Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘Cambridge Country Club’

Steve Marvin Shows Volunteer Spirit

Keep your eyes on the horizon and live in the moment.

All those who volunteer to help in our area organizations are deeply appreciated. They are the backbone of our communities to keep them being productive and growing.

One of those dedicated volunteers is Steve Marvin, who is involved in many local organizations as well as being a financial advisor for Edgar Jones. Steve wants to help make our community a better and happier place to live.

After Steve graduated from Muskingum College in 1988 with degrees in Business and Political Science, he began working at Cambridge Savings & Loan. He was there when it converted to Advantage Bank and later to Huntington National Bank. Customers said he listened carefully to their problems and gave sound advice.

After banking for about thirty years, Steve decided in 2017, with some encouragement from Teresa Cowden, to join Edward Jones as a financial advisor. He had already been advising people how to handle mortgages and businesses so it wasn’t a big change.

He saw it as an opportunity to help people in the community make informed decisions about their finances and offer customized solutions based on individual goals and needs. Many of his clients today remember him helping their parents or grandparents so they trust him to give helpful suggestions.

Steve has been a member of the United Way of Guernsey, Monroe, and Noble Counties since 1988.

The amazing thing is how he can manage his time well enough to help with so many local groups, and he does it quite well. His suggestions are always appreciated on numerous boards. He has a long record of leadership and service throughout Guernsey County and the surrounding area doing everything with a smile and a kind word.

His involvement with the community began shortly after he began working at Cambridge Savings & Loan. Ray Drake approached him and asked if he would be part of the first Beautification Council in Downtown Cambridge. This group focused on enhancing the community’s visual appeal, promoting landscaping efforts, and supporting local historical preservation. Once he became involved, others started asking for his participation as well and Steve just couldn’t say no!

Steve has been helping with the beautification of downtown for many years. Now many of the Lions Club members also assist.

Some of those early organizations that he joined, and where he still participates, were Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, Guernsey County Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Guernsey, Noble, and Monroe Counties, and the Lions Club. Year after year, that list just kept growing.

Steve participates in many ribbon cutting ceremonies with the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce.

Steve now serves on the board of the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, and proudly supports local businesses. He is an active participant in Chamber of Commerce ribbon cuttings and grand openings.

This group of Lions Club guys adds lots of enjoyment to Steve’s life.

The Lions Club is one of his fun activities. He remembers that Jim Caldwell invited him to this group and told him they are a great bunch of guys to relax with on a weekly basis. Steve and Chris Rocco have helped as Stage Managers with the Lions Club Music & Comedy Show for many years.

Steve and Chris Rocco have been stage managers for the Lions Club Music & Comedy Show for many years.

The Lions Club members are a big help with placing and removing Flowers on Main and Hometown Hero banners. Steve encourages their help as he is on the Cambridge Main Street Design committee so still involved in beautification where his volunteering all began.

Helping organize the annual Golf Outing for the Habitat for Humanity is one of his favorite projects.

Golfing is one of his favorite pastimes so it’s no surprise that he is a member of the Cambridge Country Club and the Endowment Chair there. Steve also serves on the Golf Committee for Habitat for Humanity, where he was one of the founding members. Their Golf Outing each year at the Country Club raises between $10,000-$15,000 for use with the Habitat’s building projects. They are driving their mission forward – one swing at a time.

Even when he’s not helping with a project, golf is still one of his favorite ways to relax and has been since high school when he was on the Ridgewood High School golf team. Another thing he enjoys on almost a weekly basis during growing season is mowing his yard where on his riding mower, he can fill his mind with peaceful thoughts. He also has a strong interest in genealogy and keeps adding to information on his family tree.

Steve serves as a financial advisor on the Board of Realtors. His wife, Rhonda has worked in real estate for 35 years and presently is associated with Century 21 Darfus Realty in Cambridge.

Spending time each year in Aruba is a great place for relaxation for Steve and Rhonda.

Vacations are a big part of his life and Steve and Rhonda have enjoyed many exciting adventures including France, Italy, Amsterdam and Hawaii. A favorite spot is Aruba where they vacation in their time share every February.

Steve is very humble about all that he does. Not only is he a businessman and volunteer, but also a parent and grandparent. He would tell you, “I just try to do my part.”

He enjoys going to the Barnesville Chamber of Commerce functions and is also a member of the Noble County Chamber of Commerce.

