Work in Felicity Continues

As summer gets into full swing, lots of exciting things are happening in the Felicity/Franklin Township area. The 2007 LEAD class project at the Farmer Barger Memorial Walking Path is ready and waiting for the delivery of the picnic shelter. The project team will be holding a dedication and ribbon cutting of the shelter later in the summer. As the project begins to wrap up, more information will be shared around this exciting event

Another new, exciting and successful program that began this summer is the Summer Food Program that is being administered by Bridget Sharp, a Title 1 teacher in the Felicity/Franklin School District. Bridget saw the need to provide free breakfast and lunch to the children of the community and decided to take action. With the blessing of Superintendent Bill Shepherd, Bridget wrote for and received a grant from the State of Ohio to provide these much needed meals. The program has steadily grown in the past month and is currently feeding 40 children a day. As the summer school program got into full swing, those numbers grew to an average of 60 per day. This new program was underwritten by the FINE community group.

The FINE community group just completed the annual Cool Tools for School event August 9th in the high school gym. This FINE program provided 564 fully stocked pack backs for all children, grades K-12, in the Felicity Franklin School District. Although the weather was incredibly hot, everyone waited patiently and was truly grateful for the supplies they received. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers that made this event possible.

The Felicity United Methodist Church youth group, under the direction of Pastor Jane Beattie, planted several vegetable gardens that they will grow, harvest and distribute to the elderly and needy in the community. The Village of Felicity will begin "spending" the $450,000 associated with the Community Development Distress Grant they were awarded by the State of Ohio by summers end. This money will be used to complete the water lines to the edge of the village, install fire hydrants, erect playground equipment at South Park, build a handicap ramp at the town building and complete the curbing and sidewalks on Market Street that were begun last year.

Earlier this spring, the school's FFA chapter, under the guidance of Jason Snively, and in partnership with the Garden Club, planted and is maintaining flower boxes throughout the village.

And finally, Clermont 20/20, Inc.'s Community Development department is moving ahead with the affordable housing project that will be constructed on St. Rte. 222 on the north edge of the village. It is anticipated that the first homes will be erected in early 2008. For more information on this project, please visit our website at www.clermont2002.org.

As you can tell, the citizens of this rural farming community have taken immense pride in the wonderful assets they have and are building upon those to continue to make positive changes in the lives of those who live there.