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Parma Service Director Brian Higgins receives an award from NOPEC.

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Safety Director Thomas Weinreich retired at the end of May after 36 years of serving Parma residents. Weinreich’s career spans five mayors and four leadership roles, with the most recent as safety director overseeing police, fire, dispatch, animal control and other departments. He has a law degree from The University of Akron’s School of Law and served as a Parma assistant city prosecutor for 12 years. He also was city tax commissioner for eight years, and human resources and purchasing director for seven years. “The safety director maintains a stressful job, requiring strong communication, administrative and public policy skills, as well as patience, flexibility and tenacity. Tom embodies all these strengths and more,” Mayor Tim DeGeeter said. “He played a key role in keeping Parma safe and helping our first responders deal with the heroine epidemic, pandemic crisis, fires, weather events and other emergencies our city and other cities face.”

Basement flooding has been an issue for many residents in Parma Heights, and we are actively working on multiple solutions to help alleviate these issues. After three long years of working with the federal government, the City of Parma Heights received official approval for the Nathan Hale Retention Basin Project. We hope to break ground within the next six months once the bidding process is completed. Work will begin on the relining of a portion of the Blossom Avenue sanitary sewer line in order to reduce inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the sanitary sewer system, and the city is partnering with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for the construction of a detention basin behind Maplewood Road. These projects should help reduce basement flooding for both Parma Heights and Parma residents in that area of our cities. We are fortunate to have great partners, like the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, who assist us with projects that benefit our community as well as surrounding communities. We will continue to fight for flooding relief and solutions to help our community. 

Alla Trokhimenko, a nurse practitioner at UH Parma Medical Center, recently traveled to Ukraine with a group from her church. The only one with medical knowledge, she worked out of a warehouse in western Ukraine and provided vital support, explaining the use of various US medical devices and supplies.

Alla Trokhimenko immigrated from Ukraine 18 years ago, eight months pregnant, with her husband and two young children. She brought with her a passion for helping others and a determination to become a nurse.  The obstacles, though daunting without fluency in English or computers, were less insurmountable here than in her native country.

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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 municipal (city), school district, county, and state governments here in Ohio. This month I will write about our federal government, focusing on the executive branch.

There are dads, grandfathers, role models, husbands, and so many more men who deserve special recognition on Father's Day.  Over the years, dads have taught us how to ride a bike, drive a car, fix a leaky faucet, and so much more.  Now, let's show them how much we appreciate all of their wisdom by finding the perfect Father's Day gift at a local business.

(Left to right) Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter, Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime and Jason Mayer

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At the May 16 Parma City Council meeting, Parma Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime and Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter presented Jason Mayor of Mayer Plumbing & Heating at 5914 Ridge Road with a Business of the Month Award and a certificate recognizing the Polish Village based-company's 100th anniversary. Jason Mayer is a third generation master plumber and holds state licenses in plumbing, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning services.

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

Prama Artspace & Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd, presents Slain Nemo, June 3rd through 19th. June 3rd gallery show opening reception kicks off with Slains Laser Light and Photon Magic Music Lights and Art Event. Reception begins at 6 PM, with artwork illustration of fractals and math art in the main gallery. Slain Nemos creations use computer generated images, laser burns, and oil paint on canvas. His very precise work shows no visible brush strokes. His artistic creations are sacred geometric forms, surrealistic, Sci-Fi, Shamanistic, and linear. Don’t miss this unique, one-of-a-kind experience. Follow Prama Artspace & Gallery on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their web page for details on all upcoming events.

There has been another mass shooting in the United States recently. This time an 18 year old man methodically shot and killed ten people at a supermarket in Buffalo New York. The shooter used an AR-15 semi automatic assault weapon that was legally purchased and had body armor on himself consisting of a bulletproof vest. He planned out the attack and even “cased” out the place before his shooting rampage. On the day of the shooting, he drove more than 200 miles from his home to Buffalo where his intention was to shoot and kill as many Black people as possible.

