Community

Not long into this pandemic, my eyes were opened to my ignorance about racial injustice. It started as I watched people scramble for face coverings across the nation. Disturbed, I saw a man in California use ‘required face coverings’ to push his prejudiced agenda. In broad daylight, leaning on his grocery cart, he donned a Klu Klux Klan hood like a baseball cap. “The nerve”. I was in disbelief. Sometime later, I would run two miles. Not because I’m a runner or knew Ahmaud, but because it was a worthy cause. About a month later, appalled, I watched ‘Walk in the park Karen’. That wicked witch of the east. “What gave her the idea or right to put herself above anyone due to her skin color (or anyone else’s)?” Then…I saw the same straw that broke the pandemic-tired nation’s (and the repeatedly and historically abused black community’s) back. Despicable, shameful, horrific, senseless, undeserved acts. I don’t need to tell you, there’s indeed a crisis in our nation, and that’s why BLM exists.

Sometimes legislation is about the past.  Sometimes, it’s about the future.  But on June 12, 2020, it was about both.

On February 13, 1861, President – elect Abraham Lincoln spoke to a joint session of the Ohio General Assembly at a celebration of the recently completed Ohio Statehouse.  Less than five years later, our nation’s 16th President would lay in the rotunda of the Statehouse following his assassination.

Following several days of nationwide protests and debates about the relevance and meaning of Civil War symbols, the U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy and NASCAR all announced bans on Confederate memorabilia.  In the early morning hours on June 12th, it was time to see if Ohio would do the same.

House Democratic lawmakers offered two amendments on the House floor to HB 665 that would have prohibited the sale, display, possession, or distribution of Confederate memorabilia at county and independent fairs.  If enacted, this policy would be the same as had been instituted for the Ohio State Fair in 2015.

Unfortunately, Republicans rejected the amendments largely along party lines, voting to protect the sale of the Confederate flag.

On May 25th, 2020, an African American man named George Floyd had his life stifled out of his body as a Minneapolis, MN police officer knelt down upon his neck, his full weight upon his airways. Mr. Floyd's painful cry for help, his plea to breathe, his cries for his deceased mother were all ignored. For 8 minutes and 46 seconds he suffered in humiliation, pain, agony. Three other policemen knelt down upon his body, his hands cuffed behind his back. As a young woman courageously stood in front of the scene video taping the tragic event, the police officer looked at the cell phone camera as if to say, "So what?" 

This happened in AMERICA. Unfortunately, this was not the first time an unarmed, non-violent African American cried out for help and to breathe, due to being strangled at the hand of rogue police officers.  The WORLD saw the video footage and is crying out for systemic changes. How many more lives must be lost before we acknowledge the pandemic named RACISM? The CHURCH must not remain silent. We must emphatically declare, BLACK LIVES MATTER!!! Some might question, why the phrase “Black Lives Matter,” is so important.  While all lives do matter, it is BLACK LIVES that continue to be disproportionately terrorized, oppressed, disenfranchised and murdered figuratively and literally by police.  

Seniors are the fastest growing population segment in Ohio and the Scripps Gerontology Center projects more than 1 in 4 Ohioans will be age 60 and older by 2025. Unfortunately, that growth has contributed to high rates of fraud and financial exploitation targeting the elderly in our state. 

The Pantry started distributing dog and cat food to people in need in January 2016. To date the Pantry has distributed over 100,000 pounds of pet food. The monthly distribution is on the 4th Saturday in the morning (time may vary) and lasts two hours. On occasion, it also distributes cat litter. The distribution location is at Willow Praise Church, 32905 Vine St. in Willowick. It is open to anyone in need regardless of where the pet parents live. During this difficult time, because of Covid 19, the pantry has distributed (one-time distributions) in Madison, Painesville, and Ashtabula. In addition to pet food, the Pantry has various programs: a medical program, a Free Spay/Neuter program, a Microchipping program, and a "crossing the Rainbow Bridge" program. Visit our website, www.willowickpetfoodpantry.org or our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/willowickpetfoodpantry. "Like" the Facebook page to keep up on all the Pantry does. Both Channel 5 and Channel 8 have run segments on the pantry as well as few local papers.

