Marching Into Spring In Parma Heights

The calendar tells us that spring officially arrives later this month on Tuesday, March 20. It’s also a time when things naturally get more busy in our community. People start spending more time outdoors in our city parks and in the Cleveland Metroparks which run right through the middle of Parma Heights. We start actively planning for our many summer activities like the annual “Kids in the Commons” weekend, held each August, along with the Ohio Flags of Honor program, which honors those who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention beginning to prepare for our Youth and community recreation programs, including baseball, softball, tennis and learn-to-swim lessons.

But just like the rest of the year, Parma Heights continues to be a place where good things are continuously happening.

Here are some upcoming things worthy of sharing with you:

BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND T-BALL REGISTRATION

For your convenience, you can visit the city of Parma Heights website – www.parmaheightsoh.gov --  to register online for baseball, softball and T-ball.

Online registration will be available through April 12. Registrations are also accepted at Parma Heights City Hall at 6281 Pearl Road between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After April 12, a late fee of $10 will be assessed. 

In-person registration for these programs will take place from 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays March 3 and 10 at Parma Heights City Hall, 6281 Pearl Road.

If you have questions, please contact our Recreation Department at 440.884.9606, or via e-mail at recreation@parmaheightsoh.gov.

POLICE AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER (P.A.C.T.) PROGRAM

TOWN HALL MEETING: COMMUNITY SERVICES

Mark your calendars and plan on attending the Parma Heights. Police And Community Together (P.A.C.T.) Town Hall meeting scheduled for  Tuesday, March 6, from 7- 9 p.m. at Cassidy Theater 6200 Pearl Rd. 

Representatives from the Parma Area Family Collaborative, Tri-City Parma Area MyCom, Young Professionals of Parma, and the Parma Heights Library will share information and answer questions regarding the many services they provide to adult and youth residents.

KNOCK-AND-TALK PROGRAM

The Parma Heights Police Department's Police and Citizens Together (P.A.C.T.) unit is taking a proactive step to help the aging population through its new Knock-and-Talk program.

"In our opinion, it's important that senior citizens in our community have a direct line of communication with the police department and law enforcement," said Patrolman Jack Darnell.

"We have found that senior citizens are especially targeted, be it certain types of financial types of crimes, fraud and different kind of scams."

The impetus behind the Knock-and-Talk program came from a training session attended by Darnell. The idea is for residents to sign up for a police officer visit to provide an update on what's happening in the community, as well as hear about what issues seniors are dealing with in their lives.

"We feel that if there was a more regular presence of law enforcement in their life - stopping by once a month to visit, reminding them these are the scams going on - we can help prevent some crimes, while at the same time they can explain to us this is going on in our neighborhood," Darnell said.

The program also targets seniors without family and friends in the area who would like to welcome police officers into their homes for a visit. Currently, the P.A.C.T. unit has divided the city into four zones, with eight officers participating.

Knock-and-Talk is a part of P.A.C.T., which last year received a community policing grant of $25,000 from Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Systems, providing funds for man-hours, events and supplies.

OPEN SWIM AT VALLEY FORGE HIGH SCHOOL

If you enjoy swimming, you can take part in the free open swim at Valley Forge High School, 9999 Independence Boulevard, Tuesdays evenings through April 24. You must be a Parma Heights resident, and have valid proof of residency (a utility bill or driver’s license).

Open swim time takes place every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. with the exception of April 3. Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult (age 18 and older) during open swims

If you have questions, contact the Recreation Department at 440.884.9606 or via e-mail at recreation@parmaheightsoh.gov.

FAMILY STORYTIME

Families can take some time out of their weekend on Saturdays in March at 10 a.m. for a Family Storytime at the Parma Heights Library, 6206 Pearl Road, in Meeting Room B.

The program is for children of all ages with their adult caregiver, and will feature stories, songs and fingerplays.

TAKE-APART TECH

On Saturday, March 10 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the library’s Meeting Room A, you’ll want to take part in “Take-apart Tech,” a special program where you will learn how to disassemble tech and household items and repurpose the components into a work of modern art. Registration is required for this free program online at www.cuyhahogalibrary.org or by calling 440.884.2313.

READER BOOST CAMP

Parents who have children in grades 1-3 who are struggling with their reading skills can get free help.  This 4-week program will be held on Mondays in March: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 2/26 March 12 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Meeting Room C at the Parma Heights library.

During the first part of the program, parents will remain with a learning specialist to gain tips on working with their child at home, while their children will go with a librarian to participate in fun reading-based activities. During the second half of the program, families will take part in an activity together.

ROCK-N-ROLL AND TALK

The Parma Heights Library, 6206 Pearl Road, will host Jason Hanley of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Daniel Goldmark, Director of the Center for Popular Music Studies at Case Western Reserve University for a discussion of the 2018 Rock Hall inductees.

They’ll fill us in on why these artists deserve the significant honor of induction into the Rock Hall as well as share with us some fun Rock-n-Roll history.

The program takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8 in Meeting Room C of the library.

FAKE NEWS

Learning to decipher fact from fiction is a key skill for all news consumers. In this interactive two-part series, Dr. Robert Janke from Baldwin Wallace University will help you gain the information literacy skills you need to recognize fake news. Registration is requested for the program scheduled for Saturdays March 24 and 31 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Parma Heights library. Call 440.884.2313 or register online.

Even though we are all extremely busy, I invite you to take advantage of all our community has to offer. I’ll look forward to seeing you around town this spring.

 

 

Mike Byrne

Michael P. Byrne is the Mayor of Parma Heights, Ohio.

Read More on Parma Heights
Volume 10, Issue 3, Posted 12:49 PM, 03.02.2018