stanDarD Postage & Fees PaiD WiLLoughby, oh Permit 42
CHRONICLE CHRONICLE
Volume 4, No. 9
LocaL PostaL customer ecrWss/eDDm
ND ND KIRKTILRATLA
Friday, January 12, 2018
Small Hands Build Big Dreams New Preschool Opens in Kirtland
Kids Shop with a Cop for Second Year Page 4
By Cassandra Shofar Cassandra@geaugamapleleaf.com When it comes to childcare and education, Small Hands Big Dreams learning centers are not only raising the bar, they are expanding their reach. Owners Brian and Jennifer Sprafka, who currently have centers in Bainbridge, Mentor, Brunswick and Akron, recently opened a new daycare and preschool in Kirtland “Having both grown up in Chesterland and graduated from West Geauga High School, we were very familiar with the Kirtland area,” said Brian via email. “Numerous family and friends that live in the area would ask us when we were opening a center closer to them, so See Preschool • Page 4
City Bids Farewell to Umholtz and Eilerman Page 5 SUBMITTED
From left, Matteo, 2, Lisa Gunter, preschool teacher, Maria, 3, and Lorenzo, 3, work on assembling puzzles at the new Small Hands Big Dreams learning center in Kirtland.
BOE Wraps Kirtland Seats New Council Up Its Year By Magdalene Pesch
news@kirtlandchronicle.com
By Magdalene Pesch news@kirtlandchronicle.com On Dec. 18, Kirtland Schools Board of Education bid adieu to three of its members as cake, compliments and clocks were strewn around the room. Shannon Sullivan Green, Kathryn Talty and Jonathan Withrow joined the board as its newest members during its organizational meeting Jan 8. Former board Vice President Ron Stepanovic and members Joe Solnosky and Kat Torok did not seek reelection. “Boards work when you have individuals who are committed to the institution that they represent, that have good honest discussion, are reasonable folks who care and think. I’ve worked on a lot of boards and I’ve never worked on a better one,” said board President Tim Cosgrove during the December meeting as he handed out the aforementioned clocks as parting gifts to the outgoing members. Board member Tom Meyer added, “I think the most important thing is: the harder the issue was, the more challenging the issue was, whether it was a student issue or a staff issue or the issue of hiring a new superintendent and things like that, that’s when they really raised their game to a higher level.” Superintendent Bill Wade wished outgoing members the best of luck, adding the district has been lucky to have them. See BOE • Page 2
Kirtland officials welcomed back Councilman Matt Schulz and swore in two new members of council Dec. 1. Mayor Doug Davidson welcomed new councilmen John Lesnick and Rich Lowery to the organizational meeting as well as their friends, coworkers and family in attendance. “They ran an excellent race,” Davidson said. “Their hearts are in the right place and I know they want the best for the city and looking forward to working with them.” Davidson then introduced Judge Vincent A. Culotta of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas. Culotta addressed the room
By Magdalene Pesch Kirtland Schools Athletic Director Matt Paul and High School Principal Lynn Campbell commended the district’s women’s soccer team and student-athletes Kyle Work and Hannah Vouk at the Nov. 27 board of education meeting. “Kyle, this year, he’s a three-year letterman. This year, he was First Team All Chagrin Valley Conference, Academic All Ohio and Second Team News-Herald. He’s a captain of his team and he’s getting a certificate of recognition for the honor of being named Second Team All Ohio this year in soccer,” said Paul.
Page 6
Classifieds Start on Page 11
Coffee with Council
MAGDALENE PESCH/KMG
The Dec. 4 Kirtland City Council meeting was the first for new council members, left, John Lesnick, Jr., and Richard Lowery.
before he administered the oaths. “(The swearing-in ceremony is) the one type of event — well, I guess there’s two, weddings also — that I, as a judge, get to preside
over where typically everybody is happy. It’s a joyous occasion. Everyone’s happy to be here, they’re not forced to be here by summons See Council • Page 2
Officials Commend Soccer Student-Athletes news@kirtlandchronicle.com
Hornets Nest
Soccer coach John Valentic said Work is very much a leader by his play. “(Superintendent Bill Wade) used the word ‘tenacity.’ His aggressiveness, confidence and all the hard work that he put in from the time he was a freshman with me, ‘til now, has paid off by listing the accolades that he received and this is well-deserving and I am really proud of being his coach this past four years,” he said. Vouk is a four-year letter winner and captain of her team, Paul said, adding she is also a First Team All
CVC for the second year in a row. “She was named the Division 3 Player of the Year, All Greater Cleveland. And she was also named First Team All Ohio,” Paul said. Soccer coach Ed Bradac said Vouk has worked “incredibly hard to get this.” “She’s only the second First Team All Ohioan we have. (In) 2015, it was Maddie Zuberer. So (Vouk) becomes the second to go up on the wall,” he said. “She’s also an Academic All Ohio. That means you’ve got to get a 3.7 (GPA) or higher.” See Soccer • Page 9
The next Coffee with Council is scheduled for Jan. 20, 9-10 a.m., at Kirtland City Hall. For more information, contact Kevin Potter at kpotter@kirtlandohio.com or 440-429-0293
2018 Publication Schedule The Kirtland Chronicle publishes once a month. Karlovec Media Group reserves the right to change, cancel or add publication dates at any time. Feb. 2 March 2 April 6 May 4 June 1 July 13
Aug. 3 Sept. 7 Oct. 5 Nov. 2 Dec. 14
facebook.com/kirtlandchronicle @kirtlandchronicle