APRIL 2018

April 2018
Bringing about a vibrant community where people lead fulfilling lives and make meaningful contributions.
The Tenth Annual Celebration of Possibilities was quite simply, amazing
and, once again, filled the Crossroads Event Center auditorium with more
than 425 guests.
The event showcased people and businesses throughout Fairfield County
who best exemplify the Fairfield DD mission statement—To bring about a
vibrant community where people lead fulfilling lives and make meaningful
contributions.
The evening introduced seven award-winners to the audience, via informative
videos, who have had, and continue to make, an impact on the
community. In between awards, guests also were treated to a glimpse into
the past ten years, along with some comedic moments with a living statue,
(Mark Abbati).
Unique this year
was the presence of
dozens of youth at
the event. Among
the award winners
were over 100 teens
from Pickerington
High School Key
Clubs and the football
team from Fairfield
Christian Academy.
Pam Whiteley
Renown celebrity
hypnotist Ricky
Vickie Rzanski
Hyptnotist Ricky Kalmon and Coach Anthony Turner Kalmon entertained
the crowd while
proving the power
every person has to
use their mind to
achieve their goals.
The evening finished
with the debut
of house band Bad
Influence’s music video
to their original
song, Celebrate Your
Soul.
Read more about
the Celebration on
Superintendent John Pekar and impromptu co-host.
pages 4 and 5.
Award Winner Tim Derflinger
Pickerington Key Club Presidents

Mall Walkers Say Thank You
The hit sitcom Seinfeld ran successfully
for 9 seasons. The Andy Griffith Show ran
for 8 seasons. And Game of Thrones has
only 7 seasons under its belt with one
more to go.
It’s fairly humbling then to know that
we just enjoyed our 10th Annual Celebration of Possibilities
and the excitement and inspiration present at the first
event was just as apparent this year.
Each year about this time we reflect on the Celebration
and think, “How in the world will we ever top that?” It’s a
daunting question but somehow, every year, we manage
to recreate the atmosphere of this special night in a whole
new way.
Of course, having the honor of recognizing the many
accomplishments of the unique people and businesses in
the community guarantees some degree of success.
For me, the highlight of this year was the fact that so
many young people throughout the community were involved
with the event, from the high school award recipients
you will read about on page 4, to the teenage volunteers
who helped out in the kitchen. Nothing solidifies the
future like witnessing young people contributing to the
goodness of the world around them.
I also was very moved by the unsolicited comments
made in the award videos by some of the folks Fairfield
DD supports. To hear a man describe, in his own words,
how much he values the employment opportunities made
available to him by local businesses like ServiceMASTER
and Steak ‘n Shake reiterates the importance of personcentered
planning. And recognizing Tim Derflinger for the
enormous value he is adding to our community through
his volunteering renews my faith in just about everything.
I’d be remised if I didn’t, again, thank the many, many
volunteers who create this event from the ground up. It
simply would not be possible to pull this off without each
person playing their part.
As we bask in the afterglow of another successful Celebration,
I hope you will take a moment to savor the longevity
and the success of this unusual event. And I certainly
hope we will see you again next year.
Until then,
John Pekar, Superintendent
For the third
year in a row
Fairfield DD
kicked off National
DD
Awareness
Month by hosting
a Mall Walk
inside River
Valley Mall.
DiscoverU,
which partners
with over a
dozen retailers
throughout the
mall, coordinated
the effort
by posting
large signs outside
every business
partner’s
location. Walkers
assembled
on a Saturday
morning and
walked a mile
or more
around the
mall, clapping
and acknowledging
the
businesses
while bringing
awareness to
this very important
month.
Over 100
people participated,
including staff and board members, as well as
many people supported by Fairfield DD and their
families.
Celebration Award
Winner John Verhovec
couldn’t wait to get
back to his Steak ‘n
Shake to share his
award with his interns
from Pickerington Central
High School. Several
of them were featured
in his award video.
Great job guys!

