May 2015
Established in 1836
Message from Mayor Cyril Kleem
Keeping the public informed is an important
job. One way the City of
Berea does that is
through emergency notifications – such as impending bad weather or
water main breaks.
The system we use to do
that has changed. The
city has signed on with
Cuyahoga
County’s
ReadyNotify system to alert residents and businesses in cases of emergency. The service is free
and will save the city the $16,500 a year in fees it
paid to CodeRed, which the city is no longer using.
The information you provided to CodeRed when
you signed up for that service does not transfer to
the ReadyNotify system. You must enroll in
ReadyNotify separately.
To sign up for ReadyNotify, go to
www.readynotify.cuyahogacounty.us and fill out
the application form online. The form will ask for
contact information and gives options for receiving notifications. Residents may opt for a home
or work phone, cell phone, SMS/text messaging,
e-mail or fax or a combination of these. Users
may sign up for notifications from several different communities as well as Berea. For example,
if you live in Berea but work elsewhere, you can
ask for information from both cities.
If you are unable to enroll online, call the Berea
Service Department at (440) 826-5816 and the
information will be taken over the phone.
Participation in ReadyNotify is voluntary, but we
encourage residents to enroll. This is a fast and
accurate way to let you know about severe
weather warnings, building and street closures,
water main breaks, Amber Alerts and other emergencies.
Berea maintains high
bond rating
Moody’s Investor Services has reaffirmed an
Aa2 bond rating for the City of Berea.
Moody’s review, which was released recently,
indicated that the rating was based on the city’s
moderately-sized tax base favorably located in
the Cleveland metropolitan area and stable financial operations characterized by healthy reserve levels.
Berea has maintained city services and healthy
budget balances despite declines in revenue, at
the same time, the general fund balance of $1.1
million in 2007 climbed to $2.6 million in 2014,
Mayor Cyril Kleem said.
The Moody’s report concluded, “The City’s
management of its financial operations is
strong, evidenced by consistent operating surpluses and growth in general fund reserves.”
Moody’s Investor Services is a credit rating
agency. A high bond rating enables the City to
borrow funds at low interest rates.
Drawing classes with
Mayor Cyril Kleem
Don’t miss out on this fun and unique experience. Mayor Cyril Kleem is an accomplished
artist and will volunteer to teach a beginning level drawing class for children and adults.* The
class will focus on the basic elements and techniques of drawing, using mostly charcoal pencils, while incorporating different exercises you
can use to improve your skills.
He entire class is 4-days in length.
June 9
June 11
June 16
June 18
You may choose between a daytime or evening
session, the class instructions are the same
for both.
Daytime session 1: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Evening session 2: 6 - 8 p.m.
Like us on Facebook to stay
updated on Berea’s community
news and events.
Participants will receive a drawing supplies kit
of their own to keep and refreshments will be
provided. Cost is $35 per person.
Our page name is:
City of Berea, Ohio
Register at the Berea Recreation Center. For
questions, please contact Megan Pochatek at
(440) 891-3316. *Classes not recommended for
children under the age of 10.
Visit our website
www.cityofberea.org
Boot camp stresses
workplace efficiency
Service Department Superintendent Paul Anzalone
posts information as part of a LeanOhio Boot Camp
exercise.
Cutting the fat out of workplace procedures was
at the heart of a two-week, state-sponsored
course taken by nine Berea city employees in
March.
LeanOhio Boot Camp Training teaches government agencies how to break down processes to
determine how to make them more efficient.
Principles of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma have been integrated into the Boot Camp.
“These principles have been successful in the
private sector,” said Matt Madzy, the city’s economic development director, “but the state has
implemented many of these principles to speed
up processes and reduce costs.”
Madzy said the class posted sheets of paper
along the walls of the Berea Room to mark each
step in a process, such as paying a bill. “It
taught us how to take any process, break it
down and see what you can eliminate,” he said.
“The aim is to become more efficient.”
Besides Madzy, those taking the course included Paul Anzalone, Service Department Superintendent; Tony Armagno, City Engineer; Marty
Compton, Recreation Director; Police Chief
Joseph Grecol; Barbara Jones, Safety/Service
Director; Fire Chief Mark Kaufhold; Danielle
Swisher, Assistant Law Director; and Sandy
Vozar, with the Engineering Department.
Instructors from Cleveland State University
taught the classes, which are sponsored by the
Ohio Department of Administrative Services.
City employees received scholarships from the
Ohio Local Government Innovation Funds to
pay for the course.
Monthly Berean
Downtown mainstay Whitey’s closes its doors
AND
PARTY
Saturday, May 23
12 - 2 p.m.
Grindstone Elementary School
Cafeteria
Cost: $10 per person
Please register at the
Berea Recreation Center.
Space is limited!
We invite you to join us in a magical day of
fun for your little one. Children can dress up
in costumes if they wish but it is not required.
Pizza & refreshments - Dancing Photo Booth - Games - Face painting Crafts - Balloon Artist
Meet your favorite Disney Princesses
Dominique Reyes was a very brave little girl. A
third-grader at Grindstone Elementary School,
Dominique loved pretending to be a princess,
her mother said. “She loved dressing up. She
had lots of tutus. She loved pink and purple. And
she loved to dance,” Heather Reyes said. Unfortunately, Dominique battled a rare childhood
disease, neuroblastoma, for 3 ½ years before
passing away in March 2013. She was only 9
years old.
