Briefs: Women's Club seeks award nominations, Army recruiting leadership change

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Marion Women's Club announces 2023 'Ida Barlow Brilliance Award'

Local women business owners and nonprofit leaders are invited to apply for the 2023 “Ida Barlow Brilliance Award” offered for the second consecutive year by the Marion Women’s Club. The $1,000 award is being made possible, in part, from donations made at the club’s annual “Turn Up the Heat” celebrity dance gala and held in an endowed fund at Marion Community Foundation.

Women 18 and over who are small business owners or who have a leading position with a local nonprofit organization are encouraged to complete the application found on the Women’s Club website. Deadline to receive applications is 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 31. The award recipient will be announced on or about Dec. 1.

Ida Barlow bequeathed her 1903 home to the Marion Women’s Club when she died in 1945. This is the second year the Ida Barlow Brilliance Award has been given in her honor.
Ida Barlow bequeathed her 1903 home to the Marion Women’s Club when she died in 1945. This is the second year the Ida Barlow Brilliance Award has been given in her honor.

Applicants must demonstrate how their organization and/or project relates to the mission of the Marion Women’s Club. In addition, they are required to meet certain criteria, secure references and provide a written statement about how they are “empowered to dream, create and transform our community” just as club member Ida Barlow did.

Born in 1861 in Hancock County and growing up in Fostoria, Ida Harsh Barlow studied art at Oberlin College. She was married to Shauck, a high-level Marion industrialist with Huber Mfg. Ida was very active in the Marion Women’s Club during its formative years.

Barb Pine, owner of Marion’s Jer-Zee Drive In, was the 2022 inaugural award recipient. Pine used her award to provide a state-of-the-art sound system for the Jer-Zee’s “Story Time” program, which is designed to improve literacy rates.

Marion Company will be receiving new leadership

First Sgt. Helen K. Houston will be assuming responsibility of the U.S. Army Recruiting Marion Company on Friday. A ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Harding Memorial in Marion.

Houston is a native of Pearl City, Hawaii. She enlisted in the Army in March of 2006. She has served as team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, recruiter, deputy station commander, station commander, and now first sergeant. Houston's previous assignments were in Hawaii, Texas and California. Her deployment was in 2010-2011 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Columbia Gas, local agencies to raise awareness of hunger

COLUMBUS — September is Hunger Action Month. Throughout the month, Columbia Gas of Ohio is partnering with local agencies around the state to raise awareness about food insecurity and urge others to take action to end hunger in their communities.

Columbia Gas has donated more than $1 million in contributions this year alone through the NiSource Charitable Foundation to local nonprofits dedicated to helping Ohio customers who need help meeting their needs.

Columbia Gas team members will volunteer with organizations throughout Ohio, including Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Second Harvest Food Bank. Columbia Gas will also leverage social media to raise awareness of these organizations and encourage others to share their stories.

In addition to tackling food insecurity, Columbia Gas reminds customers it has several programs available to help with bill payment.

Marion Star

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Women's Club award nominations, Army Recruiting Marion Company