Page 5 - Dresden Buzz 02/20/2026

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 5, 2026 LOCAL NEWS | PAGE 5
Nashport resident submits Muskingum University

Muskingum County flag presents “Voices of Change:

designs for consideration Examining How the Arts

BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ Reflect and Shape
Movements for Social

Transformation”

SUBMITTED BY DAVID TURRILL | MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY
Muskingum University will present MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Voices of Change: Examining How the Safe Spaces, Strong Voices:
Arts Reflect and Shape Movements for How underrepresented communities
Social Transformation, a four-day series can claim their place at the table
that brings together music, visual art, 3:30 p.m., Palmer Gallery
historical context, and public dialogue This event focuses on the experienc-
to examine how creative expression can es, resilience, and cultural contributions
both reflect and influence movements of underrepresented communities,
for social transformation. Conceived with particular attention to the LGBTQ
collaboratively by the University’s De- community and allies. Participants will
partments of Music, History, and Art & explore how identity, community, and
Design, the series invites the campus advocacy intersect within today’s social
and broader community to engage with landscape.
questions of democracy, representation,
identity, and collective action through WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
artistic and civic lenses.
Designed as an immersive interdis- Two by Two in Concert
ciplinary experience, Voices of Change 7 p.m., Palmer Gallery
encourages participants to consider Giving new life to traditional folk mu-
how culture and creativity serve as vehi- sic and gospel as well as bringing their
cles for human expression and agency. own originals, this guitar/piano/vocal
Events will take place from Sunday, Feb- duo plays everywhere from festivals to
ruary 22 through Wednesday, February wineries, restaurants to churches, re-
25, at venues across campus and in the tirement homes to prisons, and caves to
local community. open fields. They call central Ohio home
but love traveling.
Voices of Change Events:
About Voices of
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Change Series
Muskingum Valley Voices of Change positions the arts not
Symphonic Winds merely as reflections of society, but as
& Muskingum Wind agents within it. Through performance,
visual interpretation, critical dialogue,
Ensemble Concert and shared communal experience, the
3 p.m., Brown Chapel series invites attendees to explore how
The opening event features a joint creative practice participates in shaping
Camren Zimmerman holds one of his Muskingum County flag design concepts. Lynette Dotson performance by the Muskingum Valley civic life — and how cultural expression
Symphonic Winds and the Muskingum can inspire new understandings of jus-
University Wind Ensemble. The program tice, equity, and democratic participa-
Camren Zimmerman (20), a 2024 In 2023, another resident, Caleb Silvia includes works composed in honor of — tion. In addition to the public events
Tri-Valley and Mid-East Career and Tech- appeared before the commissioners to or in tribute to — influential figures and listed above, thoughtful discussion is
nology Centers graduate, had the op- discuss the possibility of a flag redesign. transformative ideas, including democ- taking place at a Fireside Chat that will
portunity to meet with the Muskingum With at least two requests for a change, racy, Abraham Lincoln, the Women’s explore broader themes about the arts’
County Commissioners to present pro- the commissioners are considering ac- Suffrage Movement, the Tuskegee Air- role in the society. Students, faculty,
posed designs for a new Muskingum cepting more designs through a contest. men, Rosa Parks, and Marsha Johnson, and community members are engaging
County flag. Tentatively, they plan to make a decision prominent trans rights activist. discussion designed to make the partic-
His conceptual designs keep a lot of by Flag Day, June 14. Details are still be- ipants think deeply about how the arts
the symbolism that is present in the cur- ing developed at this time. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 help a society maintain its humanity in
rent flag, but he presents them in a mod- Zimmerman credited his experience Student Presentations the digital age.
ern minimalist layout. as a Digital Media student at Mid-East All events are free and open to the
“The blue I added for Zane State, the CTC, which helped prepare him for tak- & Reception public and take place on the campus
college. The gray I put on there is for Zane ing on a project like this. He has also 4 p.m., Palmer Gallery of Muskingum University.
Gray … The Y is for the Y-Bridge. And the worked on other flag designs for other Following the concert, attendees will For more information, contact David
red is for Ohio. And I put the white for counties and designed a calendar for be welcomed to the Palmer Gallery for Turrill, dturrill@muskingum.edu.
the Lorena Sternwheeler because, you in-office use during his employment at a reception and student-curated exhi-
know, because it’s white, so I tried to do Goodwill Industries. bitions that engage artistically with the
