'56 Chevy featured with owner Carl Schanz, ED Felicia Martinez and students from Holy Name H.S.
All are welcome to attend the first ever Wheels for Meals car show to benefit All Faiths Pantry on June 7th at Yorktown Lanes. All makes, models and years welcome! Show off your car or just stop in to experience a blast from the past. Music, food and fun!
The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will celebrate its 60th birthday on Saturday, June 17th, 2023 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. in Meeting Room A. Celebrate will us and join in the fun! No registration.Please visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313 for additionalinformation.
Fun ideas to celebrate Fathers Day from Village Cards & Gifts
Scrambling for the perfect present for Pops? Father's Day is coming up June 18th! Surprise dear ol' Dad with one of these gifts one can find in Parma Heights. Let's show them how much we appreciate all of their wisdom by finding the perfect Father's Day gift at a local business.
The Parma Heights Branch Library of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host Life of Taras Shevchenko on Thursday, June 22nd, 2023 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in Meeting Room A. WordStage Founding Artistic Director Tim Tavcar and its core company members actors Agnes Herrmann and Paul Slimak, accompanied by violinists Mary Beth Ions and Carol Ruzicka, will present a dramatic re-enactment of the life of Taras Shevchenko, folk hero of Ukraine, with Ukrainian folk music. Q&A following the presentation. Registration required. Sponsored by Friends of Parma Heights Library. Registration required.To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.orgor call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313.
Nearly $2 million was invested in an upgrade of Interventional Radiology equipment at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center, enabling the care team to provide more complex exams for a wider range of patients. UH Parma now has the most sophisticated IR lab in the entire UH system, which includes more than 20 hospitals, including five joint ventures.
The updated Interventional Radiology suite unveiled in a May 16 celebration with local and system Radiology leaders and staff will allow for higher-quality imaging that emits a lower radiation dose to the patient.
“Many of the procedures patients would have had to go downtown for previously can now be done at our community hospital,” said Chief Operating Officer James Hill, MD. He credited UH system leaders with acknowledging the growing volumes at UH Parma that necessitated this investment. “This is a big day for UH Parma, and it’s been a long time coming.”
The modern Interventional Radiology suite features new fluoroscopy and ultrasound equipment and a new patient recovery area. Key referring providers currently include various surgical and medical subspecialties, particularly those caring for cancer patients. These new capabilities will expand the spectrum of procedures provided to include more advanced outpatient therapies such as oncologic and non-oncologic embolotherapy, vascular malformation treatments, and pain treatments such as kyphoplasty.
Vessels can be visualized with 3D mapping, and 2D and 3D images can be fused. The resolution of images is 40 percent greater than standard imaging, which provides enhanced visualization of even the smallest structures, allowing radiologists to see the degree of stenosis, or narrowing, in vessels.
Donna Plecha, MD, FACR, FSBI, Chair of Radiology for the UH system, said the growing volumes at UH Parma under the leadership of Salim-Tamuz Abboud, MD, UH Parma’s Chairman of the Department of Radiology, helped make the case for investing in the upgrade at UH Parma and keeping patients closer to home. Added Jon Davidson, MD, FSIR, Division Chief of Interventional Radiology: “UH Parma now has the newest, most updated IR capabilities in the UH system.”
“UH Parma Interventional Radiology will now be capable of effectively matching the breadth and complexity of outpatient IR procedures offered at UH Cleveland Medical Center and regional locations,” said Dr. Abboud. “This is a generational leap in interventional radiology capability for our community and now represents the most technologically advanced interventional radiology suite in the University Hospitals system.”
A strong interventional radiology section is vital to providing high-quality standard of care for many kinds of patients across various service lines, Dr. Abboud added. Capable angiography, ultrasound and CT equipment are basic necessities, he noted, and the recently upgraded IR equipment allows UH Parma to deliver the services to meet the demands of our growing hospital.
“UH Parma IR now has the ability to care for the sickest patients in the hospital,” Dr. Abboud said. “Local patients, including certain trauma patients and those with internal or gastrointestinal bleeding, were often transferred to UH Cleveland Medical Center specifically for IR procedures. Now our patients can receive that care at UH Parma Medical Center in an expedited fashion.”
We are pleased to announce that Holy Family Home Health Care has been awarded a 5-star rating for patient satisfaction. Holy Family Home Health Care scored ninety-percent in the patient recommendation category while the Ohio average sits at seventy-four and the national average at seventy-eight. The rating is scored through the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS).
