Thank You for Visiting Galionite

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has visited Galionite.com. Your visits have made the first month of the site being in existence feel like a success. I can't believe over 10,000 viewers have already been to the site to check out the articles and reviews featured here, and we're really excited to get some more things up for you to read and enjoy about our great little town!

Thanks for Visiting Galionite!

A quick look at the site's stats tells me the most popular page on the site is the Things to Do in Galion page, followed by the Places to Eat in Galion page so we'll be putting some extra focus there in the coming months. Plus, we're always on the lookout for interesting stories about Galion, so feel free to share your latest news any time.

So, thanks again for a great first month, feel free to leave a comment, email Galionite@workmail.com or visit the Galionite Facebook page to connect any time it's convenient for you.

By: Ré

A Bomb Threat at Galion Middle School?

I just saw an article on Crawford Source about the Galion Middle School being evacuated today for a bomb threat. I wanted to share the info here, but be sure to visit Crawford Source to check out the original story for more details.

Galion Middle School image by User:OHWiki (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 

Safety First

According to the article, the Superintendent of Galion Schools, Mr. Grubbs, notified parents that the students and staff members from the Middle School are all safe at the High School.

Don't Go Get in the Way

Everyone is asked to stay away while the police investigate the threat, and updates will be sent out to families as soon as information is available.

Bomb Threats Seem to Come in Waves

Have you ever noticed how when one school gets a bomb threat, it seems like schools all over the state get them shortly afterwards?

I wanted to put together a brief summary of the Department of Homeland Security's advice on what to do if you receive a bomb threat because, it's always good to have a refresher on what to do.

What to Do if You Receive a Bomb Threat

• Stay Calm - freaking out may feel like the natural thing to do, but it isn't going to help anyone and could even put people in more danger.
• Call 911 or notify your supervisor - the DHS actually put notify your supervisor above calling 911, but decide based on your organization's policy, I guess.
• On the Phone: If the threat is called in, keep the line open - even if the caller hangs up, don't hang up your end of the call.
• Keep the person talking as long as possible.
• Pass a note to a colleague or use a cell phone to dial 911 while the person is still on the line. 
• Write down any details you can about what the caller making the threat says and details about their voice.
• If possible, record the call. If your organization's phone system doesn't make recordings, you may be able to capture the caller's voice in your cell phone by holding it close to the earpiece of a landline phone.
• Other things to note, if possible, are caller ID numbers and background noises coming through the line.

Above all: stay calm, get help, and get yourself and everyone else out of the danger zone as quickly and peacefully as possible.

By: Ré

Updated at 12:07PM to add that an all-clear message went out.

Taylor's in Galion Is Closing: The End of an Era

I've been putting off writing about Taylor's closing because it kind of feels like part of my history is passing with the closing of its doors. But, I've been following a thread on Facebook that says this iconic Galion restaurant will be gone before the end of the month - that new owners have bought the building and Taylor's has to be out before the first. So, I want to share this now, so anyone who doesn't already know has one last chance to go grab their favorite food from Taylor's.

Taylor's in Galion Is Closing

Taylor's in Galion

Galion has a lot of wonderful places to eat, but none, for me, are packed with the happy memories of stopping at Taylor's for a chilly, sweet treat.

It never mattered if it was hotter than blazes and sunny outside or the middle of a frigid, icy winter evening.

If Taylor's was open, it was warm and sunny inside.

It was just a place that made you feel good, and it will be missed by so many Galion residents.

My Favorite Memory of Taylor's

It's hard for me to pick a favorite memory of Taylor's.

So many happy moments in my life include a stop for ice cream at this Galion venue.

I can't say I've ever had a bad experience or meal at this restaurant, (best chef's salad I've ever had anywhere) and I'll always have fond memories of the banana sundaes they served back in the 1970's.

(Am I the only one who remembers those? I was so bummed when that was removed from the menu - they made the banana topping themselves and when topped off with salty pecans, it was pretty much unbeatable!) 

Even more than the food, though, my favorite thing about Taylor's has been the owner.

Even when he's busy, he stops to chat and greet his customers - real conversations, too, where you feel you've been heard and walk away smiling after a chat with a good friend - and that's a pretty special thing in a world where everyone is rushing and putting tasks above human interaction.

So, enjoy your retirement Mr. Taylor, and I'll be anxiously watching to see what comes in to take the place of Taylor's after February.

(Whatever's coming to the Taylor's location sure has some big shoes to fill...)

So, what are your favorite memories of Taylor's in Galion?