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City Must Pay For Tourist Information at I-90 Travel Center

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - In the eyes of city administrators, the situation is going from bad to worse regarding the dissemination of tourist information at the I-90 Travel Information Center in Conneaut.

The latest communique issued by the Ohio Department of Transportation outlines a new “pay to play” system where cities, counties, villages and tourist-related businesses must pay a Toledo firm, SFC Graphics, to disseminate their travel brochures and other information.

It has Conneaut Board of Tourism Chair Connie Naylor seeing

red.

“I think it’s a crime that the state expects us to pay to a private corporation to place tourist info at a visitors’ center within an easy driving location, considering they eventually plan not to staff the center,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Considering the policy, it will be very difficult for us to ever place brochures at the Center, as a check must be sent with the brochures and there is no mention of an invoice procedure which the city expects us to follow.”

This is the second blow to the city regarding the visitors’ center.

The first came last fall with the

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“Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” Opens Friday Portraying the “bad kids” in the upcoming “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” on stage this weekend and next at the Conneaut Arts Center are (from left) adults Dave Bucci as “Mike Teavee,” Vickey Barker as “Veruca Salt,” Marla Schor as “Violet Beauregarde,” and Clay Nielsen as “Augustus Gloop.”

Featuring local performers of all ages, and directed by Mike SUBMITTED PHOTO Breeze, performances are 8 p.m. March 15, 16, 22, and 23, with an “Everything Chocolate” dessert matinee at 2 p.m. March 17. Tickets are $14 adults and $8 students. Matinee tickets only are $10 adults and $8 students. Purchase evening performance tickets in advance (by noon the day of the show) for an extra $2 discount. CAC members receive additional discounts. Call the Center 593-5888 for information. The CAC is located at 1025 Buffalo Street.

STARTING OVER: LaECI Hosts Tree Ordinance Moves Community Advisory Board Breakfast See TOURIST page 5A

to Third Reading

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - An amendment stating that City Council may include in its annual budget funding for tree lawn tree removal was not enough to convince legislators at Monday night’s meeting to vote for the Trees and Shrubs Ordinance.

Councilman Doug Hedrick moved the ordinance to a third reading after Council unanimously accepted re-wording, then stated it wants to give the public a chance to air opinions prior to Council’s expected vote on the ordinance at its March 25 meeting.

The discussion of the ordinance was similar to previous Tree Ordinance discussions over the past year. Though the city has removed

language permitting city workers on private property to inspect trees, the hurdle is that city crews will no longer take down damaged trees at no cost.

City Manager Tim Eggleston told Council that residents whose dead or diseased trees are deemed a safety hazard will be notified that the trees must come down.

City Council President Tom Udell asked who would make that determination, and was told it would likely be arborist Conneaut Tree Commission chair Rod Raker, or Assistant Public Works Director John Roach. Udell and other councilmen have felt that the $1,500 to $2,000 expense of removing a tree could burden some homeowners.

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

istrators at the prison Community Advisory Panel’s first 2013 breakfast meeting on March 5 were imCONNEAUT Numbers pressive. thrown out by Lake Erie CorrecWarden Barry Goodrich antional Institution staff and admin- nounced that prison owner and

operator Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) was celebrating its 30th birthday and operating more than 60 nationwide facilities.

See LaECI page 4A

A D-Day Event Donation

See TREES page 7A

Dirt Roads Haven’t Been Forgotten

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - City Manager Tim Eggleston wants residents to know that complaints about the poor condition of the city’s dirt roads are not falling on deaf ears.

Ward 2 Councilman Phil Garcia raised the question about the poor condition of the dirt roads during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Eggleston stated in an e-mail Tuesday that the city is figuring out how to solve the problem with its limited resources.

Using bank run gravel, or grits, as some have suggested, is an unsatisfactory solution.

“It is cheap and does not hold

up to traffic,” he said.

“The City has checked with other governmental agencies, and they are not doing anything differently than our Public Works Department,” Eggleston said.

Weather conditions present another challenge. Temperatures are fluctuating and rainy forecasts compound the problem. Eggleston said Monday night that grading will not begin until thawing is complete “With rain in the forecast, the roads are not going to get any better. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are doing the best we can, he said.

