Living in Parma we are blessed to have some of the best Safety Forces in Northeast Ohio. On Thursday August 15th the Ward 6 Safety Meeting was held at my house with over 80 residents attending. This event was postponed by one week due to the tornado coming through Parma. Throughout the question and answer time the residents expressed their thanks and appreciation to all of our Safety Forces.
On July 8, 2024 of this year, it has been decided that the unidentified victims of the Cleveland Torso killer will be exhumed from their graves in an effort to identify them. Dr. Thomas Gilson, the Cuyahoga Chief Medical Examiner, is teaming up with the ”DNA Doe Project” to use DNA testing on the their remains.
I was very excited recently when I got word from the Governor’s office that he was going to sign House Bill 466. H.B. 466 is the second bill that I have introduced that the Governor has signed into law. I am told that it is rare for a freshman member of the Ohio House of Representatives to pass one bill, let alone two. After teaching American Government to middle and high school students for 30 years, I am literally living my life’s work.
The 5th Annual Cleveland Photo Fest runs through September at Bostwick Design Initiative at 2731 Prospect Ave in Cleveland. This year there are several exhibits. A black and white portrait exhibition of 60 Cuyahoga County Mayors and Civic Officials, including Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter. The Women’s Self Portrait Show, which includes photos of 40 women. CATography a national cat photography exhibit, and more. Lots of local talent in this exhibit.
What’s in a Name? Lots if you’re a Lois The Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Lois Club (NEOLois Club) had its first meeting on November 14, 2003 There were 11 women named Lois at the first event. Since then, the group has grown to its current membership of just under 40 members this year. The ladies decided to continue with these luncheons on the same schedule at the National clubs, as there are several across the country, including Canada, which is on the 5th Tuesday of the month. Generally, there are 4 such days in each year, and occasionally there are 5. There are Lois Club groups on Facebook too! An annual convention is scheduled in different locations throughout the states that presents an opportunity to travel, sight see, and meet others who share the name of Lois. This event is open to friends and family.
In Ohio, agriculture provides 1 out of every 7 jobs, making it one of the state’s biggest economic drivers. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have been working to support our agriculture industry and consumers who rely on our farmers and producers for affordable food.
Bring your family and friends to the Annual We Are Parma Proud’s Picnic In The Park on August 3rd, from 11 AM to 2 PM. It’s back at the Ridgewood Basin Park, formerly known as Ridgewood Lake Park, across the street from The Shoppes at Parma, next to the Splash Pad. Free admission!
Jan McAndrews, Parma Arts member, and member of Tribe Ostara Tribal Belly Dancing will be at Cleveland Pagan Pride Festival, 730 Broadway Ave., Bedford, performing improvisational sword, skirt and zill performance, in beautiful & colorful, ethnic clothing with movements inspired by Middle East, North Africa, Spain & India folklore dances, on Saturday August 17.
Save the date! Saturday, August 24th from 1pm to 3pm come to The Parma Art Center, located at 7335 Ridge Road in the Parma Parks & Recreation Building. Kids, Teens, Mom & Dad, Grandparents too, creatives of All ages, 2 to 102, are welcome to join in on the fun!
The Parma Area Historical Society (PAHS) will hold a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 11:00 am to acknowledge the installation of Mobi-mat walkways at Stearns Homestead, making the farm more accessible to wheelchair users and individuals with mobility needs. The portable sidewalks reduce physical barriers and allow all visitors to more easily access the barnyard area and interact with the farm animals.
While driving through the Polish Village section of Parma you’re sure to spot the beautiful flower pots on Ridge and Pearl Roads. The pots are a part of a beautification program that began a few years ago called Adopt-A-Pot. Local residents, businesses, and churches along with volunteers from the non-profit Polish Village Parma, Inc., and Councilwoman Debbie Lime, plant the flowers, weed, and water them. Kudos to all those volunteers who work so diligently to better our community and make it a great place to live.
Kim Tyler of Parma, Ohio is the winner of the $25,000 grand prize in the CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) Dedicated Dawgs Sweepstakes. CCM is the nation’s number one distributed retail mortgage lender and the official mortgage partner of the Cleveland Browns.
In a full session of the Ohio House of Representatives recently, I had the honor of eulogizing my longtime friend, predecessor, and role model, Ronald Milton Mottl. What follows is the speech I delivered to my 98 colleagues. You may watch it on the Ohio Channel at: ohiochannel.org/video/ohio-house-of-representatives-6-12-2024
From my first day in Congress, my highest priority has been serving the people of Ohio’s Seventh Congressional District by advocating for the needs of our region and helping make the federal government work better for the people of Northeast Ohio.
I am very excited to announce that since last month’s column, Governor Michael DeWine signed my first bill into law. For those of you who read my monthly column, you will recall that last May my fellow freshman Rep. Steve Demetriou (R - Bainbridge Township) and I introduced House Bill (H.B.) 195. This bipartisan bill will create an adaptive mobility car dealer license in Ohio.