Tired of watering your ornamental plants? Wishing for (just a small bit of) those spring rains? Consider joining our online Master Rain Gardener course and building a self-sufficient* rain garden. Class includes 5 weeks of online content designed to walk you step by step through planning, design, digging, and planting your very own rain garden.

Have you completed the 2020 Census?

The Lakeland Civic Association may still hold its Summer Picnic if conditions allow. However, conditions prevent the group from holding two earlier events. LCA President Kevin Jones regrets canceling the group's annual Neighborhood Yard Sales and Fourth of July Bicycle Parade. Both have been long-observed gatherings on the Association's Summer calendar.

Did you ever ask yourself- am I an “Auto Potato” ? 
Now  if you answer yes to several of these questions it will dawn on you that “yes! I AM an “Auto  Potato!” And you will realize you have joined one of the largest undisclosed clubs  in existence  I haven’t heard of any “Auto Potato” Clubs around - but  you never know.. one might appear out of the blue when you least expect it! Maybe YOU would like to START an “Auto Potato” club. Let me know and I’ll help promote it and before you know it - it will be HUGE ! You can have virtual or live meetings - your choice!

Do you love & cherish your car?  Do you faithfully take Horace Honda in for his regular oil changes? Do you make sure you LOCK Horace before you enter your home? After all, he doesn’t want to be snatched away by some nefarious individual in the dead of night! Nor do you want to lose him! Hopefully you check your tires pressure regularly.

At its first meeting in May, Euclid City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the construction of a new community message board at Euclid Avenue and Chardon Road.  The ordinance was sponsored by Euclid Avenue area councilpersons Stephana Caviness, Brian Moore and Marcus Epps.

We pride ourselves in providing somewhere for our guests and employees to enjoy the game of golf.

Golfers may walk or share a cart. Golfers are allowed to take single carts upon request.

We ask that all tee times be booked and paid for ahead of time through  our ONLINE BOOKING ENGINE.

Since we cannot show Special Rates in the online  booking engine our Members, Seniors, Military, and Passholders are invited to call the golf shop at 216.289.8576 to book a tee time and pay via credit card. 

Social Distancing is practiced in all areas of our facility and should be practiced on the golf course as well.

This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join our free mailing list as this helps us provide more public service reporting.

In 2019, Taxpayers lose at least $11.25 million, While Homeowners and Banks lose up to $77 Million, But Title to Revamped Houses Remains Sound

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that an unusual foreclosure process that can result in people’s homes being sold without compensation for their equity should remain legal in the Buckeye State.

However, in a recently released opinion the state justices couldn’t agree on the reasoning behind it. 

Three justices joined the majority opinion, but they declined to comment on the constitutional issues presented by the case involving what are called “administrative foreclosures,” saying that they would not stop the process because the law governing these procedures was not “patently and unambiguously” unconstitutional. 

Not to be confused with expedited foreclosures, administrative foreclosures send abandoned properties to a county’s board of revision, a committee that usually considers home values for property owners wanting to contest their taxes. The board can then give foreclosed properties to the local land bank, which can clear any debts on the property and give them to local businesses to revamp and resell.

Eye on Ohio previously reported on thousands BOR foreclosures in Montgomery and Cuyahoga Counties in 2019. In those cases, local land banks wiped out at least $11.2 million in tax liens. Homeowners and banks lost up to $77 million in home equity. 

The curtain is drawn, and I stop to notice…

A chipmunk sniffs and darts across a flag stone, then climbs into the false sunflower pot as it searches for a snack. A bee takes off from the yellow flower petals.

Yonder, in the white clover speckled grass, are two morning doves. They are joined for a moment by a house sparrow which pops out of my curbside native plant garden and back again.

Closer by, a squirrel comes headfirst down my oak tree and is joined by the chipmunk in my new rain garden. Above them, two birds startled by a passing car zoom by. A cyclist startles another pair across the street, which fly to safety in my buckeye tree.

