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Saint Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Parma's Ukrainian Village. 

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Ukrainian Village in Parma was the place on August 27 where once again all eyes focused on Ukraine and the ongoing atrocities committed by the ruthless dictator Putin on these innocent people. The Ukrainian Independence Parade hels annually here was especially poignant this year after what has unfolded just 6 months ago. One of the very largest parades ever held in Parma, with at least 66 floats, it was a very inspirational event, with so many people coming to show their unwavering support in this time. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was there and spoke to those assembled, as well as US Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, Parma Mayor timothy J. DeGeeter, Parma City Council President Sean Brennan, and so many others. We were all very proud to see such a turnout for our friends and neighbors, and it is so wonderful that we have such a thing as Ukrainian village in our city. A naturalization ceremony was conducted where 15 brand new Americans were sworn in, and this above all served as a reminder of how special  being a citizen in a free country is, and how we all can take it for granted from time to time. 

The Parma City School District has partnered with GPD Group, our architectural consultants, to design a unique learning institution that will empower our high school students to learn in a first-class environment with myriad opportunities to “find their niche.” The singular district high school will locate on the current property of Parma Senior High School (PSH), which is scheduled to be demolished in Fall 2023. Renderings of the campus show a clear embrace of the historical features of PSH, including the construction of a new clock tower above the main entrance to the school and red brick lining the exterior. 

Gunny

For the first time in Parma Heights Police Department history, we welcome a new K-9 officer. Thanks to the A. Ripepi Funeral Home and a private family donor, we’re excited to add K-9 officer Gunny Bennett on the team. Gunny is a multipurpose German shepherd/Belgian Malinois and is named in honor of the family’s father who helped donate the money, who was a gunnery sergeant in the military. Gunny’s middle name, Bennett, is to honor fallen Parma Heights Police Officer Sergeant Robert Bennett, who lost his life during a bank robbery in October 1972.

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This month I am concluding my series entitled Civics 101. The hope has been to provide you with useful information about your local, state, and federal governments. So far I have covered our municipal (city), school district, and county governments, as well as Ohio’s state government and the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. This month I will write about our federal judicial branch – the federal courts.

On August 7 members of the Screen Actors Guild held a picnic at the pavilion in Westcreek Conservancy in Parma. Board member Andy Schofield, former Parma Ward 9 Councilman, and fellow board member Mike Kraft were in attendance, as well as Secretary Joe Gunderman. 39 people in all were there, enjoying food from Stancato's Restaurant on a beautiful sunny day in Parma. The SAG-AFTRA Family Picnic is an annual event, and the union encompasses actors, stunt people, broadcasters, dancers and singers. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, taling over activities in their business and reminiscing about the great times they've had. They couldn't have picked a finer place for their gathering than this pavilion in our wondrful local resource that is Westcreek Reservation. 

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The Donna Smallwood Senior Center continues to grow and provide more programs than ever before. Our average daily attendance is over 100 and that breaks even pre-pandemic records. Of course this is due, in large part, to the YMCA Silver Sneakers classes offered here daily.

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse: Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news
O  From The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking:
      >>  “Fundamentals of Human Trafficking” presentations will be coming up at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 7th, and again at 10:30 am, Tuesday, Oct 4th. These hour-long presentations are both free and virtual. Get details & register here.
      >>  Save the date: October 20-21, 2022... join us in envisioning a new movement focused on creating a roadmap for collaboration where all systems and survivors work together for solutions. This county-wide,  appreciative inquiry, “Thriving Youth Summit” will be facilitated by the Community Innovation Network at Case Western Reserve University. Watch for more information coming soon.
      >>  Go here to display a list of the nearly 70 partner organizations & agencies that make up Greater Cleveland’s Coordinated Response to Human Trafficking. Click on any of the entries to visit their respective website.
      >>  Know who to call….If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking call the Cuyahoga County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Hotline at 216-443-6085 or 911 in the case of an emergency.     

O  From Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC):
      >>  It being Back-To-School time, go here to learn of four ways you can help support students and survivors in our community this fall.
      >>  CRCC offers resources on preventing, responding to, and supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Check out their library here.
      >>  Learn how YOU can help to prevent sexual abuse in our communities. Whether you’re an educator, healthcare provider, or parent/caregiver, we ALL can play our part. The training is free, virtual & open to all. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!    

