who is undeniably passionate about the stranglehold that video games and other sedentary time wasters have on our kids (everything in moderation is my motto), had you been telepathic enough to get inside my mind on hearing the young man’s comment, you would have seen me mentally texting back to him the equivalent of “IKR!” (Translation: “I know, right?”)

Enjoy!

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Maize Valley Winery: Part 1 of 3

Heeding a call from Maize Valley Winery – my favorite family autumn destination – I took a brief hiatus from, well, my current hiatus to cover an appearance there today by very special guest, Mr. Megasaurus, the fire-breathing, car-eating dinosaur. But before and after the jet-setting robot appeared, I took some time to breathe in the Maize Valley way of life, where kids run, jump, climb and play the old-fashioned way.

Before presenting the first in this series – a group of shots taken while kids of all ages climbed the haystacks in the quickly fading light – a word to the wise: For those of you who haven’t been to Maize Valley (just a hop, skip and jump from downtown Hartville), they offer year-round festivities including delicious Vinter’s dinners, cruise-in’s, trail runs, a Farmathalon, an art and wine festival, balloon lift-offs and tons more activities geared to various age groups, from tots to adults only. As well, people travel from far and wide to visit this local winery, eatery, gift shop and all-around great entertainment venue.

Silhouettes at Play

A Study in Silhouettes

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser: KSU Fashion Show

Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser: KSU Chapter Fashion Show

Kent State University’s large and active student HFH chapter (led by Jackson McGreevy, a senior Aeronautical student) took to the runway in its latest effort to raise money and awareness for the Portage County Habitat for Humanity branch, which has been blossoming under the relatively new leadership of Director Brian Reitz.

What follows is a small selection of images taken from the event, where student designers riffed on the construction theme in an earthy twist on haute couture.

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Santa Comes to Kent

Festival of Lights Thoroughly Delights!

With wellness seemingly nowhere on the horizon after already spending nearly eight days housebound with my fellow sickies, I headed out into the freezing weather near twilight with 18 pounds of selected gear strapped to my body and a cumbersome tripod hoisted over my shoulder.

Why??

Any reason to miss Santa’s arrival by train for Kent’s Festival of Lights was unfathomable. Not only does his visit cap off a very active year of community in Kent, but it was critical to gather images of him for reasons that may remain somewhat … secret!

With a light snow falling as if on cue, downtown was packed with well-bundled residents of all ages. While parents and children eager for a moment of face time with Santa queued around Home Savings Plaza, Roosevelt’s choir took the stage, intensifying the energy and anticipation with perfection.

By the time Santa’s train pulled up, the light snow had turned storybook pretty and the crowd was perfectly primed to greet this season’s favorite folk hero.

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After grabbing a few quick shots of the train, I spent the next little bit thoroughly taken in by Santa as he very lovingly greeted locals of all ages. Don’t think I’ve ever seen Santa give so many hugs at one sitting, but I can tell you that it was nothing be sheer joy to watch him embrace each visitor with warm words and actions.

I hear that member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce were the elves behind this effort, and I, for one, thank them wholeheartedly for doing such a wonderful job. In other notable thanks, appreciation goes to my new acquaintance (Jeff) and family for being kind enough to roll down their car window (twice!) to give my fingers a warm up when they threatened to go numb on me.

Finally, while it’s too late for me to even bother trying to pen my thoughts with any skill, I simply want to leave you with this:

1. I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a more magical moment.

2. Being present at this activity truly cemented in me a feeling of community. I’ve lived in Kent for 20 years, and while I may be slow on the uptake, in truth, I never really felt a part of the town. Something is changing, though, and I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is noticing it. If what I’ve been seeing lately is a taste of what’s to come, I welcome it with open arms.

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