Kirtland Chronicle 3-3-2023

Down the Block Gears Up for St. Patrick’s Day

By Donna L. RoBinson eDitoR@kaRLovecmeDia com

Down the Block in Kirtland might have a flair for Italian, but that won’t stop it from embracing the Irish March 17.

The restaurant at 9209 Chill icothe Road will be serv ing its sig nature St. Patrick’s Day dinner, said owner and manager Frank Wagner.

“Our corned beef is extremely tender and juicy and cut thicker than many of the deli-style places,”

Wagner said. “We also make our Rue ben sandwich on garlic ‘Italiano’ rolls for an added kick. We will offer both subs and dinners. We also serve our homemade noodles with cabbage, which is out of this world. The recipe is right from my great-grandmother. We will also be serving a unique potato dish, which you will have to wait for.”

rant, which does mainly carryout and delivery.

“We do it just a little differently than most and it has gone over

great the past two years,” he said.

“I think the cabbage and noodles push us over the top.”

While it opened its doors during an uncertain time at a location that has had many lives, Down the Block has both survived and thrived over

A Note from the Mayor

the past two years.

Wagner and his wife, Mimi, opened the restaurant on Aug. 1, 2020, and immediately fell in love with the community.

“We … have made many friends. It is a beautiful location with many op-

Kirtland Opts-In to National Opioid Settlement

By John kaRLovec John@kaRLovecmeDia com

The Kirtland City Council took action at its Feb. 22 meeting to opt-in to the National Opioid Settlements, unanimously waiving the normal three required readings and passing a resolution on an emergency basis. The move paves the way for the city to share in settlement funds.

The settlements require the parties, two pharmaceutical manufacturers — Teva and Allergan — and three pharmacies — CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, to pay billions of dollars to abate the opioid epidemic. The settlements total over $20 billion. Of this amount, approximately $17 billion will be used by participating states and local political subdivisions to remediate

and abate the impacts of the opioid crisis.

Depending on participation by states and subdivisions, the settlements require:

• Teva to pay up to $3.34 billion over 13 years and to provide either $1.2 billion of its generic version of the drug Narcan over 10 years or an agreed upon cash equiv-

alent over 13 years;

• Allergan to pay up to $2.02 billion over 7 years;

• CVS to pay up to $4.90 billion over 10 years;

• Walgreens to pay up to $5.52 billion over 15 years; and

• Walmart to pay up to $2.74 billion in 2023, and all payments to be made within 6 years.

What do a pancake breakfast, a 5K race and city budget appropriation have in common? Answer — each is taking place in Kirtland this March. All three are worthy of an update but only one is state law.

On March 4, 5, 11 and 12, the Kirtland Kiwanis, in partnership with the Lake Farmpark, will be serving a pancake breakfast. From 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the park located at 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kiwanis will be cooking and selling pancakes with the Farmpark’s own delicious homemade maple syrup. As always, proceeds from the Kiwanis event will assuredly be directed back into the Kirtland community.

Then on March 26, the second annual Shamrock Shuffle and Shenanigans will be held at Kirtland City Hall. The day begins with the sounds of a bagpiper at 10 a.m. near the starting line of the 5K race and will be followed by live music, food

See Mayor • Page 7

But as Law Director Matt Lallo explained to council, the city needed to opt-in to the settlements in order to be eligible to receive funds.

“It all depends on state participation and the local level participation as well,” Lallo said of potential payouts, adding the state of Ohio has opted-in, which triggers the

DONNA L. ROBINSON/KMG

Frank and Mimi Wagner, proud owners of Down the Block in Kirtland, pose in front of their restaurant. INSET: Down the Block’s signature St. Patrick’s Day dinners.

See Down the Block • Page 6

CITY OF KIRTLAND YOUTUBE

Kirtland City Council voted to opt-in to the National Opioid Settlements at its Feb. 22 meeting. Law Director Matt Lallo said it likely be at least one year before the city learns what it’s share of settlement funds will be.