On Thusday 4/20 a Community Paint & Sip Event was held at Pleasant Lake Villa in Parma. Supplies were free, and Art Therapist Lidia guided attendees in creating a spring themed painting. This was the first event held since restrictions were lifted, and everyone had a lot of fun while creating their own masterpiece!
I Believe in You
The sun
The moon
The Earth
And the stars
I believe in
Hope and
Dreams
No matter
How far
Prayers and
Dares
Here and
There
I believe in
Faith and
Grace and
Kindness and
Care
I believe in
Friends and
Family and
Whatever
You do
Because I
Always and
Forever
Believe in
You
Passion and
Love and
Miles of
Smiles
I believe in
Heaven and
Helping and
Life without
Trials
Miracles and
Moments and
The present and
The past
I believe in
Sharing life and
Sorrow and
Laughs
I believe in
Friends and
Family and
Whatever
You do
Because I
Always and
Forever
Believe in
You
Copyright ©2023 Jack P. Marschall
Photo by Andrew Cross
Mr. Rosko’s book really does live up to its name: A Descent into Madness. As I read it, I felt as if I was a prisoner in this insane and helpless little realm which the author has so cleverly created. Some of Rosko’s thoughts and ideas are just so bizarre and twisted that the work is truly frightening and downright disturbing … until you pinch yourself and realize that it is not real … Or is it? In a way, the story reminded me of Dante’s Inferno and long, tortuous journeys through the abyss. That is where similarities end. Rosko’s journey is more unsettling. For one, in this tale, the reader is lost; this is the most fearsome state of all. Also, unlike Inferno, Rosko’s story abounds with sick humor.
The following article is an appeal to you the reader. The intent is not hidden, rather it is for residents of Parma who treasure their city and call it home. Hopefully, it will serve as a call for action where residents can begin an open discussion with our City leaders to improve our city's fiscal decisions.
As a public servant I want to be accessible to my constituents. Knowing what is on people’s minds helps me represent them better at the Statehouse. I hope folks will join me for my open office hours. There is no RSVP required. Please contact my office at 614-466-3485 or Rep14@OhioHouse.gov, if you would prefer a private meeting or if you require immediate assistance with a state issue. With beautiful weather finally here, I thought we would get out and get active, so I am changing it up this month.
This month's picture of the month shows the script Parma sign lit up in honor of Pride Month. If you would like to submit a picture for the script Parma picture of the month contest, e-mail it to staterepbrennan@gmail.com and include your name, address, and contact information.
Ward 5 Parma City Councilman Allan Divis visited our Safety forces recently, here with members of the Parma Fire Department.
Recently, I voted with all of my Democratic colleagues, along with five Republican colleagues in the Ohio House of Representatives against Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2). Although we lost the vote and the resolution passed, our bipartisan group agreed with four former Ohio Governors (Republicans John Kasich and Bob Taft and Democrats Ted Strickland and Dick Celeste), five former Ohio Attorney Generals (Republicans Jim Petro and Betty Montgomery and Democrats Richard Cordray, Lee Fisher, and Nancy Rogers), and a multitude of state organizations from throughout the political spectrum to say no to allowing minority rule in Ohio.
* Parma resident, Lena Simovic’s photographic images were digitally displayed at the Cleveland’s Assembly For The Arts, Art Ball at The Madison on Payne Ave, Saturday, May 13th. Congrats Lena!
With the school year officially over, kids and families can begin to fill their summer calendars with fun activities and events close to home! Enjoy staycationing with the City of Parma Heights Recreation Department all summer long.
Too many times we think about what we should have done in different situations. This thought occurs to us in so many different aspects of our lives. One such situation might be the decision to not go to a party where alcohol is being served. Or you might say to yourself, “What would have happened if I hadn’t attended college-what would I be doing?” Sometimes an opportunity will come to us only once in our lifetime. Once that opportunity passes, it is gone forever. It’s like being struck by lightning-how many times can it happen? Most opportunities usually include making a choice and these choices may have different outcomes. The choice will dictate our future and some of these decisions lead to good results and some lead to bad results.
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May 20 & 21 was the Parma Area Fine Arts, (PAFAC), Medley of Arts Show & Sale at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center in Parma. This year the annual show featured 42 artists and over 120 creations in various mediums. Besides paintings in watercolor, acrylics, and oils, there was alcohol ink, marker, colored pencil, charcoal, mixed media, wood burning on paper, collage and photography. Also three dimensional items like wood carving, assemblage, glass, stained class, and jewelry.
