January 2018

Established in 1836

Message from Mayor Cyril Kleem County awards $875,000 for Coe Lake project

Can We Talk? Sometimes that’s all that’s needed to make us feel better – about ourselves and oth- ers.

And that’s the name of new group that meets weekly at Smith School with Chaplain Willie Springer. It offers a chance for anyone to stop by and unload concerns. Issues might include job loss, empty nest syndrome, loss of a loved one or pet, concerns about children or grandchildren. Berea will receive $875,000 from Cuyahoga beer sales, too, the Mayor said. The shows could County Council to pay for renovations to the attract anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people, Sometimes we are faced with problems we don’t Coe Lake area. The funds are a portion of casino who will spend time in Berea and spend money know how to resolve. What can I do? What do I tax revenues the county collects. in Berea businesses. do next? Where can I go? The goal of Can We Talk? is to guide you to finding answers, to let The funds will pay for resurfacing and enhanc- Mayor Kleem has said in the past that an en- hanced Coe Lake area would be an economic you know you are not alone. ing the municipal parking lot behind City Hall. Mayor Cyril Kleem said the median strips will driver for the City. “This is an older suburb,” he Can We Talk? isn’t a therapy session but it is an be taken out and a tree-lined walkway will be said. “There is not a lot of room for growth. We opportunity to speak with others who may have constructed from the Berea Branch Library to have to create our own energy. Something like similar concerns and with Chaplain Willie and a Coe Lake. this does that.” social worker who are trained to listen. They just Mucklo Park next to the Municipal Pool will be The development of Coe Lake has been done in might have some suggestions on where to access expanded. A separate $100,000 grant from the phases, beginning in 2014. A new pavilion was resources or more information. county Department of Development will pay for constructed and new trees planted. The gazebo the demolition of the now vacant building next was upgraded. Work on the amphitheater, a new One visit may be all it takes to put you on the to the playground. Mucklo Park will be expand- entrance to the park and a plaza area near the right path. ed into that space. gazebo began in 2017.

Can We Talk? meets at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays. No The county grant also will pay for lighting up- Berea has been attracting visitors, especially reservations needed. The next session is Jan. 9. grades, picnic tables, grills and other amenities during its festivals, such as the Grindstone Festi- for the area. val and Jack Frost Festival of Lights, the sum- This is just one of several programs the City is mer concerts and summer movies. offering at Smith School. The school gives the Beginning next summer, Coe Lake should be a City the opportunity to schedule programs and major entertainment venue for this area, Mayor “Look at the thousands of people who showed projects that need a flexible and/or private space. Kleem said. The City is planning a new series of up for the Jack Frost Festival this year,” the For more information, contact Daune Jaynes of music concerts called Live at the Lake. “These Mayor said. will be bigger bands, regional bands,” he said. Berea Community Outreach at “We want people to feel good about coming [email protected] or call (440) 826-4891. They will perform on a temporary stage located next to the gazebo. There will be food trucks and here.”

PARKS RECREATION Our Facebook, Twitter and Programs and Facilities Guide Instagram page name is: City of Berea, Ohio Check out the new January Program Guide inside for more information

www.cityofberea.org on Recreation Center programs, Family Youth & Initiative events, Active Senior Network programs and activities, facility rentals and more! Monthly Berean Page 2 Bulk Trash Collection Internationally known doctor Friday, Jan. 19 will kick off new speaker series Bulk trash includes large items such as furniture, appliances, carpeting & any large Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at objects that will not fit into the regular blue The Cleveland Clinic, will help Berea launch a trash container. new speaker series – Inspiration Information.

Doors must be removed from refrigerators and Dr. Roizen will speak on keeping healthy in the placed next to the refrigerator at curbside. New Year, especially for folks over 60. His talk Notify Republic if Freon is involved. will begin at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 8 at Smith Questions: Call Republic Services, School, 535 Wyleswood Drive. The program is (800) 433-1309 free.

Inspiration Information will present speakers on a variety of topics on the second Monday of Trash pickup delayed each month at Smith School. The speaker for Because of the New Year’s Day holiday on Dr. Roizen has founded 14 companies, including February will be Michelle Wise of Southwest RealAge, co-invented a drug approved by the Monday, Jan. 1. Curbside trash collection will General who will highlight Heart Health Month. be delayed that week. FDA and published a series of bestsellers includ- That program is set for Monday, Feb. 12. ing four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. He

Trash will be picked up: Dr. Roizen is a well-known author and speaker has given more than 1,400 talks to lay and medi- cal groups. SATURDAY, JAN. 6 and has appeared as a guest on Dr. Oz’s TV show. He and Dr. Oz write a daily column syn- Trash containers should be placed at curbside no As the chair of The Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness dicated to 134 newspapers. He also hosts a Institute, Dr. Roizen has helped Clinic employ- earlier than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5 and weekly podcast on what the latest medical sci- should be stored by 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7. ees lose more than 1.5 pounds per person per ence means to the average consumer. He shared year and reduce smokers from 15.4 percent to a daytime Emmy, an Elle, a lifetime achieve- 5.2 percent of employees. ment award and the Paul Rodgers award for the best medical communicator from the National Registration is required for the speaker series. Recycling Tip of the Month Library of Medicine. Call (440) 234-6080 by Jan. 5 for Dr. Roizen’s Wrapping paper, tissue paper, boxes and cartons talk. are recyclable. Large cardboard boxes can be broken down and flattened so they fit easily into the green recycling bin. Christmas cards and Construction of new high school hits snag envelopes are also recyclable. The construction of a new Berea-Midpark High School was scheduled to get under way in Feb- ruary but could be delayed by funding concerns.