The Kirtland Public Library is located at 9267 Chillicothe Road. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about any of these programs or to register, please call the library at 440-256-7323 or visit www.kirtland.lib.oh.us.

Adult Recurring Programs

DIY Watercolor Workshop

Wednesdays • 10 a.m.

If you are looking for a group to start painting with, look no further. This group meets most every Wednesday to paint with watercolor. There is no teacher; it is a do it yourself experience. Bring your own supplies and join the fun. Please register.

Color Me Calm

March 3 • 10 a.m.

Come relax and color with us at the library. We will supply the coloring pages, pencils and music. Join us on the first Friday of the month.

Knit & Crochet Club

March 6 • 6 p.m.

Bring your supplies and spend time knitting and chatting with friends new and old. We meet on the first Monday of the month. Please register.

No Pressure Book Discussion

March 27 • 1:30 p.m.

Kirtland Public Library

The one where we talk about books we have read. Just drop in.

Cookbook Club

March 28 • 6 p.m.

Bring a dish to share from “Taste of Home 30 Minute Cookbook.” Copies of the cookbook are available at the library.

Adult Special Events

Cleveland History with Laura DeMarco

March 8 • 7 p.m.

Laura DeMarco is an award-winning author and has covered Cleveland historic preservation for more than 20 years at the Plain Dealer and on local television and radio. She is the author of several books, including “Lost Cleveland and Cleveland Then and Now.” DeMarco will share remarkable stories about Cleveland’s history. She will have copies of her books available for purchase.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Kirtland Public Library. It is free and seating is limited. Please register.

Fraud Prevention

March 13 • 6 p.m.

Stolen identity is used for credit, medical, tax, banking, and other forms of fraud. Learn about the many kinds of identity theft, and how to recognize signs that your identity

might have been stolen.

Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren will discuss how to protect yourself, your legal rights and what to do if your identity is compromised. Space is limited so register soon for this free class.

Cupcake Decorating

March 14 • 6 p.m.

Join us for a basic cupcake decorating lesson. Bring in one dozen ready-to-frost cupcakes and a willingness to learn. Our instructor will give us some tips and we can sample our labor, too. This program is free; please register.

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

March 25 • 2 p.m.

Do you know the common signs of Alzheimer’s? We will learn the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis, how to approach someone with your concerns and what resources are available from the Alzheimer’s Association. Space is limited; please register.

Weekly Programs for Youths Lapsit

Tuesdays • 10 a.m.

Bounces, rhymes, one book, scarves, and shakers, geared for families with children under the age of 3. Make friends as you enjoy stories with your child. (NOTE: No Lapsit on March 7.)

Storytime

Wednesdays • 10 a.m.

Enjoy great books, rhymes, songs, and surprises with your child. This storytime is geared for families with children age 5 and under. Make new friends and have fun at the library. (NOTE: No Storytime on March 8.)

St. Patrick’s Day Fork Painting & Storytime

March 14 • 4 p.m.

Retired educator Sue Pesch will lead children ages kindergarten to second grade in creating a fork painting of St. Patrick’s face. Also enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day story. Meet in the Community Room. Please register.

Meet Me at The Library

March 17 • 10:30 a.m.

Families with children age 5 and under, meet in the library to try lots of fun activities. What will you find to explore this month? Come move those muscles, enrich your brain and make new friends as you find out what fun awaits you this time. Please register.

Dr. Alex’s Learning Lab

March 18 • 3 p.m.

Dr. Alex Pesch, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Youngstown State University, will lead youths ages sixth grade to 12th grade in a science experiment. Please register.

See Library • Page 5

Hornets Nest

Kirtland Places 4 Wrestlers in Districts, Babic Wins Sectional Title

By aLan koRnspan spoRts@kaRLovecmeDia com

On Feb. 25, the Kirtland Hornets wrestling team traveled to Berkshire High School to participate in the OHSAA Division III sectional championships.