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, partnering with The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, will offer a monthly Mobile Food Pantry distribution on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Parma Heights Branch Library, 6206 Pearl Road, on Wednesday, September 21st from 10:00 a.m. -12 Noon for customers who are in need.  Please visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313 for additional information. 

Back by popular demand! Amanda Nyx of Fiercely Serene Studios is truly a renaissance woman. Her passions are creating art, live performance art and dance. Her enthusiastic personality is infectious. She’s participated at events at Ingenuity Cleveland, Brite Winterfest, Cleveland Public Theater, and Prama Artspace & Gallery. She recently appeared at Chagrin Falls Little Theater and will be performing at Cassidy. She also performed at Picnic In The Park. 

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PRAMA ARTSPACE & GALLERY, 5411 Pearl Rd, in Parma, Ohio, opened the exhibit titled All Together Now, on Friday, August 26th. This exhibit and sale has a large variety of work, one each, from over 30 local area artists. This exhibit is not juried and contains works from amateurs and professionals, sized 18x24 and smaller. It offers artists who don’t normally appear in galleries a chance to display and sell their work. The Call For Artists was made to anyone and all, and there is no specific theme. So you will see a wide variety of styles and mediums. This event runs through September 18th.

Over the past few years, the volunteers involved with the 501(c)3 non-profit organization We Are Parma Proud have worked tirelessly to advance and support the city’s overall image and well-being. Whether it was creating and publishing Parma’s first ever Visitor’s Guide (available in both electronic and hard-copy formats), hosting family-friendly events like Frosty’s Fest and Picnic in the Park, beautifying local streets through our Trash Crawls, engaging the community through online photo initiatives and contests during the fall and winter months, putting together the fireworks display after the Rib ‘n Rock, and much more, one thing is certain: We Are Parma Proud is here to stay. 

Old Brook Parma 2022 Graduates

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Old Brook High School Parma Campus is a credit recovery/dropout prevention high school. Located at 8555 Day Drive in Parma, Old Brook Parma provides all students a safe environment, caring teachers, and tremendous opportunities. Old Brook Parma offers core classes in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Elective courses are also offered.

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On September 9th, National Teddy Bear Day and Parma Heights 2ND Fridays honors the history of one of childhood’s favorite toys. This iconic toy owes its name to President Theodore Roosevelt, who was lovingly called Teddy by his family and friends. Some of us still have our teddy bear from our childhood. No matter what kind of teddy bear you had, the day is a perfect time to celebrate your childhood friend! And 2ND Fridays will celebrate with you! If you have toys from your childhood stored away in the attic or the basement, today is the day to take out all your teddy bears and show them some love. If you have children in your life, surprise them with their own teddy bear to cuddle with.  Young or old, venture on down to Pearl road Parma Heights on Friday September 9th and you may receive a free teddy bear!  Shop, Eat, Play in Parma Heights on Pearl Road and the 2ND Fridays Squad may be by the local bakery, hairdresser, barber shop, hardware store, restaurant, and give to you a 'bear-y' special and cuddly surprise!  

This lucky gray-cheeked thrush seems safe, for now

Last month, the first of its kind in North America, "Icebreaker," an offshore Lake Erie wind turbine project, was green-lighted by top dog legislators in Ohio.

The confident care of a skilled surgeon using a robot to remove a mysterious mass in his chest was enough to intrigue Star Wars fan Tom Farmer. A physically fit executive who walks up to five miles most mornings, Farmer had just begun experiencing occasional but inexplicable episodes of light headedness after he turned 60. His primary care physician ordered a coronary artery calcium scoring scan, a noninvasive diagnostic test offered free at University Hospitals that can detect calcification of the coronary arteries and determine heart attack risk.