Regarding the Roe leak, Pelosi said, "This is a dangerous court to families, to freedom in our country," and Schumer brought a bill to the floor to legalize abortion. When it failed he said, "women’s constitutional rights are under unprecedented attack -- and it runs counter to the will of the majority of American people." Neither of them is correct. In Schumer's case, the bill he touted would have legalized abortion right up until a baby is born. While a majority of people support abortion in certain circumstances, a much larger majority are against abortion without limitations, which is what the Senate bill called for.

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Pa-a-arma! If you were to tune in to channel 8 at around 11:30 PM Friday nights, back in 1965, that's what you would have probably heard coming from your television set. You would have also seen a funny looking man, wearing a fright-wig and lab coat, smoking a cigarette on live television. His name was Ernie Anderson, and he was a Cleveland sensation, from 1963 to 1966. The late-night TV horror host character he invented was “Ghoulardi” ─ a barbed-beatnik. The show was called “Shock Theater”, which aired 1950’s horror flicks with intermissions of Ghoulardi’s sly comments on how bad the movie was. At times, with jazz music playing in the background, he would even blow up something with fire-crackers on live television.

Home Instead has created a way to receive 24-hour care in a single-family home at less than half the cost of our traditional home care. We call it “Share Care” and for some clients, it’s the perfect solution.With a Care Professional-to-resident ratio of 3:1 (and no more than 5:1), our residential facility is very different from a traditional “group home.” Our Care Pros engage with our residents at a level no other facility in the area can match. Our care is provided by screened, bonded, trained, and specially selected Home Instead Care Pros. At least one Care Pro is in the home at all times and Care Pros never sleep in the home. Home Instead Lakeview offers a safe, quiet, and comfortable alternative to larger facilities. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that limiting one’s exposure to a small number of people is a good defense against the virus…or any virus. Home Instead Lakeview is licensed by the State of Ohio as an R-2 residential care facility and can accommodate up to 5 residents.

Donated shoes collected in the Center's basement.

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The Parma Commission on Aging (PCOA) fundraising shoe drive has been a smashing success and is thanks to the dozens of people who have donated as well as the dozens of volunteers who have sorted and bagged the shoes. In fact, we are happy to announce that it was so successful, we will continue collecting through Friday, June 10th. Any and all types of shoes are accepted.

There is a collection bin outside our doors and a collection box in our lobby.  In collaboration with the nonprofit Funds2Orgs, shoes that are donated will be redistributed to a network of micro-entrepreneurs in developing nations. Funds2Orgs helps impoverished people start, maintain, and grow businesses in countries such as Haiti, Honduras and in Central American and African countries. One budding businesswoman even earned enough to send her son to law school. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped us exceed our goal,” says Julia Varley, PCOA President. “The monies we raise support programming and activities at the Donna Smallwood Senior Center.” The goal was to collect 100 bags of 25 shoes per bag. Staff and volunteers sorted pairs of shoes, secured them with rubber bands, bagged them, and helped carry them to our basement. Funds2Org will collect the bags when our campaign concludes after June 10th.

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host The History of Immigrant Theatre in Cleveland on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 7:00 –8:00 p.m.  Join us for a historical presentation by Dr. Peter Graff. Cleveland in the early twentieth-century boasted an impressive array of immigrant groups, each nestled into various pockets of the city. Among the many essential neighborhood institutions serving these communities was the theater. In the theater, immigrants could navigate their evolving national identities as they adjusted to life in a new country. For some, it allowed them to cling to their old-world heritage, while others used the theater to explore new-world realities. In this talk, Dr. Peter Graff will outline the history of these vibrant institutions and explore their importance to the people who brought them to life. 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, June 25, 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 The Lost Man by Jane Harper. 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 will host Cleveland’s Rock N Roll Venues on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in Meeting Room C. An Interactive presentation by author Deanna Adams. Author Deanna Adams presents a fun, interactive presentation honoring Cleveland's most popular rock and roll venues and the musicians who played there--from yesterday to today. Deanna Adams is a freelance writer, author of both fiction and nonfiction works, and writing instructor. Her books include Rock 'n' Roll and the Cleveland Connection (2002), Cleveland's Rock and Roll Roots (2010), Cleveland's Rock and Roll Venues (2020), and rock novels, Peggy Sue Got Pregnant (2013) and Scoundrels & Dreamers (2015). In-person program. Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch 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, June 1th 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

