News

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.

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 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.

*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

Every year for the last 76 years, with exception during the pandemic, there’s a parade in our area to celebrate the Polish Constitution. Over the years the parade was held in various locations in and around Cleveland. First held near the statue of Tadeusz Kosciusko at Wade Oval, followed by Euclid Ave., and onto Slavic Village. It moved to Parma in 2011. The parade was the catalyst for the formation of Polish Village, a business district on Ridge Rd. in Parma’s Ward 2, and soon after the 501(c)3 non-profit Polish Village Parma. 

Northeast Ohio SPCA is back walking with the dogs! In person registration begins at 8:00 am at Edgewater Park followed by a three-mile walk at 9:00 am. All three miles are not required to be completed and you do not have to be a dog owner to participate. Enjoy some fun after the walk with a DJ, photographer, vendors, raffle prizes, and pet contests.

We are pleased to announce that Holy Family Hospice has been awarded a 5-star rating from Medicare making us, currently, the only 5-star rated hospice in the Greater Cleveland area. “This recognition demonstrates that our compassionate patient-centered care, attentiveness in listening to the needs of patients and their families, and our focus on the comfort of the patients is recognized by the families,” Holy Family Home Health Care & Hospice Director Kristin Graham, said of the recognition.

District 14 State Representative Sean Patrick Brennan (Parma, Parma Heights, and Cleveland) has announced his in-district open office hours for the month of April.  He will be available on Tuesday, April 4 from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub (17119 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland), Wednesday, April 5 from 8:00 am – 9:30 am at Starbuck’s (6780 Ridge Road, Parma), and Monday, April 17 from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm at the Parma Heights Library (6206 Pearl Road – meeting room A).

“Bipartisanship is dead.”  That is an easy assumption to make with plenty of evidence these days in our states’ and nation’s capitals.  However, my experience, thus far, as a newly elected member of the Ohio House of Representatives gives me hope that reaching across the aisle is still within reach.  Our first three major votes over the past two months inform my position.

On March 29, 1973, two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam. At the same time, Hanoi freed the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. In all, nearly 550,000 Americans served in Vietnam and 58,000 of them gave their lives. On this National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who served and sacrificed during the longest conflict in United States History.

Several years ago my wife's Uncle informed me of his personal experience with Honor Flight Cleveland and the enjoyment he had as a result. He was a Marine during the Korean War. Soon after he talked to me, my best friend and I signed up on their Website. From the list of Applicants, Veterans are chose in the following order, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Any applicant that has a life threatning illness will move to the front of the list. We were on the list for a few years before we were contacted in February of 2020. We were scheduled to go March 20, 2020. Covid 19 put a long delay on going and finally we got the call to be at Hopkins Airport 5/21/22 at 3:30am. This entire trip, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner was paid for by Private Donations, Corporations, and Fund Raising groups. This is a trip you will not forget. There are many Veterans that are not aware of this and I want them to know and have the chance that I did to visit Washington and see how greatful people are of our Veterans. So many of my friends that served in Vietnam did not get a Welcome Home. That's all changed now. You will witness this change when you attend this trip. Vietnam Veteran Day is March 29, 2023

On Saturday, March 18th, community members were invited to view the new West Side Home Furnishings Resale Shop Showroom at The Gathering Place’s Westlake location from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. All proceeds support free programs and services provided for those impacted by cancer

The Donna Smallwood Activities Center is springing into April with a theme of art.  “Art in April” is about experience. It’s about opening up and blossoming like spring flowers. It’s about inspiration. In the words of Keith Haring (American Artist 1958-1990), “Art should be something that liberates your soul.”

* Call For Artists - The Parma Area Council 2023 Annual Medley of Arts Show, is Saturday, May 20th and Sunday May 21, 2023, at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center. An independent panel of judges will determine the winners in each of the 5 categories. Seven cash prises will be awarded. Deadline for entry is May 15th. Details, deadlines, rules and application can be downloaded at www.parmafinearts.org. Or contact Michelle by calling 216-618-0956, or by email at beartracksart.com, with questions, or if you’d like an application mailed. 

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse:

The 20 dancing seniors in the Raisin' Canes, Parma's vaudeville dance team from the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, sparkled up March all over town with their rousing 90-minute St. Patrick's show!  Wearing lots of green sequins, spangles and shamrocks they hit the boards dancing to lively versions of McNamera's Band, Good Night Irene, Four Leaf Clover, Green Green, Riverdance, and audience interactive performances of Old MacDonald and The Unicorn, just to name a few, finishing with entertaining solo numbers and a rollicking Irish parade through the hall, joined by their audience. 

