News

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.

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. 

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. 

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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.

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. 

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.” 

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 our municipal (city), school district, and county governments, as well as the judicial branch of government in Ohio. This month I will write about our state government, focusing on the executive and legislative branches.

When bombs started falling in Ukraine, those explosions made an emotional impact in Parma, 5,000 miles away from the war. Cuyahoga County is home to 15,000 people of Ukrainian descent, with the greatest concentration of 4,400 living in Parma. “All of us working here have family in Ukraine,” said Solomia Bida, one of the many volunteers who daily sorts donations of food and medical supplies at Pokrova Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church at Broadview Road. The supplies are packed and shipped to help support Ukrainian humanitarian relief efforts abroad.

While planning the Polish Constitution Day Parade to be held Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Polish Village, I had the pleasure to meet Dr. Mitchell Bienia from the Polish American Congress. The parade and after party are brought to you in partnership with the Ohio Division of the Polish American Congress, Polish Village Parma, Inc., the City of Parma, and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Mitch is definitely proud of his Polish heritage. It would take a whole page to list his accomplishments and that’s not the focus of this article. The focus is the conversation I had with him and the education I obtained from it.

Built in 1925, Parma’s Ridgewood Golf Course Clubhouse is now a pile of rubble. At 9 a.m., Monday, March 21, the city held a demolition event for the public to attend at 6505 Ridge Road. Spectators watched and cheered as construction equipment knocked down the first wall. Throughout the week, the rest of the structure was destroyed. “It’s something that’s been needed for a really long time,” Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter said. “We’re excited about this new chapter for the clubhouse and our city. We wanted to pause and recognize the clubhouse’s history, so we held a ceremony and invited elected county and city officials, our golfers and members of the public. We saw a big turnout, local media attended, and we heard positive comments.”

On February 16th, I was honored to be joined by University Hospitals Parma Medical Center’s Stroke Team on the floor of the Ohio Senate to recognize them for excellence in stroke patient care. UH Parma Medical Center was honored by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment, according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. UH Parma won the Stroke Gold Plus and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite awards.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. The proper treatment can mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Ohio. Unfortunately, strokes are a health concern that can happen to anyone and have touched many of our lives. This issue is personal for me, as my mother died 23 years ago from complications of a stroke. Since I have been in the legislature, I have worked to lessen such a crushing loss for Ohio families through policy measures. We passed Senate Bill 21 last year to establish statewide guidelines for the assessment, triage and transport of stroke patients to hospitals, as well as House Bill 464 of the 132nd General Assembly, which designated key hospitals based on the level of care for stroke victims.

On March 1st, I also introduced Senate Bill 305 to designate May as Ohio Stroke Awareness Month, which will be a crucial step in educating people on symptoms of stroke that may help lead to earlier detections and better health outcomes for patients. According to a recent study at the University of Kentucky Stroke Center, the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T can help people remember the signs of possible stroke to save lives. It stands for:

A great majority of Parma residents do not realize that their State of Ohio is considered a hot spot for Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) sightings. In addition, some of the oldest UFO organizations originated in the Cleveland area. By 2021, there has been 3,012 reported sightings of UFOs in the State of Ohio alone. Some of the most popular UFO sightings in history took place in two areas in Ohio. The first was in 1958 in Pickaway County near Circleville which is 25 miles south of Columbus. The second one occurred in 1966 in Portage County which is located in north eastern Ohio.

In 1923, Father Nicholas Monaghan, along with thirteen families, founded Saint Charles Borromeo Parish. Saint Charles was one of the first many ‘inner-ring’ suburb parishes of the Diocese of Cleveland. During the early 1920’s, industrial progress in Northeast Ohio meant plentiful jobs, and rapid growth for the new St. Charles Borromeo Parish. A wood frame church, brick rectory, and eight classroom school were built by 1928. The Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland arrived at the parish in 1924 and served until 2018. The good times stalled during the Great Depression of the 1930’s, however.  Father Monaghan would later comment, “Some days we just barely made it.”

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) and school district governments, as well as the judicial branch of government in Ohio. This month I will report on county government with a focus on Cuyahoga County.

Prama Artspace & Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd, latest exhibit opened March 25, 2022. It features artist Pip Logan’s figurative, expressive paintings which are new works created during the last 2 years. The opening reception included the sounds of Duo Decibel System (Miss Melvis and John Scully). Stop in and see this exciting exhibit.

The Parma Commission on Aging is conducting a shoe drive from March 25 through May 25, 2022 to raise funds for the Donna Smallwood Activities Center and Office on Aging. The Parma Commission on Aging organization will earn funds based on the total weight of the shoes collected as Funds2Orgs will purchase all of the donated footwear. Those dollars will be used to benefit programs, services, and activities at the Donna Smallwood Senior Center.

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

Judge Cornelius O’Sullivan was recently appointed to the Ohio Court of Appeals, Eighth Judicial District, by Governor Mike DeWine. He is currently serving the people of Cuyahoga County, hearing appeals from all lower courts. 

In the past couple of years, some of the many highest-grossing movies were nurtured by comic books. Many of the most popular and acclaimed TV shows have been based on comics as well. Nowadays, comics are a positive influence for millions of people of all backgrounds to come together and celebrate stories. Every reader can identify with something different when they pick up a comic by uniquely attaching to some characters, writers, or even artists. At North Coast Nostalgia, 5853 Ridge Road, in Parma, people of all ages come together and find others that you can share those experiences with. Local comic book shops like North Coast Nostalgia are like tiny hubs in the community where people can gather, discuss ideas, and build fantastic comic collections.  

