September/October 2026
COMMUNITY PRIDE ALIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY
From the Mayor
By: Gary Griffith 740.768.2632
Hopefully everyone has enjoyed mowing grass this summer with the unusual wet summer we’ve been experiencing! Everyone’s lawns look like it’s early spring with the bright green luster of the never ending growing grass.
School is already in session. Please be careful when traveling our streets to watch out for the little ones going back and forth to the bus stops.
With October coming that means Halloween is right around the corner! This year Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31st. This will be the day we celebrate it in the Village from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Any Village resident that would like to participate should turn their porch light on to let the Trick or Treaters know you are handing out candy.
If you’ve seen the orange paint marks on the different streets, this is to mark where Jim Davis Enterprises will be repairing these spots like we did last year.
Thank you to Chad Hazelip, Jeff Kemmer, and TJ Balint for helping keep the Village properties mowed this year, especially with all the rain we’ve received.
In ending, I want to Thank all Village residents, both past and present, for doing what you do to make Bergholz the envy of the Valley!
Mayor Gary Griffith
Bergholz Community Foundation
By: Nikki Klein
The Bergholz Commun-ity Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to support projects that make a lasting difference in our community.
One of the projects we are especially proud to have helped bring to Bergholz is the library. Seeing the library become a valued part of our town has been very rewarding. The library has seen a great deal of traffic in the short time that it has been open, with 120 new members signing up. That kind of response shows just how much our community values having a library here in Bergholz.
We also saw a great example of the library’s importance during one of our recent stormy days. When many residents were without internet, the library still had a connection and was put to good use by those who needed to get online. It was great to see how the library can be there for our community when people need it most, offering access to technology, resources, and a welcoming place for neighbors to connect.
Another venture we continue to be especially proud to have been a part of is bringing Community Healthcare to Bergholz. We are grateful to Community Healthcare for investing in our community and for recently holding a special day to offer free sports physicals to local students. Opportunities like this make an important difference for families and help ensure that our young people have access to the care they need right here in Bergholz. We sincerely thank Community Healthcare for helping make this opportunity available to the families of Bergholz.
The Bergholz Commun-ity Foundation is proud to have played a part in helping make these resources and opportunities possible. We believe that investing in our community today helps create opportunities and strengthen Bergholz for years to come.
Thank you to everyone who supports the Foundation and the work we do. Your generosity helps turn great ideas into community resources that people can use and enjoy.
The annual meeting is scheduled for September 24th at The Bergholz Community Foundation Office at 144 1st St.
Here’s to a wonderful fall in Bergholz!
Community Healthcare
By: Dr. Brady Steineck
As the seasons change and we move into autumn, our primary care teams see some predictable shifts in the kinds of health concerns that come through our doors. Cooler weather and more time spent indoors mean that respiratory viruses—like influenza—start to spread more easily. Now is the ideal time to talk with your primary care provider about preventive steps: getting your annual flu shot, getting enough sleep, regular exercise, and adjusting to new schedules with school and work. Flu vaccines don’t just lower your chance of getting sick; they also tend to make illnesses milder and reduce the risk of hospital visits, which is especially important in a small community where health-care resources are precious.
Fall also brings changes in routine that can quietly affect our overall wellbeing. Shorter days and less sunlight can contribute to low mood, fatigue, or changes in sleep. If you notice that you or a loved one feels “off” as the days get darker, please reach out; there are evidencebased treatments, from light therapy to counseling and medication, that can make a real difference. Cooler air can worsen asthma, COPD, and allergies, so this is a good time to review inhaler technique, refill prescriptions, and update action plans. And as outdoor activity slows down, it’s easy to become more sedentary. Even simple habits—like a brisk daily walk, stretching, or doing chores with a bit more vigor—help keep your heart, joints, and mind healthier through the season. Our commitment as your primary care partner is to be here not only when you’re sick, but to help you stay well enough to enjoy the best parts of fall: harvest festivals, school events, and time with family and neighbors. Enjoy this wonderful time of year, and we are here for you if you need us!
East Springfield
Halloween Extravaganza
Halloween is coming to East Springfield, and we’ve got a whole evening of family fun planned! On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the East Springfield Fire Department, in partnership with the East Springfield Community Center, invites everyone out for the East Springfield Halloween Extravaganza!
We’re kicking things off from 4:00pm–6:00pm by bringing back door-to-door Trick or Treat in East Springfield. Grab the kids, get those costumes ready, and enjoy some good old-fashioned Halloween fun around town.
From 5:00pm–6:00pm, be sure to stop by Christ United Methodist Church for their Trunk or Treat and add even more goodies to those candy buckets.
