News You Can Use (And Where To Find It)

The Parma Heights PACT (Police & Community Together) Youth Group….
       >>  Congratulations to the PACT Unit Youth Group and co-facilitators, Ptl. Eric Taylor and Case Manager Kelly Latevola for being recognized & receiving a MyCom Network Agency Award for Youth Engagement. This is given to those organizations “….actively & authentically engaging youth in decision making about youth programming, community activities for children and young adults and/or community planning.” The award was presented during the 2018 Annual MyCom Youth Awards banquet held on November 15th.
      >>  For announcements & detailed information re. their bi-weekly (6:00 – 7:30 pm., Tuesday) meetings visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/parmaheights.police.

O  Save the Date – The Ohio Association of Foodbanks, in partnership with the Ohio Dept of Education, will be hosting the 8th annual statewide Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Summit in 2019! When: Tuesday Feb 12, 2019; Where: Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Grove City (just south of Columbus); Target Audience: a returning sponsor or site, a partner, or an organization considering whether SFSP is a fit for you. Registration for the event will opens in early January 2019.

O  From Parma City Schools….
       >>  IF YOU VOTED “NO” FOR THE SCHOOL LEVY,
Supt. Smialek is inviting you to attend his next Town Hall meeting starting at 6:30, on Wednesday, December 5th at the Parma (Powers Blvd) Branch Library. Following a structured format, you’ll be given an opportunity to express the rationale for your vote….w/the request that folks discuss only matters within the district’s control.
       >>  Schools in the District are gearing up for the Holidays. Visit the district’s and/or your child’s school website to view their schedule of programs, events and please show your support for those that you can.
       >>  Consider a donation to help students from Valley Forge H.S. complete an on-campus memorial to 15 alumni killed during the Vietnam war. They’re hoping to set the actual memorial in May and complete landscaping work shortly thereafter. A check memo’d as “Vietnam Memorial” sent to Valley Forge H.S. or an in-kind donation, i.e.: landscaping and/or concrete services are specifically needed, would both be appreciated. Contact Amy Byrne, byrnea@parmacityschools.org or Mike Stringer, stringerm@parmacityschools.org  for more information.

From CBS Connects our career readiness program ….
       >>  Financial Literacy sessions for students & their families.
The next session is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 15th at Parma H.S. starting at 6:00 pm. Go here for program details: https://tinyurl.com/CBS-Fin-Literacy
       >>  Registration is now open for students in grades 3 thru 6 interested in learning how to become Young Entrepreneur.  Click here: https://tinyurl.com/CBS-Entrep for more information & to register. This is another unique opportunity offered to our kids by the CBS Connects program.

       >>  For free assistance navigating the current college landscape visit the GearUp/College Now page of the district’s web site - https://tinyurl.com/PCSGearUp

O  Support the 8th Annual Parma Peanut Butter Drive and drop-off your jar/s of peanut butter at these locations: Parma City Hall, UH/Parma Medical Center & the CCPL Parma Powers Rd & Parma-Snow branches. The PB will be collected by All Faiths Pantry & distributed to low income seniors in our area. Cash donations allow All Faiths Pantry to purchase PB at below wholesale prices. Tax deductible donations payable to All Faiths Pantry Can be  mailed to: Sean Brennan, 6611 Ridge Rd, Parma OH 44129. Questions call: 216.496.4329 or email: infor@allfaithspantry.org.

