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Mayor Tim DeGeeter will begin "office hours" this month for residents who want to come and chat.

As recently promised in his State of the City speech, Mayor Tim DeGeeter will begin a new program this month aimed at directly increasing residents’ input and accessibility to the Mayor’s office. The program is called Mayor’s In, Mayor’s Out. “I want to use this program to help residents feel closer to their local government and to encourage them to actively participate,” DeGeeter said. “When I was a legislator, I often said the best ideas came from the constituents I served. And, as mayor, I still believe that that is true.”

Councilwoman Debbie Lime joins Mayor Tim DeGeeter on Ward 2 Walkabout
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By all accounts, Parma’s Safety Walkabouts are off to another rousing start, if the first two weeks are any indication. Parma safety officials visited residents on streets in two wards last month, and by the end of fall, hope to make it to all nine wards. This is the sixth year that members of Parma Police, along with the Mayor, and members of City Council, have visited Parma residents door to door in an effort to educate residents and to listen to their concerns about street or neighborhood safety. The program, says Safety Director Greg Baeppler, is all about communication. “It’s really an exchange of information,” he said. “We talk to them about basic household and property safety, things like ‘don’t forget to close your garage door’ and they have the opportunity to tell us about things going on in their neighborhood. It’s a great program all the way around.”

Parma Hts. Mayor Michael P. Byrne stands in front the video presentation screen for his first State of the City Address since he took office.

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Economic Development and Recreation Vital to City’s Future

On Thursday, April 19, at the Cassidy Theatre, I delivered my first State of the City Address.  As the speech came at the mid-point of my first term, I gave an overview of where we have been, what we have accomplished and what we need to do now to face today's challenges and prepare for the challenges to come.  

Cox Communications was on hand to record the address and report that they have added it to their Cox45 and On Demand programming.

The address can be seen on Cox45 on Sundays at 8:30 a.m., Mondays at 8:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.  The address will air throught the month of May.

According to Amy Krebs of Cox Communications, if you are a Cox Advanced TV subscriber and wish to view the address On Demand, simply "tune your TV to channel 1, select FreeZone, Cox Local, and then Events New & Info.  Along the bottom of the screen, there will be different folders, scroll left or right to Parma Heights SOC and select the video". 

City recreation officials weren’t quite sure what to expect from the first year of offering Tot T-ball to three- and four-year-old aspiring all stars. What they got was an overwhelming response – enough players to field 10 full teams. With 12 on a team, that’s 120 tots! Recreation Department officials are stunned at the positive turnout for the brand new program. "We are extremely pleased and proud with the overwhelming response to this new program,” said Recreation Department Director Mickey Vittardi. “Our department is always looking at offering different and/or additional recreational opportunities for our residents.” But who knew there were 120 Parma three- and four-year-olds who wanted to get a formal T-ball introduction? “I really didn’t know what to expect,” said Roberto Discenza, the Rec Department’s assistant director. “But the turnout has been really strong.”

Proposed artwork for the north wall of Colozza's Bakery, scheduled to be completed in early summer.

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While throngs of people are milling around Ridge Road before and after the Polish Constitution Day Parade on May 6, the newly updated Polish Village will shine with improvements. Over on State Road, in Ukrainian Village? Same thing.The city is using money from the Block Grant’s Streetscape Improvement Program, which provides funds to beautify and improve commercial areas of the city. Improvements for Polish and Ukrainian villages include benches – blue and yellow for Ukrainian Village and red for Polish Village – and new trash cans for each village in the same color. There are eight new trash cans in Polish Village, and two at Ukrainian Heritage Park. Additionally, there are 11 benches in Polish Village and four in Ukrainian Heritage Park.

We need you to come and take us to our new home; we'll always be grateful, and we'll never let you down.

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There are at least five animal shelters in or near the greater Parma area who share the same basic mission of protecting and placing lost and surrendered cats and dogs. They are: the APL on Willey Ave., the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter on Sweet Valley Drive in Valley View, the Parma Animal Shelter on State Rd., the SPCA No-Kill Shelter on Brookpark Rd. near Wal-Mart, and the City Kennel on West 7th in Cleveland near the Steelyard Commons.

