January 2015
Established in 1836
Message from Mayor Cyril Kleem
For more than 25 years,
the City of Berea and
Baldwin Wallace University have worked together to host Martin
Luther King Jr. Week
activities. The project is
a cooperative effort
among many facets of
our community – the
city, schools, churches
and
the
ACES
(Academic & Cultural
Events Series) program at BW.
This year, the Campus/Community MLK Week
Committee has fielded an outstanding program as
usual, with some new offerings. The schedule
begins Monday, Jan. 18, the official Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with the annual prayer breakfast at Mount Zion Baptist Church and a candlelight march. City Hall will be closed and the Berea City Schools will be closed.
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, a gospel music program
will precede the keynote speaker presentation at
Kleist Center for Art & Drama. Wednesday, Jan.
20 features activities for young people – a program on socially responsible careers at Strosacker Hall and a reception at the Berea Branch Library, recognizing local students and their artistic
accomplishments that honor the life and legacy
of Dr. King.
The week concludes on Thursday, Jan. 21 with a
service in the BW Chapel.
The events are inspiring and thoughtful. The
City of Berea is very proud to be a part of this
long-standing Berea community tradition.
All of these events are free and open to the public. More information can be found elsewhere in
this issue of The Berean and at www.bw.edu.
City receives grants for road projects
.The City of Berea is looking to receive more
than $8 million in grants and zero percent interest loans to complete some major road projects.
City Engineer Tony Armagno said the funds will
go toward improving water lines and sewers and
repaving Fair Street, phases 1 and 2; reconstructing the West Center Street Bridge over the
Rocky River and paving a portion of North
Rocky River Drive.
Already approved are a $2.065 million grant and
a $735,000 zero percent interest loan from the
Ohio Public Works Commission for phase 1 of
the Fair Street project. Phase 1 includes improving the water line on Race Street from Fair to
Grindstone Elementary School and replacing the
sanitary sewers and water line on Fair from
West to French streets. Storm sewers will be rehabilitated and the pavement will be reconstructed. That project is being designed by engineers
now with construction due to begin in the summer of 2016. Phase 1 should take a year to complete.
Armagno said the water line work on Race will
be scheduled during the summer so that it has
minimal impact on the school. The City will
meet with school district officials in January to
discuss the project.
Phase 2 of the Fair Street project includes sanitary sewer, water line and storm sewer work and
total road reconstruction from French Street to
Sprague Road. The City has been recommended
for a $1.43 million grant and a $520,000 zero
percent interest loan from the Ohio Public
Works Commission. Design work should begin
in 2016 and construction would be in 2017-2018
once phase 1 is complete.
The West Center Street Bridge over the Rocky
River will be completely reconstructed with construction to begin in the latter half of 2016.
ANNUAL MEETING
Our Facebook and Twitter
page name is:
City of Berea, Ohio
Visit our website
www.cityofberea.org
Berea High School Alumni Association
6:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 25, 2016
Titans Room
Berea-Midpark High School (2nd floor)
Open to all association members
in good standing
The West Center Street Bridge over the Rocky River
will be completely reconstructed with grant money
and a zero percent loan covering the costs.
Completion date will be in 2017. The City has
received a $2.5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation plus a $926,000
grant and a $424,000 zero percent interest loan
from the Ohio Public Works Commission. Besides the loan, Berea will need or little or no local funds to pay for the project. The bridge spans
the Rocky River between Park Street and Front
Street. Traffic will be detoured during construction.
The City also has applied for a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant to help pay
for repaving North Rocky River Drive from Karen Drive to Grayton Road. Winning projects are
expected to be selected in January. In 2014, the
City received $150,000 in CDBG funds to resurface the road from Bagley to Karen. Traffic will
be maintained while construction is under way.
“We will continue to seek government funding
from these sources,” Armagno said. The City is
looking at additional grant monies for projects in
the City’s Six-Year Plan.
Mayor Cyril Kleem’s
State of the City Report
For Seniors
Luncheon
Noon, Tuesday, Feb. 9
St. Paul Lutheran Church
276 E. Bagley Road
Call (440) 234-6080 for reservations
Cost: $5
Monthly Berean
Bulk Trash Collection
Friday, Jan. 22
Bulk trash includes large items such as furniture, appliances, carpeting & any large objects
that will not fit into the regular blue trash container.
PLEASE NOTE: Freon no longer must be removed from refrigerators & freezers before being left for pickup. Republic Services will send a
separate truck to collect appliances. They will
remove the Freon.
Questions: Call Republic Services,
(800) 433-1309
Christmas Tree Recycling
Republic Services will pick up trees
for composting
Jan. 8 and Jan. 15
Leave at curbside
No tinsel, no lights, no tree stands
Do NOT place in plastic bags
Questions, call the
Service Garage:
(440) 826-5853
Or e-mail
[email protected]
Trash pickup delayed
Because of New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1
Curbside trash collection will be delayed.
