Letters to the Editor
Change in Order
As an ardent conservative living in District 14, I have frequently communicated my concerns with our congressman, Dave Joyce, on various issues important to our nation.
When Mr. Joyce was elected to Congress, he gave me great hope that he would be a bold conservative leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.
However, today, I communicate with Mr. Joyce with very little confidence. He has consistently voted to continue irresponsible funding for disasters like illegal amnesty, Obamacare and Planned Parenthood.
Most recently, he voted for the Export-Import Bill, which gives our hard-earned money to already profitable large corporations.
This must stop. We need real conservative leadership in Washington, D.C. We need a representative who will not sell us out to lobbies and bow to establishment Republican pressures.
I believe that Matt Lynch is such a man. His proven record in the Ohio House is assurance that Matt Lynch can be counted on to consistently represent the people of District 14 with real conservative principles and integrity.
I will be voting for Matt Lynch in the very important primary election on March 15, 2016. Change is in order.
Kathy Johnson
Chardon Township
Why Risk Damage?
It breaks my heart to see the unnatural use of Observatory Park is even being considered. It was never meant to be a recreational facility.
I sit on the education advisory
committee. I designed lessons for school groups before it was built. We (a committee of teachers, naturalists and park program directors) were in on the planning.
The “trail” is not a horse or snowmobile trail; it is a thoughtfully designed, scientifically accurate planet walk. Each planet built to scale, both size and distance from each other, is represented with information, color coding of gravel, foliage and signage to indicate the characteristics of each planet. There is a representation of the asteroid belt. It is designated to be a dark sky park, one of its kind.
The facilities are rustic with composting toilets and green roofs. There is a planetarium and pads for telescopes. There is a seismograph and a weather station. There is a windmill that generates electricity. There is a sundial large enough to stand on, a sculpture of the earth with constellations around it that give the perspective of being outside of the earth looking back toward it. There is a moon sculpture.
Much of the information is placed on markers in the ground. There are four cornerstones that show the dimensions of the great pyramid and, with the use of lasers, can show the apex indicating the actual size of the pyramid.
The former Nassau Observatory is being renovated and will be used for an early days of astronomy museum. The dome and telescope are still housed upstairs. A trail is designed to connect the observatory with the rest of the park.
Observatory Park was never designed to be a mixed use park. It’s sole purpose was to create a dark sky park, hence its location. It was a concept lovingly created by the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society and the park district, after the donation of a telescope by a widow. She expressed a desire to have her husband’s telescope used to promote astronomy as a family activity and for the education of school children. She could have sold it for a considerable profit.
Observatory Park was years in the planning and to see it unfold to where it is today was a joy. The park is now in Phase 3 planning stage with the renovation of Nassau.
This being said, I doubt if any of the park commissioners or Judge Grendell have ever taken note of this very special place. Allowing horses,snowmobiles or hunters into this one-of-a-kind park will surely risk the destruction of the signage, statuary and the observatory.
Why not purchase land specifically for these activities? Design it for those purposes? I just don’t see why anyone would risk damaging this park which took so long to come to fruition, so compassionately planned using donations from private citizens who share the idea of a legacy, just because of those who would like to use the facility for its remote and convenient location.
Since the mission of the newly created park was designed to reduce the carbon footprint, how does a gasoline powered machine fit in? Somehow I don’t see these folks picking up after their dogs and horses while stomping/running freely through this carefully designed astronomical experience.
Stephanie Reeve Boles
Bainbridge Township
Fear Not
Now is the time to act.
A petition is circulating through Geauga County and beyond asking our state legislators to take a good look at the many misdeeds of Probate Judge Timothy J. Grendell.
This effort is spearheaded by Protect Geauga Parks, a grassroots non-profit organization with a mission: To promote, support and actively campaign for Preservation, Conservation and Protection of Nature as the primary mission of our parks.
The judge has been quick and crafty in his efforts to destroy what his predecessors had worked so successfully to build for more than 50 years, making Geauga County a very desirable place to live.
No one man should be able to destroy with impunity our legacy of precious greenspace, nor should he get away with misusing tax dollars for self-promotion and threatening all those who make a stand for what is right. Something needs to be done to stop this aggressive, destructive behavior.
Please go to Protect Geauga Park’s website, protectgeaugaparks.us, and follow the link to the online petition. Join hundreds of people who won’t be scared off by a bully.
It is wise to be aware, but foolish not to act.
Rick Webb
Munson Township
Common Sense Standands
At the Dec. 8 Geauga Park District board meeting, two groups made presentations to the board advocating for the use of our county parks for each of their respective pastimes: fox hunting and snowmobiling.
I urge the park district Board of Commissioners to consider these four common sense standards as they evaluate both of these proposed uses.
1. It’s fox hunting or snowmobiling compatible with the park district’s mission to preserve, conserve and protect the natural resources of Geauga County?
In answering the question, appropriate study should be conducted by qualified experts, such at the park district’s own Natural Resource Management personnel.
2. Does allowing fox hunting or snowmobiling in Geauga County parks provide a widespread benefit to the citizens of Geauga County at large?
3. Would allowing fox hunting or snowmobiling in the parks be fiscally responsible?
The park district should consider not only the costs of improvements needed to accommodate these proposes uses, but the need for increased staff and ranger hours, the need for ongoing maintenance and any increased insurance costs or park liability exposure.
The park district should also consider whether the uses will negatively impact the value of ecosystem services provided by the county parks.
4. Has the decision-making process been transparent?
To be transparent, all of the standards and data used to address the first three standards, above, should be readily available to all citizens of Geauga County during the decision-making period.
Shelley Chernin
Russell Township