Fish Fries Because of rising construction costs, the Board Lent begins on Feb. 14. The Berean will list ar- of Education has been asked to cut $15 million ea Fish Fries beginning with the February 2018 from the overall construction budget for the high issue. If your church or organization would like school and another $8 million from a new ele- to list a fish fry, please send name, date, time, mentary school in Brook Park.

cost & brief description of menu to This updated drawing of the entrance to the new Berea- Making those design adjustments could delay Midpark High School was supplied by GPD Group. [email protected]. Deadline to sub- construction. The school district has notified the mit entries is Jan. 10 for the February issue. city that plans will not be submitted to the Plan- ning Commission until February. The Berea City School District is looking to buy

The architect will present proposals to the Board five homes that abut the new school. The houses of Education at its Jan. 8 meeting. The meeting would be torn down. This would allow for green will begin at 7 p.m. in the Board Offices at 390 space to act as a buffer to the school complex The Monthly Berean is published monthly by Fair St. and would allow the school property to extend the City of Berea and is distributed to residents, for the entire block.

organizations and businesses in Berea. Preliminary discussions have included proposals th th to eliminate the pool, downsize the number of The current school houses students in 10 – 12 Mayor Cyril Kleem classrooms and the parking lot and make altera- grades. In August 2018, ninth-graders would Linda G. Kramer, editor tions to the gym. move into the building. All four grades would Megan Pochatek, design editor move into the new school in August 2020. The new school will be built behind the current To submit information, contact: building and was scheduled to be complete by The new 325,000-square-foot high school will [email protected] the summer of 2020. have about 1,800 students. Cost of construction is $72.5 million, made possible by passage of a (440) 274-5608 Once the new school is up and ready, the current 4.2-mill bond issue in November 2016. For up- dates on district-wide construction plans, visit Please submit stories and information Berea-Midpark High School building will be www.berea.k12.oh.us. by the 10th of every month. razed. Monthly Berean Page 3 Elks host support group for MEET YOUR POLICE OFFICERS This new monthly feature will introduce you to Berea’s families of addicts police officers. They come from various backgrounds and had to take several written tests, pass physical exams and A support group for families affected by drug interviews before taking the Oath of Office to join the Be- abuse meets twice a month at the Berea Elks rea Police Department. They are graduates of the Ohio Hall, 620 N. Rocky River Drive. The group is Peace Officer Academy or other police training acade- an outgrowth of the Safe Passages program mies. Once they obtained their Peace Officer Certifica- tions, they trained with a Field Officer for 18 months. The sponsored by the Berea and Olmsted Falls Po- Officers you will meet worked hard to get this opportunity lice Departments. Safe Passages connects ad- to serve you. They continue to work every day to deserve dicts who come to the police stations with reha- the honor and responsibility you have given them. bilitation programs. The Safe Passages support group is free. It meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

an intake officer/mediator for the Cleveland Prosecutor’s Office. David worked there until he joined the Berea Division of Police in Febru- ary 2001. In the almost 17 years David has been HEALTHY EVENTS a member of the division of police, he has spent time as a detective in the Detective Bureau, been Southwest General’s Community Nurse Pro- a member of the Community Engagement Unit, gram offers health and wellness programs been an intelligence liaison officer in conjunc- throughout the year. For more information, visit tion with the Northeast Ohio Fusion Center, and swgeneral.com/events or call (440) 816-4037. been a member of the SEB Bomb Squad for Patrolman David Kammerman more than 12 years. Jan. 4: Vision & Glaucoma Screening. 9-11 Patrolman David Kammerman is a life-long a.m., Berea Recreation Center, 451 Front St. Clevelander, having grown up in the Warner/ David is very active with his adopted city of Be- Screenings by North Coast Eye Surgery. Reser- Turney area of Cleveland. David graduated from rea, in which he has lived since 2002. He has vations required. Call (440) 816-4037. Walsh Jesuit High School in 1991 and then went two great children, of whom he is very proud. on to attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, David is an active member of The Berea City Jan. 9: Diabetes Checkup. Active Senior Net- where he studied political science and theatre. Club, and a board member of the Berea Baseball work Luncheon, Noon, St. Paul Lutheran Between his freshman and sophomore years at Association, where he coached girls fast pitch Church, 276 E. Bagley Road. Darcie Drake, RN, Miami, David joined the Ohio National Guard, softball for three years. CDE, of Southwest General will discuss signs, attending basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, symptoms and treatments. Luncheon is $5. Res- Missouri. David served with the National In his spare time, of which there is VERY little, ervations required. Call (440) 234-6080. Guard for six years. David enjoys playing drums with his band My Manic Episode, playing ice hockey, acting, and Upon graduation from Miami, David worked as coaching Titans Travel Girls Fast Pitch Softball.

Berea police, Guidestone introduce R Rules to kids Rules. Relationships. Resources. These are the R Rules also partners with other community “We want to guide them toward reasonable basics of R Rules – a new curriculum introduced groups as well. Boys 2 Men with Chris Scott, goals,” she said. “We encourage them to be cre- at Berea Midpark High School this year through the Berea United Methodist Church and Broad ative.” a collaboration between Ohio Guidestone and View Eye Care, for example, are some resources the Berea Police. the class can call on for advice on being a good Gute said some of the students are so enthusias- employee or how to apply for a job, the im- tic about the class that they give up lunch peri- According to Jennifer Hedinger of Ohio portance of attitude, caring about your commu- ods for R Rules if they can’t fit it into their Guidestone, R Rules began in Texas as a “bridge nity. schedule otherwise. out of poverty” and a way to stem generational poverty, where families continue the cycle. “We try to give them skills to cope in the real The introduction to the class lets the kids know world,” Hedinger said. “We want to motivate that they will learn how to access resources, Now R Rules is a unique program that helps all them to continue their education and let them make plans, complete projects, contribute to so- students, she said. “We want them to develop a know they have choices.” ciety and make a difference. future picture. What do you want to do? Be? Care? And then work toward this goal.” “If you choose this, then this is the result,” she “In The R Rules, life is like a card game,” the R said. “You have options. These are your op- Rules intro reads. “Everyone gets a hand. We all Police officers with the Community Engagement tions.” get good hands, and we all get bad hands. While Unit help teach the class, which is an elective. you can’t control the cards you were dealt, you Officer Chuck Gute said a key is communicating During the summer, R Rules will connect the can control how you play them. Use The R with the students. Gute said he talks to the kids students with the public service aspects of the Rules to learn about yourself, build resources about safety issues, public service, what it’s like class – trips to college campuses, volunteer work and win more often in the game of life.” to be a police officer. “One session we got into at local food banks. “We ask the students where quite a discussion on politeness,” Gute said. they see a need in the community. It brings them “Why is that important?” out,” Hedinger said.

