Shame!
Shame! Shame! Shame! Plenty of shame to go around!
Major shame goes to the Ohio Election Commission that recently ruled that the expensive mailing the Geauga Parks/Director John Oros sent out just before the primary election, at our expense of course, was not campaign literature.
Funds were moved around to pay for the mailing by the director and instructions were given to make sure the mailing went out just before the election. Anyone with two working brain cells would realize the mailing was generated to aid Judge Grendell in his bid for reelection. In the words of OEC Commissioner Scott Norman, who felt the mailing was campaign literature : “It did not pass the smell test.”
The odor of shame does not seem to bother park system administrators or commissioners. Two of the commissioners, who between the two of them sell hundreds of thousands of dollars of goods and services to the park district each year, sit there at commissioners meeting and vote for each other’s expenditures without asking any pertinent questions. Not likely illegal, but many of us feel it is improper to have commissioners with hands so deep in the park district till.
The shame continues with commissioners that continue to violate sunshine laws when going into executive session at commissioners meeting. View past videos of commissioners meeting at protectgeaugaparks.us. Why does the county prosecutor do nothing?
One of the commissioners deserves particular shame in that he attended the rally, etc. on Jan 6 and was caught on a video as stating, “I say we just rush the Capitol.” When an individual near him stated “start assassinating people,” the commissioner replied “right.” Shame added to shame is that Judge Grendell, who has the authority to remove any of the commissioners at any time, has done nothing. Jan. 6 was over a month ago.
We are stuck with the good judge and the damage he is doing for another nearly six years. The Ohio General Assembly can halt this shame by giving citizens the right to remove officials like the good judge by referendum petition and then a vote of the people. What are they waiting for?
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
History in Newbury
Last night, I thought it was a good idea to look up the history of Newbury Township and learn a little more about our town and its interesting history.
On the Newbury homepage (newburyohio.com) you can learn about historic places, settlers like Lemuel Punderson, the multiple one-room schoolhouses and the businesses that once thrived here. This historic take on the founding of Newbury should not be lost; however, it should be updated. Much has happened over time here in our beloved town, but none as impactful as the loss of the school, the center of Newbury.
How should the modern history be written? Who should write it? Much like those in our political realm who want to “re-write” history and put their own spin on what should and should not be taught, how do we accurately write the current history of our township? More importantly, how detailed should that history be?
My thought is, make it accurate and detailed. Write down the names or those board members that decided Newbury was better off without a school. Those on the prior school board said they are “proud of their service and what they have done” to this tiny town, so let’s give them the accolades they deserve. Maybe we should put historic markers up or a sign that says, “Former Home of Newbury Schools, Loved by Many but Closed by Fools.”bWe could list the schoolboard members names and give them a permanent marker denoting their crown achievement.
Our history is ever-changing. Those that write it dictate how it will be remembered. It’s important to give credit (or disdain) where it is due. I hope the writers of our “new history” are accurate. I hope they live (and have long lived) in our community so they can compare and contrast our town for the last 50 or more years.
I remember what Newbury used to look like over 45 years ago. I remember when the Newbury Post Office was housed in what is now the “game room” at Mangia, Mangia. I remember going to Prots Food Center there as well (until it moved to Teague Shopping Center and expanded). I remember every teacher from kindergarten (Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Ronyak) to my senior year. I remember every bus driver (Mrs. Jirousek was mine for what seemed like forever), every custodian and every friend I ever hung out with at Newbury School. Maybe you do, too.
The history is still there. Many people are still here. Maybe we need to resurrect the Historical Society of Newbury and write it down ourselves.
Soon, those frozen buildings we once called home for at least eight hours per day in our youth will be gone.I hope the final chapter of “Newbury School: a History,” is a positive one and not one written by a few board members hoping for a tax break.
Phil Paradise Jr.
Newbury Township
Authoritarian Blinders
Travelling through Geauga County you are apt to come across a horse and buggy. The horse is likely wearing blinders to limit any distractions that could startle or upset them. This works well for a horse, but does not bode well for a certain Geauga County official.
An article in the Jan. 28 edition of the Maple Leaf reported that Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri delivered a statement after the adjournment of the commissioners meeting. Spidalieri’s own words demonstrate two things: his failure to see beyond his own opinions, and his lack of respect for his elected colleagues and his constituents.
He said that recently retired county Recorder Sharon Gingerich “knows nothing what she is talking about,” and that recently retired county Clerk of Courts Denise Kaminski “is absolutely oblivious to reality.” These two women objected to a program that collects information on residents from social media because it sounds like “Big Brother is watching.”
But commissioners want to get a “pulse” of the community. According to Spidalieri, more direct methods like surveys don’t work — at least not the way he wants them to work. He dismissed Geauga County residents who responded to a county Planning Commission survey last year as “bleeding-heart liberals” who want to “hug the trees and everything else.” He didn’t like the survey results from constituents, so he lumps them together and ignores their responses.
Apparently he did not like the results collected from social media either, and commissioners have “throttled back” on that program.
Mr. Spidalieri, please remove your blinders and your earplugs. Listen to your colleagues and give them clear information about your plans and intentions for Geauga County, then respect their honest opinions.
Listen to your constituents and you may learn that preserving nature and economic development are not mutually exclusive. In fact, your constituents value both.
Finally, stop complaining about being under a microscope as a county commissioner. Constituents in a democracy have the right and responsibility to ask questions. You represent us and you are spending our tax dollars.
Rick Webb
Munson Township