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will present Nifty Fifties Game Show on Monday, June 13, 2022 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. In Meeting Room C. Join us for a fun-filled hour of trivia about this fabulous decade! Travel back in time and revisit the lifestyle, sports, fashion, automobiles, and entertainment of the 1950's presented in the fun format of the famous fifties TV Game Shows. In-person program. Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch at 440.884.2313. 

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will host Farmers’ Market Master on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in Meeting Room C. Shopping for local produce at the market can be quite different than visiting a grocery store. Join OSU Master Gardener Shayna Sharpe to learn everything you need to know before visiting a farmers' market this season. In-person program. Registration required. To register, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Parma Heights Branch at 440.884.2313. 

Ricky Fetter

A five-alarm fire was coming, and Ricky Fetter’s only warning sign was shortness of breath. Just days before he got winded climbing up a hill to his truck, the Parma Fire captain was instructing the city’s new firefighters in a burning building. Loaded down with heavy gear at the live burn training – with five heart vessels more than 80 percent blocked – he feels lucky that a heart attack didn’t strike then. “Knowing what I know now, I could’ve died in that training,” says the Parma fire marshal and 28-year firefighter/paramedic, who would have been hauling an extra 70 pounds of gear on his 195-pound, 5-foot-8 frame. But the city’s EMS coordinator, who also runs University Hospitals Parma Medical Center’s EMS Education program, still had a few lessons to learn – and to teach his fellow firefighters and paramedics.

Cindy whatley from UH Parma medical Center is joined by Ryan Hamel, Jay Loughner, and Mike Urbanik from Sodexo. They were among the top paricipants in a recent contest to track and reduce food waste. 

University Hospitals has prevented more than 223,000 pounds of food waste, conserved nearly 2.5 million bathtubs of water and saved over 186,000 meals since implementing a new program 18 months ago to reduce food waste.

City of Seven Hills 2021 % of overall revenue.

As we enter the season that brings fresh hope every year, please continue to keep the brave people of the Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. Think global and act local! 

Lace up your running or walking shoes for the 11th Parma Run-Walk for Pierogies, sponsored by Perla Pierogies and UH Parma Medical Center, coming up on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 am at Cuyahoga Community College’s western campus.  Those who know me know that running is my passion. So, eleven years ago I combined my love for running, pierogies, and giving back to the community by creating what has become one of our city’s signature summer events.

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The City of Parma Shred Day & Food Drive event is 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 21, rear parking lot of Parma Senior High School, 6285 West 54th St. Drivers should enter from Longwood Avenue. “To have confidential documents safely shredded, a resident must show proof of residency with a driver’s license, gas bill or electric bill. There are no limits on the amount of documents shredded,” Mayor Tim DeGeeter said.

While researching the subject matter for this article, it became clear that somewhere over the years, we clearly have lost the true meaning of Memorial Day. I found many references to Memorial Day as a day of “celebration,” greeting cards and images reading “Happy Memorial Day.” This is not a day thought of as Celebrating or being a joyful day. It is the unofficial start of summer and families are firing up the grills, filling the picnic baskets, heading to the beach, and gathering for family outings. Which is perfectly acceptable if we never lose sight of what this day really means. If you are planning a family barbecue, do it with joy. and rejoice with loved ones that those we are honoring today have given us the privilege of living in a land of the free.  The true meaning of Memorial Day goes much deeper than this. It is a somber day of remembrance for the men and women who have died for our country. 