Overall, the Hornets had an excellent showing at sectionals. In fact, Kirtland wrestler Louka Babic won the 175-pound sectional title, and three additional wrestlers qualified for districts, finishing third in their weight classes: Eddy Podojil Schlesinger, Ian Borthwick and Gaetano Savelli.

Babic, currently ranked 11th in the state, had an excellent tournament.

After a first round bye, Babic started the day off by wrestling Ivan Trent from Garfield. Babic pinned his Garfield opponent late in the second period at the 3:54 mark.

The quarterfinal match would prove to be Babic's most challenging match of the tournament.

After pinning Trent, Babic wrestled Perry's Antonius Bertone in the semifinals. The match did not last long, as Babic pinned his opponent in 41 seconds.

Babic then wrestled Nick Hitchcock from Pymatuning Valley in the finals. Babic pinned Hitchcock at the 1:36 mark of the first period to claim the sectional title.

"It was a good tournament; it was tough," Babic said. "The competition at the sectionals was really good this time around.

On what's next, Babic said, "Just (looking) to prepare and get ready for that (districts). Obviously the end goal in districts is to qualify for states. Just (looking) to get through that tournament, too, which is definitely going to be tougher, and just claim my spot in the state bracket."

Podojil Schlesinger, in the 113-pound weight class, started off the tournament with a first round bye, then faced Brawley McCowien and pinned him 36 seconds into the third period.

After a loss to Berkshire's Colin Hering in the semifinals, Podojil Sclessinger regrouped and went on to defeat Garfield's Carter Hoover by pinning him with 11 seconds to go in the first period.

In his final match of the day, he also defeated his Chagrin Falls opponent, Jay McGinnis, by pinning him at the 1:31 mark of the first period to take third place.

"This sectional, I think, went good," Podojil Schlesinger said. "I lost one match to the number one seed, but I didn't let that stop me. I just told myself, hey, it's just one match. I just need to keep on going so I can place third and qualify for districts, and that's what I did.

"For me, I hope I can at least make it to the second round of districts. If I don't, I'll still be

happy to wrestle in districts."

Borthwick started off the tournament by pinning Grand Valley's Ethan Hughes at the 1:36 mark of the first period. He then defeated Lake Catholic wrestler Ryan Sharp 16-9 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Borthwick lost a very close match, 3-0, to Liberty wrestler Connor Burns.

Borthwick then rebounded to claim his spot on the podium by defeating Jayden Pudder of Pymatuning Valley. And in a rematch

with Ryan Sharp, he again beat Sharp 17-9 to take third place.

"It was Lake Catholic, it was a tough match, made a few mistakes, but I am going to improve upon them in the future," Borthwick said. "Third place is probably the best I have ever placed so far, and I'm hungry for more."

As for Savelli, he punched his ticket for districts when he pinned St. John's Aiden Heath 3:44 into his bout to claim third place.

These Hornet wrestlers will now compete in the district championships March 4.

BILL FUGATE/KMG

Kirtland wrestler Louka Babic won the 175-pound sectional title Feb. 25 at the OHSAA Div. III sectionals at Berkshire High School.

Hornet Surge Eliminates Badgers

By Rich keLLy spoRts@kaRLovecmeDia com

The Friday night matchup between the Berkshire Badgers and Kirtland Hornets didn’t have a favorite. The teams had split their pair of CVC games this season, each winning on the home court of the other. But both games were hotly contested, meaning this tournament contest meant a bit more to the victor.

Sparked by a short surge by the Hornets to start the third period, which was sparked by full court pressure defense, Kirtland took advantage of the absence of Miles Miller, the Badgers’ top shooting guard, to record a thrilling 49-46 victory.