Monthly Berean Page 4 At the Library

John Wayne double-feature p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30. Hold Harmless form prior to the program. The form and more information are at Cuyahogali- set for Jan. 20 FOR TEENS brary.org/parent-options. 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. The Berea Branch library will air two classic Teen Leaders: The library is looking students in 13. westerns starring The Duke, John Wayne. “The grades 6-12 who are interested in making the Shootist” will begin at 11 a.m. followed by “The world a better place. The monthly meetings fo- STEAM Team: Bridges. Students in Grades 4- Searchers” at 1 p.m. Registration is requested. cus on small projects to help the community and 8 will learn about different bridges and then This event is sponsored by the Friends of the the environment. For January, we will focus on build a bridge from common household objects Berea Branch Library. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Satur- random acts of kindness. Bring your ideas. A and test its strength. Registration is required. day, Jan. 20. parent/legal guardian must sign the Release and Parents must sign the Release and Hold Harm- less form available at cuyahogalibrary.org/parent Reservations are requested for all programs ex- Hold Harmless form prior to the program. The form and more information can be found at -options. 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 16. cept weekly children’s story times. Visit cuya- hogalibrary.org or call (440) 234-5475. Other cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. Registration Young Explorers: Light. Students in kindergar- programs at the Berea Branch during January is required. 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17. ten through Grade 5 along with caregivers will are: Fun With Makey Makey: Turn everyday ob- explore the science of light and shadows, using flashlights, mirrors and shadow puppets. Hands- FOR ADULTS jects into touchpads using Makey Makey. For students in grades 6-12. Registration required. on activities. Registration is required. Parents Altered Bookshop: Turn Old Books into Art. Participants may be recorded and/or surveyed to must sign the Release and Hold Harmless form This is a three-part series in transforming old capture program’s effectiveness. Parents must found at cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. 7 books into new art. Patrons will cut/tear/glue/ sign the Release and Hold Harmless form at p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18 OR 10 a.m., Friday, paint/stamp and learn other techniques to repur- cuyahogalibrary.org/parent-options. 7 p.m., Jan. 19. pose books for home decoration and practical Wednesday, Jan. 24. use. Registration is requested. 2-3:30 p.m., FEBRUARY PREVIEW Tuesdays, Jan. 9, 16 & 23. FOR CHILDREN Celebration of Animation: 100 Greatest

Little Explorers: Children 3-5 with caregivers Characters. Marty Gitlin will show cartoon All Aboard the Valley Railroad: Using histori- snippets to illustrate his ranking of the 100 cal images as well as recent ones, Mike Kole can drop in between 10 a.m. and noon to explore and learn about the alphabet, numbers, shapes, greatest cartoon characters, including Bugs Bun- from Midwest Railway Preservation Society will ny, Homer Simpson and SpongeBob Square present a pictorial journey from Whiskey Island colors, patterns and more. Friday, Jan. 5. Pants. Registration requested. 7 p.m., Tuesday, through the Flats and the Cuyahoga Valley to Build and Do: For children in kindergarten Feb. 6. Akron, Canton, Mineral City and Valley Junc- through Grade 3. Children will share a story and tion. Registration is requested. 7 p.m., Thurs- use LEGO bricks and other materials to solve Button Down Designs: Entertaining, education- day, Jan. 25. challenges on a related theme. Registration is al, interactive presentation featuring museum quality artifacts and hundreds of button brace- Personal Home Computer Safety: John Doli- required. 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6. lets. Emilie Collens Illson will talk about her nar of Cuyahoga Community College will teach Alice in Wonderland Party: Children 3-10 unique collection of buttons, which date from you how to use and maintain security software with caregivers will celebrate author Lewis Car- the 1840s to the 1940s. Registration is requested. on your home computer. Registration is request- roll’s birthday with Alice in Wonderland- Sponsored by Friends of the Berea Branch Li- ed. 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29. inspired stories, games and activities. Registra- brary. 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 12. Eat the Words: A culinary book discussion. 2 tion is required. Parents must sign a Release and

