November 12th, General Motors Parma Metal Center presented the latest installment of its Community Impact Grants (CIG) to four nonprofits in the greater Cleveland region. The $75,000 in grants this year target local nonprofits aimed at supporting STEAM education and road safety throughout the community.
Holiday Cheer in Seven Hills is just around the corner! Help us kick start the holiday season with friends and neighbors Saturday, December 7, 2024. The fun begins at 10:30 a.m. when the parade travels from the Moose Lodge 7010 Broadview Road, south down Broadview Road, turns east on Hillside Road, and ends at 7325 Summitview Drive, City Hall.
Frosty’s Fest is Sunday, December 8, 2024. It begins when Santa, his Sleigh, and his Elves arrive at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, located at 7001 W. Ridgewood Dr. It follows the annual Parma Christmas Parade, which begins at 1:00 pm. This family focused event has a lot to offer, FREE admission and it’s is open to the public, no residency is required. As in past years, you’ll have free photos with Santa, kids crafts, activities, lots of extras too, like face painters, Disney Princesses, Sparky and The Grinch will be attending. Bakeries will be on hand with their mouth watering holiday goodies for you to purchase. Food and beverages, for sale, indoors and out. Choirs will be singing to enhance the holiday mood. You’ll also be able to watch live, a demonstration of ice sculpting.
Parma Observer Publisher Daniel P. McCarthy with the legendary Mike Byrne at one of his last Cuyahoga County Council meetings on 11-26-24.
Throughout his career, Mike Byrne has performed public service in a variety of ways. Besides working for Cuyahoga County for decades, he also served as Council President of Parma Heights, then long time Mayor after that. So a combined 22 years of elected office would be enough for most, but when the unexpired term of Cuyahoga County Representative Scott Tuma needed to be filled, Mike answered the call and was appointed to serve out the term. with his broad administrative experience and intricate knowledge of the functions of county government, there was no better choice. He is Chair of the Public Works, Procurement & Contracting Committee. Also a member of the Financing & Budgeting Committee, Economic Development & Planning Committee, and Public Safety and Justice Afffairs Committee. Mike Byrne has accomplished much in the amount of time spent on Cuyahoga county Council, and the citizens here have benefited greatly from his experience and steady leadership. He will be succeeded by mark Casselberry, Parma Ward 3 Councilman, who indeed has some very large shoes to fill.
Happy Holidays! On December 1, the City of Parma Heights hosted the Annual Tree Lighting at the Gazebo in Greenbriar Commons. With close to 10,000 lights and decorations, the holiday décor will be up through the middle of January.
Recently, State Representative Sean Patrick Brennan stopped by Parma Honey Hut to present a resolution of congratulations on behalf of the Ohio House of Representatives for 50 years of serving great treats to owner Bruce Page.
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! If you have a creative photo with the script Parma sign that you would like to have published, email it, along with your address and phone number, to Sean Patrick Brennan at pierogie5k@gmail.com. You could win a great Parma prize if yours is selected.
State Representative Sean Patrick Brennan meeting with Vikki McNeeley and Cindy Lang at Café Blanc in Parma Heights. The ladies are constituents of his who reached out to his office and were very pleased
with the level of service they received.
If you are a reader of my monthly column, which I take pride in writing myself each month, you are well-aware of my legislative achievements in just my first 23 months as your state lawmaker.
Friday November 22, 1963, began like any other morning that year. For me, I was in the 10th grade at Valley Forge High School in Parma Ohio. There was a story on the news the day before that President John F Kennedy was in Texas with Vice President Lyndon Johnson to shore up support for a second term as President in 1964
Medicare is critical to caring for America’s seniors—nearly 1 in 5 Americans rely on it for health coverage! Ensuring that doctors are paid fairly for the important work they do for Medicare beneficiaries is no easy task, but failing to do so could lead to worse care for millions of retirees.