The most important role I have as a member of Congress is helping the federal government work better for the people of Northeast Ohio. Whether I am meeting with constituents, reading emails, or attending events, the priorities of Ohio’s seventh district stay at the top of my mind. Northeast Ohio’s greatest needs primarily lie in public safety, critical infrastructure, and economic development; all areas I have made a priority. During meetings, hearings, and calls, I keep these needs in mind, advocating for the responsible use of our tax dollars.
The Knights of Columbus 16137 at St. Charles Borromeo Church Annual Car Show was a great success on June 22, 2024. Hosted by Robert Porvasnik and the many Knights, it was efficiently run with each Knight doing their part to make things seem effortlessly. The weather was very hot, but the DJ, Frank LaManna Presents, made for good times and cool tunes with their music as well as there being three weddings going on next door inside the church. The variety of food for the event was enjoyed by all. Brayson’s Ice Cream had ice cream to cool the participants and spectators. P Jays Pizza had pizza available as well as Babcia’s Kitchen with their Polish Food. This is an annual Charitable Event that the proceeds are split and benefits two organizations greatly. The first Organization is the Cyrenians at St. Charles Borromeo Church. The Cyrenians make Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches for the Homeless. The Second organization is Edna House. This organization helps women with a safe sober place to live while helping the women with Drug and Alcohol Addiction. Thank you everyone that worked, came and supported this worthwhile Annual Car Show.
The Annual Picnic In The Park, brought to you by the non-profit We Are Parma Proud, is set for Saturday, August 3rd, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year it’s back to the newly opened Ridgewood Retention Basin Park, by the Splash Pad and the Parma sign. Celebrate summer before going back to school. There’s no admission fee, and it’s a great family oriented event. Free games for the kids with prizes too. Live music. Numerous home based vendors selling their wares. Local non-profits, PTA’s and clubs will be there to advise you to what they offer the community. Raffle baskets, and Parma Proud merchandise for sale. Don’t forget to bring cash as many of these small home based vendors aren’t able to accept credit cards and cash apps. Food trucks will be on site, or pack your own picnic basket. The popular Pet Parade is back again this year. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and the City of Parma will also have a special dedication ceremony and grand opening of the basin that day.
Parma South Presbyterian Church (6155 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, OH) is proud to announce the unveiling of a new lending library, created by 11-year-old Penelope Yeager of Lakewood. Penelope, is a member of the Homestead Hoofers Cuyahoga County 4-H Club at Stearns Homestead, built the colorful library as a service project for her woodworking 4-H project. The lending library was unveiled in a special ceremony on Sunday, June 23rd at 6:30 pm at the church. In addition to the lending library, Penelope was also able to secure a donation of a "blessing box" for non-perishable food items for the church. Penelope worked alongside her grandfather and woodworker, Kim Yeager of Cleveland, to create the lending library. The project exemplifies the spirit of 4-H, which focuses on developing leadership, citizenship, and life skills in young people. It was a lovely opportunity to learn to use the tools of the woodworking trade. Penelope said, “Building the lending library was a lot of fun, but it was also challenging. I learned so much about woodworking and project planning from my grandpa. I'm really happy that I could use my skills to give back to church and the community. I hope people will enjoy using the lending library and that the blessing box helps those in need. The church’s Clerk of Session praised the effort by saying, “The lending library and blessing box are creative ways to ‘Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.’ (Matthew 5:42) . Parma-South Presbyterian Church is grateful to Penelope and the Homestead Hoofers for their thoughtful initiative to serve our local community and thankful for their kind spirit
Prama Artspace Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd., Nothing But Flowers, art exhibit and sale, opened June 8, 2024. This large floral themed exhibit features over 25 local artists work, paintings, mixed media and photography. Opening reception was held Saturday, June 8 with entertainment provided by Magickally Morbid and her acoustic guitar. Show closing is July 6th. The gallery is open to the public, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 6 pm, or by appointment. In addition to the exhibit there’s a boutique with numerous low priced handcrafted items. Watch for a new exhibit coming in July.
Parma resident Jack Dacek has completed his third project, a model replica of the 1855 Stearns house located at Stearns Homestead. After 'measuring twice', Jack indicated he was able to complete this model much quicker than his last two projects. Dacek spent several days designing the plans before starting construction of the Stearns house replica. "My first project was my grandmother's house. That took me several years to build," Dacek indicated. He also built a miniature of the century house he and his wife Viv currently live in, in Parma. The miniature Stearns house is on display at Stearns Homestead along with his original plans and drawings, samples of the materials he used and examples of the miniature windows and doors he created. Photos of his other two projects are also on display. Stearns Homestead is open to the public on Saturdays from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Mid May on an annual basis, for over 50 years, Parma Arts hosts an art show and sale. This event is free and open to the public. This year they added to their programming. On Saturday, May 18th, Samantha Hasselbusch, daughter of Jan Hasselbusch, a Parma Arts member, treated attendees to her beautiful voice. Samantha sang a medley of songs much to the enjoyment of those present.
