Deadline for the January/February Newsletter is Friday December, 19th.
From the Mayor
By: Gary Griffith 740.768.2632
What beautiful fall weather we’ve been having! Some of the most beautiful weather I can remember in a long time!
Since the last newsletter a lot has happened in the Berg. The first being the First Street-Twp Rd 263 repaving project, the repaving of State Route 164 on both sides of the bridge. A big Thank You to everyone involved to make this improvement happen! Also, a big Thank You to the Bergholz Community Foundation and its members for the well-attended Community get together to explain their Vison for the Community.
Davis Enterprises will be working on some of the bad places on designated streets, weather permitting, in the near future. Because of a limited amount of funds, the spots that get passed over this time will be addressed in the 2026 fiscal year.
Our Village Fiscal Officer, Jeff Kemmer, attended a meeting to apply for an Ohio Public Works Grant of which the Committee told Jeff since Jefferson County Water was planning on replacing the Village Water lines that they wouldn’t consider Bergholz for the grant until that project has been completed.
There have been several residents making improvements to their properties which helps in keeping the Berg looking great and adds to the Village! Thank You Consumers National Bank, Trinity UP Church, Scott Rowan, Bergholz Community Foundation, Brian Bitgood, Jeff and Ann Bendle, John and Becky Tumis, Travis Frey, and to anyone else that has made improvements.
One thing that I forgot to mention, the Village was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Pugliesi Foundation to aid in the help with the Second Street revitalization project in conjunction with the Bergholz Community Foundation This grant wouldn’t have been possible without the work of Village Fiscal Officer, Jeff Kemmer.
If you have bagged leaves and are unable to transport them to the Village Garage, please place them by the street in front of your residence and someone will collect them.
With Halloween already over we’re on to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! With Thanksgiving being on November 27, 2025, this means the lighting of the Village Christmas lights will be held Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 7:00pm at the Gazebo at Second and Jefferson Streets with DJ Chelsea Matta Householder, Christmas music with Jenna DeNoon Porter and her group from the Faith Community Church, along with the grand entrance of Santa Claus himself!
As always, I want to thank all Village Residents, both past and present, for everything you do to make the Berg the envy of the Valley!
Mayor Gary Griffith
Bergholz Community Foundation
By: Nikki Klein
A huge thank-you to everyone who came out for the Bergholz Community Celebration!It was a joy to see neighbors reconnect, families having fun together, and everyone enjoying the evening. Your support made the event truly special. It was heartwarming to see our community come together. We hope to keep offering events like this that bring people together and keep our community strong.
A big thank-you as well to Community Healthcare and the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County for their support and participation. Your presence helped make the event even more meaningful.
If you were unable to attend the Celebration, you might have missed the exciting news!We’re working on revitalizing 2nd Street. The project will include beautiful green space, a community hot spot so everyone has access to the internet, and best of all the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County will be moving into Bergholz!
The library will be opening a new branch located at 270 2nd Street. Some construction must be completed first, but once finished, it will be a wonderful addition to our town—offering opportunities for learning, reading, and community programs for families, students, and lifelong learners alike.
If you’d like to be part of this exciting new chapter for Bergholz, we’re currently accepting donations, any amount helps. You can also become a member of the Foundationwith a one-time contribution of $1,000 or $100 per year for 10 years. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of the Bergholz Community Foundation, with all these new and positive things happening! With your help, we can continue to make Bergholz a wonderful place to live, grow, and come together. Donations can be mailed to: Bergholz Community Foundation PO Box 201, Bergholz OH 43908. If you would like to become a member, please contact a trustee.
We’re thrilled to have Community Healthcare in Bergholz, bringing important health services to our community. Their presence ensures that residents of all ages have access to healthcare right here at home. If you would like to make an appointment with Mallory Puckett, CNP call 330-854-2510 or 740-768-1001. Mallory is here in Bergholz on Thursdays.