Everyone has wonderful things to say about Steve. When mentioning him, words often included are kind, helpful, and trustworthy. Steve Marvin is a vital part of the community in so many ways and a great example of a wonderful volunteer.

Crossroads magazine has been running a monthly column called Locals We Love with area people being nominated for a feature article. Steve was one of those nominated by several who knew him well.

Dickens Victorian Village Bus Tours

Buses have coned places for parking in front of the Welcome Center.

Step back in time at Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio during the months of November and December. The friendly small-town atmosphere will have you feeling like you’ve arrived in jolly old London during the late 1800s. Bus groups get special treatment during their visits and we usually have nearly fifty groups a year during that season.

While this article is basically for the tour groups, you will find many things here that make it a great place for a family weekend adventure.

As soon as a tour group arrives in Cambridge,  you will get that Victorian feeling. A costumed guide will step on your bus at the edge of town and stay with you throughout the day as they tell how Dickens Victorian Village began sixteen years ago.

Our mayor welcomes you to Cambridge along with Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

Tour venues are very flexible as each group has particular interests. Most groups begin the day with a slow bus tour of six blocks of downtown Cambridge. During November and December, there is a Victorian scene under every lamppost in those six blocks. In 2021, there were 168 life-size mannequins in 96 different scenes.

A touch of snow adds to the holiday cheer on one of the Victorian scenes.

The scenes are based on Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” and also scenes from London during Dickens’ time. Each scene has a brass plaque attached, which explains its connection to that time in history.

Everyone enjoys a tasty treat from Kennedy’s Bakery.

Along the way, almost every bus group stops at Kennedy’s Bakery, a hometown favorite that has been in business since 1925. Three generations of the Kennedy family have created the same tasty pastries year after year. Bus groups stop back again and again.

Mosser Glass still produces glass at their factory with a beautiful Gift Shop included.

If you arrive in the morning, Mosser Glass provides an interesting stop as they are still making glass on site. Watch them create some beautiful glass pieces. Cher purchases turkey candy dishes here each year for her guests at Thanksgiving dinner. They have even provided beautiful glass Easter eggs to the White House. Their showroom is outstanding.

Volunteers at the Welcome Center are dressed in Victorian garb to welcome guests.

Down the street, the bus will have a coned off place to park near our Dickens Welcome Center. Here Father Christmas will greet the bus. Volunteers at the Welcome Center will talk about how the figures are made and encourage you to dress in Victorian clothes at Imagination Station. Have your picture taken for a fond memory with a beautiful Christmas tree or the figure of Charles Dickens himself.

Several unique shops help make this stop a pleasure for those who enjoy shopping.  Find a unique gift for yourself or a friend from several shops which include locally made articles.

Francis Family Restaurant has a large banquet room for buffets.
Mr. Lee’s Family Restaurant provides great meals and service
Theo’s Restaurant has delicious buffets and serve their homemade pies.

Of course, lunch is always an important stop of the day. Three local restaurants have delicious buffets that are only prepared for bus tours. Take your choice of Francis Family Restaurant, Lee’s, or Theo’s for a buffet that will leave you satisfied.

The Queen’s Tea takes place at the beautiful Cambridge Country Club.

Some wish to have an upscale lunch or dinner and choose to have dinner with Queen Victoria at the Cambridge Country Club where she tells about her life growing up in London from childhood to adult.

Victorian ladies greet you at the Cambridge Glass Museum.

Several museums give a great place to spend a couple of hours. Cambridge Glass Museum greets you with ladies dressed in Victorian costumes and tells you of Christmas at the Glasshouse. They will give you many hands-on activities to keep your group smiling.

Coal Miner Dave tells the story of those early coal mines in the area.

Another possibility is the Guernsey County Museum where you can meet Coal Miner Dave, who tells of those early years in the county.  At the same place, you will discover a one-room classroom and a teacher who will give you a lesson and perhaps even a test. Those are highlights of a museum packed with historic pieces.

Ladies enjoy wearing hats and shawls as they enjoy tea and sweets.

You might prefer having afternoon tea at one of our local churches. They will provide a short program of music and information before serving tea, scones, and cookies.

Finish off the evening with the Courthouse Holiday Light Show.

We always end the day with the Holiday Courthouse Light Show, which has over 65,000 lights synchronized to holiday music. An entire hour is different! The show starts every evening from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 from 5:30 – 9:00. You can even watch it from the coach.

These are just a few ideas you might include in your trip to Dickens Victorian Village. If you would like to learn more please contact me at DickensGroupTours@gmail.com for additional places to visit.