As often occurs, the CT scan of his chest yielded information about his heart – and beyond. The scan showed a 4.5-centimeter mass on his thymus, an immune system gland, in the center of his chest. Farmer was surprised, as he had not felt any pain, pressure or discomfort – not a single symptom that a foreign, potentially cancerous mass was forming. Up to half of all adults who get a chest X-ray or CT scan have lung nodules, according to the American Thoracic Society. They typically appear as a white spot or shadow on a radiographic image and are too small to cause pain or breathing problems. They may result from an irritant, scar tissue or a healed infection.

Farmer was referred to the Lung Nodule Clinic at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center. Even before his appointment took place, he received a call from coordinator Kellie Selig, RN, explaining what he could expect. This call comforted him, immediately putting him at ease. “Kellie was very calming,” said Farmer, a father of four and grandfather of nine. “This was the most serious health situation I had ever faced. I was scared in that moment – and here is this wonderful person who is going to guide me through.”

Nurse practitioner Lynda Boldt, CNP, of the Community Care Clinic, where the program is based, evaluates each patient for referral to the appropriate specialist, such as a pulmonologist for bronchoscopy, interventional radiology for biopsy or additional scanning, or a thoracic surgeon, Christopher Towe, MD, for removal. Farmer was referred immediately to Dr. Towe, who prides himself on expediting referrals from the clinic. “I literally walked out of that meeting with Kellie, Lynda and Dr. Towe thinking I couldn’t have a better team,” Farmer said. “These guys, they know their stuff.”

The Lung Nodule Clinic has put minds at ease and caught cancer early for hundreds of patients since it opened three years ago. “Concerning conditions are seen almost immediately,” says Dr. Towe. “We never refuse an emergency evaluation. In fact, most patients go from a worrisome CT scan to a definitive care plan within 10 days.”

Across the country, an estimated 70 percent of lung nodule cases fail to be tracked. UH Parma’s lung nodule clinic include a registry that logs patients so these often slow-growing masses are tracked over time. “We want zero patients lost to follow up,” Dr. Towe said. “We want to miss no one.”

Farmer talked with Dr. Towe about the tumor found on his thymus. He learned he had two options: a biopsy, where a sample of the mass is sent to pathology to determine whether the tumor was dangerous, or a complete resection of the mass. Farmer was drawn to the latter, especially when Dr. Towe explained that he could use a robot – “like R2D2” – in the modern new operating theatres at UH Parma Medical Center. Dr. Towe is increasingly using the Da Vinci Xi, a high-tech robotic platform, for removal of masses like this one. Of particular note: many patients go home from UH Parma within 24 hours of their operation due to a novel fast-track recovery program. This is far quicker than the national average of four days, says the surgeon.

Fewer than 5 percent of all nodules turn out to be cancer, and even in these cases, the cancer is often in its earliest stages. Tom’s cancer had not spread to other organs, but some aggressive features necessitated a series of daily radiation treatments for six weeks. “Within 48 hours of being told I had this mass in my chest, I was meeting with my thoracic surgeon,” Farmer said. “I’m a Star Wars fan, and when he mentioned a robot like R2-D2, I knew I liked this guy. His confidence makes you feel great.”

Entertainer Bill Newman at Pleasant Lake Villa on August 18. 

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The last concert of the Pleasant Lake Villa Summer Concert Series was on Thursday, August 18th, 2022. Thank you to Bill Newman for sharing his talent with us this summer! This concert was presented outdoors in the beautiful courtyard and was thouroughly enjoyed by residents listening to soothing vocals backed by wonderful music,on an equally beautiful summer afternoon. The final concert capped off a series of succesful events for our residents and staff at Pleasant Lake Villa   

There is a good chance that you interact with money on a daily basis. You are earning money through a paycheck or interest on investments; or you are spending money on items or accruing interest on debt. And yet financial education isn't taught in schools. I know I certainly didn't learn about financial basics in school, and I'm betting you didn't either. Financial education is important for so many reasons (reduce stress and anxiety, feel confident in your money choices, pay off debt and build a nest egg) so I am here to break down the basics of credit scores and reports.

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host King of the Moondoggers: Alan Freed & the Birth of Rock n Roll on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 7:00-7:50 p.m. Historian Dennis R. Sutcliffe will talk about the journey of Alan Freed to Cleveland where Rock n Roll was born. Dance at the Moondog Coronation Ball!  Mr. Sutcliffe will include audio clips of ten early Rock n Roll favorites during his presentation. In-person program. Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or contact a librarian at the Parma Heights Branch at 440.884.2313. 