Local High School Students Spread the Word
Kiwanis Key Club Members at Lancaster High School, Pickerington North High
School and Pickerington Central High School took time from their lunch hours
in March to talk to their peers about the importance of disabling labels. As part
of the National Developmental Disability Awareness Month efforts, students
passed out over 2400 lapel buttons discouraging the use of the “r-word,” and
other labels.
Students set up an
informational display
during all lunch periods and also made sure every
member of the school staff had a button to wear as
well.
“This is an important first step in recognizing that no
one wants to be labeled, “ said Lancaster High School
Key Club Advisor Andy Knuckles. “Students respond
well to messages when they are delivered by their
peers.”
The buttons were so successful that Community Relations
anticipates a re-order and will definitely expand
this outreach next year.
According to a publication on peer
pressure by Parent Further, only 10
percent of teenagers surveyed said
that they had not been influenced
by peer pressure. If this holds true,
positive peer pressure has the power
to influence nearly every teen it
touches for the better!

Fairfield Christian Academy
Football Team— The team has developed
friendships with the students at Forest
Rose School resulting in fishing trips and
outings to the county fair.
ServiceMASTER by
George— A long-time business partner
of Fairfield DD and Job Fusion, their
president also is a past Fairfield Industries
board member and a community
volunteer.
Michelle Dexter— Individual
Budget & Medicaid Services Supervisor
at Fairfield DD, Michelle is an exceptional
employee who also finds
time to volunteer for the central Ohio
Buddy Walk.
Gloria Oesterling— Job Coordinator
at Fairfield County’s Educational
Service Center, Gloria had a
long career making a difference in
the lives of local children.
Tim Derflinger—
Tim brings about a vibrant
community through
weekly volunteering at
two locations and a long
career at a local restaurant.
Pickerington High
School Key
Clubs— Clubs at Pickerington
North and Pickerington
Central volunteer
every month to run a
playgroup for children on
the Autism spectrum.
John Verhovec—
General Manager at Steak
‘n Shake Pickerington,
John opens his doors
weekly to high school students
in a transition program
for job development.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
John Pekar
Gaynor Pfeffer
Susan Barnett
Temple Montanez
David Uhl
Bob Competti
Aaron Uhl
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Lisa Boley
Angela Krile
Rachel McCoy
Beth Seifert
Pam Whiteley
Michelle Wright
Mark Giesler
Amanda Cruz
Shelly Holt
Cassie Richardson
Teresa Ruff
Laura Furry
SERVERS
Alisha Snoke
Amanda Snoke
Amber Armstrong
Andrea Headley
April Wagner
Bob Jumper
Brian Plummer
Carol Sayre
Cathy Anderson
Chelsie Graham
Chris Snoke
Darenda Geer
David Baum
Dawn Buser
Dean Raloff
Emily Plummer
Eric Geriner
Gracie Zinsmeister
Jason Headley
Jessica O'Reilley
Joelle Gardner
John Schoen
John Wagner
Julie Bruckelmeyer
Kali Mason
Karen Wagner
Katie Baum
Kelly Martin
Kyle Morris
Laura Furry
Lois Everitt
Lori Burns
Makalyn Williams
Malee Armstrong
Marcie Wesselhoeft
Marie Cummerlander
Mark Furry
Molly Zinsmeister
Monica Cooperrider
Nicole Kemp
Rylee Lent
Ryleigh Holt
Samantha Noll
Shelly Schoen
Shelly Holt
Sheri Bales
Sydney Clark
Tanner Pfeffer
Taylor Hardy
Teresa Ruff
Teresa Scarpitti
Tim Anderson
Tracey Wilson
Wendy Ricker
Yves Couasnon
EVENT
VOLUNTEERS
Evan Bruckelmeyer
Tim Heft
Carrie Oxenrider
Jordan Brown
David Baum
Jen Walling
KITCHEN
COORDINATORS
Janie Heston
Cathy Jumper