A few months ago, Florida Senator and Senate Republican chairman, Rick Scott suggested “sunsetting” government programs. This is a term that would require reviewing government programs every five years and perhaps terminateding some. He also suggested that Medicare is one program that should be reviewed and renewed on a periodic basis. I wonder how this went over in his state of Florida that has perhaps the largest population of people over age 65 in the nation.
University Hospitals Parma Medical Center received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. This national distinction celebrates UH Parma Medical Center s achievements in prioritizing patient safety by protecting patients from preventable harm and errors. The new grades reflect performance primarily during the height of the pandemic.
“Most hospitals took a decade-long step back during the pandemic era in terms of patient experience and quality, and patient perception followed,” said James Hill, MD, Chief Operating Officer of UH Parma Medical Center. “The COVID-19 pandemic in some ways may have been our finest hour, because UH Parma had put the people and processes in place to be hyper-focused on Zero Harm with proactive measures to benefit patients. This is a story we are excited to tell. It’s the power of intentional change.”
Leapfrog’s publicly available hospital grades are an important tool that empowers patients, Dr. Hill added. UH Parma closely monitors quality measures like hospital-acquired infections and readmission rates. All caregivers, including nurses and physicians, are encouraged to actively advocate for their patients, which leads to a culture of shared responsibility and accountability.
The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm.
“This new update of Hospital Safety Grades shows that, at the national level, we saw deterioration in patient safety with the pandemic,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “But this hospital received an ‘A’ despite those challenges. I congratulate all the leaders, staff, volunteers and clinicians who together made that possible.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospital prevention of medical errors and harm to patients. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
To see UH Parma Medical Center’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter, Facebook and via its newsletter.
Local nonprofit Young Professionals of Parma (your favorite group of community advocates!) hosted the 2023 Pizza Bake Off, an annual tradition dating back to well before Covid. This year was a smashing success! Hundreds of Parma-area residents poured in to sample pizza from our city’s premiere pizza restaurants. In addition to the pizza, there was live music, raffles and prizes, beer provided by Schnitz Ale Brewery, games, and a whole lot more.
On Monday, May 29th, the Parma Heights Memorial Day service will take place on the front lawn of the Parma-South Presbyterian Church at 6155 Pearl Road. 2023 marks the 156th consecutive year of the Parma Heights Memorial Day commemoration. The Parma Heights service is the oldest continuous observance in the state of Ohio.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s next Regional Stormwater Management Project, “Big Creek Flood Reduction near Sprague Road,” will begin April 24, resulting in a road closure and detours in North Royalton and Parma.
Sprague Road will be closed for approximately 200 feet, east of Thornhurst Drive. Thru-traffic motorists will detour to Pleasant Valley Road via State and Hoertz Roads. Residents living within the closed area will continue to have driveway access during construction.
The project will continue into the fall, but the road will be closed for approximately 60 days.
This $1.4 million project will replace the deteriorated stream crossing beneath Sprague Road, doubling in size to increase capacity and reduce street flooding. A segment of the now-culverted stream south of Sprague Road will be daylighted and a floodplain will be reestablished to further reduce street flooding.
NEORSD’s Regional Stormwater Management Program addresses problems related to stormwater runoff from hard surfaces. Runoff contributes to regional stream flooding, erosion and water-quality issues, and the program improves NEORSD’s ability to further address stormwater problems that cross community boundaries.
Who doesn’t love a parade and a party? And this one is the first parade of the year! May 7th at 2:00 pm, starts the Polish Constitution Day Parade in Polish Village. It starts at the Circle on Ridge Rd. and travels north down Ridge to Alber Ave. You’ll see high school bands, Polish dignitaries & organizations, local politicians, businesses and non-profits. The Grand Marshall’s this year are Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter and representing the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio is Marta Leszczynski. Parma and Polish Village are proud to stand with Ukraine.
Parma City School Superintendent Charles Smialek will Narrate: “A Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copland at upcoming Spring Concert of PSO
Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a LIVE Classical Music Concert on Sunday, May 7 at 3:00 PM at Valley Forge High School Auditorium located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights Featuring:
In last month’s column I wrote about my commitment to bipartisanship in my work at the Ohio Statehouse. I am of the belief, and I believe most agree, that Democrats and Republicans working across the aisle leads to better policies that benefit all Ohioans and that it is our only hope for the future. I am happy to report this month on a piece of legislation that I recently worked on that exemplifies this spirit of cooperation and how it led to a good result for Ohio.
Not staying up to watch late night TV might have saved Ron Clow’s life.