WEBA Food Pantry
By: Ann Wiley 740.543.3972
If you are coming to the pantry for the first time, you must bring your driver’s license or state ID, and a utility bill that matches the address on your license. Don’t forget to bring a basket or box to carry your food to your car.
If you are already a client, don’t forget your ID card. You cannot be served without it. Mid-Ohio rules, not ours.
Pantry pass out day is the 4th Saturday of each month. Pass out begins at 10am. The elderly and handicapped are served first.
November Produce: Friday, November 21 Pantry:
Saturday, November 22
December Produce:
Friday, December 19
Pantry:
Saturday, December 20
Northeast Jefferson County Food Pantry
By: Ronnie Shockley
Our mission is to serve God and eliminate hunger in our community”
Our gratitude goes out to our volunteers who help at the pantry and to Trinity United Presbyterian Church for giving us space to work out of.
The following dates are for the Saturday WORKERS assistance program: Distribution is the first Saturday of the month: Nov. 1 and Dec. 6
The following dates are for our REGULAR FOOD PANTRY DAY:
Distribution is the 3rd Thursday of the month: Nov. 20 and Dec. 18
Food is handed out in the back of Trinity United Presbyterian Church on 2nd Street here in Bergholz.
Donations of funds for the operation of the pantry can be sent to and checks payable to:
Northeast Jefferson County Food Pantry – P.O. Box 613 – Bergholz, Ohio 43908. Your support of our community food pantry is greatly appreciated.
Questions? Please contact Ronnie Shockley at: 330-627-4080 or email at: ronnieshockley1961@outlook.com
Stir a bowl of gingerbread
Smooth and spicy brown.
Roll it with a rolling pin
Up and up and down.
With a cookie cutter
Make some little men.
Put them in the oven
Till half past ten.
Let’s Fight Together Outreach
By: T.J. Anderson
740.512.3278/ 740.543.4353
On Saturday, November 15th, 9am-4pm there will be an indoor vendor flea market at the East Spring-field Community Center.
There will be food items and baked goods for sale.
There will be a 50/50, raffles, and more.
All proceeds will go the Let’s Fight Together Outreach to help those with kidney disease locally
Bergholz Fellowship /Chestnut Ridge Churches
By: Pastor Lee Iden
330-205-1732
It does not seem all that long ago that I was writing that summer was almost here, and now, winter is almost here! WHERE DID THE YEAR GO?
We’ve had a quiet summer, but a good one. We worship every Sunday, but we alternate buildings; even months at Bergholz Fellowship and odd months at Chestnut Ridge Church, and I personally feel that it is working out all-right. For the month that we are away from a building, the utility bills are lower and we can save a bit of operating funds that way. Our good people have figured out, for the most part, where we are going to be on any given Sunday and it is working.
My wife, Darlene and I were really blessed on August 24th as we had the worship service at our home. We try to do this at least once a year. We always have a covered dish lunch following the service. This year, we expanded it a bit and invited other churches to join us. WE HAD SIX DIFFERENT CHURCHES ALL WORSHIPING TOGETHER!!! It was SUCH a good day! God was definitely there with us. Now granted, there were still only 36 people; some churches were only
represented by a single person, but it was great! Already we’ve had people ask us, if we do it again next summer, could they come? LOVED IT!
Thanksgiving is almost upon us! (Can you believe that??) We will be worshiping at Chestnut Ridge Church, 1177 Cinder Rd. NE, Bergholz, Ohio, during the month of November and on the 22nd, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we would like to invite you to a covered dish lunch at 1:00pm at Chestnut Ridge Church in the fellowship hall in the basement. The church is providing the meat, (TURKEY AND HAM!!!!) and if you can bring a dish along to share with others, great! If not, COME ANYWAY! There’s always plenty of food! We’d love to have you join us!
