The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2002-02-27

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Amherst News-Time
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WIDMSDAY, I I HKl'AKY 27, 2002
AMHIRST, OHIO
Williams returns to fill council slot
by AMY PER9MOER
News-Times reporter
David Williams returned to serve
as a city councilman-at-large last
week.
Williams lost his council seat in
the November election, but he was
sworn in during last week's council
committee meetings by Oberlin
Municipal Court Judge Tom Januzzi. He was appointed to the seat
vacated last month by David Kukucka, who resigned because of
work commitments.
Williams said he sought appoint
ment to council for two reasons.
"The first is that I'm passionate
about politics and public service.
The other is that I love Amherst, "
he said.
Williams is a Democrat who has
been involved in politics most of his
life. In addition to having previously
served on Amherst city council in
2000 and 2001, Williams has been
president of the board of directors of
the Sandstone Joint Ambulance District He was the chairman of a task
force investigating the possibility of
a full-time mayor, in 1997 and
1998.
At the state level, Williams said
he served as the Governor's senior
policy advisor on health and disability issues. He was also a member of
the Congressional Advisory Committee on Rights and Empowerment
of People with Disabilities, a group
that helped establish the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990. He
was also a member and chairman of
the Governor's Council on People
with Disabilities.
William earned his BA in biology
and education from Gannon College
in Erie, Penn. After becoming a registered radiological technologist in
1975 Williams worked in the medical field . He and his wife Frances
Dwyer McCaffrey are the parents of
two grown sons, Eric and Nathan,
who live in Cleveland. Williams and
his wife moved to Amherst 10 years
ago when Williams began working
at Invacare Corp. in Elyria as the director of government relations.
"Fran and I have both had the opportunity to travel all over
America,'' Williams said, "but the
day we moved into this town we
looked at each other and declared
that we were home."
Williams said he and his wife are
actively involved in the Amherst
Historical Society, the Friends of
the  Metroparks, the Democratic
party and their church, SL Joseph
Parish.
Williams still serves on the board
of the National Multiple Sclerosis
Society and has been involved with
many more groups and
organizations.
Williams said he has repeatedly
demonstrated his interest in good
government.
"I know that I have been criticized at times for asking too many
questions and not blindly following
the lead of the administration,*' he
said. "But I believe that this is the
only way to do the job and to appro-
CONTINUED on page 2
David Williams
She enjoys
labor of love,
feeding fellow
SA residents
Mabell Dickinson prepares boxes for the First United Methodist     dents of the Firelands School District who are in need.
Church of South Amherst's monthly food pantry to give to resi-
by AMY PERSINQER
News-Times reporter
At a time in her life when
you might expect Mabelle
Dickinson to be resting on
her laurels and enjoying her
retirement years, she is still
in the trenches, helping people who need her.
.„ At 44 yean old. Dickinson
heads up the food bank she
helped start at Fast United
Methodist Church of South
Amherst and does a majority
of the work herself.
From helping unload the
truck with a young family
from the church to packing
the food in boxes, handing
out the food with her cousin,
Norma Oetzel, and helping
families complete the required
paperwork, Dickinson keeps
her hand in the pot
On the last Saturday of every month the First United
Methodist Church of South
CONTINUED on page 3
Advisory board
is helping city
in tech trouble
by AMY PERSMQER
News-Times reporter
The city has established a Technology Advisory Board to assist in
its endeavor to advance in the
twenty-first century.
After meeting regularly for about
a month, a steering committee consisting of members of the community, councilmembera and city admi
nistrators drafted a charter for the
newly forming board.
Just over a year ago, Gary Mitchell, who was chairman of the Cable
Television Advisory Board developed a recommendation for the city
suggesting a technology management plan. He pointed out many
gaps in Amherst's current systems
and suggested ways to fix them.
After he submitted the recom-
CONTINUED on page 3
Nord goes online
with computerized
lunchroom system
Men at work
Mke Dwyer and Joe Jackson
town manhole last week. All three
Lee Camera into a down-    work tor the sewer department,
are Amherst residents and
'Godspell' is on Players' stage
Workshop Players will present "Godspell," a musical based on
the gospel of St Matthew, in March.
Conceived by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and lyrics by
Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell'' is a modern musical retelling the
story of Christ and his parable*.
Director Dave MacKeigan has assembled a cast comprised of
several Workshop regulars and several newcomers to the local
The cast includes Tom Castro. Marc Parker. Kristen Jones,
Lisa Mine Eckenrode, Jarred Nichols. John Turner, and Liesel
Stevens. Rob Schneider is the musical director.
Performances are Msrch 7,8,9,15.16,22 and 23 at 8 p.m.
and March 17 and 24 at 3 pra. Tickets are $8.50 each and may
be reserved by calling the box office at 988-5613. Group rates are
available for groups of 10 or more. Workshop Players Theatre is
located on Middle Ridge Road, halfway between Rt 2 and Rt 58.
Sun-ting in March, students at
Nord Junior High School will have
a new adventure when coming
through the lunch lines.
Students will enter their six-digit
identification number from their student photo card when they get close
to the service line by the cashier's
station. The cashier's new computer
screen will display the student's picture, grade and homeroom, diet restrictions, and their current account
balance.
Parents can pre-pay into this system so that every time their child
comes through the lunch hne, their
purchases are deducted from their
The software system is Cafe' Terminal and is installed by Esber Cash
Register in Canton. The system is
already hi place at Shape Middle
School, Harris Elementary School,
and Powers Elementary School
This new system is convenient for
both parents and students and allows
the lunch lines to move faster. Most
parents prefer writing one check to
extend over a longer period. With
this system, students can purchase
any food items sold in the cafeteria.
Now, they do not need to cany
cash to buy their lunch; however,
cash is still acceptable. At the end of
the school year, each student's account balance will cany over to the
next school year, and to the high
school when die students move on.
Students who sre eligible for free
lunches or hatches at a reduced
price come through the lines and eo-
ter their pin number. Confidentiality
is maintained using this syslem.
"We are very excited about this
new cash register syslem in oar
school daMricC aaid Waada Wat-
fbid. cafeteria ataporviaor. "It fc
very well at (fee oSht
aad wa lock forwent la
having it work just as well at Naal"
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