Trash will be picked up:
SATURDAY, JAN. 2
Curbside trash collection is NOT affected by the
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Questions or concerns, call Republic Services at
(800) 433-1309.
Page 2
NEWS BRIEFS
Snowfall limits parking
on city streets
The Berea Service Department would like to
remind drivers that there is no parking on any
city street when snow measures 2 inches or
more in depth. The snow parking ban allows
city plows to clear the roads more effectively.
Also, no parking is allowed on any city street
between the hours of 3-6 a.m. regardless of the
weather. Police will enforce both of these
measures, which are regulated by city ordinance.
Campus Grille named to
Best Food List
Douglas Trattner, food critic at Scene magazine, named the spit-roasted chicken at The
Campus Grille as one of The Best Things I Ate
All Year. Trattner said the restaurant has “killer
Latino and Puerto Rican food.” He went on to
rate the marinated and spit-roasted chicken,
“hacked in half and served with lime and cilantro scented rice and black beans” as the best dish
on the menu. Campus Grille is at 10 Seminary
St.
Fundraiser will help kids
with rare kidney disease
A pasta dinner and raffle on Saturday, Feb. 13
will help raise funds to fight ARPKD – a rare
childhood kidney disease. ARPKD or Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease is
genetic and occurs in only 1 in every 20,000
births. Jaina Cormack, 5, and her sister, Chesley, 1, of Berea have been diagnosed with
ARPKD. Brother Dougie, 3, is a carrier. There
is no cure but patients can be treated with a variety of drugs and organ transplants are an option as children age. The fundraiser will be 5-8
p.m. on Feb. 13 at St. Paul Lutheran Church,
276 E. Bagley Road and will include a pasta
dinner, salad, breadsticks, punch and coffee
and homemade desserts. There will be basket
raffles and 50-50 drawings. Tickets at the door
are $12 each or two for $20, $5 for children 412, no charge for kids 3 and younger. Proceeds
will help pay the Cormacks’ medical costs and
will fund research by the ARPKD/CHF Alliance. So far, the Cormacks have raised more
than $10,000 for ARPKD research.
Historical Society hosts
Victorian Tea
The Berea Historical Society hosted a free Victorian Tea on Dec. 13 that featured wassail,
spiced tea, sandwiches and Christmas carols.
Entertainment was provided by four BereaMidpark High School students dressed in period costumes and who sang a cappella seasonal
songs. The students were Ava Wentzel, Seth
Serrano, Matt Radel and Allison Burdick. Karen White conducted tours of the Mahler Museum. Dave and Louise Allen made the wassail,
took photographs and greeted guests. Cons
Templeman, Kathy Conrad, Edie Pearson,
Marsha Graser, Karen and Dik Mallot, Pat
Vanderaar, Nancy Gillahan and Barb Neeper
served food and beverages and worked in the
kitchen, making sure the sandwich and dessert
trays were always filled. Georgia Schuff was
Victorian Tea chair.
Departing City Council members honored
The Monthly Berean is published monthly by the City of Berea and is distributed
to residents, organizations and businesses
in Berea.
Mayor Cyril Kleem
Linda G. Kramer, editor
Megan Pochatek, design editor
To submit information, contact:
[email protected]
(440) 891-3316
Please submit stories and information
by the 10th of every month.
State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-7, presented commendations to outgoing Berea City Council
members Dale Lange and Dik Malott during
council’s last meeting of the year on Monday,
Dec. 21.
Dovilla thanked them for their service to the
community. Lange had been on council for 12
years as a councilman at large. He was chair of
the Finance Committee and served on the Berea
Board of Income Tax Review. Malott had served
as council president, councilman at large and
Ward 5 councilman for a total of 22 years. Malott was chair of the Economic Development
Committee and was council’s representative to
Southwest Suburban Council of Governments.
He also served as president pro tem of council.
The Dec. 21 council meeting was the last for
Lange and Malott.
State Rep. Mike Dovilla, who lives in Berea, presents
Councilman-at-Large Dale Lange with a commendation for his years of service on Berea City Council. Dovilla also presented a commendation for Ward
Dovilla said local councils and state government
work closely together and he considered the relationship a “partnership.”
Monthly Berean
Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. Week
Calendar of Events
Monday, Jan. 18: Prayer Breakfast, 9 a.m.
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 572 Pearl St. Music
and readings followed by breakfast prepared and
served by men of the church.
Monday, Jan. 18: Candlelight March, 7 p.m.
Will begin at the Durst Welcome Center on the
BW campus, off Tressel Street, adjacent to
Strosacker College Union, proceeding down
Tressel to Bagley Road to Beech Street to East
Grand and returning to the Welcome Center for
a brief reflection and refreshments.
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7 p.m.: Legacy Service – a
prelude to the keynote speaker at 8 p.m. BW’s
Voices of Praise will host a gospel music celebration featuring the Berea-Midpark High
School Choir and other performing artists, John
Patrick Theatre, Kleist Center for Art & Drama,
95 E. Bagley Road.
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m.: Keynote Speaker, Rev.