Eggleston suggested that those complaining about road conditions should slow down.

“Speed is a factor,” he said.

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

World War II veteran Ken Keidel (right) of Conneaut stopped at Saturday’s D-Day Event planning meeting at the Moose Club to donate a stack of books on World War II. Keidel, who fought in the Pacific Theater in World War II and ended his service in Japan, suggested that the group make a World War II library at the Hungarian Reformed Church on Harbor Street, which has been donated to the D-Day Ohio, Inc., nonprofit organization that runs D-Day. When the two dozen people at Saturday’s meeting thanked Keidel with applause, he responded with, “Wow!” With Keidel is Eric Montgomery, of Waterford, Pa., who coordinates World War II veterans activities at the annual D-Day Event. Montgomery has befriended many World War II veterans like Keidel who attend the annual August event at Township Park.

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 2A

TOWN TALK Just a reminder that Courier readers may vote on “Conneaut’s Best” contest through the end of the month.

Go to www. everythingconneautohio.com and click on “Conneaut’s BEST” to vote. The 2013 results will be announced on April 1. The Courier won best news source in 2011.

Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula County is sponsoring “Goodwill Night” March 29 at the Erie Bayhawks basketball game in Erie, Pa. Those who bring a donation to Goodwill will receive a free ticket to the game.

Visit www. ashtabulagoodwill.org for details.

Check out the Conneaut Arts Center’s new web site.

Created by a California company, Simple Nerds, it has been running since mid-February.

Tim Kraus, pastor of the Church of Christ, waited a little longer than usual to deliver the invocation to Conneaut’s City Council meeting Monday evening.

City Council President Tom Udell appeared to have forgotten that Kraus was sitting in the audience, patiently waiting, and moved ahead to other Council business such as disposing of meeting minutes, before realizing he had forgotten the invocation. An extremely apologetic Udell then introduced him. Adding a Scripture to his invocation, Kraus

age high school sophomores from across the county to be part of the program next year. The group spent the day in Conneaut Wednesday Mark your calendars for as part of its monthly prothe Harry Church Memo- gram to learn what rial Golf Outing scheduled Ashtabula County has to offor 1 p.m. Saturday, June 28, fer. The Conneaut Public Liat Windy Hill Golf Course in brary is partnering with the Monroe Township. A Lake videotaping project.

Erie perch dinner will be Videotaping was also served at 5 p.m. happening Saturday afterThe American Legion noon at the Conneaut Histraveling baseball team will torical Railroad Museum host a Reverse Raffle at 6 for an upcoming national p.m. Saturday, April 20, at cable TV show that producthe Legion. Tickets are $25 ers said was “top secret.” and include dinner, catered Videotaping might have by the Legion Auxiliary, and been shortened had the segmusic by “DJ Chaz,” aka ments not been interrupted Charlie Hawn, following the every time a train (or two) raffle with a $1,500 main sped by. The crews were also board prize. Contact the Le- taping in Ashtabula. More information will be forthgion for tickets. coming when the summer Members of the air date approaches.

Ashtabula County YOUth Conneaut Area City LEADership Program will be videotaping a “commer- Schools will be on Spring cial” at the Conneaut Arts Break March 29 through Center this week to encour- April 8. added that the Conneaut Area Ministerial Association is grateful to be allowed to pray at Council meetings.

Women of Finnish Heritage Spring Luncheon Women of Finnish Heritage invites women of Finnish heritage or who are connected to Finnish heritage to its Spring Luncheon noon April 3 at Kay’s Place, 5552 Route 193 at I-90, Kingsville.

The program is “Ancestors from Finland,” with stories highlighting interesting facets of their lives in Finland and/or America.

Annual dues of $3 will be collected, and a 50/50 drawing will be held.

Reservation deadline is March 29. Call Shirley (Carl) Oxley in North Kingsville or Irene (H.H.) Hopkins, Conneaut.

Katie Whitman Blood Drive Is Saturday

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

turned 31 years old this year.

The Whitman family CONNEAUT - Don’t for- chose a blood drive as a meget the 11th annual Katie morial to Whitman because Whitman Blood Drive 9 a.m. she was an avid blood donor.

Free baby-sitting on site to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Conneaut Human Resources will be provided by Wildfire Dance.