For a second year in a row, Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter gave his State of the City address as a recorded speech, which was posted on the City of Parma’s website Monday, Feb. 28 at www.cityofparma-oh.gov.
 “When we made the decision to record the address, COVID cases her high,” DeGeeter explained. Next year, the mayor plans to return to a live presentation and has already arranged to speak at WorkHub 99. The former General Motors training facility, the new complex offers co-working space for small businesses and independent contractors to network and connect with the local business community. “Over the past two years,” DeGeeter said, “WorkHub has brought rapidly growing businesses to Parma and created new jobs.”

Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a LIVE Classical Music Concert on Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 PM at Valley Forge High School Auditorium located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights performing:  Mozart: Violin Concertone Mari Sato & Andrew Sords, soloists and: Mozart:  Piano Concerto No. 23 Elizabeth DeMio – soloist  Also:  Liszt: Prometheus Symphonic Poem No. 5, “The Fortune Teller” - Victor Herbert 

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Prama Artspace Gallery & Boutique, 5411 Pearl Rd, new exhibit opened Friday February 25 at 6PM. This exhibit is titled Hard Edges/Soft Edges and features the works of two area artists. Amanda Nyx’s work is crystal-like with defined planes. She is a multi-media artist who loves experimenting with color on her 2-D abstract art. Amanda is also a flow dance performer and fire spinner. Danica Zeise’s work is soft and organic. She’s a Medina artist who loves painting and making metal jewelry. Gallery owner Sean Mabin said “Together they bring a treat for the eyes.”  Stop in and see for yourself.

This month I am continuing my series titled 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) and school district governments in Ohio.  This month I will focus on the judicial branch.

On January 26th, the Ohio Senate passed my bill, Substitute Senate Bill 61, to strengthen a number of consumer protection provisions for condominium owners and make changes to the law regarding solar panel installation in condo properties and planned communities.

For a second year in a row, Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter will not address a live audience when he gives his annual State of the City speech. Instead, he will have it recorded and linked on the city’s website the last week of February for residents to view safely from the comfort of their homes. “Because of the number of COVID-19 cases in the county, we want to be cautious and not bring together a large crowd,” DeGeeter said.

This month I am continuing my series titled Civics 101. The hope is to provide you with useful information about your local, state, and federal governments. Last month I covered the municipal or city governments of Parma, Parma Heights, and Seven Hills. This month I will focus on school district government, focusing on the Parma City School District.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Kammy Shuman nominated Holy Family Catholic Parish at 7367 York Road, Parma, as the city's January Citizen of the Month. At the Jan. 18 City Council Meeting, Shuman was joined by Ward 5 Councilman Allan Divis (center) and Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter (far left) in presenting Holy Family's Pastor Richard Evans (second from left) and Pastoral Council President Patrick Osysko (far right) with resolutions honoring the church's 150th anniversary. The church has planned a year-long celebration to recognize its milestone.

Erin Lally joined Mayor Tim DeGeeter’s administration full time this past January as the director of the Donna Smallwood Activities Center and Office on Aging at 7001 West Ridgewood Drive. The former assistant to recently retired Parma Heights Mayor Mike Byrne is filling the role left vacant when JoAnn Mason retired in September 2021 after 16 years of overseeing the Activities Center. “JoAnn leaves a legacy of outstanding service and lifelong friendships from her distinguished career serving Parma’s senior residents. I hope she becomes a frequent visitor and member of the Activities Center,” Lally said.

In 1969 Leo Zampedro became the head golf pro at Ridgewood Golf Course. A position he held for 8 years before moving on to Hawthorne Valley Country Club in Solon, and eventually opening his dream facility, Troy Hill Golf Center in Burton, where his motto was “We Reach the Pros”. During his life he accomplished a great deal. He was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Piblic Links Tournament in 1965. Won the Ohio Public Links Championship in 1967. He also built a strong teaching reputation. Named NOPGA Teacher of the year in 1992, 1995, and 2005. He was recognized annually from 1999 through 2007 by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the best instructors in Ohio and the U.S. He was inducted into the Parma Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, NOPGA Hall of Fame in 1999, and Warren Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. His students were sports stars like Buddy Bell, Bill Cowher, Austin Carr, Bob Lewis and Barb Mucha. In 1981 he played a round of golf with Bob Hope. 

Prama Artspace Gallery & Boutique, 5411 Pearl Rd, will be featuring new works by Sean Mabin, photographer, February 4th to the 21st. On February 25th a new event, in process, will feature Amanda Nix and others.

RAISING AWARENESS:  Human Trafficking/Abuse:
O  From The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking:
      >>  Know who to call….If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking call the Cuyahoga County Regional Human Trafficking Task Force Hotline at 216-443-6085 or 911 in the case of an emergency.
      >>  Visit Collab’s website a/o Follow them on Facebook. View the close to 70 local partners working collaboratively in support of victim recovery.To stay current in regards to HT-related events and activities sign up for their E-newsletter here.

O  From The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force...Significant progress has been made during the last several years to enhance the state’s anti-trafficking policy landscape.