Reflection
As 2022 has come to a close, so much has happened last year that I thought it was important to reflect on “The Good, the Bad & the Ugly” events/stories of 2022.
The Good
We finally got past the pandemic. Seeing the smiling faces of our friends and relatives again was a welcomed sight. Having kids back in school, playing without fear and learning in the classroom can’t be overstated. How wonderful is that for all.
In 2022, more people gave money to veterans in need than ever before. Through different foundations and charities, those who sacrificed themselves to protect us all, received the recognition and support they deserved.
Some may not agree, but Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter made the headlines as he cleaned house at the company and made the platform more open to all.
Finally, a shout out (locally) to some people, regardless of politics, to provide either goods or customer service, which is sorely lacking these days, to others in 2022. Mangia, Mangia (restaurant in Newbury) which has more than just great pizza. They have a team of associates there who always have a smile on their face and do their best, even when packed on a Saturday night, to make your experience a good one.
Richard Markwardt, superintendent of West Geauga Schools. Many times I have disagreed with his decisions or positions on certain topics, however, I can always say he responds to my questions and comments in a timely manner and with professionalism.
Our LOCAL newspapers that aren’t afraid to publish editorials or articles, even if they disagree with the opinions expressed in them. They understand free speech even if the national media does not.
Dee Ann Bolt, Girl Scout Leader, from Chesterland. No one tries harder to get the girls involved with fun and meaningful projects than Dee Ann.
Lastly, Emeth Gymnastics in Middlefield. Just a class act of individuals who genuinely feel that building character is as important as building athletic skills.
The Bad
Well, I can’t say that I enjoy paying twice as much for everything, including gas. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, inflation has not been good.
The war in Ukraine hasn’t been good for anyone either. We can’t continue to fund it and those innocent people (in both countries) directly affected by the decisions of a few, has turned parts of that country into a wasteland.
The completely open border and the refusal of anyone to stop the flood of people and drugs into our country is just sad. Again, politics aside, allowing millions of people (good or bad) into our country will not improve it.
Ohio State losing to Michigan, enough said.
Finally, the loss of anyone we hold dear is devastating, especially at this time of year. But to note some of those more famous people who we all know, I offer a few of these icons: Kristie Alley, Franco Harris, Gaylord Perry, Gallagher, Jerry Lee Lewis, Angela Lansbury, Loretta Lynn, Olivia Newton John, James Caan, Ray Liotta, Naomi Judd, Howard Hesseman, Louis Anderson, Sidney Poitier, and of course, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Ugly
For someone like me who loves to write satire, this is always the easiest section to write. However, I am not going to. I am leaving this open since we all have a difference in opinion as it relates to “what is ugly” in the world.
Let’s hope that 2023 is “less ugly” (no matter what you believe) for you and let’s concentrate on making the new year better than the previous one.
Yes, I will continue to write satire, but not today. Today, I want to focus on what hopes and dreams we all have for the coming year. Maybe it is better health. Maybe it’s a better economy or more money in your pocket, or maybe it’s for Phil to stop writing to the paper (I hope not)!
In any event, let’s agree to make 2023 the best year yet for everyone around us. Let’s commit to do one good thing for someone we love or someone we don’t even know. We have a whole year ahead of us. Let’s not waste it. Let’s invest in ourselves and others.
Happy New Year to all!
Phil Paradise Jr.
Newbury Township
It’s Time for Parents to Fight
There is an ongoing attack on one of the school board members because he was concerned the dress code was not being followed. Rules are made to follow. Children need boundaries. Why were the other gentlemen with Todd that day not addressed?
Why is the board so adverse to upholding good moral standards? Why are you participating in helping the moral decay of our young people? Why are you letting these young children dictate what they feel they can wear, even though it’s not the dress code? Why are the parents of concern being ridiculed for making moral decisions for the children?
Children are born with a nature to push issues and fight against authority. We have a responsibility to protect them. We must be correcting their behavior as parents and not as their friends. It takes courage to stand up as a parent and say you will not do as the world says but what I say. They will push authority to see how far they can push us. So ask yourself, are we allowing the kids and parents to add moral decay to our society and bringing those bad choices into the school system?
I voted for Todd Albright to be on the board because of his morals. I have seen the attacks against him; as you attack him, you are attacking me and other mothers of the same morality. This is not a political issue. It’s not any organization’s issue. It’s a parental issue.
So, when a board member (Dr. Guy Wilson) says when asked about books being looked at, his response was, let’s let the experts choose what reading material will be allowed. No! I disagree with him. Parents are the best experts. It’s time parents are heard and not this moral decay society is trying to push onto our children.
You as a board are setting standards for these children’s future that will affect them later on into their adulthood. They can’t see the damage it will bring. Why don’t you ask yourself why are so many parents taking their children out of the school system and homeschooling them? There is a real good reason, it’s called moral decline.
I will continue to vote for other board members who hold good morals and support what is best for the children, and not bow to society. If you can’t support high morals and standards and proper dress codes. We as parents who want this will be electing board members that will support our views. Remember you are voted in.
We all know adult children who no longer speak to their parents. Why is that? Because there comes a time when the parents stop placating every demand from their children. We need to get back to parenting. We have been losing our children to a corrupt and immoral society, and we sure are not going to let you influence them so we can lose them. We will fight.
Carol Byler
Hambden Township
Learning
I remember well my first vehicle — the sense of awesome responsibility and possibilities. There were all sorts of buttons and levers to learn, I could come to a complete stop and switch to 4-wheel drive. I learned which temperature I’d need and what settings to switch to in order to defrost the glass.
Eventually, I learned how to maintain the car, replacing fluids, checking the brakes, what to do in an emergency and, above all, how to drive safely and responsibly. It was a world of difference from childhood, where a parent would drive me somewhere and announce once we’d arrived. I had no control over destination or timing.
Many things in life work this way. This is especially true of the things in our lives that we never truly planned for or anticipate, such as joining the Geauga County Republican Party Central Committee. I ran for the position simply because I’d realized that public schools have put themselves into a disastrous spiral of anti-Academic ruin, loaded down with costly “woke” agenda and realized that fighting back to reclaim education will take some political will.
Mystified by the strange workings of a Central Committee, I started from roughly zero (knowledge), making it all seem so vague and mysterious, and a little intimidating . . . like that first car. But doing what I do best, I started researching and learning. Yes, I’m one of those geeky types who read the manual. And, as it turns out, there is sort of a manual that goes with Central Committee.
It helps to think of the Central Committee as the Board of Directors for the Party. We are supposed to meet, review issues and topics, promote ideas, argue proposals and, most importantly, represent the interests of our constituents.
Some Central Committees are horribly broken. They are run in a way that blocks people from talking or debating, stifling new ideas, muting entire chunks of the county, robbing elected voices and removing critical protections. Like a car with no breaks, or a really bad driver in a car with no steering, Central Committees like this can run wildly amok.
If one or a few people routinely railroad issues or engage in deceptive practices or ignore the rules that are designed to allow everyone to have a voice, then Committees can easily, and in fact often do end, up speeding through red lights. The warnings, protections and safety features become negated.
So, back to the car analogy; the truly difficult part comes in when over-confident bad drivers take the wheel. They tend to insist that they’re good and warnings are unneeded, until they inevitably crash horribly or maybe neglect the rules often enough that they’re heavily penalized.
For my part, I spent years focusing on learning to be the best driver I can be and am now focused on learning to be a good Committeeman, with the hope of avoiding terrible dangers for Geauga and my constituents.
Jonathan Broadbent
Newbury Township