Center, 327 Mill Street.

Blood donors may also The Katie Whitman Blood Drive is held each bring new or gently-used March closest to Whitman’s books for “Joan’s Nook,” March 20 birthday. named after Whitman’s late Whitman would have aunt who helped found the

Katie Whitman Blood Drive.

Donated books will be distributed to schools, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, etc.

No appointment is necessary for the Katie Whitman Blood Drive. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds, and may not have donated blood within the last 56 days.

The American Red Cross Cleveland office will staff the blood drive.

The 2013

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Cable Schedule March 13-19, 2013 7.00 am AM Live 10.00 am City Council Meeting of 3/11/13 11.20 am Discover Conneaut 11.25 am Hometown Happenings 11:50 am CHS Spartan Spin 11.55 am Good Shepherd Lutheran Lenten Service 12.40 pm CCCA Concert: Good Question 1.35 pm Conneaut Library Line 1.50 pm Matt Talks Planning with Bob Marcy 2.20 pm CHS Spartan Spin 2.25 pm Discover Conneaut 4.15 pm CCCA Dance: Alice 5.22 pm The Sinking of the SS Athena 5.55 pm Conneaut Cougars Awards Banquet 2013 7.00 pm City Council Meeting of 3/11/13 8.20 pm Discover Conneaut 8.25 pm Hometown Happenings 8.50 pm CHS Spartan Spin 8.55 pm CAMA Lenten Service 9.55 pm Conneaut Library Line 10.10 pm Conneaut Chamber of Commerce Awards 11.35 pm FFC Truth #37 12.05 am City Council Meeting of 3/11/13 1.25 am Discover Conneaut RELIGIOUS SERVICES: St. Mary St. Frances Cabrini: Sun & Wed 3pm / Mon & Thurs 1am First United Church of Christ: Sun & Wed 4pm / Mon & Thurs 2am New Leaf United Methodist: Sun & Wed 5pm / Mon & Thurs 3am Good Shepherd Lutheran: Sun & Wed 6pm / Mon & Thurs 4am Family Fellowship: Mon. and Thurs. 2.30pm Conneaut Church of God: Mon. and Thurs 3.20pm

Civic Meetings

Sons of American Legion Donate $1,000 to Conneaut Food Pantry

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Charlie Hawn, head of the Conneaut Cowle Post #151 Sons of the American Legion (SAL), holds a facsimile check for $1,000 that represents the Sons’ donation last week to the Conneaut Food Pantry. The SAL raised the money with weekly “All You Care To Eat” Spaghetti dinners held 5 to 8 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month for the past year. Conneaut Food Pantry Director Renae Roach (right) was thrilled with the donation, saying that times are difficult in Conneaut and that Food Pantry donations tend to decline after the holidays. SAL membership is open to anyone whose parent or grandparent is an American Legion member. Hawn holds dual membership in the American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion.

Senior Calendar GSLC Seniors - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Grove Street at Lake Road.

9:45 blood pressure, 10 a.m. program. Noon lunch.

Ages 50 and up. Bring a friend.

March 21 - “Spring Has Sprung!”

CHRC Seniors Together - Conneaut Human Resources Center, 327 Mill Street. Senior Soles walkers 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Seniors Room opens 8:30 a.m. Program 10:30 a.m., lunch 11:30 a.m., games noon to 1 p.m.

March 14 - “Nutrition,” with Kelly from OSU Extension March 15 - Armchair Traveler: “Ireland & the Lep-

rechaun Museum,” with Mary Lardi March 18 - Leprechaun Fun March 19 - Kelly from UH-CMC: blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol screenings March 20 - Monthly Birthday Party March 21 - Sea Life Jingo March 22 - Bible Study with Bud and Sheila Brooker

Site Solver Guess the location

Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. March 14 Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m.

March 18 Conneaut Area City Schools Board of Education work session, 5:30 p.m. meeting 6:30 p.m.

March 20 at Southeast Building, 400 Mill Street.

Conneaut Port Authority, 7 p.m. March 21 at PA Office, 929 Broad Street Public Safety, 6 p.m. March 21 Parks and Recreation, 7 p.m.