… and it seriously ROCKS
The 10th Celebration of Possibilities
ended on a very cool note
with the premiere of a music video
by our house band, Bad Influence.
Last year, band leader Bob
Competti, who also serves on the
Fairfield DD Board of Directors,
wrote the song Celebrate My
Soul. The band performed it that
evening and since that time, the
song has been widely received by
people all over the country. The
success prompted Bob to produce
and release an entire album under
the guise of a new musical
group, Breaking In, —a spinoff
from his work with his local band
Bad Influence. Several of the
new, original songs on the album
will be performed by these same
musicians.
Celebrate My Soul is the first
song to be released from the album
titled Stay a Little Longer
and is available for download on
Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora
and all major music outlets.
The video features children and
adults supported by Fairfield DD,
as well as some other very special
people who have been touched
by the song. The people highlighted
include students at Forest Rose
School, members of the Fiber Arts
Group and employees at Art &
Clay on Main/Square 7 Coffee
House. The song is performed by
members of Bad Influence and
Breaking In.
Congratulations to Bob and the
band. We are excited to see what
the future holds! For more information,
visit
www.breakinginmusic.com.
Download on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora and all major music outlets.

CELEBRATION 2018 PHOTOS BY RACHEL MCCOY & EVAN BRUCKELMEYER

CELEBRATION 2018 PHOTOS BY RACHEL MCCOY & EVAN BRUCKELMEYER

Mark Everly Classic Bowling Season Set to Begin
The annual Mark Everly Classic bowling season, a league for adults with developmental disabilities, will begin
Wednesday May 2 at Tiki Lanes in Lancaster. Bowlers should be ready for warm-ups by 6:10 pm each Wednesday
and the season will end on July 25.
Thanks to generous donations, the cost is free but the league is limited to 90 bowlers. Bowlers are responsible for
their own transportation and each evening will consist of two bowl games ending at 8:15 pm.
Registration must be completed by April 23 and bowlers must be present the first night of bowling to be considered
a member of the league. To register, contact Kathy Dennison at 740.808.6858.

Collaborative Show on
Display Through April
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness
Month wrapped up with the gallery event Meet
Me @ the Studio, a collaborative show featuring
the art of the 2018 Art & Clay Artists in Residence.
Works by seven artists were unveiled and will remain
on display in the gallery at 150 W. Main
Street through April.
The work pictured (right) is a self-portrait by artist
J-Cat titled Autism Imagined.
The 2018 Techsummit
The Ohio State University will present Techsummit 9 am to 4 pm June 15 at the Renaissance Hotel in Westerville. Registration
is now open at https://nisonger.osu.edu/techsummit.
Technology has influenced the lives of nearly everyone in one manner or another. Most of us take it for granted, perhaps
not event noticing the extent to which our everyday activities are either completely reliant upon technological
advancement or have just been made significantly easier. In an age where every year technology takes a more
prominent role in our lives – it is imperative that we consider how technology may benefit individuals with developmental
disabilities.
The 2018 TechSummit is a one day event that presents an opportunity for self-advocates, professionals, and family
members to learn about ways the technology is being used and may be used in the near future to promote independence
for people with developmental disabilities. The event features speakers from across the United States. These
include experts in their field, self-advocates and family members who can share their personal testimony about the
way that technology has influence their lives.

795 College Avenue
Lancaster, OH 43130
Contact Us
Temple Custer Montanez, Editor
www.FairfieldDD.com
Administration ...................................................... 740-652-7220
Superintendent ..................................................... 740-652-7220
Services and Supports ......................................... 740-652-7220
Family Support Services ....................................... 740-652-7220
Department of Quality .......................................... 740-652-7235
Forest Rose School .............................................. 740-652-7225
Early Intervention/Birth to 3 ............................... 740-652-7225
Opportunity Center ............................................... 740-652-7230
Art & Clay on Main/Square 7 Coffeehouse ......... 740-653-1755
JobFusion ................................ 614-835-2700 or 740-652-7235
Transportation ...................................................... 740-652-7228
Pickerington Regional Office .. 614-835-2700 or 740-652-7235
Volunteer Opportunities ....................................... 740-652-7220
Our Mission
To bring about a vibrant community
where people lead fulfilling lives and
make meaningful contributions.
Superintendent
Board Members:
Mark Weedy, President
Theresa Nixon, VP
Linda Barber, Sec.
John R. Pekar
Robert Competti
Sharon Scruggs
Sharon Murphy
Elizabeth Burwell
Life should not only be lived;
it should be celebrated.
- Osho