Middlefield, U.S.A — The Village of Middlefield launched its new two-pronged website this week, less than four months after Mayor Ben Garlich all but declared war on the area’s much-too-long economic slide.

“We will not use the global economic crisis as an excuse for complacency,” says Garlich. “We are determined to bring Middlefield to new heights and to do that we simply must up our game.”

The redesigned site, www.middlefieldmeansbusiness.com, has a double purpose: 1) to showcase the area’s rural beauty, unique charm and many attractions and services to residents and future residents, and 2) to make a compelling case to commercial and industry sectors to build or move business to Middlefield. The site is the first visible outcome of Middlefield Means Business, a three-year stimulus plan developed by Garlich and the village’s newly formed economic development committee.

“We have to demonstrate to business leaders that we will rally around them and respond to their needs,” Garlich maintains. “We have shovel ready-land. We have the tax incentives. We have a wealth of natural resources, good transportation and competitive utilities. And we have an extremely high-performing nonunion workforce. There is no reason we shouldn’t have industry forming a line at our door.”

The site is designed to be a one-stop resource for anyone wanting to know anything about the Village of Middlefield. It has both a business section and a consumer section, and features a customizable and searchable business directory with benefits to both audiences. From the directory, a user can link to anyMiddlefield business to access a full description of the company, along with contact information, photographs and a map.

The industry-facing side of the site features content relating to economic incentives, available commercial property, workforce, zoning, utilities, tax, business partners/tools, village stats, maps and an opportunity to sign up for Middlefield’s business e-letter.

Elsewhere on the site, residents and future residents can virtually explore the village’s schools, churches, community services, government and emergency services, restaurants, and recreational facilities and parks.

Founded in 1799 and situated between the two major urban markets of Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Middlefield Village embraces its rural heritage, Midwestern work ethic, easy lifestyle and welcoming demeanor.

Image Courtesy of   JustASC / Shutterstock.com

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New York, U.S.A. – - In a world where “plain” is considered a compliment, TLC will pull back the curtains to reveal the strict traditions of the Amish/Mennonite religion and lifestyle as cameras follow five people who have chosen to leave it behind and explore the world outside of their community. Breaking Amish, premiering Sunday, September 9 at 10 PM ET/PT, provides a never-before-seen look inside the lives of young men and women as they, for the first time, trade horse and buggy with taxi cabs to break out from their respective Amish/Mennonite communities in their pursuit to chase big dreams in the Big Apple. The groundbreaking series features nine hour-long episodes.

Breaking Amish will shed light on many “firsts” for the cast members. From flying in a plane and wearing jeans to using a cell phone and electricity, the show will highlight their transition into city culture and the basic amenities that come with it. Unlike Rumspringa, these young men and women get serious about the possibility of committing to careers, life, and options for living indefinitely on the outside. But after these new experiences and the opportunity to live out dreams take flight, will they take advantage of New York and carry out their newfound lives while leaving behind the Amish/Mennonite community and their families forever?

The decision to pack up their bags and leave town does not come without a hefty price. Breaking Amish will unveil the disenchantment of family members who are forced to shun their own children, siblings and grandchildren, as they decide to explore a world beyond the limitations of their simple upbringing. Should these “rebellious” Amish/Menonite members decide to forgo Western luxuries and return to their previous lifestyles, they risk the probability of being shunned by their community altogether, including the family, friends and life they once knew so well.

Meet the cast:

• Jeremiah (32): Jeremiah was adopted by an Amish family and has a dream to drive for a living. Having experienced the frustration of drivers as they waited to pass horse and buggy, he wants to drive something that the Amish are not allowed to and feel the speed, convenience and thrill of driving that he has admired for so long. Jeremiah is leaving behind an Amish girlfriend to pursue his dreams.
• Kate (21): Kate is the bishop’s daughter and is very well known in the Amish community. She has dreams of moving to NYC to become a model. As a kid, she painted her finger nails with markers to pretend that it was nail polish. This love for fashion developed with age, but fashion magazines, makeup, jewelry and other “vanity items” have been banned by her father.
• Abe (22): Abe wants to marry an Amish girl. He feels like he may want to return to his Amish community, but he is tired of the day-to-day monotony and wants to experience a world outside of the traditions he knows so well. He also feels limited by his lack of education. His desire to see NYC and its skyscrapers and beaches stems from his mother, who also dreams to see these sites in person; however, once Abe decides to leave, his mother has a change of heart and demands that he return home.
• Rebecca (20): Rebecca, like Kate, wants to model. The youngest in the cast, she is a realist who wants to explore NYC, but understands the consequences of not getting a job and being responsible. She longs to try new things – eat sushi, see a show, but most importantly – fall in love. Don’t let her innocent demeanor fool you – she is the only Amish girl who punched a male classmate in the face. Amish males do not fight – let alone girls.
• Sabrina (25): Sabrina, the cast’s only Mennonite, was adopted. Coming from Italian and Puerto Rican descent, Sabrina struggles to find her cultural identity. To learn more about her heritage, Sabrina hopes to work in an Italian or Puerto Rican restaurant and eventually find her biological parents to learn about her past and how her bloodline has shaped her into the person she is today.

Image Courtesy of  Walling McGarity/TLC

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