March 21 Buckeye Board of Education, 7 p.m. March 19 at Braden Junior High School, State Road at Route 20, Ashtabula Township North Kingsville Village Council, 7 p.m. March 20 at Municipal Building, 3541 Center Road Monroe Township Trustees, 7:30 p.m. March 26 at Township Garage, 5578 S. Monroe Center Rd. Kingsville Township Trustees, 7 p.m. March 27 at Fire Hall, 3130 Main Street

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Have you seen this Site Solver in Conneaut? Be the first to call its location to The Courier (440) 5769125, ext. 116, starting 5 p.m. March 14, and you will win a donut and small coffee from Mooney’s Bakery, 213 Broad Street.

Last week’s Site Solver featured the tiger mural inside the display case in the entrance to Janey’s School of Dance on Main Street. No one guessed it.

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 3A

CBOE Looking to Retrofit CMS Boiler

Men’s, Co-Ed Softball Sign-Ups Underway

Sign up now for the Conneaut Recreation Board Men’s and Co-ed Softball Leagues that play at Lakeview Park Dave Smith, of We owe them nothing,” ball field. The Rec Board is also seeking team managers.

by MARTHA SOROHAN Brewer-Garrett, Heinonen said, of NexGen. Team fees are $500 for men’s teams, $400 for co-ed teams Gazette Newspapers The school board also last through April 1. After April 1, $650 for men’s teams and told the Thursday discussed adding $550 for co-ed. Contact Jason Picard at 440-969-4866.

CONNEAUT - Conneaut Conneaut Area Schools a Conneaut High School Area City Schools Board of City of metal roof replacement and Education member Sonny Board chimney masonry repair to Heinonen raised the ques- Education at its the project. tion about retrofitting elec- March 7 work Smith said the pay-off for tric boilers at Conneaut session that the the boilers would cost the Middle School to natural C o n n e a u t district about $12,028 annugas, and school administra- school district save ally, but as with the “energy tors responded by inviting could upgrade” projects, loan reBrewer-Garrett to a special $203,000 over 15 payments are made with work session March 7 to talk years if it retrofit savings resulting from lower about the costs and advan- electric boilers to gas at Conneaut utility bills. tages.

He said the estimated Brewer-Garrett’s Dave Middle School.

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN revenue savings of $203,000 Smith urged the school dis• Engagement • Wedding • Anniversary • Military • College • Meetings • Community “How much longer are we is based on a natural gas trict to investigate, saying the wind turbine installed that the $149,000 project next to the building by going to put up with it?” he rate of 8 cents per mcf. Actual prices are lower, he said. would pay for itself in 10 NexGen in 2009. Its only asked.

When Board of Education Smith’s statement that years and generate $203,000 obligation was to purchase Fax 576-2778 in revenue over the next 15 electricity generated by the president and attorney Cris Brewer-Garrett will look at Editorial Department Martha Sorohan . Ext. 116 wind turbine at a cost lower Newcomb said that litiga- the roof, masonry and boiler years.

The boilers come with a than that charged by First tion between NexGen, of projects and present an “auCall 24 hours a day! All calls will remain Energy.

Boulder, Colo., and an over- dit” at no charge was met quarter-century life span. confidential. Leave name, number & information.

But savings never mate- seas company over faulty with smiles from board The Board of Education had left the electric-powered rialized because the turbine substitute turbine parts members.

Advertising Department could be unresolved for “Then it’s a no-brainer for boilers at Conneaut Middle has not been functioning.

Classifieds ....... Becke ....... 593-6030 x104 Heinonen balked at the months, Heinonen sug- them to come out and look,” School out of a recent energy Display .............. Kelley ............ 344-1029 upgrade project at all district school district’s $54,000 elec- gested retrofitting the boil- Heinonen said. ers to natural gas. tric bill at the Board of buildings because the Circulation Department See CBOE page 10A “We have no obligation. middle school was tied in to Education’s January meeting.

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Orlando Bro’s Golden Dawn

by PATRICIA ROWBOTHAM Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - At its March 7 meeting at the Port Authority office, the Economic Development Committee’s Business Forum narrowed to five a list of 19 suggested goals submitted at the Feb. 7 meeting.

The “realistic” goals include establishing a development friendly climate, economic development, making the city visually pleasing, marketing, and encouraging community involvement.

