Letters to the Editor

March 17, 2016 by Submitted

Everyone Needs an ‘Attaboy’

Just to let you know how much I enjoy your newspaper.

I do miss you posting the Berkshire Schools grades. I used that posting to send congratulation cards to those whose names appeared. I so enjoyed sending congrat cards and they looked forward to receiving them.

Everyone needs an “attaboy.” It always let’s them know that other people noticed their accomplishments.

I hope it’s possible for you to post grades again.

Barbara Kumher
Middlefield Village

Summer is Coming

Geauga County is a great county. Let’s keep it that way for the future generations.

The state legislators have a lot more important things to do for the whole state of Ohio than getting involved and taking over the Geauga parks.

So summer is coming. Let’s everybody try and work together with the honorable Judge Tim Grendell for the future of the kids, parents in Geauga County.

We need to keep the park and country atmosphere for everyone.

Helen Scheuring
Hambden Township

Xenophobic Comment

The response from Judge Timothy Grendell regarding the critique of park affairs by Ms. Shelly Chernin revealed some surprising insights into the judge’s thinking.

Mr. Grendell regarded Ms. Chernin as a “transplant,” because she moved to Geauga County only four years ago from Greater Cleveland.

It made me wonder what other colorful euphemisms Mr. Grendell uses. Does he have a euphemism for persons who are visiting Geauga County? How about people who live outside of Geauga County? Do these people get different treatment in his court? Should they?

Mr. Grendell’s xenophobic comment was totally inappropriate for a sitting judge and he should either apologize to Ms. Chernin or else let residents know how many years it takes to change from “transplants” to “citizens.”

Mark Eckman
Chester Township

‘Go Back to School’

Rob Allen is at it again, showing repeatedly he does not understand the First Amendment.

First, like the recent progressive protestors at the University of Missouri, who would not allow a healthy discussion on the issues and instead demanded their “space safe,” Mr. Allen exposes his First Amendment right to speak, but refuses to recognize the First Amend-ment rights of those who disagree with him or hold him in low esteem for his ridiculous rants.

Commissioner Spidalieri’s concern about the leadership decision at the Kent-Geauga Campus to hire Mr. Allen a security guard who (1) ironically works at a school yet recently criticized a retired school teacher for running for public office, ignorantly declaring educators should “spend their time in the classroom, not out dealing with the public” (See Geauga Maple Leaf Letter to the Editor, ‘Can’t Go ‘Back to School’ Oct. 24, 2014); and (2) has had serious financial problems that include a bankruptcy and a foreclosure is factually based and in the best interest of protecting the students who attend Kent-Geauga.

Mr. Allen can’t have his cake and eat it too; Commissioner Spidalieri has a First Amendment right and a duty to take the action criticized by Mr. Allen.

Second, Mr. Allen again fails to recognize that the First Amendment is not without limit. A person cannot standup in a movie theater and yell “fire.” A local politician, like Nancy McArthur, cannot thrust herself into a child protective custody case and impede the protection of an innocent child by making false statements about the judge to a party in that case.

Individuals cannot knowingly make false statements at official public meetings or impede public officials in the performance of their public duties. See Ohio Revised Code Section 2921.13 (Falsification a misdemeanor).

The First Amendment is essential, but a proper understanding of the rights protected by that amendment is important if it is to be applied properly. Instead of ignorantly criticizing teachers, maybe Mr. Allen is the one that needs to ‘go back to school.’

Judge Timothy J. Grendell
Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court

Unqualified

At a recent meeting of the Geauga County Commissioners, Skip Claypool recommended John Oros to be the conservation specialist from Geauga County to the NOACA Rural Advisory Council.

As a biologist and as an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist, and a Cleveland Museum of Natural History Naturalist Certificate recipient, I strongly object to this appointment. Mr. Oros has shown no evidence of a conservation ethic in his tenure as interim director of the Geauga Park District nor in his current position of executive director (an appointment made without interviewing 25 other applicants.)

Mr. Oros has repeatedly violated park rules and regulations and even ODNR restrictions. He placed recreation equipment at Bass Lake that was removed under orders of the EPA. He permitted illegal hunting on our state nature preserve, Burton Wetlands. He violated our parks NRM recommendations on trapping of nuisance animals allowing trapping in areas where no problems were reported. He permitted firing of primitive black powder weapons at a children’s program without adhering to the park rules and regulations regarding firearms in the park.

Most recently, he bypassed the Board of the Geauga Park District to issue snowmobiling permits at Observatory Park, another violation of park rules and regulations.

It was heartbreaking to see the mowing of a field at Swine Creek where monarch butterfly tagging had been held for years. It is now a muddy “baseball field” that has never been used.

In my professional opinion, John Oros would be one of the most unqualified individuals to represent the conservation issues facing Geauga County or any other area of northeastern Ohio.

Sandy Buckles
Troy Township

Kills, Impairs, Addictive

How great that all 88 Ohio counties rejected marijuana legalization last fall. Hopefully, we voted NO because we know marijuana kills brain cells in our youth, impairs driving and can become addictive, etc. It can open doors to other drug use, like heroin.

Warn your kids — and your friends.

Pat and John Leech
Newbury Township

Seniors Rock

Who would have thought that I would be excited to turn 60 this past July? Why? Because that is the age you qualify to be a “senior” here in Geauga County and I was anxious to reap some of the benefits from the Geauga County Department of Aging.

Specifically, I wanted to join the exercise class at the Senior Center located at 11414 Caves Road (which will be moving to the West Geauga Plaza next month) and the instructor, Sandy McLeod, allowed me to “sneak” in and give it a try a couple weeks early.

You see, my friend Reva who has been going there for years, told me about all the programs at the senior center and although skeptical at first, it has changed my life. I have volunteered to teach a couple exercise classes there and next week am planning on bicycling to Elyria to attend a “Personal Trainer Certification” program with the hope that I may be able to be an instructor at the center.

I was also given the opportunity to give a lecture on some not-so-common foods and supplements as part of a Healthy Eating lecture at the Senior Center and at the end of the lecture, Angie, a tiny woman who doesn’t even reach five feet in heels, had a question. I recognized her from the exercise classes, one of which she just finished before my lecture. My response, I must admit, became the highlight of my talk:

Angie said something like, “Sauerkraut I can eat. But then you want me to give up sugar and gluten? I eat bread and ice cream just about every day.”

“Angie,” I said, “How old are you?”

“Ninety-one,” she replied. (Same age my mother would have been.)

“Angie, you just go ahead and do whatever you want,” was my reply.

Ha! These seniors rock! And so does the Geauga Senior Center.

Thank you for changing my life.

Mary Kay Simoni
Chester Township

Disappointing Decision

I am writing to express my disappointment in John Oros’ decision to allow snowmobiling in Observatory Park. Or, was he following orders from Judge Timothy J. Grendell.

Nonetheless, once again the wishes of Geauga County residents go ignored. Per results of the Triad survey — which the park board chose not to acknowledge — only 4 percent of residents were in favor of snowmobiles in the parks.

I have concerns regarding the potential damage to the park, noise and disruption to wildlife. As a park hiker, I enjoy the quiet of nature, not the disruption of snowmobiles.

I strongly urge John Oros and the park board to reconsider snowmobiles in the park in favor of more passive activities.

Diane Mack
Hambden Township