All proceeds will benefit St. Baldrick’s Foundation in memory of Dominique Reyes. St. Baldrick’s is the only non-profit charity dedicated
to funding research into curing childhood cancer.
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.
The last customer left the store and Whitey’s
owner Jim Thwaite locked the door on Saturday,
April 11. It was a bittersweet moment.
Whitey’s has been in business in Berea since
1948.
“It would have been better if we could have
found a buyer and made sure it was around for
another 67 years,” owner Jim Thwaite said.
“But that didn’t happen.”
To top off a month of farewells, Mayor Cyril
Kleem presented Thwaite with a proclamation,
thanking Whitey’s for its nearly seven decades
of service to the community and naming April
11 as Whitey’s Army & Navy Store Day in Berea.
Thwaite, whose father founded Whitey’s, has
been trying to sell the business for the past several years without success. Thwaite and his
wife, Joan, plan to retire.
“We’ve seen a lot of second and third generations come in here,” Thwaite said. Customers
have ranged from military veterans to Scouts
and campers.
Thwaite’s father, Harold “Whitey” Thwaite
started the store after serving as a Navy pilot in
the Pacific in World War II. He was nicknamed
Whitey because of his light blond hair. Whitey
and his brother, Don, took advantage of a federal government auction of unneeded World War
II military surplus uniforms and equipment.
They bought enough to stock a store and opened
the first Whitey’s Army & Navy store on First
Avenue in Berea. Thwaite said the business later
moved to Front Street then to East Bridge Street
and later still to 56 Front St.
Whitey opened a second store in Medina in
1949. That location closed last year. Other
stores in Elyria and Wooster were closed or sold
years ago.
Jim Thwaite, a former Marine, took over operations in 1971. His father passed away in 1973.
Jon Kolozvary, a family friend and Coast Guard
veteran, said the Thwaite family and Whitey’s
store “have done so much for the community.”
The store supported veterans plus Scouts and St.
Augustine’s shelter in Cleveland, among other
Jim and Joan Thwaite plan to retire after closing Whitey’s store on the Triangle in Berea.
causes, Kolozvary said. “He never turned anybody away.”
Thwaite made his rounds of shows and auctions to keep the store stocked. “Anything you
wanted, he’d get it,” Kolozvary said. When
Kolozvary complained Whitey’s didn’t have
any Coast Guard memorabilia, Thwaite made
sure to find some.
The store has had to diversify over the years,
Joan Thwaite said. When the amount of military equipment started to dry up and customers
started looking for other merchandise, Whitey’s began stocking more camping and work
gear, such as Carhart clothing. All of the merchandise has been on sale in an attempt to clear
the shelves. What is left might be offered for
sale online, Joan Thwaite said, and much of the
clothing will be donated.
What’s next for the Thwaites might be some
R&R out west. They own property on a mountaintop in Colorado right on the Wyoming border. “It’s 45 minutes to the nearest town, so I
better not need any last-minute items for a recipe,” Joan Thwaite said.
“It’s remote but not as isolated as it used to
be,” Jim Thwaite said. “I’ve always dreamed of
living out there.”
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
Of Faith and Freedom Cantata
Coe Lake Gazebo
1 p.m., Sunday, May 24
Rain location: St. Paul Lutheran Church
276 E. Bagley Road
American Legion Post 91
8 a.m. Services at Adams Street Cemetery
9 a.m. Services at Woodvale Cemetery
10:30 p.m. Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 25
Monthly Berean
Fire extinguishers recalled
According to the Berea Division of Fire, 31
models of Kidde fire extinguishers have been
recalled. The recall affects 4.6 million extinguishers, which could fail to discharge as expected.
A faulty valve component can cause the disposable fire extinguishers to fail to fully discharge
when the lever is repeatedly pressed and released during a fire emergency. This poses a
risk of injury.
The recall involves those Kidde disposable extinguishers with Zytel® black plastic valves.
The recalled devices are red, white or silver and
are either ABC or BC rated. The ratings can be
found to the right of the nameplate. Manufacture
dates include July 23, 2013, to Oct. 15, 2014. A
10-digit code is stamped on the side of the cylinder near the bottom. Digits five through nine
represent the day and year of manufacture in
DDDYY format. Date codes for recalled units
manufactured in 2013 are XXXX20413X
through XXXX36513X. Date codes for 2014
are XXXX00114X through XXXX28814X.
Consumers should immediately contact Kidde
for a replacement fire extinguisher. Contact
Kidde toll free at (855) 283-7991 from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday-Friday or online at
www.kidde.com and click on Safety Notice for
more information.
Brick pavers still available at
Coe Lake pergola
Brick pavers at the pergola at Coe Lake are still
available. The pergola was dedicated in 2011
and the pavers helped finance the project.
The 8-inch by 8-inch pavers are $100 each and
can be inscribed in recognition or remembrance
of any person or organization of the donor’s
choice. Order forms are available online at the
city’s Web site, www.cityofberea.org, and at the
Berea Service Garage, 400 Barrett Road. Make
checks payable to the City of Berea and send to
Berea City Hall, 11 Berea Commons, Berea, OH
44017. The donation is 75 percent tax deductible.
Donations also can be made to the Coe Lake
Education Trust, which provides funding for
educational programs at Coe Lake for Berea
School District students. Checks should be
made payable to the Berea City School District
and mailed to the Treasurer, Berea City Schools,
390 Fair St., Berea, OH 44017. Note Coe Lake
Education Trust in the memo line.
