Letters to Editor
Farm Program Open House a Success
I would like to take a minute to thank all of those who made our Century/Bicentennial Farm Program Open House on Jan. 12, such a success.
The Geauga County Farm Bureau president, Ed Rumburg, coordinated the food and supplies with Craig Sirna from Sirna’s Farm Market, Bob Sage, from Sage’s Apples and Ty Kellogg, organizational director for the Ohio Farm Bureau.
The food was excellent. Ed and Ty were also very helpful in trying to round up and identify farmers who might be eligible for the program.
Thanks also goes to Sarah M. LaTourette, state representative for Ohio’s 76th House District, who was our main speaker and presented the eight Century Farm owners with certificates from the House of Representatives. Tim Lolli, on behalf of Congressman David Joyce (Ohio’s 14th Congressional District), also presented congressional certificates.
Thanks to my staff and our maintenance crew for all their hard work prior to and during this event and to the title abstractors who had their work day cut short because of our preparations.
Most of all, I would like to thank the Geauga County farmers.
It’s a comforting feeling to know that your family has lived on the land that you live on for 100 plus years. Not only do you have deep family ties and strong work ethics, you have a special supportive relationship with your community. Thank you for your help in making the Open House and our Geauga Farm Program a success.
Sharon Gingerich
Geauga County Recorder
Random Act of Kindness
Dear Stranger In Line Behind Me At Giant Eagle on Jan. 6, I just wanted to say thank you. The day you were standing in line behind me, I had been in a hurry. My husband and infant son were waiting for me in our car that was running in the parking lot. The baby was in desperate need of a nap, so I had three minutes to run in the store and buy him a bottle of formula.
Well, in my haste and absentmindedness, I proceeded to throw things in my shopping basket as I hustled past them, completely forgetting that my purse was at home, and I only had $20 in my pocket. I remembered the formula I needed, but also got some extra formula, baby food, bread and several other items along the way.
I got into the express lane and just as the cashier was scanning all my items, it dawned on me that I didn’t have my purse. I felt embarrassed as I explained my plight to the cashier, who allowed me to prioritize which items I would actually buy and which ones would go back on the store shelf.
When the cashier handed me my receipt and bag of infant formula, you said very quietly to the cashier, “I would like to buy that woman the rest of her groceries.”
I looked at you and at my half-full basket of baby food and bread on the counter. You were looking back at me, but not with any pity or haughtiness in your eyes, but with a look that I can only describe as determined compassion. You were just adamant that you wanted to do for me, a stranger in a grocery store, this one kindness.
Of course, I couldn’t let you pay. I insisted I had just forgotten my purse and I would be back to get the rest of my groceries later, and that was the truth. But when I got back to the car with my son and husband, I couldn’t stop crying.
Your boldness in reaching out to help someone in need absolutely overwhelmed me, and I felt so grateful that I was witness to it. Not because I needed the groceries, but because on that day, I needed to be reminded that there is still warmth to be found in these cold January days.
My deepest thanks.
Jamie Galiardi
Chester Township
Look in the Mirror
Judge Grendell has been fretting quite a lot lately about the reputation and perception of his court.
Perhaps he should consider the possibility that his own behavior is doing far more damage to said reputation than anything that anyone else could say.
It would seem that a pause to reflect is in order, but the capacity for self-evaluation is apparently not in the judge’s DNA.
Tony Festa
Russell Township
A Letter to Police Officials
To the men and women who serve in Geauga County’s various police forces, the Geauga County Tea Party wants all county law enforcement personnel to know the high level of appreciation we hold for the sacrifices you make and the risks you take to ensure that law and order are maintained.
Your dedication to guaranteeing the God-given rights enumerated in the Constitution for all Americans is key to our society’s ability to survive the unrest at times bordering on anarchy in which our country is now embroiled.
We wish to publically convey our deepest appreciation to all law officers and other team members for their caring protection and policing of our community.
In closing, we encourage Geauga County law enforcement personnel to follow in the footsteps of the heroes of our nation’s past, who, like the Founding Fathers, knew they would need great wisdom and great courage to keep this nation free.
They relied upon God and His perfect truth the Bible, which is the greatest source of wisdom that has ever existed. It worked for them and works for us today. May He guide all of you and protect you as you serve Geauga County citizens.
Pastor Ernie Sanders, President
Denver Sallee, Vice President
Russell Township
Park Surveys Unfair
Mrs. Shumway announced at the January Geauga Park District Board of Commissioners meeting that the board will do a county-wide survey that will affect the way the park system is run for the next 5-10 years.
For such an important document one would think the Geauga park board would take care with insuring the survey goes to each county household just once.
Instead, the board will put the survey up on the Internet to be filled out by anyone who wants to fill it out. There will also be paper surveys left throughout the county at various businesses.
