For the majority of village residents, it reflects their passion for bouncing back to normal lives after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in February 2013.

However, for East Palestine councilwoman Barb Kliner, it literally stands for East Palestine Getting Older.

She started to non-profit organization in December 2024, hoping to fill a perceived need for her community that became crystal clear after the disaster. 

Forty percent of the village’s residents is age 50 or older and doesn’t use the internet. Most of the communications shared regarding the derailment and community was done via social media. 

John Davis of East Palestine tosses his bean bag during a recent winter walking event at the Way Station. EPGO organizes the program to offer a fitness and socialization option for village seniors. (Submitted photo)

Her goal was to find another way to reach them. 

Kliner’s vision was improved communication, which she accomplished via a monthly newsletter and most recently she started delving more into programming.

Some of this is coming with partnerships with existing groups in the East Palestine community. 

For example, when Chaney Nezbeth from the Way Station came calling after acquiring the former First Presbyterian Church at 109 Rebecca St., Kliner paid attention. 

After purchasing the building and relocating their thrift store from the basement upstairs, Nezbeth had plenty of space that they were willing to share with the community. 

EPGO had used the swimming pool in village park for a water walking fitness program until they no longer had access to the pool anymore due to the park project. 

Seeing a need, Kliner began a winter walking program, where participants could use that basement two days a week to maintain their physical and mental fitness. 

Yes, it stated with walking but Kliner, herself a Silver Sneakers’ instructor, added a few more stations with Nezbeth’s blessing. 

Kliner added, ” We realize that just walking and no chatting or socializing is not for all, so we have created a fitness challenge area for everyone to visit.”

EPGO’s Fitness Challenge now includes cornhole; a sit-to-stand section, where participants time themselves getting up from a chair with no help from the chair arms; and a magnetic dart board for hand-eye coordination to name a few.

This provides the participants a chance for socialization, which seniors often find a rarity in their later years.

Originally the Way Station program was set to run through the end of May, when it was hoped that the swimming pool would be open again for its water walking program. However, Kliner explained that the program’s success will be evaluated based on the data she is collecting from attendees regarding their age and interests when evaluating whether to keep it going in summer too.

This year, EPGO also just began its Phone Buddy Program, which is free program for older East Palestine residents who live alone but aren’t necessarily homebound. With the assistance of Americorps, volunteers reach out to registered participants and do welfare checks via phone.

If the resident doesn’t answer, the volunteers will continue through a specific set of instructions until contact can be made with the help of the East Palestine safety forces. 

Kliner hopes this program will help avoid potential tragedies — such as an undetected fall or illness or even a death due to the senior’s lack of daily contact.

Also in the works with a tentative publication date later this year is an East Palestine Remembers book, which will be filled with submitted contents recounting their memories of the village. 

Kliner explained, “Our goal is to collect these memories, finalize them into book form and publish it in time for Christmas.”

Containing three sections, she added that the book will include shorter stories in its memories’ section, longer essays in its stories’ section, and recounted historical experiences in its histories’ section. 

For more information about submitting a story or any of EPGO’s other programs, call Kliner at 234-855-4777.

Memories also can be mailed to EPGO, in the care of Barb Kliner, 116 Claybrook Drive; East Palestine, OH 44413. 

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Covington plans next meal delivery on Feb. 19

EAST PALESTINE — Many senior citizens are forced to make the choice between food and medicine when Social Security checks arrive each month.

Covington Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation decided that in 2026 it wants to help with that.

Brenna Davis, admissions director, said the facility started planning for the inaugural meal delivery back in November.

On Thursday, Feb. 19 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., pre-registered seniors will be delivered a chicken and biscuit meal with a side of peas and a brownie for dessert.

Davis explained pre-orders for the meal are free and need to be made by calling 330-426-2920 by Feb. 12 and leaving a name, number of meals needed and a delivery address plus phone number in case they have questions.

A maximum of two meals can be delivered per household, or one for each person.

The service area includes East Palestine, New Waterford, Negley and Unity Township.

“We decided to do this, as there are not a lot of services in this particular area for seniors,” she continued, adding that they were working with EPGO to make this a monthly program.

Obviously funding for a program like this would be the biggest issue, Davis acknowledged.

However, until then, the facility decided to step up. “Covington is built around community,” she concluded.