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will present Saturday Afternoon Book Discussion on Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in Meeting Room C.  In-person program. Join a librarian from the Adult Services Department  as we discuss Memorial Driveby Natasha Trethewey. Registration requiredbefore picking up a copy of the book at the circulation desk. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313.   

K-9 officers will give a demonstration and visit with residents.

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The City of Parma will host its 20th Safety Fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Parma Justice Center, 5555 Powers Blvd. The free community event is open to Parma residents of all ages. Safety experts will offer advice and safety giveaways, including bike helmets, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, while supplies last. The event will run rain or shine. No registration is required.

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Saturday. August 6th, from 11:00AM to 2:00PM, stop up at Ridgewood Lake Park, behind the Anthony Zielinki Splash Pad for the annual Picnic In The Park, an old fashioned community picnic. There will be games and prizes for the kids, music, live entertainment and food trucks. This year there will be about 40 to 45 vendors, non-profits passing out information about their organizations, and many hand crafted arts & crafts vendors. You’ll see Parma organizations like Stearns Homestead, Parma Animal Shelter, Ridgewood Garden Club, Parma Area Fine Arts Council, Great Lakes Wood Carvers, Operation Happy Pups, Parma Early Childhood PTA and more. Many will have raffle baskets and give-aways. Local artisans will be on hand to sell their wares, such as home décor, mugs, wine glasses, crochet items, pillows, baby items, soaps, candles, coasters, pet portraits jewelry and so much more. Food, such as cheese-steaks, and BBQ, cold drinks, and cotton candy will be for sale. Don’t forget to stop at the We Are Parma Proud tent to purchase your t-shirt, tote bag or hat with the awesome logo, or buy a raffle ticket for the basket filled with goodies. 

Left to right, Seven Hills Mayor Anthony Biasiotta, his Father Anthony Biasiotta, and brother Guy Biassiotta. 

The Seven Hills Home Days is indeed a wonderful community summer event, one that I look forward to each year. Seeing Mayor Tony Biasiotta there along with his brother Guy Biasiotta and meeting their Father for the first time was a distinct pleasure. Mayor Biasiotta is fortunate to have his father with him to see his son's accomplishments, and he is undoubtedly proud of the job he has done so far running Seven Hills. Hats off to you Biasiotta Family. 

Parma Heights recently celebrated the grand reopening of McDonald’s. Along with the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce and Parma Heights Police, it was a fun afternoon with the ribbon cutting and the Chief and Captain even helped serve guests at the drive-thru window. We are grateful to have businesses that give back to the community and encourage building relationships throughout our city.

Discover Parma Heights while learning new things about yourself and friends during the 2ND Annual 2ND Fridays Pearl Road Scavenger Hunt. Highlights of the scavenger hunt include visiting spots that locals may or not be aware of, a gentle walk along Pearl road in Parma Heights which can win you or your team prizes from local businesses. This year the scavenger hunt will  encourage participants to pinpoint a flower area, landmarks, small businesses, and a few other odds and ends in Parma Heights. It's a stroll with an entertaining (and sometimes educational) purpose, shedding light on Parma Heights and the environment around you! It all begins Friday Aug 12th-Friday Aug 19th.  Pick up a Free 2nd Friday Scavenger Hunt List at the Parma Heights Library, 168 Optical at 6315 Pearl Rd, Village Cards & Gifts 6643 Pearl Road, Diamond Strength Fitness 6690 Pearl Road, or copy it from the Parma Heights 2ND FRIDAY Facebook page beginning Aug 10th. (which will also list the cool prizes)  You can do it yourself or round up a few pals to find all 16 things in one day. There are no hard and fast rules, only an invitation to slow down, enjoy a Summer day and open your eyes to the little things Parma Heights has to offer.        

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Contessa Michel, owner of BoBella Party Design & Gifts, has been selected as part of a talented team of international Balloon Professionals, to create a giant immersive balloon wonderland sponsored by Qualatex and using over 300,000 balloons for the Give Kids the World charity in Orlando.