Dr. Marvin A. McMickle. Scholar and preacher
returns to Cleveland to speak on building communities of trust. John Patrick Theatre, Kleist
Center for Art & Drama, 95 E. Bagley Road.
Wednesday, Jan. 20: Socially Responsible Careers, Noon to 1:30 p.m. BW Career Services
hosts a panel discussion on careers that promote
positive social impact. Strosacker Hall, Sandstone 3, 120 E. Grand St.
Wednesday, Jan. 20: Creative Expressions, 7
p.m. A reception showcases the media created
by local students in celebration of Dr. King’s
life and legacy. Refreshments provided by
Friends of the Berea Branch Library, 7 Berea
Commons.
Thursday, Jan. 21: Chapel Worship Service,
12:15 p.m. Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, 56 Seminary St.
For more information about MLK Week activities, call (440) 826-2157.
Council creates Facebook page
Berea City Council now has a Facebook page.
Go to Berea City Council on Facebook and click
on “Like” to stay connected. Council Clerk Alycia Esson created the page and will keep it updated.
Ramping up youth sports
After one year on the job, Berea’s Youth Sports
Commissioner Keith Wilson says he is proudest
of the trophy recently won by the Titan Sharks
swim team.
The newly revamped squad won 2nd place in the
Southwest Swimming League competition – a
huge jump from 6th place last year. The team is
coached by Dave Tressel and went from 60
swimmers to nearly 100 this season.
“We want the kids to have a positive experience,” Wilson said. “We want them to stay involved year-round.”
The Youth Sports Commission was established
by Mayor Cyril Kleem in 2014 to expand programming for young people and to help the various sports organizations coordinate their activities. The first Youth Sports Commissioner was
Marty Compton, who is now the Recreation Director.
Since then, “across the board, every program has
grown,” Wilson said. Lou Groza Youth Football
League has around 500 participants, including
football players and cheerleaders. Tri-City Soccer has 230 youths enrolled on its teams. The
travel basketball and rec basketball programs
have more than 300 students. Also under the
Youth Sports Commission umbrella are Titans
lacrosse, basketball cheerleading, softball, volleyball, Titans travel baseball, the Berea Baseball Association and Hutch Sports.
Wilson meets with the heads of the various
youth sports organizations as a group and individually to ask “what they need; what can we do
to help,” he said.
A football player and wrestler at Berea High
School, Wilson would like to bring in a Titans
Youth Wrestling program. In 2016, he also
would like to expand sports opportunities for
girls.
A 1998 graduate of BHS, Wilson has been in
close contact with the Berea City School District’s new athletic director Adam Howard, who
has signed on as a flag football coach with the
Lou Groza Youth Football League. Howard’s
son is also a member of the Titan Sharks swimming team.
Other high school-level coaches also help with
the rec center teams.
Working with other sports organizations and the
high school coaches helps expand and improve
the youth sports programs at the rec center, Wilson said.
“We bounce ideas off each other. We coordinate
fundraisers so we don’t have conflicts with
dates, for example.”
Expanding sports opportunities for younger children can foster a love of all sports that lasts a
lifetime. One of the goals of the Youth Sports
Commission is to prepare youngsters for middle
school and high school teams but also to maintain kids’ interest in keeping active.
“We emphasize fun,” Wilson said.
Both Compton and Wilson came to the Berea
Recreation Department from the Lou Groza
Youth Football organization. Wilson remains the
volunteer tackle football commissioner for the
league. “We brought a lot of the concepts from
Lou Groza football to the Berea Rec,” Wilson
said. That means encouraging volunteers from
parents and members of the community and
keeping the lines of communication open. It also
means making sure everyone who wants to play
can play. Players’ skills are assessed. Every
team has a mixture of skill levels.
“None of this would be possible without Mayor
Kleem’s support,” Wilson said. The mayor, who
used to coach youth basketball, “has made this a
priority.”
Be a part of Berea’s signature events!
Community Garage Sale
Grindstone Festival
Harvest Festival
Jack Frost Festival & Light Up Berea Parade
Summer Band Concerts
Outdoor Movies
Family and Youth Initiative Programs
Sponsorships available at various levels!
Advertise your business while
you support Berea.
Contact Megan Pochatek
(440) 274-5608
[email protected]
Monthly Berean
Page 4
Light Up Berea Parade
Winners
Church Street Ministries’ new focus is veterans
There have been some changes at Church Street
Ministries since Frannie Millward, the agency’s
founder, retired. The interim executive director
of Church Street is the Rev. Charles E. Brown,
pastor of the Sheffield Lake United Church of
Christ. Brown is a Church Street Ministries
board member. Jeff Jackson, Frannie’s assistant,
is now the director of community services.
“I grew up in the church,” Brown said, but got
away from it for awhile. When groups asked him
to lead opening prayers, he reconnected and applied to the UCC’s Lay School. A licensed minister since 1995, Brown is not ordained but can
serve as a pastor and can conduct all the sacraments. It’s an ideal second or third career for
retired folks, he said.