Page 3
NEWS BRIEFS
Berea commute rated as ‘easy’
Drivers in Berea heading to work or shopping
have an easier time of it than most Greater
Cleveland residents, according to a survey conducted by nerdwallet.com, a consumer advocacy
site.
NerdWallet looked at 58 communities in Cuyahoga, Medina, Lake and Lorain counties. No. 1
worst commute was North Royalton with No. 2
as Olmsted Falls. Berea ranked near the end of
the list, No. 56, out of 58 cities. No. 57 was
Painesville and No. 58 was Oberlin.
NerdWallet looked at gas and car insurance
costs and the length of the average one-way
commute. It also studied what percentage of residents drive alone or in carpools. According to
the NerdWallet study, Bereans spend an average
of $796 a year on car insurance and $3.39 a gallon for gas (based on prices January-November
2014). Average commute time was 21.4 minutes
with 78 percent driving solo to work.
To see the entire report, go to
www.nerdwallet.com/blog/
insurance/2015/02/17/greater-clevelands-worstcommutes-insurance-gas-time/
Berea Schools again recognized
for music education
For the 14th year, more than any other school
district in Ohio, the Berea City School District
has been ranked among the top in the nation for
music education. In its annual survey, the
NAMM Foundation lists Best Communities that
have demonstrated exceptional efforts toward
maintaining music education as part of the
schools’ core curriculum. The results are based
on funding, graduation requirements, music
class participation, instruction time, facilities,
support for music programs and community programs.
Berea receives grant to raze
vacant buildings
The City of Berea has received a $300,000
grant from Cuyahoga County to demolish three
buildings in the North End. The properties will
be put in the city’s Land Bank Program as part
of plans to develop the area.
The buildings are at 767, 768 and 838 Front St.
The city will contract with the County Land
Bank to carry out the demolitions, probably later this year, according to Matt Madzy, the city’s
economic development director.
Cuyahoga County awarded $50 million in demolition grants with the stipulation that no single
project could cost more than $100,000. Berea
applied for three projects at $100,000 each and
was approved for all three.
Planting under way at
community farm
The Berea Community Learning Farm has begun spring planting. The new High Hoop House
is prepared and seedlings are ready. Residents
who would like their own patch of garden can email the learning farm at [email protected]
for more information. Residents are invited to
work in the gardens 1-3 p.m. every Sunday.
Training will be provided. Two local restaurants
– Campus Grille and Treehuggers – have signed
on to accept produce from the farm. The learning farm is off Emerson Avenue on the site of
the former Riveredge School. It is a joint project
of the Berea City Schools and the City of Berea.
Safety Council presents
AED to Guidestone
The Cleveland Southwest Safety Council sponsored by the Berea Chamber of Commerce and
the Bureau of Workers Compensation has donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) to
OhioGuidestone’s Residential Treatment Program in Berea. Kathy Kellums, administrator of
the Safety Council, said, “We are thrilled to help
support such a great organization with a machine
that will help keep their clients and employees
safe.”
Service Department
announces promotion
Paul Anzalone has been promoted to superintendent at the Service Department Garage. He replaces Don Kelch, who retired in April. Kelch
had been with the city for eight years. He previously worked for the City of Cleveland in traffic
and signal wiring and as an inspector. Anzalone
has been with the City of Berea since 2005.
Memorial Day delays
trash collection
Because of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25, curbside trash collection will be
delayed until Saturday, May 30. Please do not
place trash or recycling containers at curbside
until after 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 29.
Holidays that delay trash collection are Memorial
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Year’s Day.
Any questions or concerns, contact Republic
Services at (800) 433-1309.
Community Garage Sale
Saturday, May 9
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Downtown Berea
If you would like to become a vendor, please
contact Megan Pochatek at (440) 891-3316.
Spaces are $20.
Monthly Berean
Page 4
BW HAPPENINGS
BW hosts International
Piano Competition
The BW Conservatory of Music is partnering
with the Cleveland International Piano Competition to host the Young Artists Competition at
Gamble Auditorium in the Kulas Musical Arts
Building, 96 Front St. Preliminary rounds are
scheduled from May 12 through May 20 for 25
international students ages 12-18. Tickets are
available at www.bw.edu/tickets or (440) 8268070.
Other events at BW during May include:
Symphony Orchestra & Symphonic Wind
Ensemble Concert: Octavio Mas-Arocas and
Brendan Caldwell, conductors, Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St.,
7 p.m., Friday, May 1.
Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part Two: Produced
by the Acting Shakespeare class and directed by
Adam Hefferman. Free tickets available at
www.bw.edu/tickets. John Patrick Theatre,
Kleist Center for Art & Drama, 95 E. Bagley
Road, 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 29 and Saturday,
May 30.
Conservatory Outreach Concerts: Free, Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building,
96 Front St. Music education for students of all
ages. Call (440) 826-2365 or visit www.bw.edu/
academics/conservatory/outreach
New Horizons Band: 7 p.m., Wednesday, May
6.
New Horizons Orchestra: 7 p.m., Thursday,
May 7.
