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SAVE THE DATE! The Polish Constitution Day Parade, will be held this year on Sunday, May 5th, at 2:00 PM, is the first annual parade of the year in Parma. It’s a harbinger of Spring! The parade is held in partnership with the Polish American Congress, the City of Parma, and the non-profit Polish Village Parma. It’s brought to you by donations, and in part by a small grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, (the cigarette tax) and lots of volunteer hours. The parade and party are open to the public. Residents and visitors alike line the side walk and tree lawns on Ridge Rd from the Parma Circle to Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union to watch the parade of Polish dignitaries, politicians, high school bands, and an assortment of various units marching, including residents from the neighborhood and surrounding communities. Businesses, non-profits, clubs and groups are encouraged to march in the parade, at no cost. If you are interested in marching email pacohparade@gmail.com, or contact Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime.

Classic cars at Yorktown Lanes at the Wheels for Meals fundraiser 2023

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The 2nd Annual Wheels for Meals Cruise-In will be held at Yorktown Lanes on Wednesday, June 5th. Whether you come to show off your car or just stop in to experience a blast from your past, all are welcome to this family friendly event to benefit All Faiths Pantry. Last June, over 55 cars and trucks – classic, custom, hot rod, rat rod and convertibles - cruised in to Yorktown Lanes in Parma Hts. It was a great first effort with beautiful weather, plenty of parking and three Choice Awards given out.  

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host The Transformation and History of Parma City Schools: Mid-1970s to the Present Day on Thursday, April 18th, 2024 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in Meeting Room C. Join presenters from Parma City Schools Historical Museum who will discuss how the mid-1970s brought changes to Parma and how the Parma City Schools adapted.  Several factors include lower birth rates, declining enrollment, declining & aging population, and State of Ohio control of PSCD’s curriculum and testing.  Using an audiovisual presentation with maps, photos and narrative, learn how Parma City Schools transformed to meet the needs of its changing society and culture to the present day. Registration required.  To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.orgor call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313. 

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host a virtual program, A Conversation with Author Sarah Cart, on Monday, April 22nd, 2024 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Author Sarah Cart will talk about her new book On My Way Back to You, which is her first-hand account of the journey that she and her husband faced while coping with his devasting illness during the Covid-19 pandemic. Learn about Sarah Cart’s struggles and challenges to save her husband’s life, their marriage and her mental health while embracing the gift of time, life, family and friends. This event will be held virtually on Zoom.  Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or contact a librarian at the Parma Heights Branch at 440.884.2313. 

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U.S. troops have fought in jungles since the Spanish American War. Vietnam, however, presented new challenges, as enemy forces used the thick, triple-canopy jungle as a tactical advantage in guerilla  warfare. To counter this advantage, the Americans launched Operation Ranch Hand in 1962, employing Chemical Herbicides and Defolients in enormous quantities to deprive the enemy of places to hide. Agent Orange is the most infamous of these "rainbow herbicides," and it's lingering toxicity continues to effect those exposed on either side of the conflict. The first U.S. combat troops didn't arrive in Vietnam until March 1965, but by then the effort to defoliate the jungle was well under way. The Chemical weapons used were known as the Rainbow Herbicides. Agent White, Agent Purple, Agent Blue, Agent Pink, Agent Green, and Agent Orange-- named for the colored band on their respective storage drums. Between 1962-1971 the U.S. sprayed an estimated 20 million gallons of these herbicides in Vietnam, Eastern Laos, and parts of Cambodia, usually from helicopters or low flying Aircraft, but sometimes from backpacks, boats, and trucks. Agent Orange alone accounted for more than half of the total volume of Herbicides deployed. Many Vietnam Veterans are suffering from the effects of Agent Orange as well as the Vietnamese People. As a Volunteer for Cypress Hospice, I have visited with some Veterans that were suffering from the effects of Agent Orange. They are with God now. 

On Friday, April 19, 2024, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Parma Arts Council is holding a workshop titled “The Art Of The Journal”. The session will be held at The Parma Art Center, located at 7335 Ridge Rd. in the Parma Parks & Recreation Dept. building. A real bargain at $10 per person. 

*Prama Artspace Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd, opened the exhibit titled “Back In The Groove”, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. The show runs through April 21st. It features Amelia Casiano, Gary Nass, Laura D’Alessandro, Rez Work and Sean Mabin.

According to author Anna Sellers Friedrich who wrote

The Parma Area Historical Society’s Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the cabin at Stearns Homestead. Stearns Homestead, Parma’s Historical Farm, is operated by the Parma Area Historical Society (PAHS) in cooperation with the City of Parma. All are welcome to attend. There will be a trustees election, review of the past years accomplishments, and goals set for the 2024 year. If you love history & farms, now’s your chance to get involved. Stearns Homestead is located at 6975 Ridge Rd. 