Krampus on a Snowy Day Photo by Sean Mabin
Sean Mabin, owner operator of Prama Artspace & Gallery, is showing at Valley Art Center, 155 Bell St., in Chagrin Falls, for the 53rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition through December 16.. He won the “completely different” Maxine Agger Kopecky Award, and a cash award. Sean & his wife Angie Reali-Mabin are showing at Pinwheel Gallery, 2019 Broadview Rd., in The Snow Show, which runs through January 3.
PSO to perform Holiday Favorites
Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a LIVE Holiday Music Concert on Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 PM at Valley Forge High School Auditorium located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights featuring Dr Randolph P Laycock conducting: Rossini’s William Tell Overture John Rutter’s Five pieces for orchestra.O Magnum Mysterium arranged by Dr. James Feiszli and a Selection of Holiday favorites
For the first time, a documentary about the early Parma Settlers will air through December 2024. The documentary begins with the first settlers that arrived in the Parma area in the early 1800s and the development of Parma is followed all the way through the Civil War. These early pilgrims purchased their plots of land in Parma from a Connecticut Land Company before setting out on their long journey to take possession of them. After arriving in the Cuyahoga County area the settlers followed an Indian trail on the eastern side of the Cuyahoga River. They did so until crossing over the river to where Rockside Road is now located. They then continued westward, to where the Pearl and Ridge Road intersection is now.
The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host a virtual program Picasso & Paper on Thursday, December 19th, 2024 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn about artist Pablo Picasso who created engaging works of art with a paper medium for a prolonged period of time. The virtual program highlights this exciting new exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art. This Picasso Paper exhibition was organized by the Cleveland Musuem of Art and the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in partnership with the Musee Nationale Picasso-Paris.
The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host Blanton & the Browns: How the 1964 Team Won a World Title—with Author Vince Guerrieri on Thursday, December 5th, 2024 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in Meeting Room A. Author Vince Guerrieri will talk about Blanton Collier, Head Coach of Cleveland Browns from 1963-1970, and how Blanton’s 1964 Browns team won the NFL Championship. Blanton Collier, a Kentucky native who was hired by Paul Brown, led the 1964 Browns to win a professional sports title with his team of assistant coaches, including Don Shula, and standout players. Mr. Guerrieri, an award-winning journalist for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette. Guerrieri is the author of Weird Moments in Cleveland Sports: Bottlegate, Bedbugs and Burying the Pennant – and More! Book sale and signing following this author event. Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch at 440.884.2313.
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Shop at the library! The Friends of Parma Heights Library will have an ongoing Holiday Sale – Adult Fiction Books with special pricing at $.25 per book this month through January 7th, 2025. New inventory weekly for a great selection of recent bestsellers and old favorites of Adult Fiction Hardback books! Visit the Parma Heights Library located at 6206 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, OH 44130 in the Greenbrier Commons during library hours. Proceeds from Holiday Sale support library programming at the Parma Heights Library. For additional information about this Holiday Sale or interested in joining The Friends of Parma Heights Library, please call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313.
Nov. 11, 2024 was the 70th Anniversary of the official change from Armistiice Day to veterans Day. The American Legion, which had fought for an official recognition of the end of World War I since 1920, later in the aftermath of World War II and as the Korean War was underway, argued in favor of expanding the observance to include all who served in the US Military. Following more than three years of American Legion support for a change in the Federal Holiday name, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation Oct 8, 1954, making it official.
The Parma SWAT Team would like to thank the Parma residents, city employees, friends and family, and both local and neighboring businesses in making the annual golf-outing held on October 4th, the most successful to date. The Parma SWAT Team is comprised of 26 total members and represents the Central Region of the Southwest Enforcement Bureau. Included in the total are 19 SWAT operators and 4 Tactical EMS members. We also have 3 auxiliary members on the team. The goal of our fundraising efforts is to educate and interact with the community and raise awareness of the Parma SWAT Team. We also strive to further fund the purchase of updated tactical equipment and training with the donations we receive.