PRISM: A student-produced cabaret-style
show, including music, visual arts, dance, theatrics. Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts
Building, 96 Front St., 7 p.m., Saturday, May 2.
Music Theatre Freshman Showcase: Freshmen perform musical duets and solo material.
John Patrick Theatre, Kleist Center for Art &
Drama, 95 E. Bagley Road, 2 p.m., Sunday,
May 3.
Junior & Senior Youth Orchestras: 7 p.m.,
Friday, May 8.
Men’s Chorus Spring Concert: Featuring their
greatest hits of the season along with Broadway
and pop pieces directed by Frank Bianchi and
accompanied by William Shaffer. Gamble Auditorium, Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front
St. Tickets available at www.bw.edu/tickets or
call (440) 826-8541, 5 p.m., Sunday, May 3.
Suzuki Graduation Recital: 3 p.m., Sunday,
May 24.
Youth Honors Wind Ensembles: 6 p.m., Saturday, May 9.
Honors Chorales: 8 p.m., Saturday, May 9.
String Ensemble & String Orchestra Spring
Concert: 1 p.m., Sunday, May 10.
Summer Camps & Programs: Each summer,
BW hosts a variety of camps and programs. The
2015 schedule includes offerings in academics,
athletics, cheerleading and music. For details,
visit www.bw.edu/summercamps.
Berea-Midpark students plan memory garden
When three Berea-Midpark High School students lost family members this school year, students in Project Embrace felt they wanted to do
something. The result will be a Memory Garden
– a quiet place where students and staff can reflect and remember.
They hope to have the garden in place before
the end of the school year.
According to Jane Darrow, who is the Talented
and Gifted teacher at the high school, students
founded Project Embrace last year. Rachel
Rouwenhorst and Julie Higgins were the guiding hands behind the project, she said. “It’s students dedicated to the well-being of students.”
This year, the group has 20 students with the
goal of completing “little projects” to help out
fellow Titans. “Usually, they are one-shot
deals,” Darrow said. For example, they provided
water and apples to the wrestling squad.
The Memory Garden is more long term. Sophomore Hannah Buncher said the garden will be
planted with forget-me-nots, other plants native
to Ohio and low bushes and will include a small
pond. It will be located in the front of the school
near the guest parking area. The Environmental
Club under science teacher Mary Draves is designing the garden and several clubs will contribute the labor. Pettiti’s Garden Center is donating the flowers. Other expenses will be covered by a $350 grant from NEOMED (Northeast
Ohio Medical University, located in Rootstown).
“We want this to be a place for special events,”
Hannah said, “for happy times, too.” For that
reason, the garden will be generic – not dedicated to anyone or any special cause. But families
of Berea-Midpark students and staff who have
lost loved ones will be invited to the dedication.
“This has been a really great experience for
these kids,” Darrow said. “They were looking
for a challenge and this is something they really
wanted to do.”
Darrow said Project Embrace is a studentdirected club. “They do all the work,” she said.
“I’m just the adviser.”
Lemonade Stand helps
kids learn about business
For the second year, Mayor Cyril Kleem is
sponsoring a Lemonade Stand Program to encourage youngsters to learn about running a
business.
The Lemonade Stand Program is a nation-wide
project introduced by Teaching Kids Business
as a way of instructing children in the basics of
good business practices. The young entrepreneurs can start a lemonade or other beverage
stand in their neighborhood by following guidelines on the project’s Web site, teachingkidsbusiness.com. The site lists the fundamentals of creating a budget, formulating a recipe,
marketing, finding an appropriate location, for
example.
If your child is interested in setting up a lemonade stand, the Mayor would like to help. Let the
Mayor’s office know beforehand when the
stand will operate. If he is available, Mayor
Kleem will stop by, present a certificate, buy
something to drink and take a photo. The city
also will advertise the stand’s location on Facebook and the city’s Web site.
For more information, contact Megan at City
Hall, (440) 891-3316 or
[email protected].
Shoes for H.O.P.E.
(Helping Other People Excel)
Berea Kiwanis Club is collecting shoes for
H.O.P.E. The shoes will be distributed to impoverished people in developing nations where approximately two billion people suffer from lifethreatening, soil transmitted parasitic infections.
Please consider donating old or new shoes for
this very worthy cause.
All shoes are needed, any shape, size, or condition: broken heels, shoes with no match, dirty
and scuffed shoes. from baby to adult sizes. All
types of shoes may be donated including boots,
flip-flops, sandals, tennis shoes, dress shoes, hiking shoes, and athletic shoes with cleats. Giving
shoes to H.O.P.E. is an easy way to help others.
Shoe donations may be given to any
Kiwanis member or taken to:
Parkway Barber Shop
42 W Bridge St, Berea, OH 44017
(440) 234-5106
The project will continue through the summer.
Monthly Berean
Page 5
Southwest Community Nurses
Healthy Events
Stroke Prevention
10 a.m. to Noon, Friday, May 15
Visit the Community Nurse table to find out if
you are at risk for a stroke. Learn the signs and
symptoms of stroke and what you can do to prevent an attack. Free blood pressure screening.
Blood pressure & Blood Glucose Checks
7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 5
8 a.m. to Noon Monday, May 18
Fasting not required. Free.
**
Free Skin Cancer Screening
8 a.m. to Noon, Monday, May 4
Southwest General Health Center
Conference Room Williams A
8 a.m. to Noon, Wednesday, May 13
Conference Room C-1
For an appointment, call (440) 816-4037.