“This has been quite a transition for us,” Jackson said. “(Frannie) was one of a kind.”
Brown said he’ll hold the interim title for around
1 ½ years while the board searches for a permanent director. In the meantime, he’ll be the face
of Church Street Ministries.
Brown said his role will be mainly administrative with Jackson handling the day-to-day operations of the food pantry and the agency’s new
focus on homeless veterans. Brown will provide
direction to the staff and deal with fund-raising.
Best Costume:
Minions
Best Float:
Tractor Club
Best Specialty Group:
American Legion Post 91 Color Guard
Best Performance:
Pink Ladies Baton Corps
“I make sure things are running well,” Brown
said. The agency is now registered as a 501c3
non-profit – a totally separate entity from the
Berea UCC, which was the original sponsor.
Brown put together a stream-lined mission statement, which the board must approve. He’s also
reaching out to local media to get out Church
Street’s message that it is open and accepting
donations and volunteers.
Brown spent 27 years at Ohio Bell as marketing
director before retiring. He then went on to work
for several non-profits including Cudell Improvement Inc. and the Union Miles Development Corp. He is a licensed minister with the
United Church of Christ.
Jackson said the food pantry remains open four
days a week and serves all of Cuyahoga County.
It works with the Cleveland Food Bank to feed
an average of 310 families each month. It also
gets donations from Target, Aldi’s and Marc’s.
Church Street also is focusing on military veterans. It is partnering with the Cuyahoga County
Veterans Commission and veterans’ organizations such as the American Legion and VFW to
provide help to homeless vets. So far this year,
Church Street has aided 67 vets – up from 31
last year.
“We need support more than ever,” Jackson
said. Volunteers are needed in the pantry and the
organization can use donations of new blankets,
socks and underwear for children and adults.
Go to www.churchstreetministries.org or call
(440) 826-4603 for more information.
Berea police take kids shopping for Christmas
Eight members of the Berea Division of Police
took Berea School District students to Wal-Mart
to Shop with a Cop. The 12 students were each
given $125 gift cards to buy presents for the
families.
The kids were picked up in police cruisers and
had breakfast with officers at Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge No. 15 in Brunswick. After shopping at the Strongsville Wal-Mart, the officers
and children returned to the lodge for giftwrapping, photos with Santa and lunch.
Students had the chance to ride in the Southwest
Enforcement Bureau’s armored vehicle – the
Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle,
often nicknamed The Bear.
The students included four from Grindstone Elementary, four from Ford Intermediate, two from
Middleburg Heights Junior High and two from
Berea-Midpark High School.
Berea police earned funds for the shopping trip
through the No Shave campaign. Officers paid
$20 a month for three months for permission to
not shave. In addition, the Police Benefit Fund
received donations from other organizations, the
FOP Lodge and individuals.
Officers volunteering their time for the project
were Detective Sgt. Tom Walker, Sgt. Pat
Greenhill, Patrolmen Ean Esposito, Dave Kammerman, Robb Chernisky and Ted Makrinos,
School Resource Officers Bill Uthe and Dave
Fadil. Police Clerk Jenny Hickle and Administrative Assistant Amy Decker volunteered for
gift wrapping.
Monthly Berean
Page 5
SCHOOL NEWS
Berea School District wins environmental award
Panel will discuss local &
global business opportunities
BW’s School of Business and the MBA Association will present a panel discussion on the global, U.S. and European economies, opportunities
for trade and how the northeast Ohio region can
take advantage of the trends. Panel members include Michael Weidokal, executive director of
International Strategic Analysis; Kevin T.
Jacques, BW Finance Chair and formerly an
economist with the U.S. Treasury Department;
and William Koehler, CEO of Team NEO. Moderator will be Harvey Hopson, director of BW’s
International MBA Program. Free but registration is required. Call (440) 826-2104 or visit
www.bwcommunity.net/mba/insights. Center for
Innovation & Growth, 340 Front St., 6:15 p.m.,
Wednesday, Jan. 27.
For a complete listing of BW events, visit
www.bw.edu/events or call (440) 826-2325.
Tickets for paid events can be purchased at
www.bw.edu/tickets. Other events during January are:
Factory Seconds: Faculty Recital. Jack
trumpet; Richard Stout, trombone; and
McCormack, horn. Gamble Auditorium,
Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St. 7
Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Sutte,
Jesse
Kulas
p.m.,
Jazztet: Greg Banaszak, director. Performing the
music of Jackie McLean, Sonny Rollins, Gershwin, Porter, Parker & more. Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St. 7
p.m., Friday, Jan. 22.
DMD Senior Graphic Design Show: An exhibition of senior student portfolios from the Digital
Media Design Graphic Design Track major.
Fawick Gallery, Kleist Center for Art & Drama,
95 E. Bagley Road. Opening reception, 5-8 p.m.,
Friday, Jan. 22. Exhibit runs Jan. 22-Feb. 12.
