News You Can Use (And Where To Find It)

O  From Parma City Schools….
       >>  The Phase Three – High Schools Strategic Consolidation meeting schedule is as follows:
6:30 pm, Monday, April 8th at Normandy H.S.;  6:30 pm, Monday, April  29th, Parma Sr. H.S.; 
6:30 pm, Monday, May 13th at Valley Forge H.S.; 1:30 pm, Saturday, May 18th, Parma-Snow Library.
          >  Providing another opportunity to experience a “21st Century Facilities”, see how that translates into real life by meeting at North Olmsted Secondary Campus (27301 Butternut Ridge Rd.), at 10:30 am, Saturday, April 6th.
        >  Go here: https://www.parmacityschools.org/page/7883 to view the schedule of meetings, their minutes and other related documents.
     >>  On April 6th, Young Entrepreneurs (students grades 3 through 6) will be presenting their ideas & related business plans developed over the past several months to a panel of student judges & the public. A sampling of their products will also be offered for sale. The event sponsored by UH/Parma Medical Center is being held at Normandy H.S. from 8:00 am to Noon.
       >> To share general information & get community feedback, Superintendent Smialek will be hosting a Town Hall formatted meeting, Wednesday, May 1, 2019 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at Parma-Snow Branch Library Conference Room A/B; 2121 Snow Road, Parma, 44134.
       >>  The District has announced the return of paper recycling bins at all of its schools. Accepted items include, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, hard & soft cover books, office/school paper, cardboard & mail. Money earned will accrue to the benefit of the individual school.

O  The Parma Heights PACT (Police & Community Together) Youth Group….
      >>  The group is alive & well, continuing its bi-weekly meeting schedule, alternating between an activity of some type one week with a group discussion of a consensus topic the next. Meetings are from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Cassidy Theater. Kids between the ages of 12 – 17 living in and attending school in the city are welcome.
      >>  For announcements & detailed information visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/parmaheights.police; email: pactunit@gmail.com; ph: 440.884.1235

O  Learn how you can help students from Valley Forge H.S. complete an on-campus memorial to 15 alumni killed during the Vietnam war. They’re hoping to set the actual memorial in May and complete landscaping work shortly thereafter. Checks can be made out to Valley Forge H.S. memoed Vietnam Memorial or contact Amy Byrne at byrnea@parmacityschools.org. Valley Forge High School 9999 Independence Bl, Parma Hts, OH  44130.    

O  From Parma Council of PTA’s….
      >>  Their 67th Annual Geranium Sale that supports scholarships for district students begin March 25th through April 12th. Order forms will be available at every school, the district’s Admin Center and online at: https://www.parmacityschools.org/geraniums

O  For folks who may be un or underinsured seeking medical care, the Islamic Center of Cleveland has just opened a free health care clinic. Located on W. 130th (just north of Huffman Rd.), the clinic’s regular office hours are 9 am to 2 pm Saturday & Sunday and it’s open to anyone needing care. Learn more by attending their free Health Fair scheduled for Sunday, April 28th from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

O  From the Parma Area Family Collab:
       >>  For those providing care for someone else’s child, consider stopping by the Collab from 10:30 – 12:00 pm, the 2nd Monday of each month for KINSHIP KOFFEE. Share your concerns, issues, learn about available support & resources, receive encouragement….light refreshments are served & free childcare is available. Call 440.887.4873 for more information.
      >>  The spring sessionof Teach me to Read at Home is full. If anyone is interested in signing up for the fall session contact Kira Karabanovs at karabanovsk@parmacityschools.org or 440.842.7022.
      >>  Learn more about the Family Collaborative, its programs, services, events & resources available in the community by visiting https://familycollaborative.com/ or call the Collab at 440.887.4873.

O  From our Tri-City MyCom Youth Group….
       >>  For youth/young adults ages 14 – 24, registration for the Summer Youth Employment Program, coordinated by Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), is now open but slots are filling fast. Go to https://jobs.youthopportunities.orgs or call their Hotline @ 216.776.3900.
       >>  Learn more about the County’s MyCom initiative and it’s programs & events by visiting www.mycomcle.org.