Unless otherwise noted, Healthy Events are at:
Berea Recreation Center, 451 Front St.
SHRED FEST
9 a.m. to Noon
Saturday, May 23
Berea-Midpark High School
Parking Lot
Also collecting expired prescription medicines
For disposal by Southwest General
& Eyeglasses to be recycling by Lions
International
Free to residents
$5 per box or bag for businesses
Donations accepted to support Berea Rotary
community projects
At the Library
Reservations are requested for all programs except the weekly children’s story times. Register
at www.cuyahogalibrary.org or call (440) 2345475.
Quarry Quilters Kids Class: Quarry Quilters
will help participants make a fabric bookmark.
For ages 8 and older. Children should be accompanied by an adult. 7 p.m., Thursday, May 7.
Women in History/Margaret ‘Molly’ Tobin
Brown: Actress Anne McEvoy portrays Titanic
survivor Molly Brown, a woman who was determined to break the rules of “high society.” 2
p.m., Saturday, May 9.
Builder’s Club: Students in 4th-8th grades will
construct with LEGO bricks. The club meets
once a month. During the hour-long program
students can complete a challenge and express
creativity. 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 9.
New Plants for 2015: Noelle Akin, director of
communications and education for Pettiti Garden Centers, will discuss the newest garden
plants and the latest trends for 2015. Take a
plant home. Registration requested. 7 p.m.,
Monday, May 11.
TAG Team and Tween Time – Together!:
TAG Team and Tween Time Tuesdays will have
a joint meeting. TAG Team is for students in
grades 6-12; Tween Time is for students in
grades 4-6. 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19.
Superheroes on parade
Friday, May 22
Bulk trash includes large items such as furniture, appliances, carpeting & any large objects
that will not fit into the regular blue trash container.
Freon must be removed from refrigerators &
freezers before being left for pickup.
Questions: Call Republic Services
(800) 433-1309
Gymnasts qualify for state
Two members of the Berea-Midpark High
School gymnastics team qualified for the state
championship meet. Senior Shelby Marken
placed 20th on the floor exercise and 34th on the
beam. Junior Hannah Carpenter placed 9th on
the bars. The Titans gymnastics squad finished
7th at the district level. Coaches are Valerie
Santoro and Theresa Principi.
Basketball player named
to All-Ohio team
Berea-Midpark High School basketball center
Nolan Gerrity was named to the AP Division I
All-Ohio Team. Nolan was given an honorable
mention. A senior, Nolan has committed to the
University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The
basketball Titans are Southwestern Conference
champs, going 11-1 in conference play and 203 overall.
Co-sponsored by the City of Berea
& the Rotary Club of Berea
Bulk Trash Collection
Sports Shorts
Superheroes line up for the Comic Book Day parade
at the Berea Branch Library last year. In 2015, Free
Comic Book Day is May 2. Stay tuned for the History of Superman on June 3 and a special movie night
with “Guardians of the Galaxy” on Aug. 10.
Garage Sale
Sponsored by Grindstone
Elementary School PTA
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Drop off items
6-9 p.m., Friday, May 29
Proceeds will benefit
Research into ARPKD
(a rare childhood kidney & liver disease)
BW women’s team is No. 1
The Baldwin Wallace University women’s basketball team won the Ohio Athletic Conference
championship with a 50-46 win over Capital
University. The Yellow Jackets finished the
season at 26-2.
Titans player is three-time All-Star
Danny Ruple, a member of the Berea-Midpark
High School soccer team, is the school’s firstever Division I All-Ohio selection as a junior.
BMHS has two straight Southwestern Conference titles. Danny will enter his senior year as a
three-time All-Southwest Conference player.
He also is a drummer with the Marching Band
and Symphonic Orchestra.
Monthly Berean
Page 6
Berea Historical Society
Spring Garage & Vintage Sale
Family business offers TLC to pipe organs
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
Spinning wheel - Potbelly stove Framed pictures - Vintage tools - Books
Like a fine race car, a pipe organ requires a regular tune-up, basic TLC and sometimes a major
overhaul. That’s the job of the Leek
(pronounced Lake) Pipe Organ Co.
Historical treasures no longer needed
by the museum
Plus items donated by the community
James and Natalie Leek recently moved the 39year-old business from Oberlin to Berea.
“Everyone on staff lives in Cuyahoga County,
as do we, so this made it much more convenient
for everyone,” James Leek said. Their shop is
located on Karl Street in the Helwig Industrial
Park.
**
Spring Luncheon
12:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 17
$12
Reenactment of World War II WASP pilot
Jeanette Jenkins
Portrayed by Kathy Kraus
Catering by Marianna Peris
Tickets $12
Reservations required
Mahler Museum
118 E. BridgeSt.
(440) 243-2541
Church Street Ministries
focuses on veterans
Part of the Church Street Ministries’ mission is
to help homeless military veterans. Since 2011,
Church Street has worked with veterans’ organizations to help provide furniture and household
items to homeless vets who have obtained housing.
Donations are needed to continue this project.
Here’s how you can help:
Donate gently used furniture, household items,
books, collectibles or clothing. Some of it will
be sold at the Second Mile Shop or Second Mile
West to help fund this project. Some will be
donated directly to vets.