Two problems with this situation: Anyone can fill them out (even out of county people who do not pay taxes in this county) and it can be filled out numerous times by anyone.
If the Geauga park board can mail at least two colored, glossy public relations ads during the past election season extolling the works of some who were running for election besides mailing Voices of Nature magazine to all county households, it should be assumed that the park board could send out this highly important survey in paper format to each and every household in Geauga County.
This would insure that only county taxpayers take the survey and they do so only once. And it would not give the appearance of being an unimportant throwaway survey.
Katherine Malmquist
South Russell Village
GPD Worth Judge Intimidation
I read the Honorable Judge Timothy Grendell’s account of his attempted interaction with my wife and me. I must admit that I continue to be confused by His Honor’s sporadic claims that he has no involvement in the parks and then his sending letters to individuals, his creating ads and now running his own tea social in his courtroom to give his view of the parks while the board attempts to run a survey of what residents believe.
Judge Grendell’s initial letter arrived at our home just before Thanksgiving. It evidenced that he had done background research on my wife’s education and career and suggested that because of their common “Jesuit education” background that he would agree to meet her in his “court.”
Frankly, we found the letter to be an attempt to intimidate and somewhat creepy. We ignored it.
Just before Christmas, as we were leaving to visit our daughter, we received a follow-up letter. Because of the legal implications of being in the judge’s court, we sought legal counsel.
We were advised not to meet with the judge in any circumstance that would give him the opportunity to impose jurisdiction over us. I had intended to contact his office and offer to meet with him, along with one or two others, at a park facility so long as we all agreed that it would be a civil exchange of ideas and there would be no legal repercussions.
Unfortunately I did not accomplish this in a timely manner. But the offer is hereby made.
I am distressed that the judge has referred to us as the “Buckles-Hanratty” group. First, Ms. Hanratty has not been a part of this correspondence. Second, this appears to be a blatant disregard for the hundreds of people who consider themselves to be a part of Protect Geauga Parks (a registered and trademarked name) and who have contributed time, money, ideas and effort to try and be heard. The board appears to deliberately misrepresent what our concerns are or they are choosing not to listen.
While this is a personal response to the issue of meeting with the honorable judge and not an official position of Protect Geauga Parks, I would be remiss in not stating the goals of the group. We continually hear that all we want is to be “no drilling.” The Judge knows that ultimately this is a state issue that neither he nor the board can control.
What we want is that park activities be compatible with each other and with “conserving, protecting and preserving” the parks (this original bylaw language was changed abruptly under the judge’s watch). We want the bylaws to give a new very qualified executive director true authority else they will not get good candidates.
We want the board’s activities to be open to the public with true public input — not conducted in questionable executive sessions at 3:30 in the afternoon. Ultimately we think that statewide, the placing of one individual over a park board should be reformed.
Finally, I believe that we have reached a sad state of affairs when the voices of literally hundreds of people are dismissed, when people who write letters to the newspapers are sent angry letters to their homes from a local official, when a retired couple, who truly believed when all this started that it was just a misunderstanding by an inexperienced board and that people of good will would easily resolve it, have had their backgrounds researched, have felt that their government wants to intimidate them into silence, and have had to seek not inexpensive legal counsel.
Let this be a lesson to all, young and old, no matter what high school Civics Class taught you, your elected representatives don’t want to hear from you and don’t care what you think; if you try to be heard, you will be called names, your ideas misrepresented, and you will be forced to spend money you don’t have to protect yourself.
However, some things are worth it and the unique gem of the Geauga Park District is one of them.
Ed Buckles
Troy Township
The True Measure of Parks’ Value
Geauga County is blessed with great parks.
Municipal and township parks are places of community where one can go to meet neighbors, share meals, cheer a favorite team and watch your children run around and play with others.
Ours are diverse and pretty wonderful, providing their communities with many activities and chances to come together.
The Geauga Park District was created for purposes that differ from those of a township park. They were created to protect and conserve our eco-systems from development, before they were lost forever.
Those who imagined and created the park system that was to become the gem that it is were concerned about the future of their children and grandchildren. That is a concern that may be even more valid today.
I am worried that the value of the parks now seem to be measured by the number of people that various programs and facilities bring into the parks.
It seems to be all about “use.” While that may be the measure of a successful township park, it is not the right measure for the Geauga Park District.
I maintain that everyone in the county “uses” our wonderful parks whether or not they ever step foot into them. I think that the measure of the Geauga Park District should be the cleanliness of our water and air, the health of the soil, the increase of the number of species of flora and fauna that reside in or migrate through them, and the knowledge gained by studying the interactions of this life.
These are important services provided by our county park district, services that cannot be provided by municipal parks.
We must honor the amazing services that our parks provide to everyone in the county and not cheapen them by measuring them with the wrong standard.
Kathy Flora
Thompson Township