Some students are excited to be back at school and some are not. The reason for this just might be that bullies are back too! Bullies are a roadblock that interferes with the goal of learning. To help kids deal with bullies they have to build their self-confidence. First, a child must understand a few things. For instance why do bullies torment others? This is an ongoing question because there are many answers. Bullies might have a bad home life or they might be jealous of what another student has, or they might be trying to impress someone else.Whatever the case, a child must understand that they are not to blame and there is nothing wrong with them. The answer is to stand up to the bully but, don’t bully back. This is one rule that my students must follow. Violence begets violence, which is to say we must throw some water onto the fire to put it out. When you respond to the bully, you must respond in a way that he does not expect. Your reaction to his bullying should not add bullets to his gun. For instance, if he says words that anger you then you must not show your emotion. When you show him that you are upset, mad, or fearful he will use it against you. But, if you respond by simply saying something like, “Okay, see ya”, then he will not understand why you are not angry or afraid. Also, when you become angry you can lose control and say or do things that you regret later. Using calming words first, before fists, is always best, which is the second rule.
Parma Senior High School Demolition
Went back to Parma, but my city's not the same, No more Parmatown, no Super Cream to claim. High school's a memory, now a demolition zone, Yards in disrepair, a place I once called home.
On Wednesday, October 17, the Cuyahoga County Public Library held a groundbreaking ceremony for the highly anticipated new Parma Heights branch. This event marked a significant milestone in the community's journey towards enhanced educational and technological resources.
Pleasant Lake Villa hosted a wonderful Pooch Parade for their residents and members of the public on October 23. Several people and their wonderfully dressed pooches turned up, as you can see here. Much fun was had by all. and the weather was perfect for this event.
Another trailer full of rescue from our friend and local barber Mario Innocenzi
Mario Innocenzi is not your ordinary barber, which is obvious to those who know him, and so many more people who don't know him at all but nonetheless are so grateful for what he does and has done for many years now. When natural disasters strike, he is quick to organize relief efforts, calling on members of the community to donate items that are badly needed, especially after hurricanes like the one which recently devastated parts of North Carolina. Once again he summoned his many volunteers, filled up an entire trailer with materials, and headed down himself, towing a trailer filled to capacity with so many badly needed items, which certainly are appreciated by the unfortunate people affected by this disaster. We are fortunate to have a member of our community like Mario realizing that help is only one ask away, and making it a reality.
In Ohio, there are only 62 available workers for every 100 open jobs. In the last two years, I’ve had the chance to meet with business leaders and workers across my district. Many of them tell me they can’t find workers to fill jobs in the skilled trades—and similarly, workers don’t have the preparation they need to fill those jobs. This disconnect between the skills businesses need and the training and knowledge candidates possess is known as the “skills gap.” And it’s wider than ever.
On Saturday October 19th from 1-4pm we had our 1st Annual Wiremens Credit Union Member Appreciation Day. Thank you to the City of Parma for their assistance and the Parma Firefighters for stopping up with a fire truck and ambulance. We are grateful they were able to stop. What a huge hit. We had perfect weather with amazing food trucks -Jimbos Original Steak Sandwiches, Black Kettle Barbeque and Braysons Ice-cream. We had 2 bounce houses as well as an extraordinary face painter for the children.
When most of you are reading this, the election may be over and perhaps the winners will be announced. The campaigning will be over and the much tougher work of governing will begin in earnest. For the winners, there will be a short time to cheer, but the task will be to begin the process of establishing an administration to govern. For the losing side, it will be time to reflect on what went wrong and to best make sure that their positions are heard.
It is believed that there are over 10,000 species of birds ranging in size from 2 inches to 9 feet. Over the centuries, many different species of birds have managed to adapt to human residences. This relationship between birds and man can be mutually profitable, with each benefiting from the other.
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO HELP LOCAL TAXPAYERS - AARP Foundation has kicked off volunteer recruitment for its Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest volunteer-based tax preparation service. Volunteers may sign up to assist taxpayers either in person or virtually, with a number of roles available.
Clergy and parishioners of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, State Road in Parma, gather on Saturday, September 21, 2024 for a visit to their original Church building in Cleveland.
The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on State Road in Parma, Ohio. Originally, the parish was located in the Tremont section of Cleveland near the steel mills, where the early Ukrainian immigrants settled at the end of the 19th century.