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Prama Artspace & Gallery, located at 5411 Pearl Rd. The latest exhibit opened on April 22, 2022. A Common Denominator: Max A Denney +. Max A. Denney has had the good fortune to work with many great artists. This show features collaborative work and solo work. Artists in this show include, Adam Chollet (writer), Amy Crognale (water color), Brett Hill (painter), Wendy Means (drawing), David Curtis (musician), Neffie M. La La (drawing), Angela Funovits (photography), Sean Wheeler (painting), Samantha Vickers (mixed media) and Max A Denney. Per Denney his work “is informed by a relationship with a cosmic disorder. He’s called the "mystic man". I accept. cope, and manage my disorder successfully, with joy. The collaboration pieces are in real time, jamming sessions. call and response mailing tube gospel, and musical conversation. Big Love and Honor for the Master Artists who choose to dance with me.” Opening night the gallery was packed and a good time was had by all. Gallery openings are a fun way to start the weekend. View interesting original artworks, meet interesting people, free beverages and snacks are usually available, or shop the boutique for unique items priced reasonably. Shop local, shop often, support your local artists. Exhibit closes May 22, 2022. 

Right now, the rate if inflation in the United States is the highest in forty years. Already a host of candidates seeking the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Rob Portman are campaigning heavily on “Biden’s inflation” as if his policies are the cause of the inflation in the country right now. However simple solutions to complex problems very often create another set of problems without really solving the initial problem.

Salman, Haadeya

Seventh grader Haadeya Salman from Birchwood School earned a Silver Award (Maxima Cum Laude) for her score on the 2022 National Latin Exam. Every year Latin students are invited to take the exam that tests students on their knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary as well as aspects of Roman culture such as history, architecture, and clothing. Salman and her classmates were coached by Catherine Haskins who said "I am very proud of my students and most especially of the effort they invested in preparing for the exam, since it results in a good deal of extra learning during the winter months.”

Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news

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In the 80s, young Laura Geller never considered the damage to her skin as she spent summers basking in the warm sun throughout high school and college as a pool lifeguard. The tanning craze that started in the 1950s was at its peak during this period, and SPF (sun protection factor) was an afterthought.

Oboist Bruce Biggin to perform Jean Francaix:  L’Horloge de Flore for oboe and Orchestra

Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a LIVE Classical Music Concert on Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 PM at Valley Forge High School Auditorium located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights featuring: 

Doll Making with Joyce Morrow Jones, Thursday, May 19th, 12:30 to 3:00 PM at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, 7001 W. Ridgewood Drive. This workshop is free, supplies included, and brought to you by Parma Area Fine Arts Council and in part through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Space is limited, so email kathrynmabin@att.net to register now. 

Cleveland Photo Fest, established in 2019, is undertaking an event of historic proportions! One Million Photos, the world’s largest photography show is an epic event. Cleveland Photo Fest has been in contact with the Guinness World Record people. The exhibit will be held at a gallery on Prospect Avenue in Cleveland in December of 2022. 

The Parma Heights Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library will present a virtual program Luminaria: Candle Shades on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. This event will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration required.  Learn how to combine wax paper, washi tape, and decorative elements to create beautiful glowing lanterns that add a warm glow to any small candle. The library will provide materials free of charge but registered participants will also need a few items from home. To register and for more information about this virtual program, 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 onSaturday, May 21, 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 The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.  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.   

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, May 18th 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. 

Layla LaHoud (left) and Pierre Bejjani, President of C.A.M.E.O. (right) present Sean Brennan with certificate and medal to honor him as Teacher of the Month.

Parma City Council President and Ohio House candidate Sean Brennan, a teacher for almost three decades, has been named teacher of the year by the Cleveland American Middle Eastern Association (C.A.M.E.O.). Pierre Bejjani, President of C.A.M.E.O. recently presented Brennan with a certificate and medal, honoring him “In recognition of your outstanding achievements in teaching and dedicated service to our students.” 

Mother's Day Gifts from Thee Tree House (top left)  Hold All Planter from 168 Optical (top right) and specialty gifts from Village Cards & Gifts (Bottom right)

If you're celebrating Mother's Day, going local is a great way to find unique gifts while supporting the local mom and pop shops in our midst. After reaching out to many mothers to ask what they would like for Mother' Day, almost every one of them wanted one thing. They want something affordable, so you won't need to bust open your piggy bank, and something from your heart.