Library sponsors community SCHOOL NEWS quilt for MLK Week Students and community members are invited to Polaris chef wins teaching award 2017-18 Cleveland Clinic eXpressions art com- create paper quilt squares that will be displayed Polaris Career Center’s chef training instructor, petition. Her work, titled Torn Apart, will be dis- at the Berea Branch Library during Martin Lu- Chris Olszewski, has won his ninth straight Ohio played during the 2018 eXpressions eXhibit at ther King Jr. Week Jan. 14-19. ProStart Teacher of Distinction award. The the Cleveland Global Center for Health Innova- award honors those educators who are dedicated tion (otherwise known as the Medical Mart). Six-inch paper squares can be picked up at the to students and committed to enhancing the im- Berean wins library or artists can use their own 6x6 squares. age of the culinary profession. The Polaris Chef The squares will be assembled into a quilt that Training program was honored with its fifth Education Foundation car raffle will be unveiled during a community reception Ohio ProStart School of Distinction award. This Lance Whitson of Berea won The Education on Jan. 17. Other art or media, such as poetry, recognizes schools that meet ProStart’s bench- Foundation’s 2017 Chevy Cruze raffle. Whitson song lyrics, photography, also can be submitted marks including industry certification passage gave the car to his son, Ross, who had been for display. Content should reflect the theme of rates and ProStart exam success rates. looking for a new car. Ross is a graduate of the 2018 MLK Week observances – “We are Baldwin Wallace University. The Chevy Net- One…Infinite Hope.” BMHS student recognized for artwork work and Serpentini Chevrolet have donated a Berea-Midpark High School senior Kayla Si- Chevy Cruze to The Education Foundation for Entries must be received at the Berea Branch monitis has earned a red ribbon award in the the past three years. Funds raised from the raffle Library by Jan. 9. Call (440) 234-5475 for more support the foundation’s enrichment grant pro- information. grams. Monthly Berean Page 5 MLK Week 2018: Save the dates for will perform as other students recite excerpts ‘We are One…Infinite Hope’ Ohio Flags of Honor Baldwin Wallace University will again sponsor from historical MLK Jr. speeches. Open to the the Martin Luther King Jr. Week celebrations in public. Ohio Flags of Honor is scheduled to appear at 18 sites across the state in 2018. conjunction with the City of Berea, the Berea Tuesday, Jan. 16: Keynote Speaker. Nontombi City Schools, the Berea Branch Library and Naomi Tutu will speak on “Our Shared Humani- Flags of Honor displays U.S Flags to honor community organizations and churches. This is Ohio service members who lost their lives in th ty: Creating Understanding through the Princi- the 28 year for the joint observance. The theme ples of MLK.” 7 p.m., Kleist Center for Art & Iraq and Afghanistan. The display was at Life- is “We are one…infinite hope.” Drama, 95 E. Bagley Road. Tutu is a human works of Southwest General last year and will rights activist affiliated with the University of appear there again Oct. 5-7. Schedule of activities: Cape Town in South Africa. Sunday, Jan. 14: United Methodist Church Other local appearances are set for Olmsted Worship Service. 11:15 a.m., at the church, 170 Wednesday, Jan. 17: Creative Expressions. 7 Falls, July 4-7; Parma Heights, Aug. 10-12; and Seminary St. Guest speaker is Will Jones, direc- p.m., Berea Branch Library, 7 Berea Commons. Strongsville, Oct. 19-21. tor of multicultural vitality for the East Ohio Media and artwork celebrating Dr. King created Conference of the UMC. by members of the community. Refreshments provided by Friends of the Berea Branch Li- Monday, Jan. 15: Prayer Breakfast. 9 a.m., brary. Mount Zion Baptist Church, 572 Pearl St. Guest speaker is Gordon C. English, manufacturing Thursday, Jan. 18: Chapel Worship Service. planning administrator at General Motors and 12:15 p.m., Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, 56 Semi- active member of Kappa Alpha Psi. nary St. Speaker is Jay T. Hairston, BW assistant dean of students. Monday, Jan. 15: Community Movie & Dis- cussion. Noon, Berea Branch Library, 7 Berea Friday, Jan. 19: Candlelight March. 6 p.m., Commons. The film “Loving” will be shown beginning at Durst Welcome Center, 115 Tressel Office of Veterans Outreach followed by a community discussion. St. and concluding at the Center for Innovation & Growth, 340 Front St. Brief reflection and Open House Tuesday, Jan. 16: MLK Assembly at Berea- refreshments. Thursday, Feb. 15 Midpark High School. 9 a.m. Choir members 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 31 E. Bridge St., Suite #300 (Entrance on East Bridge St., south side

Thanks for an outstanding Jack Frost Festival Parade entrance of Huntington Bank building, take elevator to 3rd floor) Jack Frost Festival Winners Berea’s annual Jack Frost Festival of Lights on Meet Chaplain Willie Springer, Outreach Saturday, Dec. 2 attracted thousands of visitors Best Specialty Group Coordinator, socialize and get information on from Berea and the surrounding communities. Corvette Club resources and programs. The City of Berea extends its heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers and city workers who made Best Performance Appetizers and refreshments will be served the festival such a success. We are especially Diana Scudder Dance ______grateful to: Best Float Veterans & Military Families The Rotary Club of Berea and Rotaract Club of The Tractor Club BW for donating and handing out cocoa and Round Table Support Group cookies. And to BW and Café Ah Roma for do- Best Costume Saturdays nating hot chocolate. Batman (Steve Blair) Feb. 3 - Feb. 16 Kiwanis Club of Berea for helping at Santa’s 10 a.m. - noon House. Smith Elementary School

Berea Arts Fest for sponsoring and donating the 535 Wyleswood Dr., Berea ice sculpture. Be part of an ongoing, twice monthly group. We Norma Kleem, parade organizer. will share information and ideas about how to care for yourself and your family. Each meeting The Berea Service, Police and Fire departments will focus on the needs of the participants along for ensuring that our City was clean, safe and with a variety of topics. nicely decorated. Light refreshments will be served And to all the other volunteers who helped in any way. To register or for more information on these programs please contact: Chaplain Willie Springer Veterans Outreach Coordinator Thank you! (440) 973-4567 [email protected] Monthly Berean Page 6 Christmas gifts for seniors

Concert to benefit Fawick Art Gallery, Kleist Center for Art & Safe Passages drug program Drama, 95 E. Bagley Road.

For the second year, BW faculty, students and Economic Insights - Global, National & Re- alumni will perform the “We Do Recover” bene- gional: Panel discussion on the global, U.S. and fit concert to support Safe Passages, the addic- northeast Ohio economic outlooks for 2018 and tion recovery program sponsored by the Berea beyond. Featuring Michael Weidokal, executive and Olmsted Township police departments. For director, International Strategic Analysis; Kevin tickets, visit www.bw.edu/tickets. 3 p.m., Sun- T. Jacques, former economist with the U.S. day, Jan. 28, Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musi- Treasury Department & BW finance professor; cal Arts Building, 96 Front St. and William Koehler, CEO of TeamNEO. To