Things quickly calm down.  A mother robin is looking after her two young chicks that have left their nest. They hop off the big rock and all around the front yard.  When the mother robin turns to the east, her orange breast lights up and glows extra bright, in the direct morning light. What a sight.

There have existed Baptist churches in the city of Euclid for 200 years. This location is at

1565 Chardon Road.  In 1818 John and Elizabeth Wilcox bought this land and on June 11, 1820, they were baptized in the Euclid Creek.  He donated the land on which these Baptist churches

were built.

The First Baptist Church of Euclid is the oldest institution in our city, organized on April 27th 1820. The first pastor was Azariah Hanks meeting in his home with 11 members. He was paid at the annual rate of 300 bushels of wheat!  In 1822 the first church 30’x30’ was erected on this very site. This original wooden church was removed and in 1845 a red brick church was constructed.  In 1894 a new church was built of stone taken from the Old Euclid Quarry.  An original dated cornerstone is still located at our church today.

Euclid-Immanuel Baptist Church was the mother church of two of the largest Baptist churches in Cleveland: The First Baptist Church (1820) and the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church, (1921). In 1928 they united.  In 1945 they celebrated their 125th Anniversary.

Euclid Hunger Center is located in the lower level of Shore Cultural Centre

It’s now been over two months since we first got word that Covid-19 was officially in our world.  In that time, we have all become “experts” on hand washing, mask making, social distancing, disinfecting and other practices we never even considered in the old days.   At the same time, we have seen the devastating effects of the virus on our economy.  So many Euclid residents have been struggling with job loss or reduced work hours, while trying to feed their children and often other family members as well. Through it all, the Euclid Hunger Center has remained open, giving food assistance to anyone who has asked.

Lakewood resident Bob Votruba and his dog Bogart are on a mission to spread joy throughout the area through their organization, One Million Acts of Kindness. Recently, they visited David Simpson Hospice House and Hospice of the Western Reserve Headquarters in Collinwood to thank staff for providing compassionate care during the COVID-19 crisis in our community.

Since graduating from Euclid Senior High School, Jill Byrne MSN, RN, CNOR has spent several decades in obstetric and surgical nursing. She is currently working in surgery and is planning on completing her PhD this year at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.  

A Day In The Life Of Your Food Delivery Driver

Businesses and classes at Shore may not have returned to full activities, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot that's been happening at Shore Cultural Centre during the last month.

Byrider, one of America’s largest integrated used car dealerships and franchise systems, is thanking first responders for putting themselves at riskevery day to protect others. The company is offering a special discount to these brave men and women in recognition of their work on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.
Active first responders can receive $500 to $750 off the purchase of a vehicle with proof of employment until May 31 at participating Byrider locations. First responders include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, firefighters, rescuers, military personnel and other trained members of organizations connected with this type of work.

As Summer begins, we are still amid a global pandemic - the scope of which we cannot fully grasp.  In this time of crisis, we need a steady hand and compassion.  Ohioans need leaders who will listen to the science, tell the truth, and accept responsibility.  The sad truth is the number of Ohioans tested is too low and our death count is too high which together suggest that our COVID-19 fight is far from over.

Let us dive deeper into some of the bad news and examine testing, fatalities, and the state budget.

First, the testing totals.  As of May 14th, there had been approximately 230,000 COVID-19 tests administered within Ohio and we were averaging about 8,000 tests a day.  But Ohio has 11.7 million residents.  Which means at our current rate - it will take about 4 more years to test the rest of the Ohio population ONE TIME.  We need more tests.

Also, in mid-May, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio released a data brief that examined the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Ohio and compared it to 2018 data.  The first Ohioan passed on March 17th.  Since that date, we have lost more than 1,534 neighbors.  According to the HPIO report, Coronavirus is now the third leading cause of death in Ohio behind heart disease and cancer.  This virus is deadly and, due to the lack of tests, it is difficult to know exactly where it lurks.

Scam artists are known to strike during crises, choosing to exploit others when people are distracted, fearful or otherwise vulnerable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been no exception. Scammers have been busy during the past few months, seeking to take advantage of the public’s preoccupation with the virus. Scams take different forms and it is important to be able to recognize them and know when to report them.