Spring precipitation data is critical to track the impacts of rainfall on Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s two major wet-weather programs: Project Clean Lake (our work to reduce Lake Erie combined sewer overflow pollution by 4 billion gallons a year) and the Regional Stormwater Management Program (which addresses intercommunity stream challenges like erosion, flooding, water quality and debris maintenance). For more information on either of these programs, please visit our website, neorsd.org.

John hurried down the dark street when it began raining. The streetlights were dim and made it even harder for him to see his way home with his bag of groceries. Suddenly, a man jumped out of the darkened alley and pointed a gun at him! “Give me your wallet! Now!” John, startled and frightened, fidgets for the wallet and hands it over. The man grabs the wallet as his finger slides back on the trigger and fires a bullet into John’s chest. He falls to the ground holding his chest. The man runs off into the night rain.

Arn was rescued by an American Soldier and taken to a refuge camp in Thailand. 2 years later an American named Peter Pond picked up Arn and 2 other Cambodian boys and went to the United States. Arn was adopted by Peter Pond and his wife to live in a big house in New Hampshire. Arn would have terrible nightmares almost every night wondering where his family was or even if they were alive. He slept on his bedroom floor because he could not get used to a bed. It was hard for him to believe that he did not have to hunt for food. At night he would sneak downstairs to the refrigertor and steal food to bring back to his room. He would put bananas under his pillow so he could eat in the safety of the night, He would then put the peels on the floor. When his mother came up in the morning she got angry. Arn didn't know to throw anything away. He viewed school as being terrible. He had never been to school before. He failed every class. He spit at a teacher and was sent to the Principles office. Instead of being expelled he was allowed to stay because he was so good at playing Soccer. Arn could not stop thinking about his family and others who were suffering in Cambodia. Then one day his adopted father told him if he really wanted to help other Cambodians come to this country, you have to speak out. In later years Arn found out that no member of his family had survived the Khmer Rouge. He continued to learn English and to speak out for Cambodian Refuges. In 1984, Arn and his friend, Judith Thompson co-founded Children of War, a group that brought people from War-torn countries together and gave them a chance to tell their stories to large audiences throughout the United States, He currently lives in Massachusetts where he works with an organization that helps Cambodian immigrants adjust to life in the United States.

Art work for the movie "Deliverance"

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It’s spring once again, and you know what that means. Outdoor activity will begin to pick up as the temperature continues to rise. The Parks in Parmawill begin filling with more warm bodies of people, their pets, and lots of wildlife. Golfers will begin going to the Ridgewood Golf Course. There will be lots more activity on the towpaths in the Parma Metroparks where ones will be spotted wading in Big Creek, along with cyclists riding the park’s beautiful trails. A few may even attempt to take up other outdoor activities such as archery, canoeing, rock climbing and white water rafting.

Yvonne Moon, the new Chief Nursing Officer of University Hospitals Parma Medical Center

University Hospitals Parma Medical Center has selected a new Chief Nursing Officer to lead the more than 630 nursing caregivers at the 273-bed hospital.

Spring and summer are great for tackling the home or garden project you’ve been thinking about, and that often means a trip to the hardware store to stock up on supplies. The most amazing of all hardware stores is found in Parma Heights. Andy's Hardware is the Grand  Daddy of hardware stores in NE Ohio.  Unique and tailored to meet the needs of the local community. All of the staff are committed to being helpful by offering customers knowledgeable advice, helpful service and quality products. They have gardening supplies for your lawn, as well as hardware staples, and more. The store also offers key making services.  

According to authorAnna Sellers Friedrich who wrote in Places Journal of architecture, landscape and urbanism "city halls exist in almost every city across America. They serve the same purpose in each place. they are portals through which we interact with local leaders and conduct our bereucratic business with the government". 

Parma Police Chief James Blair

Parma has named a new Chief of Police, who is the 10th Police Chief in Parma's history. James Blair has served 32 years in the Parma Police Department, and for the past 4 years has been Deputy Chief. Currently there are 113 officers in the department. There are many challenges facing the new Chief, and he has the full support of the community as he takes on this new position. 

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The City of Parma Heights is hosting the 3rd Annual Earth Day in the Commons sponsored by NOPEC on Saturday, April 27 from 1 to 4pm in Greenbriar Commons. The family-friendly, free event features a mix of local vendors and exhibitors: NOPEC, Cleveland Metroparks – Watershed Stewardship Center, Drink Local Drink Tap, Good Nature Organic Lawn Care, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, Meadow City Native Plant Nursery, West Creek Conservancy, Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, Big Creek Connects, Western Cuyahoga Audubon Chapter, Hive Works Honey, Lucky Paws Foster Group, Cuyahoga Soil & Water, Republic Services and more.

Photo of me taken in July 1965 in Rocky Mountain National Park taken by my father. 