Other BW events for January are listed here. All register, visit b-wcommunity.net/mbaa/insights events are free unless otherwise indicated. Tick- or call (440) 826-2104. 6:15 p.m., Wednesday, ets for paid events are available at Jan. 31, Center for Innovation & Growth, 340 www.bw.edu/tickets. For a complete listing of Front St. Mayor Cyril Kleem presented Berea Christmas events, visit www.bw.edu/events or call (440) tree ornaments to seniors, including Sue Pro- Faith & Life Lecture Series – Epic Visionar- casky, during his annual Fireside Chat in the 826-2325. ies, Radical Humanists: Religious thinkers Active Senior Network Room. The mayor field- Percussion Ensemble: New and standard from Welsh visionary David Jones and Ameri- ed questions about water and sewer bills, traffic works. 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 20, Gamble Audi- can monk Thomas Merton to Dutch psychologist and leaf pickup during his hour-long visit with torium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front Henri Nouwen. Presented by Michael W. Hig- about 25 seniors. St. gins, radio documentarian for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., author, vice president for Conversations in Sport: Amateurism and Catholic mission and identity at Sacred Heart Berea Chamber networks Paying College Athletes. Panel discussion with University in Fairfield, Conn. Visit bw.edu/ executives of a new league aiming to revolution- faithandlife to register. The three-part series will at the Cavs ize the financial model of college athletics. 7 include: The Chambers of Commerce of Berea, Brook Park, Middleburg Heights and Olmsted will host a p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, Sandstone 3,  “Cipher of our Tremulous Time,” 7:30 p.m., Strosacker Hall, 120 E. Grand St. Wednesday, Jan. 31, Lindsay-Crossman networking night at a Cleveland Cavaliers basket- ball game on Jan. 31. Chapel, 56 Seminary St. Identity – DMD Senior Graphic Design  “Trackers of the Soul,” 10 a.m., Thursday, Chamber members can meet at the Q from 6-7:30 Show: Exhibition of graphic design portfolios Feb. 1, Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, 56 Sem- p.m. for networking and then stay for the Cavs vs. from senior digital media design students. Fea- inary St.“ Miami Heat game. turing visual works and creative communication  Sacred Disrupters” panel discussion, 2 p.m., in print and web site design. Jan. 26-Feb. 7. Thursday, Feb. 1, Sandstone 3, Strosacker Cost is $60, which includes appetizers and upper Opening reception: 5-8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, Hall, 120 E. Grand St. bowl seats.

To register, go to https://tinyurl.com/YBZUCTT6. Host families sought for Blankets for the holidays BW foreign students Recycle Christmas The LADO English Language Program began at Baldwin Wallace University in 2015. It helps for- trees and lights eign students become more proficient in the Eng- LIGHTS lish language while they study at the college. Through Jan. 5 Berea Recreation Center Home Sweet Homestay connects foreign students 451 Front St. with nearby families, who can provide a room, No tinsel – bubble lights – snow spray bed, linens, somewhere to study and willingness to share life in America. The students are 18 years Accepted: Strings of lights – power strips – old or older. They attend classes six hours a day, extension cords have homework in the evening and attend after- class programs. Meal options are available but TREES most students choose to provide their own lunch and dinners. Picked up at curbside Volunteers put together 80 fleece blankets dur- Jan. 12 & Jan. 19 Host families should live within 1 ½ miles of ing the annual blanket-making party at the Be- No tinsel – no lights – no tree stands – Church and Seminary streets. Families do receive rea Recreation Center. The blankets were donat- no plastic bags a stipend for hosting the students. ed to Maryssa’s Mission Foundation, House of Champions School for Kids and a veterans’ Interested families can contact Mary Kamalsky, For more information, contact the Berea Service director of Home Sweet Homestay, at (216) 751- group in Cleveland. Garage at (440) 826-5853 or email 0171 or [email protected] for more in- [email protected]. formation. Monthly Berean Page 7 Berea Cares launches Teacher turns hobby into business venture For Katie Porter, teaching biomedical science at new programs Brunswick High School is a very fulfilling voca- Berea Cares met on Dec. 2 and announced new tion but crafting was an avocation she wanted to programs for the Active Senior Network. Most share.

of the programs will take place at Smith School, The result is her new business – Craft: Social 535 Wyleswood Drive. DIY, which is offered on weekends.

The new programs include: “I grew up with this,” Porter said. She remem- Can We Talk? – a group discussion for residents bers gardening, sewing and woodworking with dealing with life issues or crises, such as finan- her mother, Holly Horn Porter, and her grand- cial, work, family or health at Smith School. mother, Mary Lou Stables Horn.

Monthly Speaker Series, Inspiration Infor- “We would make graham cracker houses every mation, which will begin Jan. 8 with Dr. Mi- year,” for example, Porter said. chael Roizen of The Cleveland Clinic. The event will be at Smith School. “I needed something to continue this,” she said. “Science is my logical outlet. But I wanted some Basketball pickup games will begin Jan. 10 in way to interact with, to meet people.” Katie Porter of Craft: Social DIY appears with the Smith School gym. Porter rents space in the Wargo & Wargo law Stefani Schaefer on Fox 8 News in the Morning. 1:1 Computer, Tablet and Smart Phone training office building at 30 Park St. in Berea. It fea- with BW students at the Active Senior Room at can take home with you.” tures tables for various craft projects. Porter of- the Berea Recreation Center. fers two workshops. The studio workshop ses- She’s open to suggestions. If you have a project Chili Cookoff with Berea police officers and sions are self-paced. She does lend a hand but you’d like to try or a specialty you’d like to firefighters on Jan. 31 at the Berea Recreation most clients proceed on their own and need min- teach, contact her. Center. imal guidance. Projects can include string art, metal stamping (including jewelry), woodwork- Porter is a 2004 graduate of Berea High School. Berea Cares also is looking into offering a fi- ing, a wall-mounted bottle-opener, ornaments She attended Bowling Green State University nancial literacy program for high school seniors. and dog leashes. for her teaching degree and is now working to- The program could involve local banks, BW, ward a master’s degree at Baldwin Wallace Uni- Tri-C and Polaris Career Center. It could in- Instructor-guided or specialty workshops are versity. She lives in a 1925 vintage home in Be- clude information on how to choose a college or closely monitored by Porter. These projects in- rea. a trade. clude wooden signs. Porter buys pine for the workshops at Home Depot and has the pieces She supplies all materials and written instruc- Berea Cares is considering a program on the cut to size. Clients “design, paint, stain and per- tions. Cost is $29 for the studio workshops and opioid epidemic and how our local police de- sonalize it,” Porter said. $39 for the specialty workshops. Craft: Social partment is dealing with it through the Safe Pas- DIY is open 7-9 p.m. on Saturdays and 2-4:30 sages program. Information would include the Porter emphasizes that all classes are for adults. p.m. on Sundays. Sign up at warning signs to be aware of when a loved one Clients must be 18 or older. www.craftsocialDIY.com where you also can

is suspected of using illegal drugs, how to talk “You do not have to be ‘crafty person’ to take pre-pay. Contact Porter at craftso- to them and what treatment services are availa- part,” she said. “It’s a way to meet new people, [email protected] or call (440) 305-0019. ble. add a new skill and leave with something you