Parma ABLE Staff at OAACE Conference
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Parma ABLE teacher Stephanie Schab was named The Ohio Association for Adult and Continuing Education's (OAACE) Teacher/Trainer of the Year for the Northeast Region of Ohio. The award luncheon was held in Columbus on April 20.

Parma City Council President Sean P. Brennan

As President of Parma City Council, one of my priorities has been to inform the community about the make up, procedures and initiatives of Parma City Council.  This article represents the latest in a series in which I will provide you, the reader, with a monthly glimpse into your local government.  This month I have taken the liberty of informing you of how to contact your representative on City Council.  I often have residents contact me requesting this information.  Further, in light of the fact that we have three relatively new members of Council, this might prove especially helpful.

Tri-C student Meghan Pierce puts the finishing touches on her Guitarmania artwork, "“Teach a Man to Fish and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.”
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Meghan Pierce speaks with a non-stop tempo that quickly displays her passion and determination for accomplishing goals.  Her personality is appropriately built for speed because she has a lot on her plate. Her latest project is a nine-foot tall Fender® Stratoscaster® guitar. 

David Paul was over 6,000 miles away, serving in Afghanistan, when his

One of the most frequent thing I hear in talking to others who have aging relatives they are concerned about is, “They seem to be doing all right.” Or, “There haven’t been any serious problems yet.” Or, “They haven’t asked for any help, and I don’t want to offend them.”

This month, I can see where the Browns and the draft are going to cause me problems and nightmares. I had lunch last week with ex-college coaching friends of mine and we had a good conversation of what we thought the Browns should draft. We came to the conclusion that they should not trade their draft positions, but keep them to draft what they really need. All of us but one thought we should draft a quality right offensive tackle to help our QBs. But who is that guy? Adams, from OSU, or someone else? We definitely see a need for an offensive right tackle who can block and physically hold up. Seeing that during free agency we didn't invest in a QB, the Browns must feel what we have will work out. We shall see. We also felt that a quality receiver is a real need and free agency didn't help us there, either. Justin Blackmom seems like he would be a good draft choice and a big wide out we need. The group thought that too. Oh, yes, we forgot Southern Cal's Matt Kallil. he might be a good fit in at offensive tackle if available at draft time. We thought if the Browns want a QB, Texas A.M. Ryan Tannehill might work out, but some of the coaches thought that Brandon Weeden might be able to work in; your guess is as good as ours. If Josh Cribbs keeps driving at 103 miles per hour, we might miss him. He is a good kid through a personal conversation, and I really don't want to see him hurt or killed. He truly wants to win, we need to use him more. From here on we really didn't agree on much except that we were all in favor of the overtime rule this year. And a couple of us have decided to donate our brains to science to study, from the number of concussions we've had. I just heard on ESPN that the NY Jets want to trade up to number 4 to get the wide out they want. I think the Browns would be hurting themselves to trade away the 4th pick, take the best athlete with it, they need a receiver too. Enough about football for now. Let me know what you think.

May’s Asset Category: Commitment to Learning
Education has improved immensely in the past 20 years. Today, more young people are taking high-level courses, fewer of them are dropping out, math and science scores are on the rise, and more students are entering college after high school. But that doesn’t mean a commitment to learning happens naturally in all young people. Instilling this important trait involves a combination of values and skills that include the desire to succeed in school, a sense of the lasting importance of learning, and a belief in one’s own ability. This commitment is strongly influenced by the school environment and relationships with family and peers.

Commitment to Learning Assets Include:
            #21 Achievement Motivation – Young person is motivated to do well in school. (65%*)
            #22 School Engagement – Young people is actively engaged in learning. (55%*)
            #23 Homework – Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day. (47%*)
            #24 Bonding to School – Young person cares about her or his school. (52%*)
            #25 Reading for Pleasure – Young person reads for pleasure 3 or more hours /week. (22%*)
            (* The percent of youth who experience or have this asset in their lives.  Data based on an aggregate Search Institute sample of 148,189 students surveyed in 2003. The sample included students in 202 cities in 27 states.)

