Grapevine by Alex Vukoder

by Alex Vukoder

Many in our community choose to honor those they love by helping others and the Barry and Welliver families are shining examples of this.

The Welliver family hosts events each year for “Lydie’s Loop: Steps against Stillbirth,” which raises awareness of and works to prevent stillbirths. Photo submitted.

The Barry family hosts an annual golf outing in memory of their matriarch, Betty Lou, who passed away from cancer. Each year, they select a recipient to support through fundraising and encouragement. This year’s 15th annual Betty Lou Barry Memorial Golf Outing benefited Dr. Jason Kolb, an emergency room doctor who was involved in a tragic ski accident that left him paralyzed late last year. Dr. Kolb is an inspiration through his unwavering faith and determination. A record number of golfers from Bath and neighboring communities participated in this fun, meaningful event that raised $13,557. David Barry, Dr. Deanna Barry and their children, Indy Lou, Mickey andVincenza presented the check to support a mobility device for Dr. Kolb.

The Barry family holds an annual golf outing in memory of the family matriarch, Betty Lou, who died of cancer. Photo submitted.

The Carson Higgins Memorial Foundation’s “The Gift of Time” initiative will be the beneficiary of next year’s outing. This program provides families facing cancer a temporary escape from appointments and treatments by gifting the family with an experience away from home.

Heather Johnston Welliver plans and coordinates “Lydie’s Loop: Steps against Stillbirth” each fall in honor of her daughter Lydie, who was unexpectedly stillborn in 2014 in the eighth month of pregnancy. Each year, 23,500 babies are stillborn in the United States alone. Research shows more than half of these deaths are preventable. Heather has fundraised over $192,000 for stillbirth awareness and prevention while creating a community of remembrance for babies gone too soon.

This year the Wellivers are hosting two events, one in Columbus on Sept. 23 and one at the Bath Community Center on Sept. 24. Both events benefit “Count the Kicks,” a public health campaign that teaches expectant parents and their medical providers how to monitor fetal movement. The Bath event starts at 10 a.m. and will feature T-shirt pick up, a kids’ dash, raffle, and a short walk to honor babies gone too soon. Heather is a 1999 graduate of Revere High School and lives in Bath with her husband Justin and children Ben, 10, Josie, 7, and Sammy, 4. For more information visit lydiesloop.org or email Heather at lydiesloop@gmail.com.

Emily Ocheltree and Sophia Thomas were named to Ohio University’s 2023 spring provost’s list.

Michael Armour and Talia Reiss were named to Ohio University’s spring 2023 president’s list.

Kaitlyn Froelich was named to the spring 2023 dean’s list at the University of Findlay.

The following John Carroll University students have been named to the spring 2023 college of arts and sciences dean’s list: Virginia Hunt and Zoe Walker.

Emerson College student Peter Kolodziej earned dean’s list honors for the spring 2023 semester.

Elisabeth Feichter earned a spot on the dean’s list at Coastal Carolina University for the spring semester.

Jeremy Dang has been named to the dean’s list at Youngstown State University for spring semester 2023.

Heather Macasek and Hannah Tharan were named to the University of Maryland Global Campus dean’s list for the spring semester.

Thank you all for sharing and inspiring our readers with your exciting accomplishments and extraordinary acts of kindness. I would love to tell more stories from our great community and celebrate your good news, so please continue to send them to me at avukoder@gmail.com. ∞