The critical issue that surfaced at the meeting, however, was whether the city infrastructure can handle new development.

Councilmen Phil Garcia, Rich McBride, Tom Kozesky, City Council President Tom Udell, City Manager Tim Eggleston, committee member Kathe Bailey and Committee Chair Doug Hedrick and about 10 citizens heard City Manager Tim

PHOTO BY PATRICIA ROWBOTHAM

Economic Development Committee Chair Doug Hedrick (standing) leads a discussion on Economic Development goals at the March 7 business forum. At right is committee member Kathe Bailey.

Eggleston and city engineers CT Consultants’ Nick Sanford and Shawn Aiken point out that the wastewater plant is at capacity.

Eggleston said plans are in the works for the water and sewer systems over the next 20 years, but before any changes may be made, the EPA would require a study.

It could cost about $75,000.

There has been no study of the wastewater plant in over

30 years. Some city sewers constructed in 1901 are still being used. The city is operating in a reactive mode towards the situation, fixing the pipes that are collapsing, but not necessarily those leaking.

In most places, the EPA would already be investigating, but Conneaut has a good relationship with the EPA and is so well run that this hasn’t happened, Eggleston said.

“The storm sewer system doesn’t get the funding it needs,” he said.

He called the sewer system “average” and said it has problems during wet weather, as do most communities. The distribution system is the best of the water systems.

Loans, but no grants, are available from the EPA for a study. A grant has been obtained to replace the sewer on Harbor Street that was built in 1901.

McBride asked whether a study would be required when administrators know the system is so bad. Aiken replied that, at the least, the flow must be monitored when it rains, which requires monitoring both before and after repair.

The Business Forum’s next meeting will be 7 p.m.

April 11 at the Port Authority building, 929 Broad Street. Committees will be formed to address each target goal.

City Manager’s Report, March 11, 2013 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant Staff will not be pursuing this grant at this time as the grant is only for ash tree removal on public land, and one of the components is that for every tree removed one needs to be planted in its place. Staff has not had time to inventory city property to determine the number of ash trees to be removed or come up with a plan to meet the requirements of the grant to replace the trees lost to the Ash Borer.

Chestnut Aerial Sewer Project The cost of the project was expected to be approximately $450,000.

Rudzik Excavation of Stuthers came in with the lowest bid of $395,354.48. This is a difference of $54,645.52. The following bids were received:

ample is that both the Street Superintendent and bargaining unit have asked if there is a possibility to look at a mechanic/operator classification which would allow the individual to be utilized in both capacities when needed.

House Bill 35 Council received a copy of the letter I sent to Senator Cafaro to oppose House Bill 35, specifically §5577.04(E)(2) which increases the maximum weight limits on interstate highways from 80,000 to 90,000 pounds. This provision in HB 35 will increase maintenance costs to those communities that may be affected by the increased weight limit.

Ordinance 20-13

• Great Lakes Crushing Inc, Eastlake – $397,905.00 • Union Industrial Contractors Inc, Ashtabula - $418,481.00 • Marucci & Gaffney Excavating Company, Youngstown $439,246.00 • Chivers Construction Company, Fairview Pa. - $447,760.00 • Nerone & Sons Inc, Warrensville Heights - $454,767.50

The City Manager spoke with Steven Rebillot, Capital Planning Manager for ODOT regarding “Section V: Maintenance” of the agreement [for mowing on I-90 within city limits]. . Rebillot stated that it is “boiler plate” language and may be removed along with “Section IV: Utilities and Right-Of-Way Statement.” Staff has no problem with moving this ordinance forward as amended.

Water Filtration Plant Screen Project

Tree Ordinance

Bids are expected to go out March 13 with a bid opening on March 27. Council has authorized the manager to sign a contract with the successful bidder. This is one of the last projects that was ongoing when the manager came to the City. Part of the funding is coming from OPWC.

I talked with Mr. Alan Seiwert, area State Forester. He commented on the proposed changes to our tree ordinance and is in agreement with the language pertaining to trees on private property in the front yards when it comes to removal or trimming to abate a hazard. He also mentioned that some communities do levy a fee on properties just as the city does for street lighting to remove tree in the city rightof-way. Mr. Seiwert did acknowledge that a tree fee is a hard sale.