The next Berea Cares meeting will be 9:30 a.m.

on Saturday, Jan. 13. 3 houses to be razed for 3 projects

Berea Cares is open to civic organizations, The Berea Planning Commission has approved area. Rev. Leroy McCleary said the current churches, schools, non-profits and other com- the demolition of three vacant houses for three parking lot is inadequate especially when the munity groups and individuals interested in construction projects – a new business, a parking church hosts community events. Patrons have helping the most vulnerable members of the lot and a housing development. had to park on the street or across busy North community – seniors, youth, veterans and those Rocky River Drive at the Elks hall. There is no in financial distress. Red Cedar Coffee has been given the OK to raze set date for putting in the parking lot but the a house at 1185 W. Bagley Road to clear the church will raze the house now and grade the Chair is Daune Jaynes. She can be reached at way for construction of a 6,369-square-foot property. The church will return to the Planning [email protected] or (440) 826-4891. commercial building. Red Cedar is now located Commission when it completes plans, which at 711 W. Bagley Road but will move its opera- must include landscaping to buffer nearby tions into the new one-story building. Architect homes. Inauguration of Mike Molchan of Makovich & Pusti said the business will include a processing plant and a Crest Properties Group will demolish a home at City Council Members café and coffee bar plus a gift shop. There will 429 West St., at the corner of Beeler Drive and outdoor seating in the warmer months. A septic West, with plans to construct three ranch-style 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 7 tank on the property will be replaced by a sewer homes on the property. Crest requested that the City Council Chambers system. The parking lot will have 31 spaces, in- current 31,900-square-foot lot be split into three lots of 8,500, 13,000 and 10,000 square feet. The Berea City Hall cluding three handicapped spots. minimum lot size in Berea is 6,500 square feet. People’s Community Church will tear down a The homes would be about 2,000 square feet in Organizational Meeting will follow house it owns at 645 N. Rocky River Drive, just size. Planning Commission approved the demo- Open to the Public north of the church, so it can expand its parking lition but tabled the lot split to a later date. Monthly Berean Page 8

SPORTS SHORTS City honors Vietnam vet Russell Tobel doesn’t consider himself a hero. A BW student named OAC Silver Star and two Bronze Stars prove otherwise. They were earned in the jungles of Vietnam. forward of the year Danny Ruple, a Berea-Midpark High School Tobel was honored by Berea City Council recently graduate, has been named Ohio Athletic Confer- with its Col. William H. Beyer Commendation for ence Forward of the Year. Ruple is a sophomore Outstanding Military Service. The award is given on the Baldwin Wallace University varsity soc- twice a year at council meetings near to Memorial Day and Veterans Day. cer team. He also was selected as a CoSIDA Di- vision III Academic All-District 7 first-team stu- Staff Sgt. Tobel was drafted into the Army in 1966 dent-athlete. Ruple carries a 3.88 GPA in ac- and assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Divi- sion, which was positioned north and northwest of counting. He started all 19 games for BW. He Mayor Cyril Kleem presents a City Council reso- took an OAC-leading 75 shots, scored a BW Saigon and extending to the Cambodian border. lution honoring Vietnam veteran Russell Tobel single-season record and OAC-leading 19 goals His unit saw more combat than almost any other. with the Col. William H. Beyer Commendation for Outstanding Military Service. and added seven assists for a BW single-season During one operation, Tobel found himself the record and OAC-leading 45 points. He is the sole American in enemy territory after his platoon every year. son of BW Director of Athletic Communica- was decimated. He was hit by a grenade but con- tions & Public Relations Kevin Ruple of Berea tinued to engage and repel the enemy. He later “The VFW is like therapy for me,” he said. “It’s something I look forward to.” and DeeDee Bell, also of Berea. walked out of the jungle with a wounded leg be- cause he said he didn’t want to jeopardize a heli- Vietnam is never far from his thoughts. “I haven’t Titans record success on copter rescue crew. That earned him the Silver forgotten my comrades in Vietnam, some of whom Star, the nation’s third highest military decoration, we lost. I think it’s important to remember that for field, in classroom plus a Purple Heart. every infantryman in the field there are 10 in sup- The average GPA for Berea-Midpark High In a subsequent battle, he led his men into enemy port – artillery, air support, medics, medevac School athletes for first quarter was 3.59. Out of choppers. For them, I am very grateful.” territory, successfully attacking bunkers and over- 309 total athletes there were 104 that posted a whelming the opposition. That earned him Bronze 4.0 or better and 83 percent of the fall athletes Tobel served in Vietnam from April 1967 to Star No. 1. He also earned a second Bronze Star March 1968. His military service left him with were at a 3.0 GPA or better after the fall quarter. and an Air Medal for taking part in 25 or more PTSD, hearing loss and ongoing health issues be- Some of the fall season highlights are: Football: combat assaults from helicopters. cause of exposure to Agent Orange – a defoliant Trevor Bycznski - Most passing yards in Ohio used to destroy the dense jungle. Despite this, To- Division 1; Three wide receivers in the top six “In Vietnam, I wasn’t looking for awards,” Tobel said. “I was fighting for my country.” But he said bel and his wife, Linda, are deeply patriotic. There in receiving yards in Ohio Division 1; and Jared the Col Beyer honor was “right up there with the is a flag decal in the car window and a flagpole in Bycznski, Trevor Bycznski, Luis Vega - 1st rest of the awards.” their front yard. In her nomination letter, family Team Southwest Conference. friend Linda Burger wrote that the flags “are sym- A member of American Legion Post 91 and VFW bols of their love for their country, its people and, Volleyball: Nicole Peterson 1st Team SWC and Post 3345, Tobel serves with the VFW Honor very deeply, the veterans who fought to preserve 2nd Team All District; and Aubry Nolan Honor- Guard, participating in more than 100 ceremonies our freedoms.” able Mention and All District.