Recently, President Obama’s campaign released a video called “The Road We’ve Traveled” about his first term in office. The title reminded of a book I was familiar with called "The Road We Are Traveling" by Stuart Chase. In that book, Mr. Chase outlined characteristics of political economies that he had observed among Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain between 1913 and 1942 as the influence of Fabian Socialism spread throughout Europe. Look carefully at this list of 18 characteristics and compare them with the United States of today.    

The topic for May is: Time. Time is something in a very limited supply. Why not invest it in our children? When parents spend time with their children, they pay them the highest compliment they will ever receive. The Bible cautions us about not taking time for granted. "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

Try yoga, sign up for a melanoma screening or ensure that your child is ready for Kindergarten. Each season, Parma Community General Hospital’s Health Education Center affords an opportunity to explore a new variety of personal wellness, fitness, mind/body fitness and youth classes.

TWO SONNETS BY BRYAN N GRIFFIN JR

Cleveland Water’s Clear Reads (Automatic Meter Reading Program) is coming to your neighborhood soon. Come learn more about the Clear Reads program and its benefits;

Police Officer Okey Wise-Roman (left) seated next to Lieutenant Al Moreland (right)
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Sabrina Fisher did not know she was experiencing cardiac distress when she doubled over with chest pains on the morning of Feb. 27th, 2012 while attending her classes at Tri-C.  She thought she was merely having a bout of indigestion. If it were not for the insight and intervention of Officer Okey Wise-Roman, she may not have lived to see her next report card.  It was his determination that prompted him to call 9-1-1, and for that Fisher is very grateful.

Safety Director Greg Baeppler and Councilman Brian Day speak to a Parma resident on a previous Walkabout Wednesday

Soon, you may see a Parma police vehicle on your street or a Parma police official at your door. Don’t be alarmed; be informed. It’s Walkabout time again.

The Parma Elks Club Honored David Higginbotham Wednesday March 21 with a Firefighter of the Year award. Dave has been with the department for 17 years and is a Fire and EMS instructor for the Parma Fire as well as Tri-C. He is also one of two grant writers that have brought in just over 2 million dollars in grant money since 2003. He is Chairman of Local 639 Charity Committee raising 80,000 for local charities over the last 14 years including coordinating the Annual Charity Golf Outing. He volunteers his time teaching fire safety to Parma City Schools Kindergarten, Parma’s First Step Program special needs children and CPR and first aid to Parma Hockey Association coaches. At a house fire in December 2011, he and other firefighters reached a male in a bedroom and removed him through a window to safety.

The Parma Symphony Orchestra will present a concert on Sunday, May 6th 2012 at 3:00 PM at Valley Forge High School Auditorium located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights. 

After two-plus months of planning, numerous meetings and careful scrutiny, Mayor Tim DeGeeter presented his first general fund budget to Parma City Council last month, which was passed by a 9-0 vote.

As President of Parma City Council, one of my priorities has been to inform the community about the make up, procedures and initiatives of Parma City Council.  This article represents the latest in a series in which I will provide you, the reader, with a monthly glimpse into your local government.  This column will focus on an area near and dear to my family and I – environmental stewardship and recycling.  In particular, I will focus on several events that will take place in the coming months in our fine community.

Matthew Gesicki and Charles Hayes of Parma are two of just fifteen Baldwin-Wallace College students selected for the 2012 Summer Scholars Program. The program, now in its ninth year, enables students to pursue a research or creative project of their design under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Scholars will live together on Campus from May 21-July 13, regularly sharing their varied research within and outside the Summer Scholars community. The program is enriched by seminars and field trips.