Usually when his wife heads to bed in the evening, Ron remains in the living room to finish a ball game or some other show. But on the night of Feb. 28, Josephine said she was going to bed, and Ron thought that sounded like a good idea.
He was right.
When Josephine came out of the bathroom after preparing for bed, Ron was speaking gibberish and having trouble moving one side of his body. At least that’s what he was told, because he doesn’t remember any of the next three days, from being transported by ambulance to UH Parma Medical Center for evaluation of a stroke and administration of the clot-busting Tenecteplase, to being lifeflighted to UH Cleveland Medical Center for a thrombectomy or mechanical removal of the clot.
“Thank God for her – she called 9-1-1 for the ambulance,” said the Parma man, 73, who has been married to his wife for 54 years and known her since kindergarten. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
UH Parma is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and among 14 UH hospitals recognized for quality stroke care. UH Cleveland Medical Center, a Comprehensive Stroke Center that can handle mechanical removal of clots in ischemic stroke cases, is the only hospital in Ohio for the second consecutive year to receive all four of the highest awards from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Awards.
Timing is critical in stroke cases. Every 40 seconds in the United States, someone suffers a stroke, and every 3.5 minutes someone dies. It’s the leading cause of long-term disability in the country. UH Parma works closely with EMS on stroke identification, and EMS can notify the hospital of a suspected stroke en route to the Emergency Department. The Stroke Team is activated to prepare for the patient.
“EMS identified his stroke symptoms, and stroke activation was initiated before he arrived,” said ED physician Tom Mager, MD. “He was evaluated in the hallway and then taken directly to CT. Radiology interpreted his head CT, and I ordered thrombolytics and a CT angiogram that identified a large vessel arterial occlusion. The patient was flown to CMC (UH Cleveland Medical Center). It was similar to care that we perform every day.”
Ron spent a total of 21 days in the hospital, including three days in the Neurosciences Unit at UH Cleveland Medical Center before returning to his community hospital for intensive therapy at UH Parma’s Acute Rehabilitation Center.
He has graduated from a walker to a cane and is moving around pretty well now. He starting outpatient physical therapy.
“Everybody at the hospital was just great,” Ron said. Added Josephine: “He wouldn’t be doing as good as he is if everybody – the paramedics, the doctors, the nurses, everybody – didn’t move quick. I couldn’t say enough about all of them.”
The most effective treatments for stroke are only available if the stroke is identified within the first three hours after symptoms present. It’s critical to BE FAST:
• BALANCE – Is it difficult for the person to walk?
• EYE – Does the person have a sudden change in vision?
• FACE – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is the speech slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence?
• TIME – If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.
UH Parma has planned a stroke screening on Thursday, May 11 from 12-2 p.m. at the Parma-Powers Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., Parma, across the street from the hospital. The free stroke risk assessment from the UH experts includes checks of blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol and body mass index. No preregistration is required.
UH experts also are offering two virtual health talks during Stroke Awareness Month. Register for these talks at UHhospitals.org/StrokeRisk:
• Stroke 101 on Wednesday, May 10 from 12-1 p.m. with Cathy Sila, MD, Director of the UH System Stroke Program
• Life After Stroke on Wednesday, May 24 from 6-7 p.m. with a variety of experts including Dr. Sila speaking on stroke prevention medications and others covering driving evaluation after a stroke and smoking cessation strategies.
*Images In Bloom, soap, silk and more, owned by Parma residents Barb & Steve Bloom, is having an open house in their new studio May 7th, noon to 5 pm. The studio is located on the 5th floor of the Twist Drill Bldg at 4700 Lakeside Ave. The studio offers a great view of Lake Erie. Several other studios will be open to the public that day. Parking is across the street.
The Medley of Arts Show & Sale is sponsored by the Parma Area Fine Arts Council, Inc. (PAFAC) is held annually in May. PAFAC is a non-profit organization that was created in 1962, and has been serving this area for over 60 years. They are dedicated to creating, producing, and enjoying art, and bring the art to the community for enrichment and pleasure of it's people. The show will be held at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, 7001 W Ridgewood Dr., Saturday and Sunday, May 20, & 21, from 11 to 3 pm. The building is handicapped accessible. Admission is FREE.
RAISING AWARENESS: Human Trafficking/Abuse: Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news
Throughout the years, Memorial Day in the United States has traditionally become the “unofficial” start of summer. Family Gatherings, Picnics, barbecues, swimming pools, pancake breakfasts have become commonplace on the last Monday in May. There is nothing wrong with having an enjoyable time kicking off the summer months, however we must never forget the true meaning of this day, the honoring our countries heroes, the Military members who gave their lives so that we can have the freedom to enjoy the picnics, family gatherings and barbecues.