Prama Artspace Gallery, 5411 Pearl Rd., Nothing But Flowers, art exhibit and sale, opens June 8, 2024. This floral themed exhibit features numerous local artists work, both paintings and photography. Opening reception will be held Saturday, June 8th, from 6 pm to 10 pm. Entertainment begins at 8 pm provided by Magickally Morbid and her acoustic guitar.
Annually in the spring, since 1982, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district and the nation. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and artists within the district select the winning entries. This year the judging was completed by Parma Art Council members, Jan McAndrew and Sean Mabin. The winning student is recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning artworks from each district are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
With cell phones and the Internet we don't hear a lot about “ham radio” but the reality is “amateur radio”, as it's officially called, is a hobby used worldwide. Licensed operators communicate with other hams without the aid of telephone land lines, cell phones or the internet. They even communicate with astronauts aboard the International Station. Voice, Morse code, and a variety of digital modes are used. Operating power might come from solar cells when power lines are down. A common expression is "ham radio gets through when all else fails".
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District monitors beach water quality at several Lake Erie Beaches to help beachgoers know what to expect when they visit Edgewater and Villa Angela beaches.
We are excited to announce the return of our Summer Concert Series, showcasing an incredible lineup that promises to captivate music lovers of all tastes! Kick off the season on June 14th with The Brian Papesh Band, mixing rock n roll, polkas, and country music into a fantastic performance. Then, on June 28th, step back in time with the Jersey Beat Band, a tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, for an evening of nostalgic hits. Keep the rhythm going on July 13th for a special Saturday concert at North Park with the TOPS Swing Band, bringing the lively sounds of swing to life. As summer continues to heat up, join us on August 9th for The McCartney Project, paying homage to the legendary music of Paul McCartney and the Beatles. Finally, on August 23rd, Tommy Lee Thompson will perform a spectacular tribute to Billy Joel. I’m positive the songs of fan favorite Billy Joel will make for a memorable close to our concert season. Food trucks will be on site 30 minutes before each concert or feel free to pack a picnic basket or two. So, mark your calendars for these dates and prepare to be swept away by the magic of live music and friendship this summer in Seven Hills! All concerts will be at Summitview Commons (Seven Hills City) 7325 Summitview Drive at 6pm with the exception of the July 13th concert that will start at 6:30pm and will be held at North Park, 5740 Rockhaven Drive.
Call for Artists: Parma Arts will be holding an art exhibit on May 18th & 19th at the Parma Parks & Recreation Building, 7335 Ridge Rd. Deadline for entry is May 5th,. Drop off is May 17th. To download the application and details on rules and regulations go to www.parmafinearts.org.
REMINDER: The Polish Constitution Day Parade, in Polish Village, will be held this year on Sunday, May 5th, at 2:00 PM, it’s the first annual parade of the year in Parma. Line up along the parade route, Parma Circle to Alber. After the parade come to the festival held at Unity Catholic Credit Union Parking Lot. Watch the Polish Folk dancers, dressed in traditional costumes perform, listen to the lively Polka music and dance. Fill your belly with an array of hardy Polish food, or some American from the food trucks. Beverages will be available, including Polish beer! Shop the marketplace vendors, and much more!
The We Are Parma Proud non-profit volunteers, received the Citizens of the Month Award at the April 1st Parma council meeting. Ward 2 Councilwoman Debbie Lime and Mayor Tim DeGeeter presented the group with certificates recognizing their work promoting the city by creating events that instill community pride. It’s mission is to bring together businesses, government, non-profit groups, and individuals for the purpose of strengthening and promoting pride within Parma, with fresh ideas, enhanced projects and community events.
Discover Local Farming Delights at Stearns Homestead at Potential Buyer Night Hosted by Homestead Hoofers 4-H Club.
Looking for something different to do on the weekend of May 18th & 19th ? Stop in at the Medley of Arts Annual Show & Sale. There’s something for everyone, besides the various paint and pencil visual arts, you’ll see fiber art, three-dimensional pieces, photography, wood carving and wood burning from local talented individuals. Admission is FREE. Attendees to this event will have the opportunity to meet and talk with local artists. Entertainment is provided as well as refreshments, and chances to win some nice raffle prizes. It’s a great way to view the artistic creations of your friends and neighbors, a break from the daily grind. Lots of talented artists and craftsmen in our area.
Memorial Day has traditionally become a day of picnics, cook outs, family gatherings and the unofficial start of summer. It is always observed on the last Monday of May, but we shouldn’t lose sight that this is a day of remembrance and solemn tribute to the brave men and women who laid down their lives in service to the United States.