President Joe Germana (right) welcomes new members Tom Krysiak and Diane Barna

Parma Area Morning Kiwanis welcomes new members Tom Krysiak and Diane Barna. Tom is Graduate of St. Joseph High School, Graduate of Bowling Green State University. Married 37 Years to Regina. Has 3 grown children all married and employed, Grandfather of 2 boys. Has 30 Years in the Retail Package Goods business with companies; Teledyne Water Pik, Bausch & Lomb, Regina, and Vidal Sassoon. In Sales Management for 25 of those years. Sold to retailers nationwide such as Wal Mart, Target, Sears, J.C. Penney, Kmart etc.
Last 7 years a consultant working in the Debt Collection Industry, AmerAssist, and Energy Procurement, H.P. Technologies.
Diane is a Legal Secretary with Gallagher Sharp, a resident of Parma and proud Grandmother of grandson Jack and granddog Max. She believes in the part of the Key Club Pledge to "Build my home, school and Community" and is looking forward to attending her first Kiwanis International Convention as a delegate.

Parma City School District Superintendent Dr. Jeffery Graham and School Board President Sean P. Nicklos attended a meeting of the Parma Patriots on March 25, answering questions and addressing concerns of the people there.

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“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Societies and organizations whose leaders have no vision cannot grow and prosper because they are reduced to maintaining the status quo and are guided by the saying “If it aint broke, don’t fix it.” True leaders are guided by a different belief more reflective of the competitive world in which we live. With the realization that there is always room for improvement, they believe “If it ain’t broke, you’re not looking hard enough”.

Since Easter Sunday is on April 8, I thought that it would be appropriate for this month's column to offer for your consideration some quotations from the Book of Proverbs, which focus on contrasting values. I'd like to take this opportunity to extend to each and everyone my wishes for a Happy Easter.

Wow! What weather to begin a new High School season of Spring sports. This is so very unreal. You really don't think it will snow again, do you? I can just see the students putting on their softball and baseball shoes, and the track teams finally saying "we can participate in summer weather". and tennis courts being dry and payable. I hope I didn't just put a hex on the weather! The area basketball teams, both girls and boys, really moved forward. The Valley Forge High School Boys team really improved from last season. This year they were over .500 at 11-10, after a very dismal season last year. They reached the sectional finals before losing to Midpark, 50-47. They were led by Nick Ho, a first selection on All NOC Lake Division. Valley Forge's girls 8-13, 5-5 in their division. Normandy's Boys Wrestling had just a couple of wins, but look out next year. The lady Invaders had a good season, finishing 12-9 overall, but a perfect season,10-0, in the NOC Lake Division. They lost to Brecksville in the Sectional Tournament. Good going girls! Parma Boys made a great jump to 7 wins in the past season. The Parma Baseball Team is ready and set to go.

Paul Hudock, MD

The fourth time was a charm for Lisa Holbert. The Parma woman had tried three other gynecologists, all of whom took a wait-and-see approach to a growing problem. She spent months receiving iron infusions to boost her blood count following excessively heavy menstrual periods that left her drained. The past four years were a blur of nausea, cramping, vomiting and exhaustion. “There’s no living. You just want to sleep,” said Holbert, 39 and a mother a teenage daughter and a son in college. “The exhaustion and fatigue were so bad. I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do as a mom. The other doctors were kind of dismissive, like: ‘You’re a young woman, this is part of life.’”

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A thousand apologies to professional poets, (and those allergic to sap) as well as my neighbors who may well have grumbled about the sprouting grass last month. Like many I imagine, I made the mistake the first spring I moved to Parma and the magnolia on my front lawn did its business. As a greenhorn, I tried to mulch it up with the mower. After my arm got sore de-clogging the underside and re-pulling the starter rope, I began to bag the squishy petals. Three bags later, realizing this wasn’t the green solution, I called my Dad – a.k.a. Farmer McGregor - who snickered and told me to leave them alone and let nature take care of it. He was right as usual, and I ended up emptying the petals into a pile by the back garden which shriveled and shrunk in a few days. Pretty as the blooming magnolia is – they are short-lived displays, and if the trees could talk to passing gawkers they would tell you themselves to “Take a picture – it lasts longer!”

