Category: News

The garden season is slowly but surely coming to an end. The cool nights and warm sunny days are here for a short time here in Mesopotamia, OH.

Here at Hopewell, residents and staff enjoy working out in the fresh autumn air, whether its picking the last of the tomatoes and peppers or harvesting pumpkins. It’s hard to believe another summer is here and gone. Our green house and garden produced plentiful fruits and vegetables that were used or will be used in our kitchen where we all will get to enjoy the fruits of our labor! The best crops this year consisted of green beans, sweet corn, cucumbers and watermelon.

Now, Hopewell residents and staff are busy decorating the inn and grounds with pumpkins, corn stalks and gourds. We have been looking forward to picking our pumpkins for quite some time, they were such a treat to grow. In the beginning of June we sowed pumpkin seeds directly into the ground. We had to mound up the dirt in rows or “pumpkin hills” and watch as the warm summer rain and sunlight took care of the rest. We wish everybody a Happy Autumn Season!

Recently, residents were offered the opportunity to help construct birdhouses. They built various sizes of birdhouses to attract a plethora of birds to include: eastern bluebirds, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, chickadees, blue jays, and woodpeckers among others.

The birdhouses are made of pine which is purchased from local sawmills. All of the birdhouses built are available for purchase in the Hopewell market and will be sold to the public.In addition to birdhouses, squirrel nest boxes and feeders were also constructed and are available in the Hopewell market.

Our next big project plans are to construct picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. If you would like to put in a special request for one of these items, please contact Hopewell and the receptionist will be able to take your order.

My name is Natalie Schafer. I am a Psychology student at Kent State University. From the moment I discovered Hopewell and explored their website, I knew Hopewell was for me.I respect Hopewell’s mission statement and overall goal to provide adults with serious mental illness to experience a self-reliant and satisfying life.

Hopewell is a magical place with warm, welcoming people and an engaging, healing, farm atmosphere. With Hopewell’s natural beauty, I am ecstatic to contribute to this vibrant community.

Recently one of our staff had some medical issues and unfortunately was hospitalized. Hopewell’s caring and compassionate staff not only hand delivered a beautiful heartfelt card containing warm wishes for a speedy recovery, but also brought by fresh flowers upon her return home.

Of course this is not the first time Hopewell has helped staff during difficult times. They are always there with a kind word, a sentimental card, or flowers during a time of need; whether it is an illness or the passing of a loved one they are always there to lend their support and provide compassion! Hopewell truly does have an amazing heart!

On June 13, 2014, Susan Dacek, our Food Service Manager and Rachael McLaughlin, LPCC-S, Marketing & Admission Director, participated in a golf outing sponsored by the Warren Junior Women’s League. The golf outing was held to raise money for The Trumbull County Children’s Services Board. There were over 150 people golfing in this well appreciated benefit.

Hopewell supports activities and events of other nonprofit agencies in our area. Needless to say, we did not win a prize for our golfing skills, although we really enjoyed socializing with other agencies in our community. Providing money for children in our area is so appreciated and needed. A special extra thank you to the members of the Warren Junior Women’s League.

Hopewell has a multilevel employee appreciation plan. One of our favorites – the stars program – was put into place by our Human Resources Manager, Carol Evans.

Each month every staff member can give stars to fellow employees to recognize and appreciate a special effort. These stars are placed on a special bulletin board in the staff office. The last day of the month one star is drawn and the winner receives the much coveted “Employee of The Month” parking spot and a gift certificate for the Hopewell Farm Market.

It’s nice to know that someone noticed your efforts in going above and beyond what is required. Who doesn’t like to be appreciated?

On May 3rd, 2014 several residents went to downtown Cleveland and enjoyed a tour of Playhouse Square, the “world’s largest theater restoration project” and the country’s 2nd largest performing arts center outside New York City.

Playhouse Square is Northeast Ohio’s home for touring Broadway shows, concerts, comedy, opera, dance and children’s programs. The residents also saw the newly installed GE Chandelier (the world’s largest Chandelier!) located above the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street.

The other day, I came to Hopewell to lead a tour. Little did I know, the cows let themselves out of the gate and were taking their own unguided tour.

Through an all staff round up, all twenty of our cows were safely led back into the pasture. We hurried to the store and invested in some additional locks to ensure they did not go on unguided tours anymore.

On March 1st, ten students from Xavier University arrived at Hopewell to participate in a week long alternative spring break. The students spent the week living on campus and participating in work crews and working on special projects with our Facilities Director, Rick Polch.

Two mornings of work crew involved helping Norman Wengerd, Farm Manager, tap maple trees for sugaring. It was really great to have these visitors from Xavier and we are so thankful that they chose to spend their break at Hopewell!

Hello friends! A new restaurant recently opened at Legacy Village in Lyndhurst. The Granite City Food & Brewery located at 24519 Cedar Road, is hosting Hopewell Night on Monday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day!

Between 11:00 am and closing, anyone presenting a copy of a coupon, or opens it on their smart phone to show their server, 20% of the total check (food & drink) will be donated back to Hopewell!

Can’t dine in? The luck of the Irish is with you as they will also honor takeout orders.

To obtain this coupon please visit Hopewell’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HopewellTC

Hopewell thanks you for your continued support!