Letters to Editor
False Claims
This is in response to Mr. Netzband’s letter to the editor, which contained a number of false statements and claims.
As a Republican candidate for one of the commissioner seats, I value honor, integrity and honesty. I strive to live up to those principles every day.
I am running a clean campaign and have made every effort to do so — even amidst all of the false claims and attacks that certain Democratic Party members continue to sling my way. Their objective is to tear down candidates as a means of advancing their agenda. Notice that you do not hear what my opponent stands for.
You should know that the Republican Party has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State alleging violations of elections law on the part of the Democratic Party and individuals within their party. This is important because it speaks to integrity.
The list of false claims made against me is too long to address in an editorial so I will simply say this. If there is one thing about me that I would like you to remember when you go to the polls on Nov. 4, it’s this: I am absolutely passionate about responsible and accountable government. I’m not a rubber stamp guy. I will ask the tough questions. I’ll do my homework. I’m not afraid to make difficult decisions that move government toward being more responsive and accountable to the people that call Geauga County their home.
On Nov. 4, I ask for your vote.
Walter (Skip) Claypool
Chester
Never Quit, Always Compete
Ledgemont school district is facing a major crisis on Nov. 4. As is the case for every school district in our area, funding to operate has been cut by the state. Finding ways to keep going is no easy matter, but the point the Ledgemont district has reached is critical. Should the levy on the ballot fail, they will face the possible disbanding of the district into other systems.
Ledgemont has been around for a long time, folks. As a 1966 Chardon graduate, we were too big to play the Redskins in sports, but we did play at times at lower levels, such as freshman or JV practices or scrimmages. It was a great experience for us to socialize with our neighbors from the east. Friendships were made via sports and that tradition continues for athletes at every school to this day.
It is important for social development to meet others athletically. The educational process goes much deeper than scores and results, too. Life lessons abound for everybody involved. Those same lessons are passed on to children and grandchildren over time.
Should the Ledgemont district be forced to disband due to a levy failure, the lives of those in school there now will be drastically effected, much of it in a negative way. Education is supposed to be a positive effort, not negative.
Current rumor is that much of the Ledgemont district would be absorbed into the Cardinal system. Some might wind up with Madison, some with Chardon, possibly some with Grand Valley.
All of those systems have money problems of their own in current conditions. How much will be saved should Ledgemont kids wind up going to those communities and their schools?
There are many factors involved in this decision and process.
Covering last Friday night’s homecoming football game at Ledgemont, I had a sick feeling while looking out at a sea of red clothing on the home side of R. W. Sidley Field. So much has gone into making that a first class facility in spite of the tiny community is now serves. Should the district be disbanded, all money put into the field will be wasted money.
The Redskins are NOT having the best season on the field, either. Outmanned each week, coach Joe LaRosa and his staff still provide a positive direction for the kids to strive for. They may not win often, but they never quit and ALWAYS compete.
They care about each other, as teammates, as classmates, and as families intertwined in the educational process of the Ledgemont School District.
A philosophy I have developed over the years as first my own kids and now grandkids proceed through the Jefferson Area Local School District is that the best thing to do is vote FOR any and all levies, and if you don’t like how money is used, get rid of the people misusing it.
How I wish several administrative spots in this district were decided by ballot. It doesn’t work that way, so I proceed accordingly.
Citizens of the Ledgemont District, PLEASE approve the upcoming levy for your schools. The kids will lose a lot more than just sports teams if the levy fails, and you will be putting a large, unhappy dent in the lives of generations to come of proud Redskins.
Rich Kelly
Jefferson
Stop Pretending
The truth about open enrollment.
I understand that groups of people have been meeting with the West Geauga School Board Members recently to discuss open enrollment. These are the facts.
The school system will have a Seven Million Dollar Deficit starting in 2019 if we end open enrollment. There are 12,559 households in the West G School System. That equals $557 for each of our homes, each and every year in increased taxes to cover the loss of the dollars that open enrollment generates.
I know the nay sayers try to argue that we can make up the difference by cutting teachers. Wrong again, because there is only a marginal difference in cost unless we are willing to dramatically increase our class sizes to over thirty kids.
This is how it works. You can’t hire a teacher for 3/4 of a class even if you have 3/4 of a class. You have to hire an entire teacher. If you fill that 1/4 of the class with open enrollment kids, it costs virtually nothing. No additional heat, no additional teacher — a little bit for a few books and supplies and that’s about all.
Even if we cut ten teachers from our schools, our school system is showing a $3.3 Million dollar shortfall by 2019.
The truth about open enrollment is that the ONLY reason to be against it is because you believe we will “let black people” into the district. Stop pretending it’s something else. That’s the only logical reason and no other.
Sure people use code words saying things like: we don’t want “those people” or we don’t want “city people” or we don’t want “that element” or I moved here to “avoid those people.” No matter how they say it its the same thing over and over — fear based on racism.
The truth is, if you support ending open enrollment or even capping it on the current kids, you better take our your checkbook and write a check each year for $557 to the schools cause that’s what’s going to happen.
