Eaton, OH

Yep...I've got a beef with Lakengren. This doesn't happen too often. I have lived in the Lakengren community (Lake Lakengren Eaton Ohio, Preble County) for 10 years now, and for the most part, I have loved almost every minute of it.

But, to be fair to myself and readers out there, I have to be honest in saying that sometimes things there just honk me off. Things like politics that don't go how I would like them to, lack of voters showing up to have a voice in the community, drivers who seem to think the road in front of my house is a practice course for NASCAR, etc...

And most recently, the roads. Good grief! I need to get a picture and put it on here. East Lakengren Drive seems to be the worst. Coming home yesterday, I was stopped by a sign that reads "hazardous road conditions ahead". Really?

Oh yeah...they were. Hazardous on my poor little Rendezvous that is. I dont drive a hummer. Not even a 4-wheel drive. I was never told that was a requirement to live in this gated community.

Maybe it should be?

Here's what's coming up in the great community of Lake Lakengren for the month of November:

November 2 - Hey folks...don't forget to VOTE!!!

November 3 - Women's Club meeting at 1pm in Lakengren Lodge

November 6 - Dragons Texas Hold'em at 7pm at Lakengren Lodge

November 7 - SET YOUR CLOCKS! Time to fall back one hour. This is also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and replace as needed!

November 8 - Lakengren Property Owners Association meeting at 7pm at the Lakengren Water Authority building.

November 11 - Dragon's club Vets Day Dinner at 6:30pm at the lodge. Reservations nec.

November 15 - Lake lowering begins.*

November 16 - Garden Club Holiday dinner at 6pm at the Olde Richmond Inn

November 17 - Christams lights 6:30pm, dinner at 8pm at the lodge

Novemeber 19 - Deadline for publishing items in December issue of Lakengren "Viking" newspaper

November 22 - LPOA board meeting at 7pm at LWA office

November 25,26 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Offices will be closed.

November 29 - Decorate the lodge at 9am

*Why do they lower the lakes you may be asking? Well, there are two reasons that I know of. First of all, this is done so those folks living on the lakes have an opportunity to access docks/sea walls/boat houses for repair and general maintenance. The other reason, although I've never seen this happen in the 9 years I've lived in Lakengren, is so that if the area gets a very heavy snow, the road crews have areas in the empty coves to push the excess snow.

Have a great November and a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Tucked away in historic downtown Eaton Ohio, you will find a great coffee shop by the name of Taffy's. Well, coffee shop doesn't really do it justice. It's really so much more!

Founded in 1999, the owner/operator Manfred Shreyer is just one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet. Always one to greet you with a smile and good conversation. Soooo much better than the local fast food joint that tosses the coffee into my car without so much as a thank you!

My current addiction is the hot Chai. OH MY GOSH!!! How can I describe the taste of something that a year ago I would have turned my nose up at? Manfred recommended I try it, and wow!!! So glad I did. Simply put...heaven in a cup. I have tried the vanilla, chocolate and spiced hot Chai. Vanilla tastes like a snickerdoodle cookie in a way. The chocoltae is a lot like hot chocolate, only richer. The spice Chai, with hints of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg...mmmm, the perfect autumn treat.

I'm going to give a link to the menu and web site for Taffy's of Eaton. There are so many great items on the menu, I dont have the space (or energy!) here to desribe them all. I'll give you a little taste though;

Cheesecakes, Turtle Brownie Sundae, Lemon Meringue Pie and tons more decadent desserts!

Fruit smoothies, Iced Lattes, Chillers and Chai!

Expresso, Cappuccino, Caramel Macchiato, Mochas, and oh..the enormous coffee selection.

A distinctive wine selection, craft brew beers of the world, monthly wine and beer tastings!

Signature sandwiches and Paninis

Did I mention Taffy's also hosts local entertainment such as up and coming bands and solo singers, fundraisers as well as open mic nights?

Got sensory overload yet? It almost seems like too much doesn't it? Yet the warm and cozy atmosphere tempered with delicious food and drinks and hometown service makes it feel much like the baby bear's bed in Goldilocks and the Three Bears...just right.

Taffy's website - http://www.taffysofeaton.com

Taffy's drink and dessert menu - http://www.taffysofeaton.com/Taffys_Menu_Items.htm

Wow! Last night I took my 10 year old daughter to the Lakengren Halloween walk; an annual event held at the lodge offering Lakengren children the chance to trick-or-treat in a safe, fun environment.

My daughter was on the fence about attending this year. We hadn't been for a couple years. Last time around, it was just a little too intense for young ones and my daughter had someone jump out at her with a scary mask on. Granted..this was just a teenager having some fun, but for those of us who have kids that are scared by masks and the like...it was a pretty traumatic event. What seemed to be more traumatic for me in the past was parking. Ahh!

We decided at the last hour yesterday to give it one more shot. As we rounded Lakengren Drive with the lodge in site, I saw tons of cars and just started groaning. Imagine my delight when a traffic officer directed me just a wee bit further down Lakengren Dr to park, and we could get a FREE hayride to the lodge! My daughter was thrilled and I was already feeling much more relaxed about not having to fight my way into, or out of, the lodge parking lot.

So we arrived via hayride at the lodge. Several mini-tents were set up outside in a circle, with kids going from tent to tent and loading up with candy. This year it seemed much more kid-friendly; Disney music in the background, no candy-givers dressed in masks or scary apparel, and just well-organized all around.

After making rounds outdoors, we stood in a short line to enter the lodge. Inside they had a photographer taking pics of each child, then a long table set up offering more candy, pretzels, cheese crakers, not to mention your choice of cookies, doughnuts and other goodies to eat right on site. Round the corner and we were offered hot coffee, apple cider, apple juice or milk. To boot, they even had boxes of mini-pumpkins and gourds, and let my daughter pick out a couple to take with her.

Back outside the Gasper Fire Department displayed the big yelleow fire truck and offered children the chance to climb on and try it out.

With her hands full of candy, pumpkins and other goodies, we loaded back up on the haywagon for the short ride back to our car, avoiding the headache of getting out of the parking lot and the worry of hitting little trick-or-treaters on the loose.

I was just so impressed with the wonderful job that Lakengren did with the Halloween walk, and more importantly, my daughter LOVED it, and wasn't scared at all. If you have never gone to the Lakengren Halloween Walk, I encourage you to give it a try next year as it seems that Lakengren has finally got the rythym down on giving little ones a great, not-so-scary, Halloween experience.

Thanks for reading!

Well, word on the street is that the Eaton Library will be closing next week (September 20-26, 2009) due to lack of funding. The Preble County district Libraries have seen belt-tightening for months now, and in an effort to cut expenses, I guess this is what has been decided.

I guess I'm a little nervous that the shut-down will go un-noticed. It certainly wont by me and my family. Self-professed book-worms; we try to get to the library on a regular basis, even in the summer time.

I know times have changed. It's maybe easier sometimes to buy the magazine subscriptions, get the news on-line, read the latest novels on "Kindle", or order up some cheap used books on "Amazon". Truth be told though, there is something inherently GOOD to be found in the narrow aisles of the local Library.

The silence of the rooms, the smell of the books, the tranquility that comes from just perusing the rows of books, even the excitement of spotting that new release you've been watching for.

Sort of sad really, that funding for something so integral to our health, wealth and well being as READING is one of the first things cut when pocketbooks get tight. You don't notice any sports programs shutting down to cut expenses. Just makes me wonder where peoples' priorities have gone.