Fuoco Duo: Faculty Recital. Christine & Anthony Fuoco perform a concert of four-hand piano
music by Johannes Brahms. Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St. 3
p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31.
Learning Farm fundraiser
is Feb. 6
The third annual "Love the Farm" fundraiser
will be 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at American Legion Post 91 on American Legion Parkway off
Adams Street.
Tickets are $30 per person for a buffet dinner,
beverages and musical entertainment. There will
be door prizes, silent auctions and a 50/50 raffle.
This year, the Berea Community Learning Farm
at 228 Emerson Ave. hopes to use the proceeds
for several projects including building raised
gardening beds that are wheel chair accessible;
purchasing a small solar-powered pump to irrigate the fields with rainwater harvested off the
barn roof; and providing upgrades to the interior
of the High Tunnel Greenhouse to make it more
accessible to learners of all ages and abilities.
Funds also will be used for operating costs such
as seeds and straw.
The Berea Community Learning Farm is a
501c3 charitable organization that provides education to students and families in the Berea City
School District, area residents, Scouts, clubs and
others on how to produce nutritious food using
sustainable and organic principles and practices. Vegetables are sold to JoJo Caroloni's Italian Restaurant on Cook Road and given to the
Berea Community Outreach Food Pantry. All
donations to the BCLF are tax deductible.
Purchase tickets to Love the Farm at
www.bereacommunitylearningfarm.org.
The Berea City School District has saved 16
percent or $861,854 in energy costs in the 35
months it has worked with Cenergistic to improve energy conservation. A national energy
conservation company, Cenergistic presented
the district with its Environmental Excellence
Award. “Reaching this level of savings at this
stage of the program is a significant achievement,” said Dr. William S. Spears, chairman
and founder of Cenergistic. The district has
worked to reduce consumption of gas, electricity, water and sewer, and has looked for savings
in HVAC systems, grounds care, data analysis,
information systems management, organization
development, construction management, human
resources and utility rates. According to EPA
data, the Berea Schools’ energy reduction has
prevented 6,132 metric tons of carbon dioxide
emissions. That is equivalent to growing
157,226 new trees for 10 years or removing
1,277 cars from the road.
District names new community
relations director
Cristina Carosielli has been named director of
marketing and community relations for the Berea City School District. She takes over from
Nancy Braford, who was set to retire on Dec.
31. Carosielli comes to the district from the Orlando Baking Co., where she was marketing
manager. Contact Carosielli at [email protected] or call (216) 898-8300.
Polaris chef instructor named Educator of the Year
Chef Chris Olszewski, Polaris Career Center
chef training instructor, was honored with the
American Culinary Federation Cleveland Chapter’s Chef Educator of the Year Award. Olszewski also received the award in 2008. For the
second consecutive year, the Chef Training Program has been named to the Sullivan University
Elite 50 List. The award honors schools from
around the country that excel in all areas of culinary arts and hospitality management.
Polaris Seeks Hall of Fame
nominations
Polaris Career Center is seeking nominations for
its Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors
alumni who have achieved outstanding career
success and have had a positive impact on the
community. The HOF also recognizes business
and community members who have given their
time, knowledge and expertise to improve Polaris programs. The nomination deadline is March
4. Submit nominations online. Go to
www.polaris.edu. For more information, call
(440) 891-7609 or e-mail [email protected].
Monthly Berean
At the Library
Kids celebrate National
Chemistry Week
Be prepared to get in and get messy as volunteers from the American Chemical Society offer
hands-on activities during National Chemistry
Week. Families are invited to join the children in
the fun. Release forms must be signed by a parent or guardian. Registration is required. For students in grades 3-6; 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26.
Reservations are requested for all programs except weekly children’s story times. Visit cuyahogalibrary.org or call (440) 234-5475. Other
programs at the Berea Branch during January
are:
For Adults
Rock ‘n’ Roll History: Progressive Rock &
Other Rock Stars of the ‘70s. View album covers with spectacular art renditions and listen to
progressive and other music of the 1970s. 7
p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 6.
Music of the Civil Rights Movement: See and
hear the music that inspired a nation. Dr. Michael Strasser, professor of musicology at BW,
will present a historical perspective of the Civil
Rights Movement. 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Thursday Evening Book Discussion: January’s
title is “Where’d You Go Bernadette,” by Maria
Semple. 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14.
Monday
Afternoon
Book
Discussion:
“Someone,” by Alice McDermott. Books are
available at the check-out desk one month prior
to the meeting. 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 18.
Tornado Chaser!: Professional storm chaser
Herb Stein will take listeners into his powerful
and frightening world. Stein’s group has appeared on Discovery Channel’s hit series “Storm
Chasers” and in several IMAX movies. 7 p.m.,
Jan. 21.
Author D. M. Pulley: Meet the author of “The
Dead Key” and the Grand Prize Winner of the
2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The
mystery weaves together the stories of an employee who began at the First Bank of Cleveland
shortly before its mysterious collapse in 1978
and a civil engineer hired to survey the abandoned building two decades later. 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25.