In December, at Bergholz Fellowship Church on December 14th we will be hosting Mark Allen Chapman. If you’ve heard Mark sing, you know just how good he is and if you haven’t, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US! The man is AMAZING! He will present a couple of Christmas songs during the worship time, then we’ll go to the fellowship hall for a covered dish lunch, then, Mark will present a full Christmas concert experience! It’s “gonna” be GREAT! Can’t wait!
We’ve expanded our outreach to a couple of
different local entities now and are rejoicing that God has blessed that outreach so richly! We don’t do any worldwide mission projects, we are focused on our brothers and sisters in this area. There is enough need to keep us busy right here in Carroll and Jefferson counties! Isn’t that sad? We live in the GREATEST COUNTRY in the world, and there are hungry people not too far from us! There are HOMELESS people not too far from us! Just sad.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “And the King will answer them, “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these My brothers and sisters, you did for Me.” This “feeding the hungry and clothing the naked” is not optional, it is mandated by God that we should help those less fortunate than we are! Look at John 21:17, Jesus told Peter three times, THREE TIMES, to “feed My sheep”. How are we doing? If there are hungry people less than 25 miles from us, how are we doing?
East Springfield Christ UMC
By: Nicki Tennant
Pastor Deborah Kellar
740.543.3002
We started November with All Saint’s Sunday to remember people of our church and community who have passed. It was a special time in our worship service.
The Wednesday 6:30pm Bible Study group is starting our Advent study – The Characters of Christmas by Daniel Darling. Anyone in the community who wants to join us is welcome.
The Adult Sunday School Class is finishing the fall quarter with stories about God being always present, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Our winter quarter will include lessons of God, the Holy One; His Holy Presence, His Holy House, and His Holy Expectation.
Christ UMC will host a community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 23rd at 6:30pm and Christmas Eve Service Wednesday, December 24th at 6:30 pm. Please join us for both of these services.
In December we will assemble and deliver cookie trays to the more than twenty businesses in the East Springfield Community. On Saturday, December 13th we will once again participate in the Wreaths Across America program.
We are collecting items for our Mitten Tree. Mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks will be donated to the Urban Mission, John Gregg Elementary, and the Friendship Room in Downtown Steubenville. We continue to collect non-food items for WEBA.
We purchased thirty-two (32) new coats for the Urban Mission for their Annual Fall Coat Distribution.
Please stop at our Little Free Library and borrow a book or two. It is located along the sidewalk in front of the church.
We want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. If you are looking for a home church, or just want to stop in for a visit, Sunday School is at 9:45am and Morning Worship at 11:00. Please come and join us. You will be welcomed!
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 New King James Version
Something to Think About
By: Dave Miller
I’m looking forward to Christmas.
I’m looking forward to Christmas because of family memories. Let me share one. In August 1959, we left a ministry in Corinth KY to move to New York and begin a new church at Glen Cove. Our
schedule was such that we were not going to be able to come home until just after New Year’s. Our son David was just six months old. We were living in a tiny four room apartment. Christmas Eve I got home from working on the new church building, and Shelva and I decided we needed a tree. I went to a deli nearby and bought a tiny tree for one dollar that we squeezed into our living room. Christmas Day, we drove into NYC and slowly drove down Fifth Avenue looking at the beautifully decorated store windows.
I’m looking forward to the special Christmas Services in our area. Choirs will sing. Candlelight Services will be conducted. We will rejoice in the birth of the Son of God.
Last of all, I’m looking forward to the music of the Christmas Season. Mark Lowry’s “Mary Did You Know” is heard all year ‘round, but to me it is especially meaningful at Christmas. And won’t it be wonderful to hear “Silent Night, Holy Night” or “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
In our troubled world, these carols and so many others speak to us of hope, and victory, and joy.
God’s love for our sinful times shines at Christmas. Matthew 1:23 says, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means ‘God with us.” And HE is still with us!
Thanksgiving Colors
Orange is the pumpkin.
Yellow is the corn.
Brown is the turkey
With stuffing to adorn.