O  From our Tri-City MyCom Youth Group….
      >>  Our local MyCom Youth Council will be meeting on Thursdays after school from 3-5pm at the Hanna building starting now through and including December 20th. Join them for fun activities, food, discussions and planning future events and service opportunities. Bring a friend and join in!
     >>  Learn more about the County’s MyCom initiative and it’s programs & event by visiting www.mycomcle.org

O  From the Parma Area Family Collab: Interested in becoming a Community Elf for the Holidays?
Here’s how….
     >> 
Please use this link to register yourself as an Elf: https://tinyurl.com/CollabElf
     >> 
Giving Tree and Santa Shop experience:
          > Shop for gifts and stocking stuffers
for infants to 18 years of age. Gifts should come to us UNWRAPPED please.
          > Gift wrap and tape make excellent donations as well.
          > Need ideas? 
We’ll provide a wish list but be creative in your purchases!
          > Drop gifts off by Friday, December 7th – Gifts can be dropped off Monday -  Friday, 8:30 – 5:30 pm at the Family Collaborative, PCSD Hanna building at 11212 Snow Road in Parma
          > Monetary donations and gift cards are also welcomed
and can sent to Amanda Keeler at the address above. Checks should be made payable to Parma Family Collaborative..
      >>
  Questions or concerns about this new way to give?  Give Amanda Keeler a call at 440-887-4873- or email us at collabsupport@parmacityschools.org and we’ll talk with you about our holiday program.
      >>  Learn more about the Family Collaborative, its programs, services, events & resources available in the community by visiting:  www.familycollab.com or call the Collab at 440.887.4873.

If you know of, or your organization serves families or clients that require food assistance, check out this calendar of west side food pantries….http://www.tinyurl.com/parmafood. Clicking on any of the pantry names will display its hours, address, requisites, etc.

O  
If you know of, or are a woman 18 or older, in the midst of a transitional stage of her life, you should be aware of Tri-C’s Women in Transition Program. It’s a free, 8-week, non-credit course designed to help women in areas of personal development, career exploration & computer usage. Assessing financial aid resources & help w/financial literacy, health & safety issues, resume writing, interviewing/presentation skills and more are all available along the way. Go to www.try-c.edu/wit for details.

O  Our librarys’ Great Books for Kids Program is now up and running. Go here: https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-Kids-Bks to check out their Giving Guide.

O  From the Parma Snow Library….
      >>
  Go here: https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-Parma-SnowCalendar to display their event calendar for the current month.

O  From the Parma Branch Library (Powers Blvd.) special events….
      >>  The Homework Center is now open — Two 75 minutes sessions, 4 – 5:15 pm & 5:15 – 6:30 Monday thru Thursday; for Grades K – 8.  Go here for more detail & to register: https://tinyurl.com/HomeWkHelp.
      >>  Some December programs of note include:
          >  Art Experiences
— Grades K-8.; Fridays at 4:00 p.m., December 7th and 14th.  
          >  Gingerbread Houses -- Children of all ages with a caregiver; December 8th at 11:00a.m. or 2:00 p.m.
          >  Student Volunteers: Gingerbread -- Grades 4 – 6.  December 8th at 10:00a.m. or 1:00 p.m.  Help families make gingerbread houses. Earn Community Service Hours.  Register at:   https://tinyurl.com/MorningVolunteers or https://tinyurl.com/AfternoonVolunteers.
          >  Master Builders -- Grades 4 – 6.  Third Thursday of each month.  December 20th at 6:30 p.m.
          >  Brick Builders Club -- Grades K-3.  Last Tuesday of each month.  December 18th at 4:00 p.m.
          The Grinch: Holiday in Whoville -- Ages 5 – 8.  December 13th at 6:30 p.m.
**  Go here: https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-ParmaCalendar for more information and/or to register for these and other programs. 

O  From the Parma Hts Branch Library….
    
 >>  Go here: https://tinyurl.com/CCPL-ParmaHtsCalendar  to display their event calendar for the current month.
      >>  Kids Café - Are you 18 or younger?  Get a brown-bag meal, courtesy of the Cleveland Food Bank, Monday through Friday 4:00 - 4:30pm THIS SERVICE IS AT RISK OF BEING ELIMINATED FOR LACK OF PARTICIPATION. PLEASE HELP PASS THE WORD.

Gene Lovasy

Community Volunteer/Youth Advocate/Activist

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Volume 10, Issue 12, Posted 10:52 AM, 12.01.2018