City Council and Departmental Meeting I believe it would a great benefit to the City Council along with staff to take time on a Saturday of Council’s choosing to allow the city Department heads to present an overview of their departments, answer budget concerns, set achievable goals, and explain the problems staff has had in meeting the needs of the community. One ex-

Meetings March 14 – Chamber of Commerce board meeting March 26 – SPIRE Institute

281 Main St. Place in sealed, marked envelope.

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GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 4A

You’ve Got To Have A Dream, LaECI Inmates Told

By MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT – Samaritan House Director Steve Sargent told inmates at Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LaECI) last month that dreams are important.

“It’s important that your dream is bigger than what you are,” he said. “But you have to see it first, then believe it.”

Sargent’s inspiring message was the last of a series of Black History presenters invited to speak during February’s Black History Month by a nine-member Black History committee chaired by Marcazaum Lockett. The committee approached prison personnel and received the okay.

“We wanted to enlighten and engage the younger generation. Many of them have not been exposed to history because they dropped out of school, or had no elder to connect to,” said committee member Paul Hill.

Sargent, on the other hand, told the inmates he had been intrigued by history as a child. He said black history is important because one must know where he has come from in order to know where he is going.

“I traced my roots to 1815, to my great-greatgreat-great grandmother, a slave,” he said. “My grandmother lived to the age of 105. My father was old enough to be my grandfather. I always asked questions to find out how things were.”

PHOTOS BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Lake Erie Correctional Institution inmates Paul Hill (left) Ronnie Coe, Jr., Leo Bruce, and chairman Marcazaum Lockett were part of a committee that planned Black History Month events at the prison last month.

The answers to Sargent’s questions were not easy to hear. He talked about sleeping in the car on family vacations because black people were not allowed in hotels that were not substandard.

“Even McDonald’s in the South took our orders in the back,” he said. “I didn’t see that, but they did not let me forget what they went through. Even after my dad became a highly decorated World War II veteran, who survived a ship attack en route to the Philippines, he had to sit in the back of the bus in Mississippi. He couldn’t even wear his uniform in Tupelo.”

But as Sargent learned

from his family stories, he urged inmates to build on their prison experience as well, that they have the same opportunities to make a difference in the world as everyone else.

“You have a chance to rebound, recoup, and make a difference, to perpetuate the free society that we live in.

People died for you to be here. Especially if you’re black, there were laws passed because of the sacrifices of others, and we can’t forget what they did,” Sargent said.

Sargent recalled people laughing at him a few years ago when he predicted that an Illinois senator, Barack Obama, would be the first

black president of the United States.

“You have to put forth sacrifice and have to see what never was,” he said.

Sargent recounted how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., murdered at age 39, was told by his mother that he could not change the world after he became upset that his skin color had denied him entry to an amusement park. He shared the tragic story of Emmett Till, of Chicago, who against his mother’s wishes decided to visit Mississippi. Till’s murderers went free.

“Impossible?” Sargent asked. “They planted the seeds of change. Everyone has a calling to do something to change the world. It doesn’t matter what cards you’re dealt. You have a lousy hand? With a poker face, you can still win. Think about what you can plant today to make sure that no one has to go through what you have.”

Sargent says that no one chooses his family or his neighborhood but everyone can turn scars into stars.

“Be choosers, not losers,” he said.

During the question-andanswer session that followed, one inmate asked Sargent how incarcerated inmates could be given a chance to fulfill their dreams considering the “baggage” they carry.

“There are more progressive laws to help you now than in the history of our country,” Sargent said, describing a Second Chance

program that meets monthly with released inmates to assist their re-entry. “There are individuals and employers in Ashtabula County that will hire a felon. If you’re serious, we’ll help.

You can’t use incarceration as a crutch. If you’ve paid your bill, you’re done. If you’re determined, you can make it.”

Saying he knows how it is to overcome obstacles, growing up in a time when there was no public assistance, Sargent cited South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, who after spending 27 years in prison is considered a national hero.

“He didn’t know if he’d ever come home,” he said.

“But you have to want to be successful. Imagine yourself drowning, unable to breathe.

That’s how much you have to want to be successful.”

Steve Sargent, director Samaritan House spoke Feb. 28 at Black History month at LaECI.