I grew up on the west side of Cleveland in a double house. My Grandparents lived down and my family lived up. Grandma made home made noodles, biscuits, cookie cutter cookies, kolache, nut & poppy seed rolls, crepes, rice pudding, kifle, and kuchen. She used all fresh ingredients, butter, lard, crackling, lekvar, and grapes from our garden. I spent a lot of time in Grandma’s kitchen. Grandma didn’t follow a written recipe, she just knew when to add a pinch or two, a hand full of flour, etc. 

The Young Professionals of Parma (YPOP), in conjunction with the cities of Parma and Parma Heights, is excited to bring back the Parma area’s annual Pizza Bake Off on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Parma’s UAW Hall (5615 Chevrolet Boulevard). This indoor, family-friendly event will feature live music, beer and wine, dessert, raffles, games, entertainment, and, of course, pizza. Proceeds will benefit the Parma Police K9 Unit. “The pandemic may have kept us from celebrating all things Parma pizza over the past two years,” said YPOP president Jackie Baraona, “but we’re thrilled to bring back this great indoor family event and recognize the delicious work of our many local pizza shops.”

Saturday March 18th from 10am- 3pm, the Valley Forge Cross Country and Swim teams will be hosting their 24th Annual Spring Craft Show. There will be vendors featuring holiday decorations, ceramics, jewelry, hand knits, candles, purses, kitchen items, local artists, handmade soap and beauty products, gourmet candies and pastries, local honey, Easter items, your favorite direct sales vendors, and so much more…

In recent days I attended Governor DeWine’s State of the State Address, in which he outlined his spending priorities, and have spent countless hours reading his 631-page, $200 billion biennial (two-year) state operating budget proposal.  The 2024 – 2025 state budget, which calls for a 12.7% increase in spending over the previous budget, begins with the Governor’s proposal to the Ohio General Assembly. The General Assembly will spend the next several months reviewing and amending the budget proposal. It must be approved by the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate and signed by the Governor by June 30. Below I have outlined some of the highlights of the Governor’s proposal. Remember, this is just the proposal and can change drastically as it moves through the process. I will be deeply involved in the budgeting process to help ensure that it is balanced and that it addresses our communities’ needs. To read my entire summary, visit my website at https://ohiohouse.gov/members/sean-p-brennan or call me at 614-466-3485 for a hard copy.

Parma Area Fine Arts Council (PAFAC), is offering a FREE beginning draw class. This is a four week session at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center, 7001 W Ridgewood Drive. The series of four classes will be held on Monday’s, March 27, April 3, April 10 & 17th, 12:30 to 2:30. Class size is limited to 20. The class is taught by instructor Jan McAndrew. To register or for more information email kathrynmabin@att.net. 

* Prama Artspace & Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd currently has a diverse group show, with 20+ artists, titled Now That’s What I Call Art – Vol 1. This exhibit, which opened February 24th, and continues through March 19th, features several of your favourite artists from the last four years. On Saturday, February 25th, Prama co-hosted an event, Ekphrastic WritingWorkshop, with the Parma Flamingo Writers Guild. Poets were invited to attend and write poems about the artwork hanging on the walls. In addition to the art in the gallery, and boutique items, they also have a display of local Parma authors. On March 3, 2023 Prama is hosting the CAN Journal’s 2023 Spring Edition launch party. Follow Prama on Facebook and Instagram for upcoming events. 

You are invited!  Collective Arts Network Journal, CAN Journal, is holding the launch of their Spring 2023 Edition at Prama Artspace & Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd, Friday, March 3, 2023 at 5:30. CAN is a quarterly full color magazine combining member reviews of upcoming exhibits, programming, and independent commentary on the arts locally. CAN is a tool that gives voice to the extensive arts activity in Northeast Ohio. The first issue of CAN was published in 2012. CAN has grown it’s membership to more than 80 organizations. CAN was recognized as a non-profit in 2015. Stop in for your Spring 2023 Edition at the launch party.

More and more frequently, people are remembering the importance of increasing their daily consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) includes highly processed foods and is high in saturated fat, trans fats, processed sugars, artificial ingredients, and chemical additives. S.A.D. is also low in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and micro-nutrients, which are all important to include in a healthy diet. Nutritionists agree that S.A.D. is the primary cause of many epidemic diseases, including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, various cancers, etc. Sadly, S.A.D. reduces the body’s natural immunity to diseases and its ability to eliminate toxins from our systems.

This year will be the 70th anniversary of the 1953 Cleveland, Ohio Tornado. The twister struck just north of the Parma area on the night of June 8th, 1953. For those of you who have never heard of this incident, the twister developed just west of the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. This occurred at approximately 9:30 PM on a Monday. The sun had already settled, but the sky took on an eerie greenish glow over the area. The National Weather Bureau previously warned local airport officials that a tornado was confirmed to be on the ground 37 miles west of the airport and was headed their way.