Berkshire (9-14) was aggressive in the first half, leading to a 22-19 halftime edge. A 10-0 run late in the first period, and a short 6-3 spurt late in the second quarter, gave the Badgers a 22-14 edge before a Vince Carreiro three-pointer and two free throws from Gino Blasini closed the gap before halftime.

But tightened defensive pressure to open the third period for the Hornets gave Kirtland (13-10) a small lead, and the Hornets nursed it the rest of the way.

Finally, after Berkshire closed to within 4038 on a pair of free throws from Mason Mendolera with 3:22 left in the game, Gino Blasini scored on a putback, then scored on the next possession on a sweet back door layup, to open a 44-41 lead.Gavin Hipp had nailed a long trey, and Carreiro hit both ends of a one and one free throw opportunity with 7.3 ticks left, making a long three-pointer from Jack Hastings at the final horn immaterial.

“We missed Miles tonight,” Berkshire Head Coach Joe Montanaro said. “That said, their defensive pressure in the second half was the difference. We also had some stretches where we didn’t get rebounds. That has been regular for us this season, but despite being a bit outmanned, the kids really stepped up big time tonight, and I can’t be any prouder of them.”

Blasini played a big part in many Hornet plays in the second-half comeback.

“They beat us on our floor and we beat them on their floor this season,” the junior forward said. “We thought our depth was better than theirs, especially with Miller not

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“Open Floor” Fanfic Reading and Writing Group

March 21 • 6 p.m.

This is an open forum for you to read other kids’ fanfiction, to have them read yours and for exchanging constructive feedback. Grades sixth through 12th. Please register.

LEGO Club

March 25 • 10:30 a.m.

BILL FUGATE/KMG

Kirtland’s Gino Blasini scored 12 points for Kirtland in the team’s tournament win over Berkshire, 49-46. “Gino is just one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached,” said Kirtland Head Basketball Coach McGregor said. “He can do everything on the floor, and one of the best things he does is to see the entire floor all the time.”

playing, so we just applied more pressure in the second half and it worked out well for us. We thought if we came out in the third period and put on full court pressure, we could take control, and that’s how it worked out.”

Blasini led a balanced attack for Kirtland with 12 points, as eight Hornets scored points. Nine of Kirtland Head Coach Sean McGregor’s players snared rebounds as everybody made big contributions.

“Gino is just one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached,” McGregor said. “He can do everything on the floor, and one of the best things he does is to see the entire floor all the time. That lets him make big plays and, along with his solid rebounding, he’s always a threat to do something good no matter where he is on the floor.”

The win sets up a contest with Lake Catholic for the Hornets this week in Salem. It will take a team effort to keep going down the tourney trail, but Kirtland got the job done well in this contest.

Hastings put in 20 for the Badgers, and Mendolera and Hipp each added 10, but missing the quickness of Miller handling the ball, and his outside shooting, proved to be just enough of a problem, and the Badgers were unable to overcome it.

Families, spend an hour creating with the library’s LEGO brick collection. Once you have completed your creation with our bricks, we will place it in our display case for all to see. Please register.

Teen Book Discussion

March 28 • 4 p.m.

Youth in grades 6-12, join our newest book discussion group. This month, discuss “Into the Wild,” which is the first book in the “Warriors” series by Erin Hunter. Whether this is your favorite series or you have never heard of it before, read the first book and come see what others thought about it. Please register.

Down the Block

from page 1

portunities,” Wagner said, adding his daughter, Franki, came up with the restaurant name and he and his wife liked it, so they rolled with it.

“It is a convenient location in the middle of many communities and close to home, as we live in Chesterland. The Down the Block location has had many businesses prior to our opening, including The Wrap Shack and Theresa’s Pizza,” Wagner said, adding he and his wife wanted to bring something different to the area.

“My wife and I both really have a passion for cooking and entertaining and wanted to share our experience and love with others. Also, there are not a lot of options for truly homecooked meals and we believed we could bring this to the community,” he said. “We both grew up in the restaurant business. My parents had restaurants when I was younger where I started working when I was quite young. Mimi’s mother ran a couple restaurants when she first came to the United States, and Mimi worked at both of them all through school.”