For Teens
TAG TEAM: Meets monthly for a different
activity and snack. Parent/guardian must sign
release before the program. For Grades 6-12. 7
p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19.
For Mixed Ages
Creative Expressions Reception: Showcasing
media created by local students in celebration of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Grades 6-12 and their
families. 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Diary of_____(You Fill in the Blank!): Learn
the secrets of writing in the popular diary/journal
style with author Ali Maier. Free journals provided. For grades 4 and older and their families.
11:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30.
Berea families receive
Thanksgiving meals
thanks to police
For Kids
Music & Movement Mondays: An afternoon
of music, movement and fun for children 1-5
with a caregiver. High energy session using
shakers, bean bags, scarves and more. Please
register each child separately. 3:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 4.
K-2, Build & Do: Learn through the fun of doing. Each session will introduce a new challenge. Children will build and create solutions
using LEGO bricks and a variety of materials.
For children in kindergarten through Grade 2. 10
a.m., Saturday, Jan. 9; 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 6.
Robotix Blox Jr.: Dancing Birds. If children
love math, technology and building, they will
enjoy this hands-on adventure into the world of
LEGO WeDo robots. Children will make their
own dancing bird using gears, belts, pulleys and
more, and then program it to spin and dance. For
ages 7-10. 2-3:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 11.
Tween Time Tuesday: A variety of activities.
Light refreshments. Parent/guardian must sign a
release before students can participate. For
Grades 4-6. 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Homeschool Mind Stretchers: Hands-on activities. This session features Puzzle Fun. For children in kindergarten through Grade 5. 2:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Digital Animation Comic Creation Group: If
kids enjoy the Avengers’ Hulk, Iron Man and
Thor, and drawing and creating their own stories, they can draw their favorite characters on
computers during this session and make them
come to life. Registration is required. For ages 7
-10. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16.
Young Explorers – Fractions: Enjoy stories,
games and hands-on activities to learn about
halves, quarters, eighths and other fractions. For
students in kindergarten through Grade 5. 7 p.m,
Thursday, Jan. 28.
Weekly Children’s Story Times begin the
week of Jan. 3. Call (440) 234-5475 or visit
www.cuyahogalibrary.org for specific times
and ages. Programs are available for children
from infants through age 5. Registration is
not required.
FEBRUARY PREVIEW:
Book Discussion & Movie: “Hoot” by Carol
Hiaasen. Light snacks provided. For students in
Grades 6-12. Signed release required. 1-3:30
p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6.
Getting set to deliver Thanksgiving meals are
Berea Police Detective Sgt. Tom Walker and
Patrolmen Scott Borchardt and Ean Esposito.
Berea police officers delivered Thanksgiving
meals to 15 families over the holiday. Funds
were provided for the Feed-A-Family project
by the Division of Police’s No Shave campaign
and the Berea Police Benefit Fund. Sgt. Pat
Greenhill, Administrative Assistant Amy
Decker and Animal Control Officer Laura Rizk
shopped at Marc’s with the help of Manager
Dave Morningside and Marc’s employees. The
meals were delivered by Greenhill, Detective
Sgt. Tom Walker and Patrolmen Doug Pyle,
Ean Esposito, Scott Borchardt, Detective Chris
Holmes and School Resource Officer Dave
Fadil. The meals were packed by Amy Decker,
Rizk and Auxiliary Officer Adam Doyle. Family names were provided by School Resource
Officer Joe Lages, Berea-Midpark High
School; School Resource Officer Bill Uthe,
Grindstone Elementary; and Norma Kleem of
Berea Community Outreach.
COFFEE WITH A COP
8-10 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 9
Café Ah Roma
38 W. Bridge St.
Meet Sgt. Patrick Greenhill
Berea’s Community Engagement Officer
& other Berea Police Officers
Ask Questions, Discuss Concerns
Get to Know Your Berea Police Officers
Monthly Berean
Olmsted Performing Arts
will move to Berea
Olmsted Performing Arts – a theater, music,
dance, art troupe for children – is moving to Berea.
OPA has rented space in Helwig’s Whistle Stop
on Bagley Road and will move operations there
in January. Angela Boehm, one of the founders
of OPA, said the group will set up offices and
classes on the second floor with hopes to eventually occupy some first floor space as well.
Boehm said the organization made the move
“because we needed our own space.” OPA
headquarters and performance venue is currently at what formerly was Journey Church on Columbia Road. OPA bought the building when
Journey moved out. It now shares the building
with another church but both are feeling growing pains. “We are growing, the church is growing,” Boehm said. For now, OPA will continue
to offer performances at that venue but is looking for another space in the area. It has sold the
Columbia Road building.
Boehm said the move to Whistle Stop is a good
fit for her 650 students and for Berea. Families
come from throughout the area to attend classes
– from Avon and Strongsville, for example.
“Parents don’t want to drop off their kids and
drive all the way back to Avon. They can eat at
Perk Cup Café or shop at Marc’s,” she said.