Recently I watched a documentary on PBS from their American Experience series about the year 1964. They said that year was a pivotal year in that decade where a lot of things happened that changed just about all aspects of life in the United States. After watching that two-hour documentary, I must agree. In 1964 I was in high school at Valley Forge High School, and I remember the events of that year very well.

State Representatives Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township) and Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) introduce H.B. 195 at the Ohio Statehouse.

When I took my solemn oath of office to serve as your state representative back on January, 3, 2023, I made a commitment to be your voice and to work with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues to promote policies that improve the quality of life for you and all Ohioans. Throughout my career as an elected official, I have prided myself on being a public servant, not a politician. I am proud of the body of work that I have accomplished in the short 15 months I have served you at the Statehouse.

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Before long, we’ll be hearing the sweet sounds of spring when the ump says, “Play Ball!” The Parma Heights Recreation department is gearing up for spring and summer programs, events and leagues. New in 2024, the Parma Heights Recreation Department launched a new user-friendly website for online registration.

Connecting for Kids March Programs in Parma 

AN OPEN MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS OF PARMA, PARMA HEIGHTS AND SEVEN HILLS

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Denbrook DeMolay members met at the Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday February 11th, In observance of Patriots Day. DeMolay International defines the Patriots Day Observance as a day convenient to the Chapter during the month of February, where the Chapter arranges a special observance featuring the nation's great patriotic events and the great patriots who participated in them. 

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Maya Ying Lin, born (October 5, 1959) is an American Designer and Sculptor. In 1981, while an undergraduate at Yale University she achieved National recognition when she won a National Design Competition for the planned Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was dedicated in 1982.

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The Vietnam War was one of the most Challenging and controversial chapters in our country’s history. The Vietnam War began on November 1, 1955, and ended April 30, 1975, and claimed the lives of over 58,000 Americans with many still unaccounted for. The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition act of 2017 established March 29th as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day. March 29th is a fitting choice to honor Vietnam Veterans, as it was the day United State Military Assistance Command Vietnam was disestablished and the day that the last of American troops left Vietnam.

Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office Citizens Academy

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Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson announced the return of the popular Citizens Academy program. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office is now accepting applications for the academy, which is set to begin on April 18, 2024.

Figure Drawing Session

*The 25th Annual Valley Forge Spring Craft Show hosted by The Valley Forge Cross country Team will be held on March 16th, 2024 at Valley Forge High School, 9999 Independence Blvd, 10am to 3pm. Team led concessions will be available for breakfast and lunch, Vendors include holiday décor, ceramics, jewelry, knits, wreaths, candles, purses, kitchen items, embroidery, soap, beauty products, Easter items and more. 

The last two years the non-profit We Are Parma Proud has brought the fireworks to the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Rib & Rock. Which will be held on June 6th through the 9th this year. The organization has just begun soliciting businesses and individuals to donate the funds necessary to fund the fireworks display. 

Should You Buy Your Child an Electric Bike? With the Spring around the corner, many parents, family or friends are considering buying an electric bike (ebike) for their favorite child, or maybe they got one for Christmas. If you search the internet for advice on whether an ebike is safe for your children, you'll see that there aren't a lot of concrete studies on the topic. Before doing so, the pros and cons of an ebike (versus traditional bikes) should be considered:

Scale Model by Jack Dacek

Last year The Parma Historical Society was contacted by a very talented Jack Dacek indicating he was interested in building a model replica to scale of the Stearns house. He proceeded to take measurements and photos. Several hundreds of hours of work later, the scale model has been completed. The next step is to build a plexiglass box for it to be displayed in. Kuddos to Jack for sharing his talent with us. Watch the Parma Observer and Stearns Homestead Facebook Page for when you can view this in person

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On Saturday, February 24th the Annual International Taste of Polish Village occurred. Approximately 200 people were in attendance, in the St. Charles Parish Hall Lower Level.

Parma Seminoles Youth Football & Cheer, a non-profit organization that provides a place for the youth of Parma, Parma Heights, Seven Hills and the surrounding cities to strengthen their leadership abilities & personal discipline while learning about life, the game of football & competitive cheer. We are part of the Ohio Gridiron Youth Football Association, with all our coaches being USA Football certified. We offer flag football (K-1st gr.), tackle football (2nd-6th gr.) and cheerleading (K-6th gr.). REGISTRATION IS OPEN. www.parmaseminoles.squarespace.com

I have always considered myself a consumer watchdog. From my nearly twenty years on Parma City Council and, now, as your state representative, I am constantly on the lookout to protect consumers. My focus on consumer costs, no doubt, dates back to the days of my childhood. Our family of four lived a normal middle-class lifestyle until my dad abandoned us. My mom lost the house and we would have been homeless if it weren't for family members that helped out. My mom hesitantly applied for food stamps and other public assistance until she sort of got back on her feet because dad never paid a dime of child support and her take home pay was very low.