Boys Soccer: Carter Munsterman 1st SWC and Cleaning yards for seniors Reverse Raffle Greater Cleveland; and Nick Schmied, Dominic Baglier, Brandon Garibotti, Nick Ruggiero were To benefit Wounded Heroes Honorable Mention, Greater Cleveland. 7-11 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24 Cheerleading: Ari Hedrick 1st Team SWC. Berea Elks Lodge

Girls Soccer: Jayley Dodd 1st Team All Ohio 626 N. Rocky River Drive and SWC. st 1 Prize - $500 Girls Cross Country: Sam Agresta, Morgan 2nd Prize - $300 rd Jankowski, Megan Thai, Shura Ermakov 1st 3 Prize - $200 Team SWC. Food – Soft Drinks – DJ – Cash Bar – The following athletes were SWC Scholar Ath- Sideboards – 50/50 Raffle letes: Girls Golf - Madysen Lacomte; Boys Golf - Ryan Cunningham; Volleyball - Olivia Ar- Sixteen members of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity Main Board Ticket: $35 mendarez; Boys Cross Country - Cole Albert; from Baldwin Wallace University helped rake Girls Tennis - Brenelly Diaz-Soto; Girls Cross leaves at seniors’ homes on Saturday, Nov. 18 – For more information, contact: Country - Eliza Karp; Girls Soccer - Rachel the City’s annual Leaf-Raking Day. Also provid- Ken Volpe, (440) 532-0486 Buxton; Boys Soccer - Joshua Ramirez; Foot- ing volunteer drivers and leaf-rakers were Color ball - Matt Gorman; Cheerleading - Bianca Matrix, St. Mary’s Church, the Berea Police De- www.woundedhero.org DiSimone. partment, Northeastern Hands On, Christ United [email protected] Church and the United Methodist Church of Be- rea. The project was coordinated by Berea Com- munity Outreach. Monthly Berean Page 9 Vets tour Browns facility

Veterans’ Corner is a monthly listing of activities and designed for those without a medical discharge resources for military veterans. and for those who served but did not retire from

Submit items to [email protected]. the military. Reservists are eligible. To request an ID card, visit vets.gov and click on Apply for Veterans Outreach Office hosts round Printed Veteran ID Card on the bottom left of the table support group page. Sign in or create an account. Vets should Berea’s new Veterans Outreach Office will spon- receive the card within 60 days. A digital version sor a twice monthly round table for military veter- is also available. ans and their families. The meetings will be 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the Outreach Office, Weekly podcast features 31 E. Bridge St., Suite 300. Entrance is on the World War I history East Bridge Street side of the Huntington Bank Berea veterans and caregivers pose in front of a giant The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission photo of Browns Stadium during their tour of the Building. produces a weekly audio podcast for use on com- team’s training facility. From the left are, Willie

The first two meetings are set for Feb. 3 and Feb. puters or mobile devices. “WWI Centennial Springer, Bill Douglass, Margaret Christian, Richard News” is recorded at noon every Wednesday and Cuevas, Dale Eckert, Sally Eckert, Kathy Armada, 16. Laura Upson and Jim Slater. shares stories about the war and the home front The group will be ongoing and will share infor- that happened 100 years ago that week. Download mation and ideas about how vets can care for the podcast online or subscribe through iTunes or Area veterans got a behind-the-scenes look at themselves and their families. Each meeting will Google Play Music. Go to ww1cc.org/ the Cleveland Browns Training Facility on Lou focus on the needs of the participants along with communicate. Groza Boulevard recently. a variety of topics. Consult the Service Commission The tour was the first activity arranged by Be- To register or for more information, contact the at the library rea’s new veterans outreach coordinator, Chap- Veterans Outreach Coordinator Willie Springer at The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commis- lain Willie Springer. The vets stopped by the [email protected] or call (440) 973- sion will be at the North Royalton Library, 5071 media center where press conferences are held. 4567. The group is free and light refreshments Wallings Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 8-10 There they met several sports writers. They will be served. and Feb. 12-14. The commission also will be at the toured the second-floor offices. Marketing, radio

Fairview Park Library, 21255 Lorain Road from 9 broadcasts, executive offices and a private office VA offers new ID card a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 22-24 and Feb. 26-28. A for Browns great Jim Brown are located there. The VA is offering a national Veterans Identifica- representative can assist vets with VA benefits and They also got a look outside at the practice field tion Card. Only those veterans with honorable or claims, temporary financial aid and transportation general discharges are eligible to apply. The card and the new addition to the facility. Tour guide to VA medical appointments. Call (216) 698-2600 was Cariema Wood, coordinator of community will provide proof of military service and may be for more information. accepted by retailers in lieu of the DD 214 form to relations and alumni for the Browns. Her father obtain discounts and other services. The card is is on active duty with the Air Force. She gave vets signed autographed copies of a limited- edition Hue Jackson photo.