Whistle Stop also offers OPA more room. The
space will have higher ceilings and longer
floors, she said.
Boehm said she began Olmsted Performing Arts
10 years ago in the Olmsted Community Center
with around 25 students. Within three years, the
program had attracted nearly 600 and prompted
the move to the venue on Columbia Road. Her
offerings also expanded. OPA is now a leading
casting agency, providing actors and extras for
films. In 2015, OPA provided support for eight
films and three commercials. Boehm herself got
bit by the film bug when she was cast as an extra in “Spiderman 3.” “I was hooked,” she said.
OPA has a staff of 65 including production
staff. They train children Monday through Saturday in theater, music, art, dance and gymnastics. After getting settled in their new digs, OPA
will offer classes to adults, too. Boehm says the
first adult-cast show will be “White Christmas”
when OPA sets up shop in a new venue.
Getting involved in the theater is important for
children, Boehm said. “It gives children selfconfidence,” she said. She herself grew up in the
theater. At 13, she started putting on shows in
her neighborhood. Now she’s looking at moving
a growing business to Berea.
“Olmsted Performing Arts was good for
Olmsted Falls. It will be good for Berea. This is
a really good fit,” Boehm said.
Page 7
For VRC, it’s all in the family
VRC was founded in 1958 by Frank “Hank”
Lovell. Son Ellis took over after a stint in the
Navy. Now grandson Chris is at the helm. After
three generations, the company atmosphere is
definitely family-oriented, Chris Lovell said.
Some of VRC’s 50 employees have been with
the company for 30 years. “We value that,” Lovell said. Newly hired workers must have the
skills but also have to “fit in.” “The company
culture is important,” Lovell said. “Our business
is like family.”
VRC originally stood for Value Reconditioner
Co. It now has five different product lines, including military, automotive and locomotive.
VRC produces bearings for tanks and seals and
water pumps for trains. In fact, the parts are so
precision machined and preferred by major rail
lines that Lovell has installed a security system.
There are locked gates and cameras at all the
doors to discourage industrial espionage.
The water pumps are sold to four major railways
in America, two in Canada and several in Europe. Lovell said VRC developed the pump 10
years ago. Previous pumps were short-lived,
lasting only two years. The VRC model lasts for
five.
Lovell Performance develops products for motorcycles. “We customize the parts, design our
own versions,” Lovell said. The company sponsors a rock crawling team that has won trophies
in competition. That reflects Lovell’s own interest in off-roading. He likes to ride ATVs and dirt
bikes with his children -- a son and three daughters.
Business has expanded and so has the facility.
VRC built two additions to its plant at 696 W.
Bagley Road. The building now contains 10,000
square feet of manufacturing and storage space.
A 1986 graduate of Berea High School, Lovell
Chris Lovell displays a ring made on the precision mill
in the background. Some parts must be machined within
3 or 4 thousandth of an inch of tolerance.
said he grew up with VRC but never intended to
join the business.
“I would hide in the shop over the weekends and
make stuff,” he admitted.
He worked as a manufacturers’ representative
and cycled through the shop in the quality control, tooling and engineering departments. He
became operations manager and then “I bought
the place.” He became sole owner in 2001.
His passion is product development and he loves
being on the floor with employees, experimenting with new product ideas. “I didn’t want to be
bound by the day-to-day operations,” he said.
That led to hiring Pete Beasley as president, who
concentrates on sales and marketing. Lovell remains as CEO.
The company’s goal is to maintain high quality.
All of VRC’s products are made of 100 percent
American materials by American labor. Lovell
aims to do that with an ever-expanding company
with plans to grow the business and the building.
SPORTS SHORTS
Jim Tressel honored by
Football Hall of Fame
Coach Jim Tressel, BHS ’71, now president of
Youngstown State University, was inducted into
the College Football Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York
City in December. Tressel, who coached at
Youngstown State and Ohio State, was one of
two college coaches so honored along with 15
college football players. The Hall of Fame is
sponsored by the National Football Foundation.
Titans Girls Gymnastics
Team wins 1st place
The Berea-Midpark High School girls varsity
gymnastics team finished in 1st place on Dec. 13
at a tournament at home vs. St. Vincent St. Mary
and Amherst. The Titans finished with 136.35
points. Placing were freshman Sarah Carpenter,
1st in vault, 2nd in bars, 2nd in floor, 1st Allaround; senior Hannah Carpenter, 3rd vault, 2nd
beam, 1st floor, 2nd All-around; junior Jenna
Principi, 1st beam, 3rd floor; and sophomore Julia
Osborne, 2nd vault.
Wrestlers place at tournament
The Berea-Midpark varsity wrestling squad finished 18 out of 33 teams at the North Coast
Classic Tournament on Dec. 12 with 181 points.
Placing for the Titans were senior Tyler Wieland, 195 pounds, 4th place; and senior Ryan Gute, 120 pounds, 2nd place. Wieland is 12-3 and
Gute is 12-2 on the season so far.