Then at 6:30pm, everyone is invited to the East Springfield Fire Department for our big Halloween Party at the Firehouse. The evening will feature awards for costumes, a cake walk, Halloween music, a bonfire to roast s’mores and hot dogs on, food and drinks, and a HAUNTED HOUSE!
Bring the whole family, come dressed for Halloween, and spend the evening celebrating with the community.Please SHARE and help us get the word out. We want to see the whole community enjoying Halloween together!
East Springfield Community Recreation & Service Center
By: Sue Call 740.543.3700
Join us for our monthly dinner. It is the second Thursday of each month. The time is 4-6:00pm. On Thursday, September 10th, we will have Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable, bread, dessert, and drink. The cost will be $12.00. Come join us for a home cooked dinner and visit with your neighbors. October 8th will be our next dinner, probably the last dinner for 2026. Carry Out is available. Phone ahead to 740.543.3700.
Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, our buildings will be used as a polling station. Wherever you live, please make time to go to your precinct and vote.
Sometime in November will host an Indoor Flea Market. There will be more information on Social Media, signs around the community, or the next Newsletter.
Our annual community Halloween party has a new format this year. We will partner with the East Springfield Volunteer Fire Department to host a larger event. The schedule for the 31st is – 4pm-6pm, Door-to-Door Trick-or-Treating: 5pm-6pm Trunk or Treat in the parking lot at Christ United Methodist Church. At 6:30pm the Halloween Party will be held in the back building of the Fire House. The Community Center will sponsor costume judging with cash prizes. Our large building will hold a Haunted House that will be open after the costume judging. There will be more activities that evening. Check out the additional Newsletter article for full details. We are excited to be a part of this larger East Springfield community event!
Check social media or flyers posted in the community for details of all Center activities. The Center is available to rent. Please contact me about prices and availability.
Blessing Boxes
The Villages of Amsterdam and Bergholz have recently become home to “Blessing Boxes.” The Amsterdam box is located at the Village Building, 103 Springfield Street. The Amsterdam box was built by Andalyn McConnaughy. She considered the needs of the community and chose a community blessing box as her senior project. Andalyn will be handing off the responsibility of the box to another senior this year.
The Bergholz box aka “The Little Shack of Blessings” is located at 1500 State Route 524 at Faith Community Church.
Take what you need, leave what you don’t.
Non-perishable, non-expired items only please.
Bergholz Fellowship /Chestnut Ridge Churches
By: Pastor Lee Iden
330-205-1732
It doesn’t seem possible that it is time again for this newsletter! It seems like I just sent one of these in not THAT long ago! Why am I doing this again so soon? I guess, that’s the nature of life today. Goes by SO QUICKLY!
We have had a quiet summer so far at Bergholz Fellowship and Chestnut Ridge Church. We are, I believe, BLESSED! No, we are not growing by leaps and bounds, but neither are we declining much. Certainly, we have had our share, maybe more than our share of people out for various reasons, but that is also part of life. We have had four good steady members move to assisted living facilities lately and of course that takes away from the weekly attendance, but even that is unavoidable and even acceptable. These wonderful people are getting better help that they could have received at home; they NEEDED to be where they are now, and that’s a GOOD thing! Truly we miss their smiling faces, and we miss hearing their laughter, but they are where they need to be.
Just because they are not in our presence right now though, does not mean we forget about them! It doesn’t mean we don’t pray for them, it doesn’t mean we don’t love them! It just means we love them long distance! And we can do that! I know that I have been blessed to go and visit these people, and I know that others have made the trek to visit them. That’s reaching out to others in love.
I want to make a plea to those of you who are blessed to read this Bergholz newsletter. The Friendship Room in Steubenville, Ohio is in trouble. They are about to lose their facility due to lack of funding. We can help. There are homeless people who depend on this entity. The Urban Mission shelter is now closed, so the Friendship Room is the only vehicle available to help people who need a hand up. Our small church in Bergholz has been doing what we can for several years now, and we’ve been blessed in the process, but it’s going to take more than what we can do alone. But with the help of the Bergholz community, we can make a difference in people’s lives; YOU can make a difference in someone’s life.
I pray that as you read this article, you will open your heart to others in need. Truly, the Bergholz Food pantry is also feeding the hungry in our area, but the people of Steubenville need you as well. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “When you do for the least of these, My brothers and sisters of Mine, you do for Me.” We can make a difference in someone’s today, someone’s now, someone’s future. Please help.
If you do not have a home church, we would love to have you visit us. We worship even months at Bergholz Fellowship Church, 266 2nd Street Bergholz at 11:00am and odd months at Chestnut Ridge Church, 1177 Cinder Rd. NE, Bergholz also at 11:00am.