Since the pandemic began, the scam-related complaints fielded by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office have largely focused on familiar frauds, but the scammers have tweaked their tactics to reflect the times.

For example, a recent complaint described a scammer pretending to be the victim’s grandchild in need of money. In the case, the scammer claimed to need money because he had been delayed in Philadelphia because of the pandemic.

Another Ohioan reported having received a fraudulent social-media message indicating that a “friend,” stuck in Italy due to the pandemic, needed Google Play gift cards for a sick relative in the United States.

The COVID-19 crisis has caused income loss, uncertainties, and an increase in fraudulent attacks throughout Ohio and nationwide. Smart money management is more important than ever, but studies show that Americans are falling behind in financial literacy.

While the U.S. is the world’s largest economy, Investment News reported it as ranking only 14th for financial literacy when measuring the proportion of adults in the country who understand and can effectively apply financial skills. And this comes at a time when Americans are asked to take more and more responsibility for their finances by making decisions about college, consumer credit, and saving for retirement.

Kelly Slocum, Chief Financial Officer at Eaton Family Credit Union, sites, “that a lack of practical financial education for younger Americans could be partly to blame for Americans not taking responsibility for their finances”. According to the National Financial Educators Council, only 23% of kids surveyed talk to their parents regularly about money. Ohio’s high school age participants scored an average of 60%, below the national average of 65%, on the National Financial Literacy Test – a 30 question test completed by more than 53,000 individuals and designed to measures participants’ ability to earn, save, and grow their money. 

COVID FAQs

We appreciate the opportunity to give local residents an outlet to get fresh air and exercise in a safe environment. We pride ourselves in providing somewhere for our guests and employees to enjoy the game of golf, and we have opened with some very important changes designed to limit contact, transactions, and touch points to ensure everyone's safety. 

As you might expect, our phones are ringing off the hook so please review these Frequently Asked Questions before calling the course.

Are you walking or riding?

Golfers may walk or share a cart. Golfers are allowed to take single carts upon request at no additional charge. Each cart undergoes sanitation before and after use, as well as all pull carts and rental sets. 

Can I walk up and play?

We ask that all tee times be booked and paid for ahead of time. If you do not have a tee time booked, you may not be allowed to play. We cannot have groups of people waiting for walk up play to be available. 

How can I book a tee time?

I have been a happy customer of Fresh Cut for many years. Greg and his professional crew always perform above and beyond. My grass never gets too long. The edges are perfect. The crew is polite and cleans up everything before they leave.

Fresh Cut is available for commercial and residential. They are famous for their Senior Citizen Discounts.

He also plows my snow all winter.

Give Greg a call at 216.376.8485 and tell him the Observer sent you.

We are under a stay-at-home order until May 29th. We can only go out to stores for necessities. We are allowed to go out for walks, exercise in parks, etc. Maintaining social distancing measures. Masks suggested, not mandated.

Are you still skating?

Not currently skating because the weather has not been consistently conducive. Plus, I am a pretty compliant person, when I believe in a cause, so I am primarily staying close to home as “ordered.”

However,  for the last 6+ weeks I have been teaching quite a bit off skate sessions to various skating students like the members of Skater’s Quest skate team which is owned by Skate of the Union Race Director Krista Heubusch-Schreffler, creating a short “Yoga for Skaters” video for my good friend and fellow skating instructor Ajay Shivlani from Mumbai, India and his skate school The Skate Academy, and teaching virtually through my ice hockey program Skating First Hockey.

Where are you going out to skate?

Art Therapy, Mandalas and Covid 19

Are you a potty potato (PBF)  or a bath flash?

Do you like to spend an  unbelievable amount of time in your powder room?

Do you go on there to read a book? My favorite is my Bible.  With cell phone in hand  do you gravitate in there , sit on your throne - fully intending to  talk on your phone , text or check  your Facebook? How about taking a VERY long relaxing shower? Trying out different   hairstyles? How about mending that sock? I’m sure you potty potatoes can think of all sorts of other  things to do in there!