This month's script Parma photo of the month contest winner is Parma's Alleson Armstrong. Pictured are members of the Dance Step World Dance Championship qualifying team: Madeline, Shoshanna, Paige, Evelyn, and Melina. If you have a creative photo of the sign that you would like to have published, email it, along with your address and phone number, to Sean Patrick Brennan at pierogie5k@gmail.com. You could win a great prize if yours is selected.
A trio of new businesses are breathing new life into the Pearl Road commercial district in Parma Heights, offering visitors a variety of culinary adventures.
Chrissie Hynde Captures Childhood Home in Portrait as Pretenders Return to Akron for Concerts
Standing in front of her childhood home, Chrissie Hynde’s recent return to Akron triggered a cascade of memories for me. It’s funny how a single image can conjure up an entire era of your life. That era revolves around a house on Lucerne Ave. in Parma, Ohio. I left it in 1990, and my mother sold it in 1994. That house hasn't been mine for over 30 years, yet it remains the repository of my earliest and most vivid memories.
University Hospitals opened a new urgent care facility in Parma. UH Urgent Care Parma is a welcome addition to patients in the community and reduces their travel time when seeking medical attention. This new location is part of the larger plan to deliver healthcare closer to where patients live, shop and work.
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Shop at the library! The Friends of Parma Heights Library will have an ongoing Holiday Sale – Adult Fiction Books with special pricing at $.25 per book from November 1st, 2024 through January 7th, 2025. New inventory weekly for a great selection of recent bestsellers and old favorites of Adult Fiction Hardback books! Visit the Parma Heights Library located at 6206 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, OH 44130 in the Greenbrier Commons during library hours. Proceeds from Holiday Sale support library programming at the Parma Heights Library. For additional information about this Holiday Sale or interested in joining The Friends of Parma Heights Library, please call the Parma Heights Branch Library at 440.884.2313.
Recently, State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan presented Rev. Michael Hontaruk, Pastor of Parma's St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, with a resolution from the Ohio House of Representatives commemorating the Cathedral on achieving 100 years.
Recently, I took part in the Transatlantic Summit of the Strong Cities Network in Columbus in the Governor’s office at the Ohio Statehouse. In attendance were the following: Andrii Besedin, Mayor of Kupyansk, Ukraine, Oleksandr Senkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, Tobias Engle, Manager of the International Affairs Strategic Investment Division of the Ohio Department of Development, Michael Schadek Director of Regional Partnerships for the city of Columbus, and representatives of the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, Nazar Zhdan, State Relations and Advocacy, Marta Liscynesky-Kelleher, Past President, and George E. Jaskiw, M.D., President.
Sue Holick-Bade has an ink and water color on display in the Cuyahoga Valley Art Centers’ Student & Faculty Exhibition running Oct 29th through Dec 6th. CVAC is located at 2131 Front St in Cuyahoga Falls. Exhibition hours are M-T & R-F 10-3, W 1-6, Sat 10-2. Artist reception on Dec 6th, 5:30-7:00pm and is open to the public. She has two works, a water color and a faux stained-glass, on display at Laurel Lake Gallery in the Women’s Art League “3 Media Plus Exhibition” running Nov 2nd through Dec 5th. The gallery is located at 200 Laurel Lake Dr in Hudson.
Mark your calendars, and save the date! On Sunday, December 8th is We Are Parma Proud’s flagship event, Frosty’s Fest. This family friendly extravaganza takes place on the Parma City Hall campus, encompassing the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, parking lots and the Powers Blvd Library, where multiple events will take place. Frosty’s Fest follows the annual Christmas Parade which begins at 1:00 pm.
The holidays are fast approaching. Now is the time to start your holiday shopping for Christmas. Parma Arts is holding an arts and crafts event on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at 7335 Ridge Rd. FREE admission, open to the public. All the items for sale are handmade by local artisans and crafters. Each piece is original, unique, one of a kind items that you won’t find at that big box store. All are affordably priced, handmade by your talented friends and neighbors.