Provide a cash donation so that Church Street
Ministries can purchase needed items.
Sponsor a vet. Call (440) 826-4603 for details.
Furniture donations can be dropped off at the
Second Mile West Furniture Store, 1480 W.
Bagley Road. Call for a pickup at (440) 2390549.
Clothing, books and smaller items can be
dropped off at the Second Mile Thrift Shop, 398
W. Bagley Road. Call (440) 826-4531.
Hours for both places are 1-4:30 p.m. on
Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information, visit
www.churchstreetministries.org.
Natalie Leek said that a homeless pipe organ
actually lured them to Berea. “Someone contacted us about a pipe organ that was stored right up
the street,” she said. “We noticed a space available sign.” The Leeks were looking to relocate,
seeking a larger space. Although they did explore other locations, they returned to the first
site – at 288 Karl St. They moved in December
2014 and after extensive remodeling have settled in.
The new location also lets them consolidate operations. Previously, the company had the shop
in Oberlin, an office in North Olmsted and storage in Euclid. Now everything is under one
roof.
And they did end up purchasing that “homeless”
organ.
“It needs a lot of work,” James admitted. Staff
members are taking it apart, cleaning it, refurbishing parts and putting it back together.
Leek Pipe Organ Co.’s roots can be traced to
The Netherlands, where James’ maternal grandfather Wilhelmus M. Bakkum worked for more
than 50 years as a pipe organ builder. James’
father, John G. P. Leek, also worked as a pipe
organ builder in The Netherlands and immigrated to the United States in 1961. He was curator
of pipe organs at the Oberlin Conservatory for
many years but in 1976 founded his own company. He retired in 1992. That’s when James
took over the business.
Leek Pipe Organ has worked on the pipe organ
at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Berea as
well as organs at other churches in Middleburg
Heights and Strongsville. They have served
Baldwin Wallace University, getting them ready
for the Bach Festival, and have restored the historic organ at St. Adalbert Catholic Church. The
firm works nationwide and has clients in Virginia, Kentucky, Connecticut and Pennsylvania as
well as throughout Ohio.
The bulk of the work is maintenance and repair,
James said. “If an organ isn’t played, it develops
problems,” he said. “It prolongs the life if it’s
Employees take a break at Leek Pipe Organ Co. with a
mock tug-of-war with a wooden bass pipe. From the left are
Bradley Vogel, Joe Tillo, John Powell, James Leek, Jake
Briggs, Natalie Leek, Nichole Weeden and Peggy Draper.
used.” Weather also plays a role. “In warm
weather, the tone can get high, in cold it goes
flat,” he said.
He’s seen a lot of changes in pipe organs over
the years. Historic organs were custom-made, he
said, before electricity. They were pumped by
hand. Now, organs can be digitally controlled.
The tone isn’t digital but the high tech appeals to
younger organists and “makes the instrument
more versatile,” James said.
Natalie has degrees in business. Although James
earned a degree in industrial technology education from Bowling Green State University and
learned to build and restore pipe organs under
his father, he felt he needed more business acumen. He took classes from COSE, working with
a mentor, and completed the Goldman Sachs
10,000 Small Businesses program at Cuyahoga
Community College. The four-month program,
started by entrepreneur Warren Buffett, pairs
small business owners with advisers who analyze every aspect of the firm and help create a
growth plan.
The Leeks also took advantage of Berea business programs, such as rent reimbursement,
signage rebates and the building improvement
program that helped pay for electrical upgrades
and equipment. They also plan to take part in the
digital marketing program at BW.
Leek Pipe Organ has eight employees – most
part time with flexible hours. One new employee
is BW organ student Bradley Vogel, who is
studying composition
and performance.
“Learning how an organ is put together and how
it works can help me better understand the instrument,” Vogel said.
For more information on the Leek Pipe Organ
Co., visit www.leekpipeorgans.com. Also like
them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
leekpipeorgans
Monthly Berean
Coach campaigns for
football lockers
Page 7
‘Cookie Jar’ run helps victims of abuse
Imagine that you are the survivor of domestic
abuse.
After several months spent rebuilding your life
in a domestic violence shelter, you finally have
an apartment to call your own. One day, you
come home to find your door forced open, the
new life you’ve worked so hard for ransacked
by an intruder robbing your safe space.
The Berea-Midpark High School football team
uses this room to store uniforms and equipment.
The Berea-Midpark High School football team
needs lockers. When the Berea City School District razed part of Roehm Middle School and
repurposed the remaining gym and office space
as the new Roehm Athletic Complex, they left
lockers in place. Unfortunately, said head football coach Ray Hradek, those lockers were more
suited for middle school students, not 200pound football players.
Hradek had the old lockers removed. “They
weren’t large enough to hold our equipment,” he
said. “Pads and helmets wouldn’t fit.”
Now the players pile their equipment onto cement slabs. Leaving the football gear on cement
isn’t healthy, Hradek said. It promotes deterioration. Uniforms need to be hung up to dry out
and to promote a longer life for the equipment.
That’s why the coach has launched a fundraising campaign to buy lockers for the team. He
said the wrestling squad also raised funds for
their lockers. Now it’s the football Titans turn.