The feeling of a home-cooked meal is what

inspires Down the Block’s menu, Wagner said.

“We wanted to be the place people would drive to, out of their way, to get a meal. Who wants a generic meatball that everyone serves that everyone can buy pre-packaged at the store,” he said. “We wanted to make as much as we could from scratch … home-cooked meals taste better. The wraps and salads are great and ultra-fresh and we have some great dressings and sauces to compliment them, but the subs and pizza are where it is really happening.”

Wagner said he grinds his own pork, veal and steak for his meatballs, makes his own Ital-

Settlement

from page 1

city’s need to follow suit.

“If we want to receive any of these funds, I would strongly suggest that we opt-in and do that,” he said, noting the absolute deadline is April 18.

Lallo reiterated to council the amount of any settlement funds the city would receive is underdetermined.

“It all depends on how many jurisdictions opt-in and they could go from there,” he said. “But at least this (opting-in) makes us eligible to receive funds.”

In other business, Mayor Kevin Potter said the city’s road program for 2023 will total around $1.1 million, assuming council passes the appropriation.

“That road program’s going to include

ian sausage in-house, breads his own eggplant and makes his own dough and pizza sauces, as well as marinara.

“We make everything we can,” he said. “We also have weekly specials, mostly from my great grandmother’s Bohemian flare cookbooks and our new chef, Todd Hargis. You can get homemade food and many fantastic dishes you can’t get anywhere else.”

Down the Block has two tables inside and two tables outside.

“We are more of a carryout/delivery venue at this time. I am not saying this won’t change in the future, but we have a lot on our plate right now with Down the Block and working on our new white tablecloth restaurant we are currently building in downtown Kirtland,” Wagner said, referring to a dine-in restaurant called Casa Rosa Cucina currently being built across from Kirtand City Hall.

While Down the Block strives to serve the community with its fare, the Wagners also give back in other ways.

“This has brought us the opportunity to donate and assist the (Kirtland Schools), community and church events and work closely with the Kiwanis. We are also working hard to make Kirtland a foodie destination,” Wagner said. “We get to make people smile. We give them something that makes them feel good and that warms our hearts. We get to enjoy all the new friends we have met and have a great opportunity to give back to the city of Kirtland and I would like to give a great big ‘thank you’ to the community.”

some rehabilitation, some full-depth repairs and a good amount of road maintenance throughout some neighborhoods,” Potter said.

In addition, included in the 2023 budget is a fair amount of drainage work as well as a full-size plow truck to complement two smaller plow trucks approved in last year’s final budget — thanks to higher income tax receipts, Potter said. There are also interior improvements to Fire Station No. 2 and a handful of smaller capital items.

“So, we’re definitely on a better trajectory in terms of capital, but I think . . . we are coming to a place here where, as we get into next year, we’re going to be looking at how much of that general fund supports the roads, do we have to lessen that amount for roads and move more to capital . . . and those are the things that we balance year in and year out,” said Potter.

DONNA ROBINSON/KMG

Mimi and Frank Wagner prepare a pizza for a customer at the restaurant, Down the Block, on Chillicothe Road in Kirtland.

from page 1 and a Kiwanis-sponsored beer garden. A 120-by-40-foot heated tent will be set up to ensure patrons are well protected from unwelcome elements should March decide to go out like a lion.

Many thanks to Finance Director Louis Slapnicker for his extremely hard work preparing the ordinance placed before Kirtland City Council. With Louis’s guidance, the budget before council responsibly balances wages, pays down city debt and replaces a snowplow from 2006. And thanks to better-than-projected income tax receipts in 2022, the budget carves out more than $1 million dollars for road work in 2023. In addition, the proposed appropriation sets aside several thousand dollars for economic development tools to both help bolster our commercial tax base and assist us in seeking further grant funding.

