Newly christened Medina County Habitat for Humanity homeowner Lisa Baskerville felt blessed beyond measure when she and her 11-year-old son Michael moved into their three-bedroom ranch-style home, with a full basement and front porch, in late April.
And then came Friday’s big surprise.
Lisa was invited, or so she thought, to another Habitat home under construction on South Lyman Street in Wadsworth to talk about how the program has changed her life.
That was just the lure to get her to the house, being built by employees of Giant Eagle’s Wadsworth store, Energizer in Westlake and Akzo Noel of Strongsville.
Lisa, who has a major hearing impairment and wears hearing aids in both ears, was actually there to be surprised with a big gift: a huge supply of Energizer hearing aid batteries, 576 of them to be exact.
The 45-year-old single mother, who is employed by the Western Reserve Masonic Retirement Community Home in Medina, and her son previously shared a home with her father, her sister and her sister’s family. Too crowded.
Cathy Brown, president of Medina County Habitat for Humanity, called Lisa a perfect fit to be a Habitat homeowner. “She did everything that was expected of her” to be in the program, Brown said. “She took all of the financial classes, put in 380 hours of sweat equity. We couldn’t have asked for a better candidate. She’s just terrific! … She’s active with her son’s baseball team and Boy Scouts.”
Medina County Habitat for Humanity, incorporated in 1990, has completed its 19th house and is building two more.
By the way, Lisa Baskerville plans to share the hearing aid batteries with her father, who also has a major hearing impairment. It’s estimated the batteries should last her at least four years.
Energizer spokeswoman Christine Costa said the idea of giving the batteries to Lisa has to do with the company’s focus on education about home safety and energy efficiency. “We know that for people who wear hearing aids, it’s important to have backup batteries on hand in the event of a power outage,” Costa said. “So, Energizer really wanted a way to incorporate hearing aids into the larger program with Habitat. …
“When we talked to the Medina affiliate, they knew right away of a wonderful homeowner who wears hearing aids. Immediately, Energizer wanted to do something special for her, and that’s how the idea of a surprise donation came to be.”
Father’s Day in Miami
Congratulations to Akron father and son Nathan and Jeremiah Campbell, who were tapped by the LeBron James Family Foundation’s Wheels for Education program for an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami over the weekend to attend a three-day Father’s Day weekend celebration. The Pro-Pops Father’s Day event was sponsored by the Dwyane Wade Foundation.
Jeremiah will be a fourth-grader in the fall at Bettes Elementary School. He and his father were selected on the basis of Jeremiah’s outstanding achievements at school and for receiving several character awards.
Bettes Principal David E. Brown nominated Jeremiah for the trip.
“Jeremiah’s third-grade teacher Richard Grimaldi nominated him several times this year for being a student of good character,” Brown said. “Jeremiah also performed well in the school’s 100 Book Challenge program.”
Dad also is a product of Akron Public Schools. Mom is Lisa Mayer.
Sneaker Showcase
Interested in what’s hot in sneakers and eager to support a great cause?
Then the third annual Cleveland’s Got Sole Sneaker Showcase, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Embassy Suites in Beachwood, may be of primo interest to you.
Akronite Kevin Kramer and his friend Andrew Watts of Cleveland are the talent behind this extravaganza, which draws sneaker collectors, enthusiasts and vendors from all over the country and Canada. “There are other shoe shows around the country, but nothing comes close to this in size and mission, which is to raise and donate as much money as possible in one day.”
Kramer said proceeds from this year’s show will go to the Children’s Tumor Foundation to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis (NF), “a disease causing tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body that can lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain.”
“When we learned that neurofibromatosis affects more people than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined, we knew we had found the beneficiary of CGS3,” Kramer said. “There is no known cure yet, but money raised at this event will support NF research.”
Nick Gilbert, son of Cleveland Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, is one of the main spokesmen for the Children’s Tumor Foundation.
Admission for Cleveland’s Got Sole is $10, which includes five raffle tickets. Guests can purchase additional raffle tickets for $1 for a chance to win the following rare shoes and clothing packages: DS Jordan XII Playoffs, Jordan IV Military, DS Size 10 Dave White Jordan, clothing from multiple local brands, several mystery shoes and prizes.
Major sponsor is Villa, an urban clothing store with locations in Cleveland. Kramer said he expects to have 114 display tables of shoes and other merchandise at this year’s event.
To find out more about Cleveland’s Got Sole, visit www.clevelandsgotsole. wordpress.com. For information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation, please visit www.ctf.org
Spaghetti dinner
The DMO Foundation — whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with ALS — is hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 14 at Marlboro Christian Church, 9383 Edison St. NE, Marlboro Township near Alliance.
The foundation is named after 26-year-old Devan M. Ott of Alliance, who has been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease). It is a progressive, degenerative neuromuscular disease for which there is no cure.
Funds go to building or modifying homes for people with ALS or other neuromuscular diseases.
In addition to the dinner, raffles, gift baskets, a magician and painting are on the menu. Advance tickets are $8 for adults; $4, children; free under age 5. For information, please visit www.facebook.com/DmoFoundation or email dmo@dmofoundation.org.
Painting in Barberton
Neighborhood Conservation Services (NCS) of Barberton is encouraging that city’s homeowners who are older or disabled to apply for the Paint Your Heart Out program, in which volunteers with their hearts in the right place paint the exterior of homes.
That happens on July 21 (rain date is July 28).
Volunteers to do the prep work and paint are still needed for the day of the event. And donations and sponsorships are always appreciated.
Event spokeswoman Roxanne Owens said, depending on the number of applications received and resources, she hopes that five to 10 homes can be treated to a paint job.
For information, please call Owens at NCS of Barberton at 330-753-8500 for an application, to volunteer or to donate. Application forms are also available at www. barbertonncs.org.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