NEWS BRIEFS Attending the tour were veterans Margaret Work starts on North End necessary repairs. To apply, Berea residents Christian, Air Force; and Richard Cuevas, Ma- sewer project should contact the sewer district at (216) 881- rine Corps – both residents of the Northwestern Work has begun on a $1.25 million project to 8247 or go to www.neorsd.org/save. Healthcare Center. Accompanying them were rehab sewers in the North End. Ten streets, in- Kathy Armada and Laura Upson of the North- cluding Shakespeare, Shelley Parkway and Em- Municipal Court shows western. Also on the tour were vets and outreach erson, are affected. The project is in response to increase in cases volunteers Bill Douglass, Navy; Dale Eckert, basement flooding during major rain storms. The Berea Municipal Court reports revenue of Army, and his wife, Sally; Jim Slater, Air Force; More than 1.5 miles of public sanitary sewer $1,336,282 as of Oct. 31 and expenses of and Linda Kramer, Air Force. lines will be rehabbed and some sewers will be $1,316,358. By the end of the year, revenue replaced. A $735,000 grant from the Northeast should exceed expenses by about $197,000, Ohio Regional Sewer District will help cover the Court Clerk Ray Wohl told City Council. The VETERANS OUTREACH costs. Weather permitting, the job should be court also has collected $834,982 in monies ow- done in May. There may be minimal traffic dis- ing – fines and fees that are collected through OPEN HOUSE ruptions. payment plans and collection agencies. The fi- 5:30-7:30 p.m. nancial picture means the court will not have to Thursday, Feb. 15 Sewer district offers go to communities served by the court to make Veterans Outreach Office plumbing repair program up any shortfall, Wohl said. The Berea Court 31 E. Bridge St., Suite 300 The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has serves 12 communities and agencies. From Jan. Huntington Bank Building begun a new Plumbing/Sewer Repair Program 1 through Nov. 30, Berea Police have brought Meet Chaplain Willie Springer, for residents who meet income guidelines. Eligi- 1,464 cases resulting in 2,590 charges before the Veterans Outreach Coordinator ble homeowners may receive emergency service court. That’s second highest among all the juris- & Army veteran of Vietnam line replacements and minor plumbing repairs. dictions. Overall, the court has seen 8,605 cases Appetizers – Refreshments The service may be used once every two years. – a slight increase over last year, with 11,774 [email protected] For homeowners who qualify, the Cleveland charges – also a slight increase over 2016. (440) 973-4567 Housing Network will send a plumber to make City of Berea PRESORTED STANDARD Berea nurse brings hope and health to Puerto Rico 11 Berea Commons U.S. PAID Berea, Ohio 44017 BEREA, OH When Janine Smalley completed disaster re- PERMIT #333 sponse training with FEMA, she never imagined ECRWSS where she might be sent. POSTAL PATRON She had been put on standby for several natural disasters but didn’t end up going. But when Hur- ricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September, she was placed with three other medical profession- Community Events als on a VA team to seek out and treat veterans. Jan. 1: NEW YEAR’S DAY.

Smalley, who has a master’s in nursing educa- tion from Kent State, has been a nurse with the Jan. 2: Berea City Offices Closed. VA’s Wade Park Hospital for the past six years. She specializes in mental health issues and Jan. 4: Safe Passages Family Support Group. 6:30 p.m., Elks Hall, 620 N. Rocky River Drive. teaching other medical professionals in how to Janine Smalley is back home in Berea with Cooper, prevent suicides – a prevalent problem with vet- the Border Collie, who is trained as a therapy dog; Jan. 6: Curbside Trash Pick Up. Delayed be- erans nationwide. Penny, the Pug; and Marty, the Pug/Chihuahua mix. cause of holiday. Smalley and her husband, Scott, were at dinner one night when the call from FEMA came on Jan. 7: City Council Inauguration. Members of her cell phone. She had to leave immediately. ams and make sure the vets had proper medica- Berea City Council will be sworn into office at 6 tions, if needed. Critical cases were taken to the p.m. in Council Chambers. The devastation she found on the island was VA hospital in San Juan – the only fully opera- overwhelming. It took her team days to arrive in tional hospital on the island. Jan. 8: Dr. Michael Roizen of The Cleveland Puerto Rico because the airport wasn’t usable. Clinic. 1:30 p.m., Smith School. Inspiration In- Roads were impassable. There was no fuel. Ac- There was no electricity so insulin could not be formation speaker series. Register by Jan. 5. (440) cessing remote areas was almost impossible. refrigerated. CPAC units were inoperable. 234-6080. “Diabetics were really ill,” she said. “We had to “It took us nine hours to drive 100 feet on one make sure they were taken care of.” Jan. 8: Berea Board of Education. Board mem- road,” she recalled. The van had to wait for the road to be cleared of debris and then had to In 14 days, her team treated nearly 5,000 veter- bers sworn into office. 7 p.m. dodge massive rifts in the pavement. ans at 80 shelters. Jan. 13: Berea Cares. 9:30 a.m., Smith School, At the same time, she was impressed by the The island is still in need of supplies, Smalley 535 Wyleswood Drive. Puerto Ricans’ ability to cope. said. Especially needed are bottled water, dia- pers, baby formula, protein bars and D batteries Jan. 15: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY. “The people are the most resilient and resource- for flashlights. City offices and Berea Schools closed. ful,” she said. “Imagine the Cavs, Indians and Browns games all letting out at the same time The patients she treated were more than grateful, Jan. 16: Spirit of Community Banquet. and there are no traffic lights. That’s what it was she said. One woman wanted to repay her in like in San Juan. But the people of San Juan some way. The woman gave Smalley a small Jan. 16: Grindstone Knitters Guild. 7 p.m., worked it out.” plant. No green thumb gardener by any means, Mahler Museum, 118 E. Bridge St. Smalley felt challenged but promised to take Smalley worked with a VA mobile medical unit good care of her new charge. She brought the to visit temporary shelters and assess and treat Jan. 18: Safe Passages Family Support Group. plant back to Berea and it is thriving. 6:30 p.m., Elks Hall, 620 N. Rocky River Drive. veterans. The team included two nurses, an oc- cupational therapist and a social worker. “It’s a symbol of Puerto Rico,” she said. “With Smalley said she would give basic medical ex- their persistence, they will do it. They will re- Jan. 19: Bulk Trash Pick Up Day. build.” Jan. 19: Zumba Fundraiser. 7-8:30 p.m., Berea ZUMBA FITNESS Recreation Center, to benefit Boys2Men. Tickets $10. FUNDRAISER 7-8:30 p.m., Jan. 19 Jan. 21: Messy Church. 4-6 p.m., United Meth- Berea Recreation Center odist Church of Berea, 170 Seminary St., “God’s 451 Front St. Family, Our Family,” the story of Abraham and January 27, 2018 Sarah. To benefit Boys2Men 7pm vs. Iowa Wild Tickets $10 $11 per person Jan. 26: Veterans Meet & Greet. 11 a.m., St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 50 E. Bagley Road. Instructor Melissa Edington, Stop up at the Berea Rec to place ticket orders by Informal get-together and light lunch. Free. Call former Radio City Rockette December 27, 2017! Tickets are limited! (440) 234-5241 or email [email protected]. For more information, The first 10,000 fans that arrive receive a free contact Tina Byers Cleveland Monsters themed t-shirt! Jan. 31: Chili Cookoff. 12:30 p.m., With Berea Police and Firefighters. Active Senior Network (440) 384-2782 Contact Lori Jakobsky at (440) 826-5890 Room, Berea Recreation Center.