Veterans Have Earned the Right
My husband uses the Maple Highlands Trail on a weekly basis. When he rode the trail five days after Jeep Invasion, there was no damage done to it.
He has regularly seen maintenance trucks, park rangers and police vehicles on the paths, and on one occasion an ambulance. Again, no damage was done to the path or the surrounding area.
Permission for the Jeep Invasion was asked for, and granted by John Oros, the park district director, which was easy enough to find out. I’ve asked any number of people and no one had issue with our veterans making use of the park path for half an hour.
The commissioners and Judge Grendell had no part in the decision-making process.
A number of the veterans who attended Jeep Invasion had mobility issues, as do many elderly. The decision to allow those who are unable to walk the path, use of it for 30 minutes, was certainly a compassionate one. As for using roads, you can’t touch a leaf or have sunlight dapple your face from a road.
I am appalled that someone would write that, “I am not against honoring veterans: I am against the misuse of park land for no reason at all.” How is honoring a disabled veteran a misuse of park land? Simply because someone needs a wheelchair, or uses a walker, that disqualifies him or her from enjoying our parks? Is it only those that can hike, walk without assistance, ride a horse or bicycle that you feel should be allowed the use of our parks?
Our veterans have earned the right to enjoy our parks in any way that that can be made available to them. Thanks to John Oros and the Burton-Middlefield Rotary for the time and effort they gave to make the Jeep Invasion a success.
Lynn Algeri
Newbury Township
Thank You for Opportunity
Thank you to everyone who voted to provide me the opportunity to continue to serve as Geauga County’s probate/juvenile court judge. It is an honor and a privilege.
I will continue to work hard, with the support of the court’s dedicated staff, to protect our county’s youth, families and seniors.
Such goals sometimes require tough judicial decisions which, while based on family therapy professionals, may still be unpopular, but are necessary to protect the best interests of the children, or safety of the seniors, who are involved with the probate/juvenile court. Such is the solemn reality of judicial office, and I am honored to continue to serve Geauga County through fair and equitable administration of justice.
Judge Timothy J. Grendell
Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court
Humbled and Honored
I am humbled and honored to have received the support of over 40,000 voters in the Ohio House 76th District.
I am grateful to God, and to everyone who helped my campaign during this challenging election year.
As your elected representative, I promise to continue to do my best to be a strong voice in Columbus for all residents of the 76th District in Geauga and Portage counties.
Rep. Diane V. Grendell
76th House District
TV Show Re-Run
To the person(s) who took our BLM and BYE signs, you owe us $40. I pray that your brain matures and that you will someday be able to have a civil conversation with someone that has different views.
For those who still have campaigning signs up, it is time to take them down. People have voted and it is done — no more persuading. In three years some of you may be able to reuse the signs in case he decides to do a rerun of his TV show.
Sharon Belt
Chardon
Best People
On a day when the whole nation is divided, I’m writing to say I’m delighted to report that Geauga County still has the best people.
I would like to publicly thank Jim, Brandon and all the staff at Junction Auto for finding my wallet, turning it in to the shop and contacting me within minutes of losing it.
All involved helped restore my faith that we still have the nicest people around. No mention or questions about voting, political affiliation or choice of party was mentioned. Just helpful people acting with honesty and kindness.
I am truly thankful. And I’ll be shopping there from now on as well as urging my friends to do the same.
Jennifer McKevitt
Claridon Township
Library Agenda Not ‘Friend-ly’
We would like to thank reporter Kathy McClure and the Geauga County Maple Leaf for the recent article concerning the Geauga County Public Library and its proposed dissolving of current Friends of the Library groups.
Individual Friends groups would cease to exist and instead be formed into a “Foundation and Partners” group.
One member will represent their library and serve on a Foundation-sponsored board as part of the “Foundation and Partners” proposed entity.
This “unified fundraising arm” was proposed by the Foundation in February 2019. At the Sept. 8, 2020, meeting, the Foundation approved new by-laws by unanimous vote to accompany their plan.
At present, all funds raised for Geauga West Library (GW) by the Geauga West Friends of the Library prior to the new organization shall be designated for GW regardless of the time frame. A time frame was discussed, however, using Dec. 31, 2020, as the date.
Questions must be asked: How was this plan set in motion without initial input from the very groups the Foundation wishes to abolish? Where was the communication between Administration, Foundation and Friends? If the Foundation considered this plan in 2019, were Friends groups informed of this? And, if they were not informed back in 2019, why not?
Board President Kathy Delaney of Geauga West Friends of the Library has pointed out that their group was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1988 which enables them to function independently.
GCPL Director Ed Worso responded “none of the Friends group activities nor meetings would be able to be held on library property . . . .” The Foundation in a letter said, “Library resources such as materials and space that has been previously available to . . . Friends . . . will now be made available exclusively to the Foundation and Partners or the Partners Committee.”
Is that how “Partners” are treated?
Plainer language should be: comply — or else.
If, as Foundation Vice President Erwin Leffel stated, “Friends . . . are a very precious commodity and important,” then where was the communication between Friends and Foundation?
Each Friends group has its own character and history. They exist because of local volunteers in service to that library and that community.
The results of our highly successful book sales at Geauga West Library is a testimony to not only the dedicated volunteers who worked over the years, but also to the generosity of patrons who donate their articles to provide a steady means of supporting their community library.
Here is a short list of what book sales have been able to provide to Geauga West Library:
- Monies to fund both children’s and adult programs (speakers, materials, prizes, etc.)
- Monies to invite speakers to the long- time popular “Look, Lunch and Listen.”
- Monies to enhance the library experience by underwriting some special events such as nationwide traveling exhibits like Many Realms of King Arthur and the Columbus exhibit.
- Friends’ support and participation in many venues during the Bicentennial Celebration of 2001.
- Monies to enhance the outdoor areas (such as the Keyhole Garden at Geauga West, totally funded by the Friends that included drainage correction not considered in the original building).
- Monies to enhance many events in and outside of the library venues. Think pizza, pop, singers and musical groups, for example.
- A scholarship program for college-bound students who will enroll in Library Studies, initiated by the WG Friends to encourage students considering a library career.
This shows the continuous support the Geauga West Friends have given through the years — from the “baby carriage book cart” of Mary Eykyn in the early 1950s to the present.
Will this same volunteerism happen under the “Partners” agenda? The nine pages of by-laws constructed by the Geauga County Library Foundation and Friends appears to have a top-heavy management agenda — more “Manage” than “Friend-ly.”
As Life Members, Past Presidents and Past Officers of the West Geauga Friends, we urge interested Geauga Countians to consider: Friends groups deserve to be and should be separate entities within the hierarchy of the total GCPL library system.
Amy L. Kenneley
Chapman Award (2002)
Chester Township
Mary Ann Moczulski
Chapman Award (2013)
Chester Township
Thank You, Bainbridge
Dear Bainbridge Township Residents,
It is with a very grateful acknowledgement that we thank you. We appreciate your support for and passage of the Bainbridge Township Road and Bridge Renewal Levy that you so graciously passed last week. Thank you for taking the time to cast your ballot and for supporting this service.
We have loyal, committed employees who work very hard to keep our township roads safe and clear. Your passage of the renewal levy enables us to continue this critically important service. We couldn’t do it without you.
John Brett, Road Superintendent
Jim Stanek, Service Director
Bainbridge Township Trustees
Bainbridge Township Fiscal Officer