In last month’s column I discussed tornadoes in Ohio and locally. This is a continuation of that subject.
This month's picture of the month includes State Representative Sean Patrick Brennan and Nathan Tohati. Nathan is a member of St. Charles Borromeo's Boy Scout Troop 221. He has dedicated a lot of time and hours sprucing up the script Parma sign for his Eagle Scout project. More to come on this project soon. If you would like to submit a picture for the script Parma picture of the month contest, e-mail it to staterepbrennan@gmail.com and include your name, address, and contact information.
America, as every generation has come to know it, is at an unmistakable crossroads in presidential oversight. What was once an untouchable shield of extreme executive privilege held tightly in the palm of the nation’s most powerful office, is today being pierced by law enforcement at both the federal and state levels, for an ever-widening array of charges against the 45th President of the United States, Donald John Trump.
Many of you know that the Parma City school board and the superintendent have decided to tear down Parma Senior High school and several elementary schools. They also want to build a new school on Parma Senior High School's site. I would love to fight to save the whole building as it is my alma-mater. In addition, I have been involved in some way or another in the school district and Parma Senior High for the last 25 years. I definitely do not agree with the superintendent's plan to get rid of these schools for many reasons and I definitely do not think he should be tearing down Parma Senior High at all because the school was build very well and is still very viable but I think that fight would be fruitless. I am, however, helping the Parma Senior High School Stage Crew circulate a petition to try to save a piece of Parma Senior High School. We are trying to save the beautiful, historic 1500 seat theater, the iconic bell tower and the little theatre. The large theater used to be home to the Cleveland Orchestra and many stars like Frankie Avalon have been on that stage. One of the students has put together a petition with a lot of history about these spaces to get signatures to present to the school board and superintendent to try to convince them to keep the theater section of the school. I am asking the residents of Parma to help us by signing our petition. The petition is on Change.org. I am including the link here. https://chng.it/rj8kdZ54LD If it doesn't work, please type in the url to get to the petition or go to Change.org and search for "Save Parma Seinor High theaters and bell tower". We are hoping to get enough signatures to change their minds.
There are 2 very important Military events that will be taking place in the coming months. The first will be the USS Cod on Wednesday June 21 celebrating 80 Years since it was commissioned. The event will take place at 1201 N Marginal Rd. Cleveland at 2:00 pm. If you are planning on coming try to arrive early as a big crowd is expected. The 2nd. event will be the Traveling Vietnam Wall on (Thursday June 22nd. - Sunday June 25th) at Hartman Park in Aurora, Ohio. Most of Thursday will be the set up of the wall and information area. The wall will be escorted from the South East Harley Davidson 23105 Aurora Rd. (43) Bedford Heights, Ohio at 10:00am on Thursday June 22nd to Hartman Park in Aurora.
Choosing a gift for your mom can feel like an impossible task, especially if she’s the “has everything, wants nothing” type. If your mom is anything like mine, she is incredibly kind, deserving, and never asks for anything in return for all the hard work that it takes to just be a mom. She’s the family’s rock, comedic relief, and overall superhero; she deserves something that will make her feel thought of, pampered, and adored. That’s why this Local Gift Guide is full of unique picks, luxurious items, and indulgences she wants but would never buy herself. Whether it’s your own mom or another beloved mother in your life, Parma Heights has you covered. Shop on to find the perfect gift for every mom on your list this year.
What is the difference between structures that are unique to a city’s history, and those that are simply old? The Parma Heights Library is a great candidate to be put on the National Register of Historic Places. Nonprofit historical sites define these sites as having architectural and historical value and relevance. The key word here is “relevance.” The Parma Heights Library for the past 50+ years provides not just a link to the past, but in this case, artistic and architectural beauty in the present. Once a structure is razed or removed, that link is gone forever. The cost of saving and maintaining old buildings, though, cannot be ignored at a time budgets are being pulled in more directions that ever.
We had an egg-ceptional Easter at Pleasant Lake Villa this year. We enjoyed a beautiful Good Friday prayer service lead by our very own, Reverend Thomas. He spoke about the importance of Good Friday. On Holy Saturday, there was some-bunny special that stopped by with Easter candy and helped us color Easter eggs. Then, we showcased our residents' art and enjoyed delicious Easter-themed desserts. Thank you to all that made our Easter season such a blessed experience this year!