Red are the cranberries.
Green are the beans.
Five delicious colors –
In a feast of my dreams!
November Holidays
1 – All Saints Day
2 – Daylight Saving Time Ends
4 – Election Day
11- Veteran’s Day
23 – Christ the King Sunday
27 – Thanksgiving Day
30 – Bergholz Light Up Night
30 – Advent Begins
December Holidays
7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
13 – Wreaths Across America
14 – Hanukkah Begins
21 – First Day of Winter
24 – Christmas Eve
25 – Christmas Day
31 – New Year’s Eve
Mooretown Monument
By: Virginia Boyd Glenn
740.768.2365
We started off this year planning on repairing or replacing the John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail Markers in Springfield and Mt. Pleasant Townships. The Ohio History Connection has made no provisions for future care of the markers; they are essentially abandoned, or orphaned, as my contact at the OHC prefers to them. We were trying to qualify for a 40/60 grant with the OHC, which would fall under a category of “Bricks and Mortar” or Restorations, like the McCook House in Carrollton falls under. What we ended up realizing was our timing was off. Next year, being the Revolutionary 250 Celebration, all the grants and donations are being channeled in that direction. We are going to back up, regroup, and start all over for next year. I feel sure that we will get the full support that we need for the funding both the Bergholz Marker and the one at Deyarmonville.
In the meantime, we are going to try for a few small grants and replace the old Morgan’s Raid Plaque that originally was on the old Morgan’s Burnt Bridge over Elkhorn Creek. These are the 1913 Morgan’s Raid Stone Monuments that were paid for by subscription with the school children collecting money for them with the help of Judge Joseph Doyle who wrote the 1910 History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties.
Several people have asked me why the stone monument at the bridge on 164 going over Yellow Creek south of Bergholz has the wrong information on it. We don’t know when, but we do know that the plaque that was on the one south of Bergholz turned up missing. The plaque off of the bridge over Elkhorn Creek was moved and put on the Yellow Creek stone monument. We are applying for smaller grants to replace the Yellow Creek plaque so we can put the Elkhorn stone monument plaque where it will be visible at the intersection of State Route164 and Elkhorn Road. The Elkhorn marker stone was moved to the Jefferson County Engineers Garage, and the county will help us install the marker after the new plaque is made.
We are still working with the Ross Twp Trustees to solve the issue of vandalism at the Mooretown Civil War Monument. The Trustees have now taken over the issue of dealing with the vandalism and have installed a new sign closing the site after 9 pm.
We had planned to have the follow up book to Doc Schilling’s Yellow Creek books out by Christmas, but we are still collecting stories and photos. Hopefully by March or April we will be ready to print.
We have been trying to find relatives of a family that is buried at the Mooretown Methodist Cemetery by the name of John and Catherine Dennis Wright. There is a marker that has always been well cared for that needs some attention. If anyone knows of this family please let us know.
East Springfield Community Recreation & Service Center
By: Sue Call 740.543.3700
Our Community Center small building is now a polling place for the Jefferson County Board of Elections.
Thank you to everyone who supported our monthly dinners. We will take a break until Spring of 2026.
On Saturday, November 15th, there will be and Indoor Vendor sale hosted by the Let’s Fight Together Outreach. Please come and support this local charity.
Everyone, young and old had a great time at the Halloween Party. We will share more details in the next newsletter.
Check social media or flyers posted in the community for details of all Center activities. The Center is available to rent. Please contact me for prices and availability.
We Thank Thee
by: Ralph Waldo Emerson
For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County
By: Jennifer Cesta
740.282.9782
BOOKMOBILE SCHEDULE
Thursdays: November11th, December 2nd & 23rd
Grammy’s Diner Amsterdam: 10am-10:45am
Bergholz VFD: 11am-11:45am
Red Dog Road Home Delivery: 12:15pm
Contact the Library to learn about our Book Club dates and current titles