Polaris donates to Berea
Community Outreach
Clothing recycling to begin
later this winter
The City of Berea will expand its recycling program to include curbside pickup of “soft” recyclables such as clothing, linens and shoes.
Simple Recycling will pick up the items every
week on the same day as trash and other recyclables are collected by Republic Services. Homeowners will be provided with green plastic bags
in which to place any clothing recyclables. They
also will be given tags to place on additional
boxes or bags. As the bags are collected, Simple
Recycling will provide homeowners with additional bags and tags.
The process makes it easier for people to recycle, Mayor Cyril Kleem said. People can still
deliver items to the Salvation Army, Goodwill
or other similar collection points, but picking
items up at curbside may be more convenient for
some folks. Most of the items collected by Simple Recycling are not usable but are repurposed
into towels, cleaning rags and other materials.
Some usable items are sent to underdeveloped
countries.
The city will receive a penny a pound for those
items collected.
Students at Polaris Career Center collected a
record 9,812 items during their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. The food was valued at
$12,700. In addition, students and staff purchased $800 in Giant Eagle gift cards. Last year,
Polaris collected 5,000 items. All of the proceeds were given to Berea Community Outreach. Instructor Mike Stone’s juniors and seniors in the Criminal Justice program (pictured
above) grabbed the top spot with 2,726 items
collected. Second place went to Ms. Simko’s
Criminal Justice program (2,536 items) and in
third place was Ms. Hasan’s Cosmetology program (1,275 items).
INAUGURATION
Of City Officials
4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 3
Berea-Midpark High School
Mayor Cyril Kleem
Mary Brown, City Council president
William DeVito, Council at Large
Gene Zacharyasz, Council at Large
Margarette Key, Council Ward 1
Nick Haschka, Council Ward 2
Jim Maxwell, Council Ward 3
Cheryl Banaszak, Council Ward 4
Rick Skoczen, Council Ward 5
All members of the community are invited
Council’s organizational meeting will be 7 p.m.,
Monday, Jan. 4
In City Council Chambers.
The regular meeting of Council will follow at
7:30 p.m.
City of Berea
11 Berea Commons
Berea, Ohio 44017
“Clothing and textiles are 100 percent recyclable
but 85 percent end up in a landfill,” Mayor
Kleem said. “This is not a big windfall for the
City but that’s not the intention. It keeps these
items out of the landfill and that lowers our tipping fees.”
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. PAID
BEREA, OH
PERMIT #333
ECRWSS
POSTAL PATRON
Phone: (440) 826-5800
www.cityofberea.org
Upcoming Community Events
Jan. 1: NEW YEAR’S DAY
Jan. 2: Curbside Trash Collection
Jan. 7: Berea Republican Club, 7 p.m., Berea
Branch Library. Jim Ervine of the Buckeye Firearms Institute will field questions on gun laws
and safety. For more more information, e-mail
[email protected].
Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Berea City School District Winter Break. Classes resume Jan. 4.
Dec. 21-Jan. 3:
closed.
BW Winter Break. Offices
Simple Recycling will collect the following
items: men’s, women’s and children’s clothing,
bedding, belts and ties, boots and shoes, coats
and jackets, curtains, dresses, purses, hats and
gloves, jeans, pajamas, linens, socks and underwear, toys, books, small kitchenware and tools.
Jan. 6: S.T.A.R. lunch for senior adults at St.
Thomas Episcopal Church, 50 E. Bagley Road,
12:15 p.m. North Coast Choir followed by lunch
(chili, rolls, dessert from Dick’s Bakery). Free.
For reservations, call (440) 234-5241 or e-mail
[email protected].
Residents will receive a mailing from Simple
Recycling explaining the program, which could
get under way in late February or early March.
The cities of Broadview Heights and Fairview
Park already are using the program.
Jan. 9: Coffee With a Cop, 8-10 a.m., Café Ah
Roma.
For more information, visit
www.simplerecycling.com.
SCAN Pantry Hours
The SCAN Hunger Pantry has returned to its
regularly scheduled hours:
Second Friday of every month,
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fourth Friday of every month,
4-7 p.m.
For more information or to donate nonperishable food items or household cleaning
products, contact SCAN at (440) 826-1127 or
(440) 260-7226. The pantry is located at 85 S.
Rocky River Drive behind City Hall.
Jan. 11: No School, Berea City School District,
Teacher Work Day.
Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No
School. City Hall Closed. Holiday does not affect trash collection on Friday, Jan. 22.
Jan. 19: Spirit of Community Dinner
Jan. 22: Bulk Trash Collection Day
Jan. 25: Berea High School Alumni Association, annual membership meeting, 6:30 p.m.,
Titans Room, Berea-Midpark High School.
Jan. 28: Southwest Women’s Republican Club,
11:30 a.m., Colony Room, BW’s Strosacker
Hall, 120 E. Grand St. Guest speaker is state
Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-7. RSVP to (440) 2345985.