Hradek said he has researched the requirements
and would like 50 lockers that measure 24 inches wide by 18 inches deep. Total cost would be
around $17,500. He is asking supporters to
sponsor lockers at $350 apiece. The sponsor’s
name will be engraved on a plaque on the locker. Among the donors so far is the Lou Groza
Youth Football League. Hradek and his wife are
also sponsoring a locker.
At a time like this, you need someone to turn
to, a place to help you pick up the pieces once
more. This scenario, and others like it, is how
OhioGuidestone’s “Cookie Jar” fund came to
be.
OhioGuidestone’s Cookie Jar Fund is used to
help children and families when they are facing
times of crisis and provides relief by assisting
them with meals, emergency shelter, clothing
and other necessities. Since the fund’s inception,
OhioGuidestone staff members have been the
primary supporters. This year, because the need
is so great, OhioGuidestone’s 3rd annual run,
walk and Zumba event will be called the Cookie
Jar Fund Run and will benefit the fund to help
support the growing requests the fund receives.
Each participant in the run will be helping our
Cookie Jar Fund grow, providing much needed
assistance to the clients of OhioGuidestone.
The Cookie Jar Fund Run will take place at 9
a.m., Saturday, May 30, starting at
OhioGuidestone’s
Central
Administration
Building at 434 Eastland Road, running through
parts of Berea and the Metroparks Lake to Lake
Trail, before returning to its starting location.
Individuals of all ages can sign up to participate
on their own, or as part of a fundraising team.
Prizes will be awarded for top overall male and
female runners, top runners in each age category, and to the top fundraising team.
Pre-registration is available online at hermescleveland.com until 9 a.m. on Friday, May
29 and will include an official OhioGuidestone
Cookie Jar Fund Run T-shirt. Registration also
will be available on the day of the event starting
at 7:30 a.m. Pre-registration is $25 to run, $20 to
walk or do two hours of Zumba. Registration on
the day of the event is $30 to run, $25 to walk or
do Zumba.
Participating in the run also will give members
of the community the chance to learn more
about the programs provided by an agency rooted in Berea for more than 150 years. A community solutions organization, OhioGuidestone offers a unique blend of behavioral health treatment services, skill building programs and prevention opportunities for children and families.
Many of the agency’s clients struggle with a
lack of education and life skills, and don’t know
how to access personal or community resources
to help them improve their situations.
OhioGuidestone not only helps resolve problems
that already exist, but teaches skills to help individuals become self-sufficient, and prevent future obstacles to success.
Learn more about OhioGuidestone, and the
Cookie Jar Fund Run, at
www.OhioGuidestone.org.
World War I exhibit opens at Mahler Museum
A special exhibit of World War I memorabilia
opened at the Berea Historical Society’s Mahler
Museum in April.
Of the upcoming season, Hradek said “this is
the best class I’ve seen in 36 years of coaching.
They work hard and it’s just fun to be with
them.” The Berea-Midpark football team was
Southwest Conference champs last year. Hradek
said he’s optimistic about the 2015-16 season.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Great
War, the exhibit features uniforms, gear and
even a German machine gun, courtesy of the
American Legion. Some of the equipment was
loaned by historical society president Jack
Schmoll, who is an expert on the World War I
era. Some is on loan from private collections.
Once the funds are raised, the Berea Schools
business office will go out for bids. Hradek said
he’d like to see the lockers in place before preseason workouts begin in August.
“The technology was very different then,”
Schmoll said. “What the soldiers carried into
combat, the use of the airplane, all of that
evolved during the war.”
For more information, contact Coach Hradek at
[email protected] or call (216) 8988900 or (216) 898-8841 ext. 4740.
Schmoll said soldiers used Berea sandstone to
hone their bayonets and knives. It was the favored technique to sharpen their weapons. He
encouraged veterans to visit the exhibit, to compare how many aspects of combat have changed
since American soldiers had to dig trenches and
endure mustard gas attacks from the enemy.
Berea native Lt. Albert Baesel was the first Ohio
soldier killed in action during the war. He was
awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for
attempting to rescue a wounded comrade from
the battlefield. American Legion Post 91 in Berea is named in his honor. Baesel is buried in
Woodvale Cemetery.
The World War I exhibit will be on display
through December.
The Mahler Museum, 118 E. Bridge St., is open
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Tours are by
appointment. Call the museum at (440) 2432541.
Berea Business Women
celebrate 70th anniversary
2015 Summer Band Concerts
The Wallbangers
June 12
Haywire
June 19
Clayton Brothers
June 26
Logan Wells
July 10
Joe Moorhead Band
July 17
Pop Tarts
July 24
Don Disantis
July 31
Lincoln Way Band
Aug. 7
City of Berea
11 Berea Commons
Berea, Ohio 44017
(Formally known as New Century Beatniks)
The members of Berea Business & Professional Women
celebrate the group’s 70th anniversary. The sign reads, “No
More. Together we can end domestic violence and sexual
assault” – part of a national campaign to end violence
against women.
Berea Business & Professional Women celebrated its 70th year on April 9 with a banquet in
BW’s Colony Room and a proclamation from
Mayor Cyril Kleem.
Berea BPW was founded after World War II by
the late Beth Johns, of C.S. Johns Jewelers.
Johns served as the first president.
Keynote speaker Kathy Kellums, state BPW
president and former president of the Berea
chapter, said the goal of the group remains the
same – “equality for women in the workplace.”