I have a group of friends that I get into logical arguments with every subject you can think of. The one thing we always get so passionate about is the difference between religion and spirituality. Why? One friend cannot stand it when he hears the statement, "I am spiritual, not religious." Every person has a friend that is like that.

Allow me to explain this expression. This is my own subjective definition. It is not an absolute truth. My explanation comes close to it. Here we go.

Religion is a group mentality. The word itself comes from the Latin word, meaning 'to bring together.' Also, consider the fact that religion involves large numbers of people coming together to hear the alleged wise words of one person, who stands high above a figurative pedestal and looking down to their congregation in front of a lecture stand. The keyword for religion is "group."

Religion may also be considered an "outside in" mentality. Christianity is an example of such a mentality. Because it deals with a monotheistic supreme being, it is about letting a deity from the outside into your body and soul.

Spirituality is an individual mentality. It is considered by some to a singular journey to find either peace of mind or soulful enlightenment. This is either achieved through dialogue with someone of higher spiritual authority, or it can be done alone through deep meditation. They look deep from within themselves to find their answers to certain questions. They do that to find out where their heart truly belongs. The keyword for spirituality is "individual."

Spirituality can be considered an "inside out" mentality. Traditional Indian Buddhism is an excellent example. It is atheistic, and it only deals with the science of the human soul. Buddhism focuses with perfecting one's ATMAN, or soul through karma and reincarnation of several lifetimes, learning lessons through those journeys. So, your soul travels from body to body through life, death, and rebirth without the presence or guidance of a god, or goddess.

So, I always ask my friend, after I explain it for the umpteen thousandth time, "Are you religious, where you like to share your beliefs with like minded people; or are you spiritual, where you contemplate by yourself, or with a spiritual guide?"

My beliefs are complicated. I have such a wide variety of interests, from ancient Egypt to Zen Buddhism. I really do not have a favorite that is set in stone, because I am so culturally diverse, and I am interested in everything under the sun. Also, I consider myself more of a scholar than a believer of just one thing.

With all that being said, ask yourself a couple questions. What path do you follow? Do you like sharing your beliefs with a group of people, or do you like to meditate your beliefs by yourself.

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On February 23, 2012, The Literacy Cooperative hosted a Parent Learning Session for parents of first grade students at Marion-Sterling School in Cleveland. The Parent Learning Session was a supplement to the STEP tutoring program that The Literacy Cooperative is piloting at Marion-Sterling School. STEP pairs first grade students with a tutor for one-on-one tutoring sessions that follow a research-based curriculum designed to improve the child’s literacy skills.

On March 23 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Now it has been two years since that event. While the most important provisions of the act will not take effect until January 1 2014, here is what has happened in those two years:

Historic Marker in front of the Stearns Homestead on Ridge Rd. in Parma.

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The Parma Area Historical Society will begin its 2012 season on the Stearns Homestead with a celebration of Earth Day on Sunday, April 22. Our official Opening Day is May 20th. A plant sale is also schedukled for this weekend. We have been busy over the last few months getting ready to invite the public for a season of family fun! We have started our new Youth Group this year and its off to a resounding start with many new families participating in Club events. There will be new calves, lambs, turkeys and piglets here soon to see. We already hear a loud chrous of frogs in the pond singing and the fields and vistas are coming into bloom. In June, the ceremony to honor the Flag will be held on 16th and we will also enjoy the sunset that evening.

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Dr. Robert A. George, a member of Parma Hospital’s Medical Staff, was recovering from a spinal fusion surgery when his new great-grandson was born downstairs in the Small Wonders Maternity Center on March 14. Baby Seth is being held by his grandmother, Dr. George’s daughter Peggy, and looking on proudly is his grandfather, Shamus, who helped to build the tower addition to the hospital in the early 1980s. Seth’s parents, Madeline and Bryan Gomolka, were delighted to welcome their first child at Parma Hospital. Says Dr. George’s wife, Chris, a longtime member of the Parma Hospital Health Care Foundation Board: "Bob was one of the original Board-certified internists – and 50 years later he's in the hospital when his great-grandson is born. Four generations were represented at Parma Hospital, which is our hospital."