Volunteers Honored
We recently attended an awards ceremony the YMCA hosted to honor people who volunteer their time from their busy schedules of life to run a program for the YMCA. Jonathan and Jamie Galiardi, and their children, Corban and Rilo, residents of Chesterland, were honored at this event.
Having two children of their own, and both having professional careers, Jon and Jamie still made time for the YMCA programs that needed a leader. Congratulations to them. And, for those who say young people don’t care, here are two that do.
Oh, by the way, Jon is our son and Jamie our daughter-in-law. We are supremely proud of them for their caring natures to help keep the programs at the YMCA viable.
William and Sandy Galiardi
Chester Township
Issue 1 Needed
Issue 1 has been gaining negative media attention since proposed. Despite the opinions
expressed, Issue 1 will not keep qualified Ohio voters from deciding the merit of any changes to our Ohio Constitution.
Instead, Issue 1 will establish that a solid majority of Ohio voters are actually convinced of the
need for any constitutional change, rather than recording a statistical anomaly created by instances like a vote scheduled on an unusual date that many qualified voters never even hear about; in spite of any possible lack of information provided the public about the issue presented or biased media coverage that hides the real reason for the proposed change, misleading just enough voters to allow the proposal to squeak by with a bare minimum of needed votes cast in that election as has been the case in Ohio to date. A minimum 60% vote required to initiate constitutional change reflects the gravity of these decisions and their potential impact on Ohio citizens.
That gravity is the reason the 60% majority approval required by Issue 1 to establish changes to
Ohio’s Constitution is vital now. We just had an unconstitutional 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision set aside with the reversal of the controversial “Roe v. Wade” ruling that was one of the more twisted Supreme Court decisions since its 1947 claim that our First Amendment required that Christianity be excluded from affecting government action or influencing the public forum, completely disregarding 300 years of written history and documented legal precedent.
Roe v Wade invented what the 1973 Court called a woman’s ‘right’ to murder her unborn child.
No such ‘right’ was conveyed by that decision. A facade of legal authority was cast over a criminal offense that had been effectively legislated and, for the most part, righteously regulated by every state in the Union. Most states restricted the act of abortion to those cases wherein the mother could be killed by carrying her infant to term, with special circumstances applicable, in most states, to cases of rape or incest. In any other case, abortion was considered murder. All these laws were supplanted by Roe v. Wade.
Roe v Wade violated our nation’s founding principle, “That all men are created equal, and
endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . . .” This principle, the foundation of our entire federalist system of government, makes no distinction about people’s status; either rich or poor, male or female, black or white, born or unborn. All men own the right to life, given by God!
Roe v. Wade faked the science, too. The Court’s 1973 majority claimed that ‘no one knew’ when
life begins. That was and is a lie. Any high school biology student could have told the Court that life begins at conception. From that moment on, abortion murders a new, separate and identifiable human being.
That is the problem with leftist decision making. While Christianity, Judaism and the Bible
affirm, echoed by our Declaration of Independence, that all men are equal and possess equal rights, the left claims that some are more equal than others, that they can choose which are more equal; and who, therefore, are not entitled to the rights God actually gave to all of us.
That is what the left does. It divides and oppresses. That is all it has.
That is why we need to apply this 60% majority to any further changes to Ohio’s Constitution.
We want to make it harder for anyone to reestablish the murder on demand for any reason throughout pregnancy that was forced on us because of the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade ruling. We want no more innocent blood shed in Ohio.
Douglas L Parr
Chardon Township
Hambden Trustees Opting for Renewal
Hambden Township Trustees voted for a sensible alternative to tax increases.
In the ongoing debate over funding for essential public services, the choice between a tax increase through a replacement levy or a renewal levy is crucial. When addressing this issue at our recent Township Trustee meeting, our decision was that a renewal levy is the more sensible and responsible option.
Allow me to outline my opposition to a tax increase and why I joined the other Trustees in advocating for the adoption of a renewal levy.
Advocates of a replacement levy argue for increased taxes to adequately fund public services. This approach, however, disregards the importance of fiscal responsibility and stability.
By embracing a renewal levy, we can maintain current funding levels without burdening taxpayers further. This not only ensures a predictable revenue stream for essential services, but also safeguards against future budget shortfalls, fostering a stable financial environment.
Implementing a tax increase through a replacement levy places an undue burden on taxpayers, particularly during challenging economic times.
Choosing a renewal levy, which maintains existing tax rates, demonstrates a commitment to providing relief to individuals and businesses.
In light of the hardships brought on by inflation, it is crucial to prioritize the economic well-being of our residents. Opting for a renewal levy allows us to allocate our resources more efficiently.
Renewal levies offer a higher level of transparency and accountability compared to replacement levies. With a renewal levy, taxpayers have a clear understanding of which services will be funded and the duration of the levy. This transparency empowers citizens to make informed decisions regarding their tax dollars.
In contrast, replacement levies often lack clarity regarding the specific purposes and duration of the tax increase, leaving taxpayers uncertain about the long-term implications and potential misuse of funds.
In the face of decisions concerning funding for crucial public services, we advocated for the adoption of a renewal levy rather than a tax increase through a replacement levy. Renewal levies provide fiscal responsibility, taxpayer relief and transparency, ensuring a brighter future for our community.
Let us make the prudent choice and support the renewal levy — a sensible alternative that prioritizes the welfare of our taxpayers.
Bob Kandra
Hambden Township Trustee
Honoring the Flag
We were fortunate to have two World War II veterans in attendance and it was so nice to see them honored.
Boy Scout Troop 91 and a Chesterland Girl Scout Troop helped manage the program and contributed enormously. We were all so proud to have met them.
Chardon VFW Post 6519, Willoughby VFW Post 4358, Chester Police Department and Chester Fire Department all participated, making this occasion incredibly special.
We live in the greatest nation on earth; it is our duty to honor the flag and those who defend it.
God bless the DeJohn family and God bless America!
Judy K. Zamlen-Spotts
Chester Township
Dangerous Novelty Intersection
This Sunday (June 25) at about 11:30 a.m. I was stopped northbound at the intersection of Caves and Fairmount roads. It was a good thing because a late-model Toyota went through the intersection westbound on Fairmount at over 40 mph without ever touching their brakes. A collision in the intersection would’ve been catastrophic.
My wife and I have seen numerous serious accidents on Caves Road and at least two at the intersection of Fairmount. We urge the Russell Police Department and Selectmen to consider installing solar-powered flashing stop signs that will save lives and prevent serious injuries in the future.
Jim Scully
Russell Township
