EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is Part III of an ongoing series about LGBTQ people and their allies in local religious communities. Part I featured Episcopalian priests from Mansfield and Ashland offering an inclusive message to LGBTQ people who have been hurt by religious rejection. Part II featured Nancy Shimer, a morah from Mansfield’s Emanuel Jacob Congregation, sharing […]
Rebekah Garcia, Thrive Intern
Posted inWellness
Anonymous ‘Santa’ donor gifts $3,000 to help local preschool build new playground
BUTLER – Since last December, Clear Fork Christian Preschool & Learning Center has been raising funds for a new playground. With over 90 children using their equipment daily, their current wooden play structure has worn out and needs to be replaced by next year for safety. As donations trickled off in the fall, school staff began […]
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Mansfield maintenance man builds hugging door for assisted living residents to safely embrace loved ones again
MANSFIELD — Dayspring Assisted Living & Care Facility in Mansfield is finding creative ways to combat the challenging effects of social isolation while keeping their community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Michelle Swank, the executive director of Dayspring, asked their maintenance man, Mike Barretta, to find a way for residents to hug their loved […]
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Ashland art model gives insight into building self-compassion and positive body image
ASHLAND – Over the last few years, a movement promoting self-love has blazed across social media. While “self-love” is a phrase most people have heard by now, the idea may still sound perplexing, uncomfortable or daunting. What does it really mean, and where does a person even begin? Rachel Falb, known within the Ashland community […]
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Mansfield synagogue’s spiritual leader seeks to educate the interfaith community about Judaism
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is Part II of an ongoing series about LGBTQ people and their allies in local religious communities. The first story in the series featured Episcopalian priests from Mansfield and Ashland offering an inclusive message to LGBTQ people who have been hurt by religious rejection. MANSFIELD – Emanuel Jacob Congregation, Mansfield’s only Jewish […]
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Ashland barber achieves lifelong dream of opening shop with community support
ASHLAND—The Grooming Lounge, Ashland’s newest barber shop, opened last year. After a year of extraordinary success and expansion, the shop recently received recognition with Heritage Ohio’s Downtown Affiliate Business of the Year award. Behind this flourishing business is one highly determined woman, Acacia Leasure, and a handful of people who supported her dream. Stepping away […]
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Mansfield Art Center to raise funds and support local children’s aspirations through Richland Gives
MANSFIELD – This year, COVID-19 has impacted many organizations, and the Mansfield Art Center is no exception. Through creativity and vigor, they continue to offer connection and stress relief for the local community. Susan Duncan Gentille, marketing and development director for the Mansfield Art Center, shares a positive message despite the challenges of this year: […]
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Ashland pastry chef spreads comfort and connection during difficult holiday season
ASHLAND – Julianna Hritz recently discovered an elementary school relic as she was cleaning out her parents’ house. In fourth grade, she wrote a journal entry declaring she would own a bakery one day. “It was sort of a revelatory moment. This is something that has been ingrained in me since I was a really […]
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United Way of Richland County continues to meet the community’s needs despite COVID-19
MANSFIELD – For over 100 years, the United Way of Richland County—previously the Community Chest of Mansfield—has fought for the health, education and financial stability of every person in the local community. In 2020, a global pandemic presented never-before-seen challenges to meet their goals. “As the ripples of this pandemic became apparent, we knew, as […]
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Mansfield and Ashland churches share message of love and inclusivity
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is Part I of an ongoing series about LGBTQ people and their allies in local religious communities. The first in the series features Episcopalian priests from Mansfield and Ashland offering an inclusive message to LGBTQ people who have been hurt by religious rejection. MANSFIELD – Next March, Joe and Kay Ashby will […]