Letters to the Editor
May 19, 2021 by Submitted

Stay Out of Food Service

At the recent monthly meeting of the Geauga Park District Board, an item on the agenda was an update on securing a contract for a catering service at the lodge at Veterans Legacy Park. What?

The report stated there had been only one letter of interest received and no contract has been signed. That is something for which to be thankful.

Let me explain: The mission of the park district is to “conserve, preserve, and protect the natural features of Geauga County, Ohio, and to provide outdoor recreational experiences to our residents of every age, every ability and at all times of the year.” [From the Geauga Park District website.]

Running a food establishment is not consistent with the mission of the park district. To begin with, the operation of a food service of any kind, other than perhaps a child’s lemonade stand, is not a work for amateurs. There have been many such, who had delusions of grandeur, and lived to regret the day they decided to run a restaurant. The park administration would be amateurs. How do they go about selecting a caterer to award a contract (if one would apply)? Would it be to someone’s brother-in-law?

Secondly, there is a saying in the business — location, location, location. Does Route 44 (Ravenna Road) in Newbury Township sound like a location with sufficient access, traffic, etc., to support an establishment of the size of the lodge there? Too big for small parties, not big enough nor having the visual appeal for events such as weddings? I think not.

Thirdly, who would ultimately pick up the bill for this giant money-sucking machine, which it surely would be? The Geauga County taxpayers, of course. I, for one, believe there are far better ways to spend our tax dollars on the parks.

The Park District administration and staff have done a lot of good work over many years throughout Geauga County in growing and maintaining the parks. The only kind of food service that should be offered at Veterans Legacy Park is the same as the other parks. Provide the premises for rent for events, with the renters responsible for food service and cleanup. Do not try to go into the food service business in any way.

Patricia King Sommer
Russell Township

Funding Ohio’s Future

In 1997, I was a single, carefree twentysomething. That same year, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Ohio’s funding of public school was unconstitutional.

Fast forward to 2021, I have been married 22 years and have two almost grown kids. But the Ohio General Assembly still has not passed a funding plan to provide constitutionally-mandated fair funding for public education.

Fortunately, this year, the Ohio General Assembly could change this by voting to fund the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan. The FSFP passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Ohio House. Yes, you read that right, this plan was passed in the Ohio House with support from Republicans and Democrats.

The FSFP would enact a student-centered school-funding formula that ensures that all students have the resources to succeed regardless of where they live or their family’s income.

Email your state representative and senator, and tell him/her that you support passage of the FSFP that is part of the pending biennial budget. You can find your state representative at www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/district-maps.

If legislators continue to drag out the process, one can hardly blame families who decide to move elsewhere to find better resources for their kids.

When we fund the future of public education in Ohio, we are investing in the future of Ohio.

Heather Fisher
Chester Township

Let’s Hold Leaders Accountable

An overwhelming majority of Americans, regardless of race, color or creed believe emphatically that black lives matter.

The organization Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. does not. It is a Marxist movement dedicated to the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. Two of the three founders of this history-purging organization have publicly admitted they are trained Marxists.

In communism, the government owns all production and distribution. In socialism, the government controls all production and distribution. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Each is wicked and immoral and intends to make hostages of us all.

BLM, their socialist-democrat supporters, the fake news complex and BLM’s corporate bankrollers are directly responsible for the murders and the destruction of businesses and property in each of the chaotic cities across our country.

It’s time we take Ronald Reagan’s advice: “We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the law breaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.”

Finally, Will Rogers said, “if we ever pass on as a great nation we ought to put on our tombstone ‘America died from a delusion that she had moral leadership.’”

Why don’t you and I start holding our leaders accountable?

Don Hornak
Burton

Drilling in Ohio Parks?

The Ohio House slipped a last-minute provision into the budget bill that aggressively promotes fracking/drilling on state public lands.

This legislation would make it state policy to “promote” oil and gas drilling on Ohio’s public lands. Worse yet, it mandates that leasing revenues be used to promote more drilling.

Hunters, fisherman, boaters, hikers, campers — anyone using the public lands — will be negatively impacted.

Private gas wells and fracking are not what public land is about. There are plenty of private properties to drill on.

Fortunately, you can help!

Call and email the three senators below. Simply say: “Please remove the proposed language changes to HB 110 regarding oil and gas leasing on public lands.”