Oh and by the way: (1) virtually none of the open enrollment students are black; (2) the vast majority of open enrollment students get great grades and are active members of our community; and (3) BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT SCARY GROW UP ALREADY. You are embarrassing the rest of us in this community who don’t let baseless fear govern us.
I have a third-grader and a high school student — both girls in our schools. Believe me if there was the slightest risk to them in any way I would be concerned. There is no risk whatsoever.
Its ridiculous baseless fear and the fear mongers are making us all look like racists. We need to stop letting baseless fear of race which is totally unreasonable to govern our community and cause us to all have to pay more taxes.
The truth is open enrollment is saving our school system from a Seven Million Dollar Deficit. Is it really so important to try to stop anyone who is black from moving here that we want that? Is that really all that matters?
Jeffrey J. Fanger
Munson
They Didn’t Say Why’
The West Geauga School Board, by a 3 to 2 vote, delivered a mortal blow to the district’s Open Enrollment Policy Monday night. They killed the program outright up through grade 4. They curtailed it for grade 5 on.
In a three minute discussion, the Board gave away potentially millions of dollars in State funding. And the worst thing? They didn’t say why.
Mr. Thoreson and Mrs. Dottore led the railroad to curb Open Enrollment, with Mr. Douglas joining in. All three had no answer to Mr. Kotowski’s logical question: How are you going
to make up the lost income?
Dr. Phelps joined Kotowski in voting against this insult to West Geauga pupils and taxpayers.
The highlight of the evening was when Thoreson, Board “Presiden,t” wouldn’t even let Dr. Phelps speak. As Dr. Phelps rose to ask a question, Thoreson called for the vote, and after a “second” by Dottore, Phelps had to sit down.
Most people in the District are unaware of the antics of Thoreson and his mudflaps. School Boards are not normally home to those who put their personal agendas before the welfare of
the pupils. But unless we wake up, and get this huge mistake changed, we are headed for the biggest tax increase in history.
And we don’t even know why.
Doug and Barb Bletcher
Russell
Just Baloney
There are large signs in Auburn Township inviting residents to a November 1, 2014, “sneak peak” to admire “improvements” to Auburn Township Community Park.
Some have the mistaken impression that because of this second annual “sneak peak,” the facility is now open to the Auburn taxpayers, who, whether or not they know it, paid for the parcel and improvements.
As a result of a $10,000-plus contribution it made to the park back in April 2014, however, Kenston Community Education (KCE) controls use of the park.
The original deed for the sale of the 68-acre parcel, once known as Cathan Farm, was signed over to the Auburn Township Trustees on January 29, 2007, by Edward F Meyers, then of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Trustees did not bother to inform the public of their intent to purchase the parcel, which had been offered to them for several years by the owners.
After more than seven and a half years since that purchase, the facility is not open to Auburn taxpayers unless the gates are open for KCE. Presently, the gates are open during weekday afternoons and weekends to permit KCE participants to utilize dedicated playing fields, which are, according to Auburn Trustees, “holding up well” under all the traffic.
Meanwhile, Auburn residents do not have free access to the grounds.
An affidavit signed by Assistant Prosecutor Susan Wieland on September 3, 2009, permitted Auburn Township to receive a $99,000 grant authorized by Ohio House Bill 562. According to the terms of the grant, “The Grantee [Auburn Township Trustees] agrees that the Project will be completed and open and available for use, not later than June 30, 2010.”
Amendments signed by Trustee Patrick J. Cavanagh extended the completion date to December 31, 2011, but as of late October 2014, Auburn residents who are not KCE participants have no access to their own park.
Further, my public information requests on December 3, 2012, revealed that there were never any Auburn trustee resolutions for organization of the park, for assigning the name of Auburn Township Community Park, or for the establishment of any board of commissioners to administer the entity.
Have the Auburn trustees acted improperly again? I do not oppose KCE’s use of Auburn Community Park, but I object to the lack of equal access for the very folks who paid for the property.
On November 1, 2014, when Auburn residents munch their token hot dog at their “sneak peak,” will they express concern for the inability to enjoy their own property on the same basis as KCE, or will they just eat the baloney from the Auburn Township Trustees?
Diane J. Jones
Auburn
Perfect Score
Once again, Friends of CASA organized an outrageously fantastic event, “Dancing for Kids” at the Renaissance Ballroom.
Tim and I had the honor of being asked to participate in the dance competition. In five weeks, we learned to dance the Tango and obtained a perfect score of three 10s for our performance. Our dance instructor, Mario from Alpha Dance Studio was a miracle worker.
This event was one of the best that we have ever attended. Thank you, CASA!
Judges Tim & Diane Grendell
Chester
Magic in Natural World
My family loves the Geauga Park District. Swine Creek Park is my kid’s favorite place to hike. When we are there, we head down the valley trail to explore. Sometimes we go to see the wildflowers and sometimes to see what we can find living in the creek.
We love the programs that are offered. We have been to many at the West Woods and Observatory Park. We love camping at Headwaters Park and canoeing there, too.
