The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, COAAA, is currently seeking nominees for the 2012 Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. The next induction ceremony and reception will be held on Wednesday, May 16, in Columbus. Inductees receive a lapel pin, a framed portrait from a professional photographer, and a personal recognition on stage from county commissioners, followed by a catered reception with family and friends.

We have nominated or helped nominate three people from Madison County for the Hall of Fame: Paul Carpenter, our former delivery driver and good friend (2001); Richard “The Captain” Murray, Christmas decorator extraordinaire and husband to Ann, who worked for the drugstore until this past May (2005); and Mary Mitchell, a lady who can do just about anything she sets her mind to (2008).

If you know someone who is over the age of 60 and has made significant contributions to their community, COAAA wants to know about them. Any individual or organization may nominate a resident of Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, or Union County. The person must be 60 years of age or older and a legal resident of Ohio for the past five years. A married couple can also be nominated if they are both equally involved in the same activities and both meet the eligibility requirements.

You can request a nomination form by contacting the Hall of Fame Coordinator for COAAA, at 614-645-7250 or 1-800-589-7277 or by emailing coaaa@coaaa.org. You can also download an application from the COAAA’s web site HERE.

To find out more about the Hall of Fame, go HERE.

The Deadline for nominations is February 20, 2012 (it has been extended from the original February 1 deadline).

Dianne Christner is back with the second book in her Christian romance fiction series, Plain City Bridesmaids. Following the first book, Something Old, the second book is Something New.

As I mentioned in my first posting about this series, the books are set right here in Plain City and feature the tag line, “Fall in Love the Mennonite Way.”

Something New will be released on February 1 and you can pre-order your copy now on Dianne’s web site HERE.

The synopsis for Something New introduces many pitfalls on the journey to find love: Lil Landis envisions a life outside her Conservative Mennonite home. But when she pursues a culinary career, problems on the family farm beckon her home. Veterinary student, Fletch Stauffer has goals of his own which take him undercover at the Landis farm, where falling for spunky Lil will jeopardize his plans.

I actually had a chance to read an advance copy of Something New and I was pleasantly surprised to find the characters contemplating a visit to Plain City Druggist (yes, the drugstore is featured in the book!). Lil’s mom is told, “Over at Plain City Druggist, they sell some herbs that pep folks up.” We certainly do!

Beyond the pharmacy, Dianne also features a ton of local landmarks in the book, including Darby Creek, the Shekinah Festival, RANCO, Dublin Methodist Hospital, and Rosedale Bible College. It was exciting to be reading and suddenly recognize a location or a place. The Ohio State University and a couple of trips to Columbus also feature into the plot.

Besides being a romance and a sketch of life in Plain City, Ohio, Something New also looks at the premise of factory farms and many animal issues with a fictional farm animal sanctuary located in the Plain City of the book. One of the main characters (and Lil’s romantic interest), Fletch Stauffer, is an OSU vet student who loves animals and works tirelessly with the farmers in the novel on their behalf. As most of you know, I am a huge animal lover and this was a thoughtful story line that I found to be educational without being preachy.

Dianne got not only the flavor of Plain City correct, but the Mennonite characters, as well. Many of the people in Something New reminded me of customers and friends and even one or two of our employees (who often wishfully daydream about trading in their skirts for contemporary blue jeans). I loved the characters of Lil and Fletch, both of whom seemed realistic and like people you might meet on the streets of Plain City.

I want to thank Dianne for not only mentioning Plain City Druggist in Something New, but for allowing me to read it before it was even published. I found myself pulled in to the story and finished the book in just two days. I can’t wait to read the third installment.

The third book in the series, Something Blue, will be available in August 2012. You can read the intriguing synopsis HERE.

Even if you aren’t from Plain City, the Plain City Bridesmaids books will make you wish you were.

And if you are lucky enough to call Plain City home (like me), you’ll be happy to see our little village so lovingly portrayed. Plain City becomes almost a character itself in this series.

Dianne, who was raised Mennonite, draws on her memories to make the characters and scenes in her books vividly accurate. Her husband was raised on a farm in Plain City and attended a Conservative Mennonite church in the area. Dianne also writes about her former Mennonite life on her blog, which you can find HERE.

Check out Dianne’s Facebook page for Plain City Bridesmaids, too, HERE. Dianne features lots of neat contests and giveaways on her Facebook page.

Dianne will also be in Plain City in April on a book tour. I’ll let you know more details on her time in the area as April approaches.

We can all breathe a sigh of relief. We are finally getting a traffic light at the intersection of Route 42 and West Avenue.

According to the Marysville Journal-Tribune and an article in the Saturday, January 14 edition of The Plain City Advocate, the traffic light will be installed in 2014. The cost will be $500,000 with $400,000 being funded by the state. Plain City will have to pay the remaining $100,000.

As anyone who lives in Plain City knows, the intersection at West Avenue and Route 42 has always been the location of many, many accidents. Traffic on 42 comes flying through the intersection and on some days it is nearly impossible to cross or get out on to the state route from West Avenue.

Since I drive this route almost every day to go to the post office and the pharmacy, I am extremely glad to know that a light will be installed. We still have a few years to go, but at least now, we know it is coming.

One day when I was waiting at the stop sign on West Avenue beside Der Dutchman, I witnessed a horrible accident. An older gentleman on a scooter tried to cross 42 and was hit by the tail end of a semi. He was thrown into the middle of Route 42, his scooter a crumpled mess. Luckily, he was okay, but a stoplight there would have prevented the accident completely.

From the pharmacy, we can see the intersection and hear the sounds when a collision takes place. It is always cause for alarm when the echo of screeching brakes reaches us. We always fear the worst–a death at that deadly intersection. Hopefully, everyone will continue to drive carefully until the traffic light is in place.

Joe laughed and said, “Finally, we are going to be a three stoplight town! First, we had more people than West Jefferson in the last census. Now we’re getting a third stoplight. What other great changes are coming?”

We’ll just have to wait and see!

Eldchrist Winery (8189 State Route 736) will have their weekly Ladies night on Thursday, January 12, from 6-9 pm. This Ladies night will feature Lia Sophia jewelry and our good friend from cat rescue, Olivia Brininger. Olivia has donated to Black and Orange Cat Foundation before with special Lia Sophia events just for the kitties.

I want to encourage everyone to go out and support Olivia just like she has always supported Black and Orange–with not only donations, but by adopting kitties from the group, as well!! You won’t find prettier jewelry at more affordable prices anywhere.

Besides the Lia Sophia jewelry, a consultant from The Pampered Chef will also be at the Winery.

Olivia promises lots of great deals, including a drawing for FREE jewelry. For the month of January, she is also offering a “Reverse Customer Save Plan”—buy one item at regular price and then choose two more expensive items to receive at half off! Additionally, there will be pieces that are retiring at the end of January which you can buy at fabulous prices.

Please join Olivia and Eldchrist Winery for a night of wine, jewelry, and tons of fun!

Last year, I was a bit late in wishing Veronica a happy birthday, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss her special day this year.

Happy Birthday on Friday, January 13, to a very, very lovely lady. We hardly know how Veronica has time to celebrate her birthday–she is such a busy woman. Veronica keeps the Plain City Lions Club rolling and gets the seniors at the Bickham Center involved in lots of activities. Not only that, but she always does everything with a big smile.

From Spanish lessons to Cuban sandwiches, Veronica has given a lot to Joe and me.  Most treasured among all her gifts, however, is her friendship.

We return that friendship and love to you this birthday, Veronica. Have a wonderful day, our dear, dear amiga.