O  From the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District….
     >>  Are you part of the #trashtag Challenge – the global movement that went viral on social media earlier this month? People all over the world are participating by cleaning up litter and posting before and after pictures on social media with the hashtag #trashtag. Get your program/organization involved in this clean-up program w/a twist. Learn more & request your cleanup kits from: https://cuyahogarecycles.org/clean_up_cuyahoga. 

O  The ever popular Parma Safety Fair will take place this year on Saturday, May 11th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. If your organization would like to reserve a table call Linda Cross at 440.885.8093. Questions regarding the event can be directed to City Council’s Safety Chair at limeward2@gmail.com

O  From Boy Scouts of America….
      >>  Visit:  https://lecbsa.org/# to learn what’s new, upcoming events and opportunities that are available.

O  From Stearns Farm….
      >> A save the date: WHEN: 1:00 pm, on Saturday April 13th, WHERE: Parma Christian Church, 7000 Ridge Rd., WHAT: “Bunny Yoga” – a fund raiser for the Homestead Hoofers 4-H club & their bunnies. Only 30 slots available – call 440.864.2021 to register. THIS CLASS FILLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. WATCH FOR A REPEAT.

O  A couple of unique summer camp opportunities….
       >>  There’s a summer “Fashion Camp” offered by the Focus Academy School of Fashion & Manufacturing Co. scheduled for May 18th. The company trains in industrial sewing, pattern making & fashion design & serves youth ages 15 – 10, adults ages 20+, 2nd chance offenders, vets & disabled. Check their web site: www.focusacademyschool.com or contact Danielle Young @ 216.703.9045, email: focusacadmfgco@gmail.com      
       >>  Check out the various camping alternatives at the Achievement Center for Children’s Camp Cheerful facility. Just 20 or so minutes away on Rt 82, east of the I-71 interchange, offerings include a Summer Day Camp, a Sensational Day Camp for children w/autism, an Overnight Camp & a Weekend Respite Camp. Go here for details: https://achievementcenters.org/program/childrens-camps/  
     
O  From Tri-C’s Creative Arts Academy – Dance & Vocal community Programs….
     >> Go here: http://tinyurl.com/CCC-Arts-Prog to view the broad range of dance & vocal programs available at various locations around the greater Cleveland community. All classes are free of charge & participating students are invited to the annual Community Dance/Vocal summer Camp held at the Metro Campus June 3 – 8, 2019. If interested, time is short, don’t delay.

O  From Camp Cheerful:
      >>  For the months of March & April, Camp Cheerful is opening up their Monday morning Preschool and Wednesday morning Homeschoolhorsemanship classes to ALL typically developing kids ages 4 and up.  So with Spring Break coming up, you can now register for any 10:30 class on Mondays or Wednesdays during the next two months.  Each class is 1 hour and includes an interactive 30 minute grooming/ground lesson & 30 minute trail ride (or obstacle course/game in the indoor arena if inclement weather). Classes are $25.00 per child with no minimum commitment required.  For information and registration please contact Marla Rzeszotarski, Camp Cheerful volunteer at marla_rz@yahoo.com or 330-608-0352. 

O  From ASPIRE Greater Cleveland:
      >>  They’re offering a specialized Microsoft Office Word certification course this spring for qualified ESOL students. The MOS IET is a specialized ESOL integrated education and training (IET) course that’s free and open to any student who completes an Aspire Greater Cleveland ESOL orientation. This course is designed to prepare students to earn their Microsoft Office Specialist certification in Microsoft Word. This 10-week class is being offered at (among several other locations) the Parma Snow branch Library on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-4pm, from April 8th – June 12th. Students will still need to attend an orientation session prior to April 1st. Call 833.277.4732 for details.

O  From CCPL (Cuyahoga County Public Library)….
      >>  Rather than run the risk of overlooking a particularly unique program at one of our local branches please use these links to visit their event/program calendar for the current month.
         >  Parma-Snow Branch:  https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-Parma-SnowCalendar
         >  Parma Branch (Powers Blvd):  https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-ParmaCalendar
         >  Parma Hts Branch:  https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-ParmaHtsCalendar