If you tend to get distracted like  we ADDs (attention deficit peeps) do, then  being in a small room helps you to focus on your task at hand . Does that sound like you? Is the rest of your house hectic & noisy? Well you can have peace and quiet in your bathroom! The sound of silence is so refreshing ! Unless of course you are enjoying your “tune in radio” app on your iPhone.  I confess I am a potty potato. Being a Permanent Bathroom Fixture is a badge of honor!

I know that “surreality” is not a word, but I think it should be. It feels like we are living in a surreal, constantly changing reality. Yesterday, April 16th, (I did not want to miss the Observer deadline!) I listened to Governor Mike DeWine talk about what life in Ohio will look like once we start to open up the state again. To be sure, we will be living a new “normal”.

To GOD Be The Glory. Hoping you will be safe going through these troubling times. Trust In GOD. Put on your full suit of armor, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, groin cloth in truth, feet shroud in good news of peace, sword of the word of GOD, helmet of salvation, carrying on constant prayer.
We are being told the country will be open to business as usual. There is no testing of everyone to know what is going on with this plague. Put on masks and gloves to keep you and your family safe.
Make sure you're drinking healthy alkaline water and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Taking Vitamin D increases energy, decreases depression, fights diseases, and promotes healthy bones and teeth.

          “I will do my little bit,” – Jane Goodall

READ LETTER: Beijing & Shanghai Hit Less Than Other Areas W/COVID-19 By Carmen AngeloApr 11, 2020 535

Many parents have struggled to explain the tragedy of COVID-19 to our children and to keep them busy at home while we do our best to “flatten the curve.”  Fortunately, Greater Cleveland Community Shares and WISH Cleveland are eager to help by co-hosting a day-long virtual event “Together at Home with Cleveland Kids.” 

These are challenging times for many Ohio families regardless of the Coronavirus outbreak. According to The Thomas Fordham Institute’s Ohio Education by the Numbers 2019 report, over 50% of Ohio’s public school children are economically disadvantaged. Those parents have to make difficult daily decisions as to how to best grow their children into healthy citizens. But because money is hard to come by, these families may not have as many books in the home as parents would wish.

The Ohio Imagination Library now changes that as all Cuyahoga County families will be able to have age appropriate books sent to their homes for free.  Parents will have resources available to stimulate and help develop their young learners and better prepare them for school.  And perhaps at this time, this is a most welcome resource.

Any child from birth to age five can enroll to receive a free, age-appropriate, new book every month from the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library (OGIL).

Research shows that book ownership can be a predictor of future academic success. In fact, studies have found that children with just 25 books in their home were more likely to complete an additional two years of education.  The Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library is a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to ensure children enter the classroom ready to succeed.

Much like many of you, I have been trying to figure out, on a daily basis, how to best do my job, while not being at my job site. That being said, I wanted to provide an update on the potential reopening the Ohio economy.

Growing up, my grandparents were known for having green thumbs, I, however, was not. No matter how easy a plant was to care for, it was destined for the compost bin. I was always fascinated by my grandmother’s window full of cactus and succulents, and we all enjoyed the fresh vegetables, strawberries, and cherries straight from the back yard. But my own gardening adventures were not so fruitful.

I would like to take this opportunity to deeply apologize to the readers. In the last edition of the Euclid Observer. I stated that there were three simple rules we follow to determine if a story will be printed. I listed them as :

I would like to address the concerns of the person that mailed an anonymous letter to the Observer office about First Student Transportation.

ARE YoU a COUCH Potato PIGGING out on JUNK food during  Covid 19 SHUTDOWN - then don’t read this!

Im afraid you’ll want to shoot me! I eat an apple, orange & banana daily 😉not only that - but I drink a kale, banana garlic smoothie when I wake up,,,,very late. BIG salad every day. / for 2.5 yrs— no refined sugar  desserts and 2 T Braggs ACV*   (apple cider vinegar =antibacterial & antiviral) in at least half cup of liquid  twice a day.. Ive suffered with No more once frequent bronchitises for 2 + year. I either swim half hour a day for 40+ years and or walk hour daily. Go ahead shoot me. Or maybe you might want to try at least one of my healthy habits and then enjoy the benefits!