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Volume 53, No. 3
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Church’s LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Repeatedly Stolen
INSIDE THIS EDITION
By Hannah Lewandoski editor@geaugamapleleaf.com Twenty-seven — that’s the number of times the Community Church of Chesterland’s LGBTQ+ pride flag has been stolen in the past three years. Sitting on the corner of Wilson Mills and Caves Road, the flag is attached to the church’s welcome sign, where it’s sat anywhere from a few days to a few months before being taken. Despite the flag’s continued theft, the church, which is part of the United Church of Christ, replaces it because of the importance of what it symbolizes. “We want to show the community there’s a place of inclusivity,” said Dan Craig, a Community Church member for 28 years. Craig is the church’s flag caretaker and has filed a report with the Chester Township Police Department for all 27 incidents. The church used to only fly the
HANNAH LEWANDOSKI/KMG
The Community Church of Chesterland’s LGBTQ+ pride flag sits on the corner of Wilson Mills and Caves roads year-round.
flag during the month of June, but decided three years ago, it was a necessary symbol to be flown yearround. Craig said he recognizes there may not be many inclusive spaces, especially those for worship, in a more conservative area like Geauga County.
“Most of our new members have mentioned that one of the things that attracted them to the church was that we were open and affirming with the flag being up,” said Craig. The flag not only attracts LGBTQ+ patrons to the church,
but those outside the community, as well. “Some have friends and family members who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and they want to worship in a place that’s accepting of all people,” he said. See Flag • Page 5
Chester Township’s Parkside Park Sees Improvements By Cassandra Shofar cassandra@geaugamapleleaf.com
Chester Township residents will be able to enjoy some new upgrades to Parkside Park just in time for Fourth of July. “This year’s improvements thus far are the replacement of the wood picnic tables in the park near the playgrounds with eight new tables made out of recycled plastic produced by an Amish manufacturer (4EverPoly) located in Burton,” said Albert Parker, of the Chester Township Park District. “The wood tables require maintenance, such are repainting, and subject the user to the possibility of wood splinters. The poly tables never need painting and will not subject users to the
possibility of splinters. Just clean them off and they are ready for the next user. They are built so that the seats and table top will never sag.” Parker said another improvement is the installation of three new charcoal grills. “Park visitor comments have been highly complimentary and supportive of both the tables and the grills,” he said. “The benches were paid for by a combination of several grants and township funds.” The park district commissioners discussed various ideas and voted to move forward on the current improvements — which totaled $12,574 — based on cost and priority considerations, Parker said. “As we often chat with the public See Park • Page 5
JOHN KARLOVEC/KMG
Chester Township Park District recently replaced wood picnic tables at Parkside Park with tables made out of recycled plastic as part of several improvements to the park.
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