April 14 was Equal Pay Day across the U.S.,
Kellums noted. This is how far into the current
year by which many women have to work to
earn as much as their white male counterparts
earned in the previous year.
“The workplace has changed in many ways,”
she told Berea BPW members. “No longer can
companies advertise for jobs that specifically
ask for men or women. No longer can women
be denied loans or credit.”
“But equal pay means women make the same
pay for the same jobs as men do,” she said.
That’s not happening for many women. The pay
gap still exists, she said. White women make 70
cents for every $1 a man earns; for black women, it’s 69 cents; for Latinas, it’s 57 cents.
“We all have the power to make a difference in
the workplace,” Kellums said. She advised
women to stand up for themselves, ask for raises
and don’t be shy about touting accomplishments.
“Stand up for what you believe is just and fair,”
she said. “Sometimes you will fail, but at least
you tried.”
BPW also supports women’s shelters, food pantries, Buckeye Girls’ State and provides scholarship for women over 35 to attend college.
At the banquet, Charise Kellums was named
BPW Woman of the Year. Officers for 2015-16
also were elected: Daneene Monroe Rusnak,
president; Kathy Kellums, 1st vice president;
Angela Ragone, 2nd vice president; Nancy
Heileman, secretary; and Laura White, treasurer.
For more information about Berea BPW, visit
www.berea.bpwohio.com or like them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/BereaBPW. The
group meets on the second Thursday of every
month in the Colony Room of Strosacker Hall,
120 E. Grand St.
All concerts are from 7:30-9 p.m.
NEW THIS YEAR- Band concerts will be located at
the “Music Mound” in the Cleveland Metroparks.
The Music Mound is located off N. Quarry Lane in
Mill Stream Run Reservation, east of Valley Parkway in Berea.
Please bring your own chair or blanket.
2015 Moonlight Movies
Paddington
June 20
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. PAID
BEREA, OH
PERMIT #333
ECRWSS
POSTAL PATRON
Phone: (440) 826-5800
www.cityofberea.org
Upcoming Community Events
May 2: ARF Garage Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., BereaMidpark High School cafeteria, 165 E. Bagley Road.
Drop off items 5-9 p.m. May 1 at the high school.
DO NOT leave donated items at the shelter.
May 2: Spring Garage and Vintage Sale, Berea Historical Society, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mahler Museum &
History Center, 118 E. Bridge St.
May 7-10: Flower Sale, Ladies Auxiliary, American
Legion Post 91; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 7-9 & 10 a.m.
to 3 p.m. May 10. Hanging baskets, patio pots, flower & vegetable flats.
May 9: Community Garage Sale, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
May 10: MOTHERS’ DAY
Alexander and the Terrible
July 3
Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
May 16: ARMED FORCES DAY
Dolphin Tale 2
July 18
May 16: Berea Streamside Cleanup, 9-11 a.m., Coe
Lake.
McFarland USA
Aug. 15
Big Hero 6
Oct. 10
All movies begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.
besides Big Hero 6 on Oct. 10. That movie will
begin at 7:30 p.m. during the Harvest Festival.
May 17: Annual Spring Luncheon, Berea Historical
Society, 12:30 p.m. Tickets, $12. Reservations required.
May 17: Weekly car shows begin at Coe Lake, 5-9
p.m. through the end of September.
The outdoor movies will be located at the
Berea Triangle in Downtown Berea.
May 19: Grindstone Knitters Guild, 7 p.m., Mahler
Museum, 118 E. Bridge St.; the topic is magic loop
knitting.
Please bring your own chair or blanket.
May 20: Free Business Seminar, 6:30 p.m., BW’s
Center for Innovation & Growth, 340 Front St. For
reservations, e-mail [email protected].
Delinquent water, sewer charges
due by July 1
All delinquent water and sewer charges are due
by July 1 to avoid assessment to 2015 property
tax bills. If the charges are assessed, an additional 20 percent penalty and 18 percent interest will
be added.
Customers can call the billing office for their current balances so payments may be budgeted by
July 1. Partial payments are accepted year round.
If a payment is sent without a remittance stub,
please be sure to have the account number on the
check and mail to: Berea Water, 11 Berea
Commons, Berea, OH 44017. Payments can
also be dropped in the drop box located just inside the first door at City Hall, on the left side
wall. Payments from the drop box are posted daily.
For questions and more information, contact the
Berea Water Department Billing Office at (440)
891-3308, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., MondayFriday.
May 23: Shred Fest, 9 a.m. to noon, Berea-Midpark
High School parking lot.
May 25: MEMORIAL DAY
May 26: Berea Municipal Pool opens
May 27: Free Community Dinner, St. Paul Lutheran
Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, sponsored by the Berea
Ministerial Association. 6 p.m. Meals are served
monthly on the last Wednesday.
May 28: Southwest Women’s Republican Club,
11:30 a.m., Colony Room, BW’s Strosacker Hall,
120 E. Grand St. Topic is the Rocky River Watershed. Call (440) 234-5985 or (440) 234-3064 for
more information.
May 30: Cookie Jar Fund Run, OhioGuidestone, 9
a.m., run, walk & Zumba. Register at hermescleveland.com; preregistration, $25 to run, $20 to walk or
do Zumba; day of event, $30 to run, $25 to walk or
do Zumba.
June 1: Berea-Midpark High School Commencement, 7:30 p.m., Cleveland State University, Wolstein Center.