ABOUT US  •  FOR THE COMMUNITY. BY THE COMMUNITY.

The Olmsted Community Center's primary goal is to be a family friendly center for the whole community to enjoy. The Center will provide the Olmsted Community with facilities and programs that strengthen the mind, body and spirit of the individual, helping them develop their God-given purpose and talents.

The Olmsted Community Center was started by a group of individuals who wanted to give back to the community. The Community Center is non-profit and receives no tax money from the city. It is funded solely on contributions from organizations, businesses and individuals.

The OCC is housed in the north wing of the old Olmsted Falls Middle School building. The south wing is occupied by the Olmsted Falls City Hall and Police Department and the west wing is home to KidsFirst daycare center. The original building was built in 1914 and the north wing was added in the early 50's.

Today, the Olmsted Community Center runs a variety of community & recreational activities both for the public and for private use. It is open for use to all residents of the city and township of Olmsted and also all surrounding communities.  Day-to-day operations are directed and managed under Donna Winter and a well-trained staff of administrators, teachers and instructors.

A board of trustees meets on the first Monday in February, May, August and November to provide oversight and support to the day-to-day mission of the Olmsted Community Center.  The Executive Director is John Hawkins, a longtime native of the Olmsted Community, and he is joined on the board by Ben Haserodt and Chris Parker.  In 2011, the board will expand to include two new members - Tim Atkinson and John Henton.

2010 Staff of Olmsted Community Center 

• •   OUR STAFF   • •

• •   OCC MAJOR RENTERS   • •

Saint Mary of the Falls - CYO

Olmsted Performing Arts

OPHELIA THE OSTRICH - HER STORY

The Grand Pacific Merchant’s Association has a benefit Silent Auction Wine Tasting event annually that benefits the Olmsted Community Center and Heritage Days.  Our staff has worked the event every year since 2002.  

At the event on March 6, 2009, several staff eyed a particular item – Our Ophelia.  As silent auctions go, the bidders were at first, unknown to each other and as the night wore on, more and more bids were placed on Ophelia’s card.  Wondering who else could be interested in this crazy bird thing on roller-skates; our Director staked out the item and watched to see who was also bidding on her.  

As he watched, two other staff from the Olmsted Community Center made their bids on Ophelia’s card.  It seems she was calling out to them to claim her over all the hundreds of other items up for bidding.  Our Director, John Hawkins placed the final bid on Ophelia and she was delivered to the center that night.  

She has been calling our lobby her home every since…although she does make the occasional trip outside the center to make surprise visits for birthdays, parades, and special occasions.

What’s in a name?  Well, when she arrived, we did not know what to call her so we had a “name-ing” contest.  Participants paid a dollar to submit a possible name for our new friend.  Mrs. Erin Hassel won the contest with “Ophelia the Ostrich.”

Ophelia is often dressed for the occasion from Tribe wear to Browns garb and a costume for Halloween or an elf for Christmas.  She has worn the shirt for Dakota’s Dream every year in hopes to help the Cure Tay-Sachs organization.  Last year she participated in the first ever Olmsted Falls Relay For Life and even made the first lap with the help of her roller-skates and some friends.  

She loves wigs, hats, and boas…who knows what she will wear next!  Stop in to say hi and see Ophelia for yourself, or maybe you’ll see her out and about Olmsted Falls one day soon.

SNAPSHOTS