Over the last several years, we’ve worked very hard to establish the fundamentals needed to operate our city government efficiently and always with our taxpayers in mind. By consolidating dispatch, we reinvested savings in our police department and expanded our full-time staff. The emergency dispatch savings by partnering with Willoughby eliminated the dependency on a revolving door of part-time officers and will ultimately lead to less overtime costs for police patrol.

By Jim poRteR

MayorThis year, we capitalized on a grant that allowed us to hire three new full-time firefighters. By working together, Chief Anthony Hutton and I figured out a way to expand his staff while saving the city budget several hundred thousand dollars over the next 10 years.

Today, our service department is again fully staffed and many of our new department workers bring new talents, enabling us to better serve our residents. Public Works Director Joe Fornaro and his team continue to impress me with their responses to snow events and their professionalism while out working in the community.

And not to be overlooked, our community center is bustling with activity and rentals. The senior center continues to grow in membership and thanks to Director Teresa Szary, the spirit of community and helpfulness beams from the building. We also have State Sen. Jerry Cirino to thank for his help with grant funding that will result in the construction of long-awaited and requested outdoor bathrooms.

On a final note, the first phase of construction will begin this spring on the Old Town neighborhood sewer project, specifically along the northern portion of Elm Street and on Eisenhower Drive. Once the county and contractor set the construction schedule, the city will send the residents a notice of timelines and helpful information related to the project.

Here’s to hoping for an early spring and more good things to come in Kirtland.

Mayor Potter

Kiwanis Korner

This month, Kiwanis is offering Food for the Body and Challenging Exercise for the Mind. We’ll start with food because it is tough to exercise when you are hungry. For the first time, the Kiwanis Club will be serving pancakes all day in the cafe at Lake Metroparks Farm Park during maple sugaring weekends, March 4, 5 and 11,12 and possibly 18,19 if the maple syrup supply holds out. The club will be joined by members of the KHS Key Club and members of the KMS Builders Club. These are student groups sponsored by Kirtland Kiwanis and led by faculty advisors and Kiwanis members. All proceeds from this will be used by the Kirtland Kiwanis Foundation for scholarships and community projects. Kiwanis is looking for volunteers who enjoy baking pancakes and frying bacon. If you are willing to help, call Kiwanian Mary Sams at 216-244-7335.

The Challenging Exercise for the Mind is a creative writing contest. Kiwanis is calling

all middle and high school students in the Kirtland school district to participate. The theme is “Something Funny.” Students are invited to use their imagination and create a short story, poem, song lyrics, one-act play or even an announcement. The point is to have fun.

There are three categories: sixth-eighth grades, ninth-10th grades and 11th-12th grades. Each category has the chance to win a Blue Ribbon $200, Red Ribbon $150, White Ribbon $100 and three Honorable Mentions $50.

Submit your entries to www. kirtlandschools.org/kirtlandkiwaniswriting.aspx.

You may only submit one original writing beginning March 3 until March 31. Winners will be announced in April. The Kirtland Kiwanis has the right to publicize the winners and submissions. For questions, please contact Kathy Talty at kktakty@gmail.com or text or call 216-789-2764.

Special thanks to Brian Harvey and the Kirtland High School art students for our great logo.

AUTOS & PARTS

HELP WANTED

Full-time and part-time positions available for infant/toddler preschool and school-age teacher. Experience preferred, but not required. Call Audrey 440-729-8255.

SERVICES

Offering special discounts for interior and exterior painting and staining. 20+ years experience. Professional and insured. Call Dan 440-342-4552.

WANTED TO BUY

Will pay cash for sports cards & collectibles. Entire collections or individual cards. Organized or unorganized. Call or text Rich at 440-552-0691.

Buying all Stanley Bailey planes and machinist tools. Call Karl at 440-812-3392.

Deadline: Friday at Noon

Mayor Kevin Potter