The Board of Trustees of the City of Parma Andrew Boyko Memorial Scholarship Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 2023 award season. In its fifteenth year, the Foundation will once again offer three to five scholarships with a minimum award of $1,500 each. One of these scholarships will be designated for an applicant exhibiting an exceptional commitment to community service. Applications are available on the City of Parma website at www.cityofparma-oh.gov or you may call the Parma City Council Office at (440) 885-8091 for a copy. The Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to high school seniors or equivalent who are residents of the City of Parma wishing to pursue post-secondary education during the 2023 – 2024 academic year. Financial need, work ethic, community service and accomplishments are among the selection criteria for the scholarship. The application deadline is Monday, April 2, 2023 at 4:00 pm. For more information or to donate to the Foundation please contact board of trustees member Sean Patrick Brennan at ParmaScholarship@gmail.com or 440-885-8091.

All Faiths Pantry (AFP) has kicked off its Spring fundraiser, Drawing Feeds People. This event will benefit AFP and participants will receive a one of a kind pet-portrait completed by student volunteers from Parma schools including Padua Franciscan, Holy Name and Incarnate Word Academy.

Back in November of 2022 I was interviewed by John Benson of the Sun Post. The article spoke about an ongoing debate regarding Parma's Tree Canopy. Well, that's not entirely accurate. I am grateful for this publication to allow me to set the record straight. The Sun Post article made it appear that I was a lone voice appealing to Mayor Tim DeGeeter on behalf of our city's trees. Nothing could be further from the truth.

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse: Note: View the digital version to activate hyperlinks – www.parmaobserver.com/read/news
O  From Ohio Attorney General... For organizations that may be interested, the Human Trafficking Commission, Victim Services Subcommittee offers personal consultation to organizations that would like support and assistance in meeting the Ohio Service Standards for Trafficked Persons.  If you would like to schedule a personal consultation, reach out to Rebekkah O’Bryan: reobryan@dps.ohio.gov  or Michelle Hannan at Michelle.Hannan@use.salvationarmy.org.

O  From The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking:
      >>  Coming up on March 14th:  Human Trafficking and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. It’s virtual & free. Click here for details & to register
      >>  To provide survivors with the information they need to access shelter, medical care, and therapeutic services, we have created an interactive resource guide of all providers in Northeast Ohio. Access the Resource Guide here.
          
O  From Cleveland Rape Crisis Center:
       >>  Sign up for their free, 2-part, virtual Ambassador Training program. Part I – April 3 & 5; Part 2 –April 10 & 12. For details and to register go here.
      >>  Check out 10 Things To Know About Sex Trafficking. Go here to view & print off a copy.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program will be getting underway again this year starting the first week in February and ending the 14th of April 2023. This IRS-supported FREE tax service is offered on a non-discriminatory basis without consideration of race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. We give special attention to those with low or moderate incomes and/or aged 60 and older. Taxpayers do NOT have to be retired or a member of AARP. 

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter’s State of the City address will occur before a live audience this year. “For the past two years, we have recorded my State of the City address and then posted it on our website and social media platforms. We couldn’t crowd a room with people during COVID restrictions or when cases spiked,” DeGeeter said. “I will enjoy being in a room filled with people again.” The address, however, will not be a traditional speech this year. Instead, it will be in an interview format, with local award-winning broadcaster Dick Russ asking the mayor questions about important city matters such as the local economy, infrastructure projects, safety services and other areas of city business.

It was an honor to be sworn in earlier this month with my wife of 28 years, Deena, holding the family Bible and our children and friends by my side in the historic Statehouse in Columbus. To be one of 99 Ohioans to represent our fine state in Ohio House of Representatives is an indescribable honor. Rest assured that I will remember my oath “to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio . . .as I shall answer unto God” in my daily work on your behalf.

Prama Artspace Gallery & Boutique, located at 5411 Pearl Rd is featuring author Thomas Tobie, Friday, Feburary 3rd, 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Tobie’s new book titled “Bobby’s Shivery Shadow Book” is a fun and spooky book for tweens. Artwork by Laura D’Alessandro inspired by the stories is hanging in the gallery through Saturday, February 4th. Coming Soon, February 24 through March 19, is a group show, no theme, with numerous artists, titled “Now That’s What I Call Art #1” at Prama. Follow Prama on Facebook and Instagram for future events. While visiting Prama, stop at the many unique food and beverage establishments located on Ridge and Pearl Roads. Shop small, shop local and often. You won’t be sorry you did.

Over the past few years, the volunteers involved with the 501(c)3 non-profit, We Are Parma Proud, have worked tirelessly to advance and support the city’s image. They created and published the first ever, Parma’s Visitor Guide, hosted family friendly events like Picnic in the Park, and Frosty’s Fest, sponsored and organized Trash Crawls, engaged the community through online photo contests and brought you the fireworks after Rib ‘n Rock n 2022.