So I am confused when I read that Judge Grendell and the current Geauga Park Board would like to make the parks more family friendly. They already offer so much for families.
So what does that mean exactly? Well, I am guessing by the sudden appearance of soccer goals, baseball backstops, tetherball and other items, that family friendly means including sports.
Let me just say that kids in Geauga County (mine included) have many opportunities to be involved in sports. We have rec sports, the YMCA and the schools also provide sports programs. Both of my kids are involved in sports year round. What we are looking for when we go to one of the parks in the GPD, is not distraction but to be drawn into the magic that surrounds us in the natural world and to be awed by it.
Heather Fisher
Troy
No Place Like Home
There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.
No, my name is not Dorothy, but I certainly share with her a sense of comfort in coming back to the place I have always called home and recently can call home again.
I initially left to seek higher education. Immediately following graduation, I started my career in our local government with Geauga County. While I have been connected to our community in my work, I have been residing in a surrounding county always with hopes of returning to Geauga County and specifically Newbury Township to raise my children and build a home.
I am so grateful that all of the sacrifices that were made to return to Newbury were worth it and have made my hopes into reality before my children have reached school age.
I am confident that this community will continue to come together and provide a wonderful education and support system for many generations to come. My family has resided in Newbury Township since before the Civil War. My grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles, cousins, siblings and myself have all graduated from Newbury High School and my expectation is that many more generations will follow.
My grandmother was raised in the Kwanis Lake Community and my grandfather was raised on a dairy farm on Bell road. My family continues to reside on this property to this day. My father was raised on Music street. When it was time to raise his family we moved into that same home. Currently my uncle resides in this home and has raised his family there as well.
I hope we as a community continue to come together to keep giving our children a wonderful childhood and education.
Maggie Zock
Newbury
Russell Road Renewal
On November 4th, residents of Russell Township will be asked to approve a renewal levy that covers paving of their township roads.
There are 56 miles of roads in the township and each is re-paved at least once every 15 years. The cost of paving one mile averages $140,000.
Maintaining well paved roads has a positive impact on safety and property values. The cost for this renewal levy will be the same as it has been, it will not increase taxes. The cost is $84.22 per year for each $100,000 market value of a home.
Russell will benefit from the passage of this levy. I am asking for your support of this renewal levy.
Gary G, Gabram
Russell Township Trustee
A Proud Black Knight
Whenever I tell people that I graduated in a class of approximately 70 students, it’s not a surprise that most of them react with shock. They had gone to schools where 300-500 was a common class size. They say that they cannot imagine being in such a small school, or growing up in such a small town. If only they knew.
As a graduate of Newbury High School, I appreciated how modest our population was. It was almost like the sitcom “Cheers” — it was simply a place where everyone knew your name.
It wasn’t uncommon for students to multi-task their talents. A number of undergraduates who played sports were also involved in student council, drama club, yearbook, helping out with the school’s webpage, and other diverse groups and clubs that Newbury High had to offer.
Our class sizes were intimate, allowing for teachers to not only know our names, but our personalities.
In return, we learned some of our best catchphrases from them. We absorbed their obsessions (Mr. Edmondson’s Chevette, anyone?) and noticed their habits — how they talked with their hands, or which topics we were able to mention and have them digress off the subject we were currently studying.
Would things have been different if Newbury’s average class size was 300 as opposed to 70? Would we have taken the time as students, teachers and coaches to really notice and appreciate each other? I can’t say for sure, but I’m happy with the experience that I had.
Since graduating from Newbury in 2001, I have been to a number of places. I went to college and graduated from Ohio University. From there, I moved to Oregon for a year and eventually got a job working on cruise ships. For two years, I saw the wonders of Egypt, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iceland, Greenland, Estonia, the Caribbean, Jerusalem, and Germany.
What never ceased to amaze me is that no matter how far away I went and no matter how long I was gone, whenever I drove past Newbury School, I felt that calmness that reminded me I was home.
I was, and always will be, Proud to be a Black Knight.
Natalie Dolezal
NHS, Class of 2001
Kids Love Their School
I am a Proud Parent of two Newbury Black Knights! Not only am I a graduate of Newbury High, but my husband is as well.
Newbury is worth saving to us. Sure we could open enroll into one of our neighboring schools who have larger and newer campuses. Some would even argue a better education. Not us. We not only have experienced what Newbury Schools has to offer, but are seeing in real time what they are doing for the youth of Newbury Township.
The teachers and staff at Newbury truly care for each and every student. Whether your child is excelling and they offer enrichment programs, or they are falling behind and they catch it quickly to get them the extra help they need. Newbury wants each student to succeed!
Small class sizes combined with the small town feel makes for an environment your child can thrive in. I want to grow old with my husband here, who do we want taking care of us?
Ultimately I would like the kids from this community to come back here to work, raise their own families, and love and nurture Newbury Township like we do. It is our responsibility to give them that opportunity. My Mason and Ava love their school. Mason who is now in third grade just recently told Ava’s second-grade teacher Mrs. Stefancin, “I want to graduate from Newbury.”
Please help us make that possible.
Shawna Ogint
Newbury
