I must admit to having been among the curious who had speculated as to the origin of those pint-sized food pantries that have popped up in Berea and Brook Park.
The credit goes to Berea's Kristyn Haschka and friends, Matt Buckman and Randy Berlan of Berea, and Amy Andrews of Brook Park.
"We liked the idea of a stand alone pantry that would provide for short-term food needs and help fight food insecurity on a short-term basis," Haschka said.
Haschka, Buckman and Andrews say they got the idea for the little, free local outdoor pantries after seeing a posting regarding a national movement online at littlefreepantry.org.
Haschka said the idea wasn't to replace existing city food pantries where citizens apply based on need, "but to provide short-term relief to those who may have an unexpected need,"
"We love the idea of the "give what you can, take what you need, concept," she said.
After receiving permission from the mayors and councils in the two cities, Brockman went to work, building the three pantries from plans found online at littlefreepantry.org.
Berlan and Haschka went to work promoting the pantries and they began collecting food donations.
The three pantries are "fairly self-sustaining," Haschka said, explaining that each contains nonperishable items including dried and canned foods, pastas, personal hygiene products and from time-to-time, baby food and diapers."
Area residents' donations are welcomed.
The pantries are not locked, making food available to anyone in need. "We try to place them in secure locations so people feel safe accessing the pantries," Haschka said.
The first Little Free Pantry was installed in the fall of 2016, outside the Berea Branch of Cuyahoga County Library, 7 Berea Commons.
Pantries are also located at People's Community Church, 631 North Rocky River Drive in Berea and near the main entrance to the Brook Park Police station, at 17401 Holland Road.
Welcome AFS students: Two of three AFS students who will attend Berea-Midpark High School during the 2018-2019 school year have arrived from their home counties.
Peter Brosemann, 15, of Germany, is being hosted by Tom and Gina Cressman and their sons, Nathanael, Joseph, Paul and Stephen.
Brosemann, who speaks four languages, plays piano and trumpet, competed on a swim team and plays soccer. He wants to try new sports and clubs at Berea-Midpark.
Annaelle Guelorget of France, 15, will be hosted by Curtiss and Shalana Harris and their daughter, Mikaelah.
Guelorget like the outdoors and a form of Krav Maga, a form of self defense and scouting. She also plays flute and hopes to be in the Berea-Midpark orchestra, and share the French cooking, culture and history with her host family.
The third AFS student, Marila Strandos, 17, of Norway, who has a job with children, plays soccer and enjoys scouts.
Strandos also plays violin and says she really enjoys kickboxing.
She will be hosted by Rohil and Katie Patel and their children, Aryana and Kiyaan and Katies's mom, Karen Havren.
Katie was an AFS student to Costa Rica when she was a student at Berea High School.
Tri-C scholarships: Three Brook Park students have been selected for Cuyahoga Community College Honors Program Fellowships.
The fellowships offer high-achieving students scholarships to cover tuition, fees and books as they work toward an associate degree.
Scholarship recipients include Isabel Culkar, Robert Hagan and Meagan Sellman.
The three students signed commitment letters with Tri-C during a ceremony Aug. 8 at the college's Jerry Sue Thornton Center in Cleveland.
Each scholarship, funded by the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation is valued at up to $4,838 per academic year.
50th reunion set: The Midpark High School class of 1968 will have its 50-year reunion events on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9.
A mixer will be from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Brew Garden, 16555 Southpark Center in Strongsville.
Cost is $10 per person and includes light snacks.
A full bar and food services will be available for individual purchase.
The 50th reunion, from 6-11 p.m. Sept. 8, will be at the Middleburg Heights Community Center, 16000 Bagley Road and is a BYOB event.
Cost is $68 per person, dress is casual, and the event includes a buffet supper provided by Santo's Pizza & Pasta, 7565 Pearl Road, DJ, photo booth and memory boards.
A family potluck picnic will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Middleburg Heights Community Shelter, 16000 Bagley Road.
No cost is involved, but please bring a potluck dish to share.
For more information, contact cheryl (Stein) Earle at 216-267-6486 or email cheryle417@gmail.com.
Blue Grass: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 East Bagley Road, will host a Blue Grass worship service at 10 a.m. Aug. 6 in the church's Fellowship Hall, featuring J.P. and the Chatfield Boys.
This event will include lunch in the Fellowship Hall.
These events are free and open to the public.
Berea pantry hours: The Berea Community Outreach Food Pantry, 535 Wyleswood Drive (at front of Smith School), is open from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 440-826-4891.
SCAN has regular hours: The SCAN Hunger Pantry, 398 W. Bagley Road, Suite 7, in Berea, has regular hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and from 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month.
Contact SCAN by phone at 440-260-7226.
Please email information (people photos, too. include ID's) on items you'd like to see included in this column to richatsun@gmail.com.