We pray that you will join us.
Shalom
Pastor Lee
Trinity United Presbyterian
By: Pastor Steve Jenkins
740.768.2511
I am pleased to report on a remarkable success for our community. On July 19, 2026, a program for Faith, Family and Future was held in the parking lot of Trinity Presbyterian with the members of Bergholz Fellowship Church and the Mt. Zion Church participating. We enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship and worshiped as a family of faith, The parking lot was set up with a tent, tables and chairs and a wonderful picnic lunch was enjoyed by all.
Pastor Lee Iden opened the service with prayer and was followed by scripture readings and a brief message from Pastor Steve Jenkins. He spoke about the importance of all of us working together to assist the community with needs that which families struggle with in our area. We talked about the needs of families with children who have the need for special needs and how we can help them in navigating the challenges of everyday life. These families carry a heavy burden of providing continuous and specialized care for their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and the children of close friends. Our schools are a great resource; however, they cannot provide all the help a family requires. It is our responsibility as called members of the Christian faith who take our commitment to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ seriously to reach out to lift these families and children.
The group discussed not only how we can support these families, but also how we can work together to identify and meet other needs within our community.
I have been so blessed to have been called to this community four years ago and truly feel the love and hope that the residence have for its future and the important role that the Christian community can, will and needs to play to ensure success and leave this community better than we found it, just as so many have done before us.
We are deeply grateful for those who created and supported the Bergholz Foundation, which continues to expand educational and growth opportunities in our area. The new Bob Walker Memorial Library stands as a clear example of that commitment. We have been given the chance to better understand our God-given purpose, but we must also use the tools before us to help build a strong future for this community and follow the plan God has set before us. This work belongs to each of us. Every member of the community has a role to play, using the talents God has given us to help build God’s Kingdom right here where we live.
Pastor Steve Jenkins
Something to Think About
By: Dave Miller
In our Wednesday Bible Study at Fellowship Mt. Zion, we are presently studying Women of the Bible. It is a very interesting study. Most of us are familiar with only a few Bible women. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Sarah, the wife of Abraham, Hannah, mother of Samuel, and Eve, the first woman God created. Members of the class are taking turns leading sessions. In a few weeks, I will be leading the session that will study the life of Ruth.
Ruth is a very short book in the Old Testament, only 85 verses in length. The Book begins with a man named Elimelech taking his wife Naomi and their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, from their home in Bethlehem to the land of Moab because of famine.
There are several periods of famine mentioned in the OT. Abraham went to Egypt because of famine; the young man Joseph became the supervisor of collecting and distributing grain because of a later famine in Egypt. The prophet Ezekiel writes of periods of famine during the later history of God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel. Today, we can go into the supermarket at any time of the year and find an abundance of food from all over the world.
Once in Moab, disaster comes upon the family. Elimelech dies. Ruth and her sister Orpah marry, but their husbands die. As time passes, Naomi learns that there is now food in Bethlehem, and she decides to return to her native country. She encourages her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland of Moab. Ruth, in some of the most beautiful words in the Bible, says to her, “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Arriving in Bethlehem, because of their poverty, Ruth begins to glean fields during the barley harvest. In Leviticus 19:9-10, God had instructed Israel to leave edges of their fields unharvested so that the poor, widows, and orphans could harvest such and thus have food to eat. The field where Ruth is harvesting is owned by an older and wealthy man name Boaz. He and Ruth will eventually marry. And to them a son is born, Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse, the father of King David.
If we trace genealogy, we discover it ends up at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:5) Ruth a woman and a Gentile is listed in the birth record of Jesus Christ. And we all know that Bethlehem, the home of Naomi, Boaz, and Ruth, is the birthplace of Jesus.
East Springfield Christ UMC
By: Teri Bado
740.543.3002
Hello, neighbors!
My name is Teri Bado, and I’m thankful to be the preacher at East Springfield Christ United Methodist Church. I also serve Smithfield United Methodist Church, and it’s a blessing to be part of both congregations. Since I’m new to East Springfield and Bergholz, I’d like to introduce myself and share a bit about how I came here.
My husband Corey and I have two sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and my bonus daughter and her husband. We love cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles. Outside of football season, you can usually find me with a book, and Corey is often working on his RC cars. Those details tell you a little about my everyday life, but the path that brought me into ministry begins with my relationship with God.
Everyone’s relationship with God is different. Some people have always felt close to Him, while others have wandered, struggled, questioned, or come back after a long time. I also had a time when I drifted away. Coming back wasn’t one big moment, but a slow realization that even when I stopped looking for God, He never stopped reaching out to me.