In 1973, a movie premiered titled American Graffiti that had as it’s line “where were you in ’62? The movie dealt with the adventures of a group of young adults who had recently gradated from high school the previous June over a Labor Day weekend. The movie was set in Modesto California and was directed by a young man who grew up in Modesto and remembered those days of rock and roll music and “cruising” down the main drag of the city on summer evenings. That young director was George Lucas and the success of American Graffiti gave him the credibility to begin on his next project, a science fiction movie that was Star Wars.

Senator Antonio with President Biden.

On July 6, I was honored to meet President Biden during his visit to Max S. Hayes High School in the 23rd Senate District. President Biden came to announce the final step in implementing the American Rescue Plan’s Special Financial Assistance program, which will protect union workers facing cuts to their benefits in multiemployer pension plans.

Natassia and Ricky Safranek returned to UH Parma Medical Center's Emergency Department with their 1-year-old son, Lenny, to reunite with the team who saved Natassia's life last summer right after her son's birth. Pictured here with the Safraneks, clockwise from left, are Michael Kelley, MD, medic Adam and nurses Brit and Nyah.

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Just days after delivering her baby three months early at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Natassia Safranek was rushed to UH Parma Medical Center’s Emergency Department, her blood pressure spiking as it did in precipitating her little boy’s premature birth.

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse: Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news

Interesting and colorful banner leading to the entrance of the area where the observance occurred.  

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In July Parma was host to what has been described as a once in a lifetime religious event. Practitioners of the Hindu Faith gathered at a private residence for 10 days to partake in a ritual known as Sapta Maha Puran, which is a blessing event for families to honor those who have passed away. I expected to see things that I was not all too familiar with when I went there, but my expectations were greatly surpassed as I entered the area in which the event was occurring. Incredible music, obvious joy, and intense devotion is what I witnessed. I was amazed at how they had turned a back yard in Parma into a sight that quite frankly photographs do not accurately convey this transformation. By all means, go to the Parma Observer Facebook in order to view a video of this extraordinary event. 

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will present Saturday Afternoon Book Discussion on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. in Meeting Room C. In-person program. Join a librarian from the Adult Services Department for a brand new, staff-led book discussion we discuss My Remarkable Journey by Katherine Johnson.  Registration required before picking up a copy of the book at the circulation desk. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313.

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, partnering with The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, will offer a monthly Mobile Food Pantry distribution on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Parma Heights Branch Library, 6206 Pearl Road, on Wednesday, August 17th from 10:00 a.m. -12 Noon for customers who are in need.  Please visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313 for additional information. 

A Padua High School student helped collect food for the Christmas in July Food Drive float during the Independence Day Parade.

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Mayor’s Office summer intern Lukas George got a workout every Friday when he lifted and loaded into his car the heavy bins of donated food from various collection sites. He then transported the food to the Parma Hunger Center, where the items were later sorted and placed on pantry shelves at 5280 Broadview Road, Parma.

The award-winning Child Care Center at University Hospitals Parma Health Education Center was the first school for thousands of children over the past four decades. As the Center turns 40, the teachers – many with decades of service themselves – are welcoming back students and their families for a reunion to revisit their classrooms and see the people with whom they spent their formative years.

Parma Heights has created several "pocket parks" throughout the city. Instead of piles of mulch and empty benches, these spaces could feed and shelter bees, birds and butterflies. Anytime I've taken a break when walking the city, I've never seen anything with wings, anything with feathers or anything with six (or more) legs!   

Parma City Council President Sean Brennan welcomes U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown to German Central in Parma.

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This month I am continuing my series entitled Civics 101. The hope is to provide you with useful information about your local, state, and federal governments. So far I have covered our municipal (city), school district, and county governments, as well as Ohio’s state government and the executive branch of the federal government. This month I will write about our federal legislative or law-making branch.

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NOPEC DO NOT KNOCK PROGRAM

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The Great Lakes Wood Carvers have an Open Carve Night on Tuesday evenings at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center. They bring whatever project they are working on, share techniques and stories, and laugh a lot for a couple of hours each week. This is a laid back friendly group, and they welcome visitors.