the colors to try to make it more simpli- As a Mid-East CTC student, Zimmer- concert’s themes.
fied,” Zimmerman explained. “The black man participated in a talent show where
is for the coal mines, because we have a he got to tap into his passion for geogra-
bunch of coal mines. And the vase is for phy and name all the flags in the world.
pottery, and then I put a rhino there for He took home a first-place win! Genesis HealthCare System
the wilds.” “I just wanted to show that people with
Three other versions of the same gen- autism/disabilities can do great things,” Recognized as a Platinum
eral concept were also created by Zim- said Zimmerman.
merman, with the word “Muskingum”
being added to a couple of them, and Award Recipient for Organ,
the black circle swapped for the county
shape. The designs took about 10 to 12 Eye and Tissue Donation
hours, including the planning, changes,
and creating the completed concepts.
The current flag was designed in 2002 SUBMITTED BY GENESIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
and features an arrangement of vari-
ous graphics created by Roger Penos of
Zanesville that depict some of the un- Southeastern Ohio organ donors en- local service clubs and nursing schools,
derground railroad, tourist attractions, One of the four design versions presented to the abled Genesis HealthCare System to and through social media. The DoNation
and industries Muskingum County is county commissioners. Camren Zimmerman receive a platinum award for organ do- Campaign is a national initiative that
known for. nation and education as part of the Life- unites the U.S. Department of Health
Line of Ohio 2025 DoNation Campaign. and Human Services and the organ do-
“In 2025, our community made an nation community with workplaces na-
extraordinary impact through generosity tionwide to spread the importance of
and compassion,” said Matthew Perry, donation.
Colony Square Mall to host Genesis HealthCare System President & For more information about the im-
pact of organ donation, visit lifelineo-
CEO. “At Genesis, we had 37 organ dona-
annual Home Show next tions from our community, which helped fohio.org. For more information about
Genesis HealthCare System, visit gene-
save 28 lives. That same spirit led to 26
tissue donations and 56 eye donations. sishcs.org.
weekend, Feb. 27 - March 1 Each organ donor has the power to save
up to eight lives and help heal more than
75 others through tissue donation.”
BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ In 2025, Genesis promoted the ben-
efits of organ donation through public
Over 25 exhibitors are scheduled to be Some of the businesses already donor registration displays, speakers at
at the 2026 Colony Square Mall Home signed up for the event include: Ables,
Show Friday, February 27 through Sun- Inc. – Heating Cooling Electrical Refrig-
day, March 1 during mall hours. eration, Key Roofing, Higgins Lumber
“Visitors will have the opportunity to Company, AG Home Services, Bath Fit-
meet with local experts, oftentimes the ter, Roto Rooter, Sherwin-Williams, Leaf
owner of the company. These exhibitors Filter, Fello Electric, The Zemba Com-
are excited to engage with customers panies, Sit Means Sit, Town & Country
and will have portfolios, displays and Realty – The Fink & Taylor Team, Lepi &
examples on display for the customers Associates, Nutter Home Improvement,
to view. Exhibitors will be available to Improve It Home Remodeling, Brown
answer any questions, provide ideas and Security, Town & Country Realty, Mutt
professional knowledge and to sched- Commanders, Leaf Home Bath, Huddy’s
ule future projects and provide bids. Home Improvement, Weed Rite Fence,
Customers can expect to make direct Balloons + Blooms, Lashley Tractor
connections with multiple home related Sales, Down Home Lawn Furniture, and
businesses, conveniently located within J & M Construction.
one place at Colony Square Mall,” ex- “We would encourage any local home
plained Jessica Brailer, Colony Square related businesses to join us for this
Mall General Manager. event,” Brailer said. “Past exhibitors
The event is mall-wide, with some ex- have seen a lot of success and return
isting mall businesses displaying and year after year. We are still in need of Run Downtown
offering literature about their business. landscaping companies, so if you are in 5K
Plus, over the duration of the event, that business, please reach out to us.”
there will be ample opportunity to take a There is still time for interested busi- Zanesville this
break and enjoy some of the mall’s food nesses to reserve their 8 by 10 foot RACE
and snack offerings, browse some of booth space. Call (740) 452-5431 to re-
the stores and businesses, and use the serve or for more information. Sign-ups St. Patrick’s Day
opportunity to make the most of time will close on February 23. 1-MILE
spent at the mall. For the latest up-to-date information
“People of all ages are welcome, said on Colony Square Mall events, visit
Brailer. We will see a lot of families in https://www.colonysquaremall.com/ FUN RUN/WALK Weekend
attendance at this event, and we have events or follow Colony Square Mall on
several options to help entertain chil- Facebook.
dren while they are visiting the mall. SCAN TO th
Don’t forget to support the Chair-ity Auc- REGISTER March 14 , 2026
tion while you’re at the mall on Friday as HERE 10:00am
well.”