Archive for May, 2012

On Saturday, May 19, UPCO (Uptown Plain City Organization) and the Plain City Heritage Group (PCHG) are partnering to present Plain City Heritage Days. The event, which will run from 9 am to 4 pm at 445 South Jefferson Avenue (next to Der Dutchman Restaurant), will feature displays and products commonly seen in our area in the past. An emphasis will be on the Amish culture in Plain City with demonstrations on basket weaving, wood working/shed building, blacksmithing, and more. There will also be several cooking and food contests, as well as plenty of food and activities for children.

For a full list of events, please visit the UPCO web site HERE or the Plain City Heritage Group Event page HERE.

We just want to take the time to wish all the Mothers we know a truly blessed and Happy Mother’s Day. May you be pampered and loved on your special day!

Parker Scott Headings was born on September 24, 2001, a bit ahead of schedule. At just about 6 months or twenty-five weeks into the pregnancy, his mother, Beverly, delivered the little boy, who weighed only two pounds. He was not expected to live through the next few days, but Parker surprised everyone and did just that.

Parker suffered brain hemorrhages when he was only forty-eight hours old, which caused hardening of the ventricles that disperse spinal fluid throughout the brain. At a month, he had to have surgery on his brain to release the built up pressure from the accumulated spinal fluid, which could not flow normally. At fifteen months, Parker was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. His mother was told that he would be a quadric spastic–meaning he would never walk, but would need a wheelchair the rest of his life.

Through the next few years, Parker survived infections and numerous surgeries on the shunt that relieves pressure in his brain. Each time a surgery was done to correct the shunt, Parker’s head had to be opened, requiring very invasive and dangerous procedures. Additionally, he has been in a body cast after surgery to put his hip back in its socket. Only just ten years old, Parker and his family have continued to fight to give him every chance in the world.

Now Parker’s family would like to take him to the Ability Camp in Canada which provides conductive education and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The treatment is a five week program that would help Parker retrain his muscles to have better control and hopefully allow him to walk for the first time in his short life. Additionally, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber would help heal the parts of his brain that have been damaged. These two therapies are not covered by insurance and the total cost is $10,000 (not counting the expenses of traveling to the facility and other costs incurred with the trip).

To read Parker’s full story, please go the web site for The Parker Headings Foundation HERE.

To help raise money for Parker’s medical expenses, the Annual Joe “Hug” James Memorial Poker Run will be held on Saturday, May 12. To make the flyer in the right corner larger, click on it. You can then print it out.

The Poker Run will begin with registration at A. D. Farrow Harley Davidson in Sunbury, Ohio at 9 am. Registration is $20 per person and includes the ride, hog roast, and admission to hear all five bands play at Lee’s Sports and Spirits in Plain City. The first bikes will head to Final Score in Delaware at 10 am. The final bikes will leave at noon. There are six stops on the run, which will end at Lee’s. If you are not taking part in the poker run, the cost is $10 per person or $15 per couple for food and to hear the bands. There will also be a benefit auction, raffles, and a corn hole tournament.

The five bands playing will include Iron Horse, Karma 10, The Charlie Tatman Band, Planet 9, and Tritster Renegade Band. There will also be a special pre-poker run party on Friday, May 11 at Lee’s featuring Iron Horse and The Charlie Tatman Band.

If you can’t take part in the Poker Run, you can also donate online by clicking on the “How you can help” link on the right side of The Parker Headings Foundation web site. The Vineyard Church of Plain City is accepting donations for Parker through their Daily Needs Assistance (DNA) program. All donations are tax deductible as the Vineyard is a non-profit organization. Check or money order donations can be made out to DNA Community Medical Assistance Fund (put Parker Headings in the memo line) and send to: Daily Needs Assistance, 224 Gay Street, Plain City, Ohio 43064.

Please help the Headings family and Parker by attending the Poker Run or by sending a donation. A special little boy is counting on YOU!

On Thursday, May 10, Chris Spielman, Stefanie’s husband and former Ohio State/NFL football player, will be speaking at 7:45 pm at Der Dutchman as a fundraiser for the Stefanie Spielman Breast Cancer Foundation. Stefanie, sadly, lost her battle with breast cancer in 2009, but Chris continues the fight in her memory.

A family style dinner will be served at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm). Tickets are $30 per person for the event and reservations are required.

For more information about the evening and to order tickets online, go HERE.

In addition, Chris will be signing copies of the book, That’s Why I’m Here: The Chris and Stefanie Spielman Story, from 4-7 pm.

Der Dutchman will also donate 50% of ALL dining room sales to the Stefanie Spielman Foundation from 4-8 pm on May 10 (excluding bakery purchases). Additionally, 20% of all gift sales at Carlisle Gifts will also be donated to the Foundation from 4-8 pm.

There is a nice book review by Doug Bean of That’s Why I’m Here in the May edition of the Catholic Times. Click HERE  to download the May edition and then scroll down until you reach almost the bottom. The review begins on page 22 and continues on page 24.

And you can read Maddie Spielman’s blog posting about her mom HERE. Maddie is the Speilman’s oldest daughter.