Plans to transform the restored log cabin at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve into an old-fashioned German bake shop were discussed during a meeting of the Friends of the Seneca County Park District Wednesday.
Member Karin Brown unfurled a sign she had made calling the cabin a bakery, using the German word.
She requested members get busy baking.
"I have 30 dozen springerles (anise cookies) in my freezer," Brown said. "In order to make it profitable we need to bake. Baking is for men and women alike."
Transformation of the cabin will be just for Oktober Fest Oct. 7.
In addition to baked goods, Brown said she plans to provide cake mixes from Germany for sale in the shop.
Other Oktober Fest publicity plans included distributing 50 yard signs, and putting a float in the Heritage Festival parade in September.
Regarding reconstruction of a second cabin at Garlo preserve, the board heard a cabin progress report from board member Roy Zinn and discussed insurance coverage for a volunteer who was injured while working on the project.
Zinn said 1,010 volunteer hours had been put in by nine volunteers working at various times since July 31.
He said the project is one-quarter completed, and workers are putting up the sixth of 10 rounds of logs on the main part of the house. He said more replacement logs were needed than they hoped, but they are cutting dead or dying ash trees from the Zinn and Roland Zimmerman properties as replacements.
"We anticipate having the outside logs up and the roof on it by winter," Zinn said.More volunteers are welcome to assist every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday morning.
During her report, Program Director Linda Rose said a new daycamp for preschool children attracted 10 "little people" a few weeks ago, and seven teen-agers worked in the parks last week as part of the Working for Wildlife program. One project completed by the teens was placing mulch on the trail at Zimmerman Nature Preserve.
This week, 25 children ages 6-12 are participating in a daycamp at Garlo preserve.
She said the campers are using the district's new canoes this week, and canoe floats are planned at Garlo preserve in September and October.
Rose reminded board members the Sandusky River Clean Sweep is 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 18 with registration starting at 8 a.m. at shelter 6, Hedges-Boyer Park. After the cleanup, she said she'll have an educational river display set up during lunch.
She said an injured great horned owl was found at Garlo preserve by a parent of one of the daycamp children. The owl is in rehabilitation now, and Rose said the park district will be notified when it is ready to be released.
Rose said 457 park district brochures were picked up fair-goers during the Seneca County Fair, an increase from last year's number. She said she conducted a program about live reptiles Friday evening and "every seat was filled."
Director Pat Obringer said the construction company doing the street project at Heidelberg University is hauling concrete to Steyer Nature Preserve as fill for the driveway area.
Other large concrete pieces have been placed at an area of Forrest Nature Preserve that had eroded during storms last winter.
Obringer said he is working on getting approval to place a sign along SR 53 to direct people to Clinton Nature Preserve.
He said repairs are under way at West Lodi church. The roof is finished, and gutters have been repaired. New siding is ready but not yet delivered to the church. The board is seeking bids for installing the siding.
Obringer said he continues to meet with a committee putting together details of a new hiking area on the property of Mercy Tiffin Hospital. At its July meeting, the board approved a lease agreement with the hospital.
In other business, the board:
Scheduled a work day for noon Tuesday at Garlo preserve to put up historical interest signs and put stone around the boardwalk
Heard an open house at Bowen Nature Preserve is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Sunday.
Heard an open house at Forrest Nature Preserve is planned for 1-4 p.m. Oct. 21.
Heard fishermen are requesting side trails be cut off the main trail for easier access to the river at Clinton preserve.
Heard the district's "Run, Ride, Drive" fundraiser made about $1,500.
Next meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in the basement conference room of the RTA Building downtown. The Friends group meets at 6 p.m. prior to the board meeting.