When I returned to church, I just wanted to worship and grow in my faith. But as time went on, one opportunity to serve led to another, and eventually I became a Certified Lay Servant and started preaching. I didn’t know where this path would take me, but God kept opening doors for me, step by step.
My journey has shown me that we all find our way to God differently, and that’s okay. No matter our story, we are never out of reach of God’s grace. We don’t have to know every step ahead; we just need to trust the One who walks with us. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us that when we trust in the Lord instead of relying only on ourselves, He will guide us.
I feel honored to walk this path with the people of East Springfield Christ UMC, a church that has deep roots in our community.
More than 200 years ago, before there was a church building, faithful people opened their homes to worship together. They prayed, read Scripture, encouraged one another, and planted seeds of faith that would grow for generations.
Eventually, those gatherings moved from family homes into a church building. On September 27, 2026, we’ll celebrate the 200th anniversary of this important milestone in our congregation’s history.
For 200 years, people have come to this church to worship God, celebrate new beginnings, mourn losses, pray during hard times, and support each other through life’s changes. Even though the people and the community have changed, our purpose is still the same: to worship God, share Christ’s love, and serve our neighbors.
The story of East Springfield Christ UMC is about more than a building. It’s about generations of people who believed faith should be shared and that no one should go through life alone. We’re grateful for those who came before us, and we believe God is still shaping our church’s story. There’s still ministry to do, hope to share, and space for new people to join in what God is doing here. Whether you’ve gone to church your whole life, have been away for a while, or have never felt that church was for you, please know you’re welcome here. Romans 15:7 reminds us to welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed us.
Sunday School for adults starts at 9:30 a.m., and Worship is at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30 p.m. will begin on September 9th.
We are hosting Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st from 5-6 p.m. The East Springfield Community is having a fun filled evening. Please join our community for the activities.
If you’re thinking about visiting, I invite you to join us for Sunday School, worship, Bible study, or one of our upcoming events. If you’re not ready to come in person, you can start by watching our 11:00 a.m. worship service on Facebook Live. You’re always welcome to reach out with any questions. Taking that first step can feel uncertain, whether in person or online, but we’ll be here to welcome you.
East Springfield Christ UMC has served this community for generations, and we look forward to worshiping, serving, and growing with our neighbors for many more years to come.
God bless,
Teri Bado
Bergholz Independence Day Parade Winners
Dale Featheringham served as parade announcer, while Annie Morgan, Marsha Mazur, and Jeff Kemmer judged entries in the various parade categories.
Awards were presented in numerous categories recognizing everything from antique vehicles and fire apparatus to patriotic floats, decorated bicycles, motorcycles, and antique tractors.
Tony Moretta and Tom and Paula Stonebraker were recognized in the Best Show Car, Antique Car or Furthest Traveled category.
Doug Featheringham was recognized for Best Decorated Razor/Side-by-Side.
Amsterdam VFD earned awards for Best Equipped Fire Truck, Oldest Operating Fire Truck and Best Medic Squad, while Fox Township received the award for Best Brush Truck.
VFW Post 232 was recognized as Best Marching Group, and the Bergholz Community Foundation received the award for Best Patriotic Float.
Crue Porter and Calvin Beadnell received awards for Best Decorated Three- or Four-Wheeler, while Rogan Givens and Jagger Bendle were recognized for Best Decorated Dirt Bike or Motorcycle. Tripp Porter was recognized in the Best Mini-Cars category. Miles Puckett and Maverick Puckett earned honors in the Best Decorated Tricycle or Bicycle category.
Delayne and Wrigley Smyth received the award for Best Show Horse or Team. Charlie Glenn, Nick Glenn, Travis Board and Boady Wood received the award for Best Antique Tractor.
HOLIDAYS
September
7th – Labor Day
11th – Patriot Day
11th – Rosh Hashanah Begins
13th – Grandparents Day
20th – Yom Kippur Begins
22nd – First Day of Autumn
23rd – See You at the Pole Day
October
11th – Clergy Appreciation Day
12th – Indigenous Peoples Day
12th – Columbus Day
31st – Bergholz Trick or Treat 4pm-6pm
31st – Halloween
Deadline for November/December Newsletter is Friday October 23rd.
Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County
By: Jennifer Cesta
740.282.9782
Bergholz Library Operating Hours
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11-7
Friday and Saturday from 11-5.
Closed Wednesday and Sunday
Stop in to visit the new library and register for a card.
Book Club
Interested in joining the library’s book club? Join us on September 17 at 10:00 a.m. or at 5:30 p.m. We’ll find out what genre of books you want to discuss and the best time to meet for future dates. The book club is for adults and will meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Times for future discussions will be determined.
To register and for information about the book club, call the library at 740.314.6207
