Good Grief!
As I sit in my home office in Newbury Township waiting for a report to download on my computer, going on 20 minutes now, I read part II of the “inadequate internet” article published in the Geauga County Maple Leaf on Sept. 24.
I, too, am frustrated with the lack of internet service that is getting worse. I have Windstream. My husband has called them and they don’t offer a faster internet. We called AT&T. We found out that AT&T is across the street from us in a corner house off of Route 44. We are in Newbury and the other side of the street is Auburn Township. AT&T said they would send someone out to see if we could also be connected. We were told no, because our side of the street was not part of their service area. End of discussion.
I’m not understanding this. We are across the street. Faster internet is in our grasp, but we were told no. What can we do? Who do we talk to resolve this issue so many of us are experiencing in Geauga County?
Adequate internet service should be available to all. Is this something that each city/township needs to address or is this a county issue? Or is this up to the service providers? Good grief!
Bridget Fenjac
Newbury Township
‘The Heartbeat of the Community’
I looked at the calendar and saw Oct. 13, but it wasn’t a Friday. It really didn’t matter, however, it was the Tuesday evening meeting of the Newbury Task Force and that, in and of itself, is a frightening day for all.
The Task Force provides the ever-unpopular round table discussion on what to do with the vacant land and buildings at the center of town that was given away, along with millions of taxpayer dollars, to the West Geauga school district.
While there were definitely some “quotable quotes” from this week’s meeting, I focused in on a diatribe offered by Mrs. Mathews. She stated, “We are treated like a child stealing candy from the cookie jar. We are all spending 6-8 hours a week on this because we care and we know the heartbeat of this community.”
It was the last line that I thought was important, “the heartbeat of the community.” She is right. The center of the township, the center of the community, rested in the school — the “heartbeat of the community.” The only issue is, the Task Force members, these prior school board members, put the “heartbeat” of this community into cardiac arrest.
How is this possible? Why isn’t the entire community behind their attempts to save face after their embarrassing run at the school board? Where is the “It’s Time” group that backed them 100% during their reign and quest to shut down the school and give it all away?
It seems that “All’s Quiet on the Western Front” now. Those groups and supporters got what they needed and now want no part of any “reconciliation project” headed by former Newbury school board members. So sad.
Believe it or not, I am for a small piece of land (maybe 10 acres) adjacent to Oberland Park for a community center. I would like to see the small building (with auditorium) saved on behalf of the citizens that already paid for it. I would hate to see the donation of that facility by the Frohring family get torn down for no other reason than to make a buck, be used for something for the residents of Newbury.
There are limitations, however. First, do the Newbury Trustees really want to be landlords trying to collect rents from businesses? They stated before when they moved a local business out of the old police station, that they did not.
Also, do you feel comfortable with the “brain trust” (i.e. Task Force) assigned this task to do it right?
Finally, if we couldn’t afford the school before, what makes you think we can afford all 40 acres plus the buildings now? The fact is, this “task force” has no plan.
I’ve learned that Trick or Treat isn’t just for kids. The past school board “tricked” the community out of their school and property and have since tried to “treat” themselves to a better reputation by acting like they now care about it and the community. I have a better idea . . . treat yourselves during the holidays and don’t fall for their selfish tricks!
Phil Paradise Jr.
Newbury Township
A True Icon
I felt compelled to have something written about Leon Radej, who was an auto mechanic with an auto repair shop in Chesterland on Route 306 just north of Mayfield Road for over 50 years.
Leon was an immigrant from Slovenia and was born in Remsnik, Slovenia, on Aug. 31, 1939. He served proudly in the U.S. Army. He had a work ethic unlike anyone I’ve ever met; he worked every day from about 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., and only took off two days a year: Christmas and Easter. How’s that for a commitment.
I would stop by when I was jogging early in the morning about 5:15 a.m. and buy him coffee from Swearingen’s bakery across the street. He was also proud of the fact that he never been to a physician after he was inducted in the U.S. Army.
Leon was a believable mechanic. First of all, he would never write down whatever the problems were with your car and he would never forget to fix it. Second, he could simply listen to the engine or sniff around the engine to find what the problem was — wouldn’t use a scanner for many, many years, but finally had to due to the complexity of the newer cars.
He loved his work and never gave up on any problem no matter how difficult to find or fix.
He was truly an icon in the little town of Chesterland and should never be forgotten. His dry sense of humor, commitment to perfection and steadfastness will long be remembered. The number of people who showed up at his wake was a true tribute to a special person.
Leon passed away on Sept. 27, 2020. May he rest in peace.
Dr. Thomas J. De Marco
Chester Township