LaECI Goodrich said the private prison was bringing into Ashtabula County more than $1.2 million in annual property taxes.

He introduced a new second-in-command, Jay Forshey, who began his Deputy Warden duties on Monday and looks forward to moving from Noble Correctional Institution in Southern Ohio to Conneaut.

Food Services Director Charles Wesley said that his kitchen employs 160 inmates and serves 3,600 to 3,800 meals a day, and that a pizza fund-raiser with Anthony’s Pizza raised $1,000 that the prison will donate to the Conneaut Human Resources Center later this month.

Jerry Sipan, who manages Evergreen Industries, the prison’s recycling shop, said the shop handled two million pounds of recycled goods in 2012 and employs 65 inmates, and is pushing for 2.5 million pounds and 120 inmate employees in 2013.

More than 20 staff members presented these optimistic numbers as part of an effort by the medium/ minimum security private prison to boost its sagging reputation in the minds of community leaders, a reputation built upon poor communications and public relations, arrests of persons attempting to throw contraband over the north prison fence, and an inmate death at the prison in November.

Sargent concluded by telling the inmates about the black founder of “Famous Amos” cookies who dropped out of high school and created a million dollar business by baking cookies.

“Baking cookies!” he emphasized.

Sargent also urged inmates to earn their GED’s rather than playing dominoes or lifting weights.

“Don’t tell me you can’t make it. The slaves taught themselves. You can survive.

It’s in your bones to thrive.

We’re all born with it. Tap into it. Don’t sell yourselves short,” he said.

Afterward, Inmate Joseph Barnhart called the program “excellent and inspirational.”

“I know I can change if I apply myself,” he said. “It helped me.”

From page 1A And it worked. Most attendees, including City Manager Tim Eggleston, Police Chief Chuck Burlingham, Conneaut Councilman Tom Udell, Tom Kozesky, Phil Garcia, and Neil LaRusch, Ashtabula County Commissioner Joe Moroski, plus Ohio Rep. John Patterson (D-99), left 90 minutes later with new optimism about the prison’s efforts to run a safer and more secure institution while becoming part of the Conneaut community.

Community Advisory Board member the Rev. Frank Gore had cut to the heart of the chase early in the program, after board members were served a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, pastries, juice and fresh fruit.

“I don’t meant to be harsh, but what is the purpose of the Community Advisory Board?” he asked, wondering why the panel that had met quarterly when the prison was stateowned under MTC management prior to Jan. 1, 2012 met just once in 2012. “Because there has been a lack of communication. Those of us in the community want to support you, but how? I

“We stubbed our toes.”

- LaECI’s Managing Director, Melody Turner

have felt we’ve not been able to do that through the transition. I understand you want some privacy, but we are on the board to be with you, and walk when things are not comfortable, too. I can have breakfast anywhere. I choose to be on the Community Advisory Board with you.”

Goodrich immediately responded, stating that the prison faced challenging problems “for lots of people” in 2012 and had “one schedule after another.”

“The Community Advisory Board is to involve the community. We are there for you as a local business. But we are going in a complete redirection and focus. We will issue status reports so that you can play a role when people ask what’s going on,” he said With that, LaECI Managing Director Melody Turner rose and apologized.

“We were so involved with getting it right that we forgot a major component: community outreach and a transparent communications vehicle. We want to be open, get your input, and be part of a working relationship with the City of Conneaut, Ashtabula County, greater Northeast Ohio. We are proud of what we do as a company. We are proud to be here, proud of our experience. We want a long-term relationship.

There are lots of changes.

We stubbed our toes, but the staff mission is going to be

LaECI Food Service Director Charles Wesley. success. We want to do much in the community, and you’ll find us a good partner,” she said. “I know we have to build trust and I hope this is the first step.”

Patterson asked about rumors that 139 inmates were tripled-bunked in a segregation unit designed for 98.

The response was affirmative, and a staff member stated that the prison is working with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to send some inmates reclassified as “Level III” inmates due to behavior problems to another facility. LaECI houses Level 1 and Level II inmates only.

He told Patterson that there is a “backlog of beds” at all Level III prisons in Ohio, and that more cameras and fencing were to be installed to boost security later this month.

Wesley, with 11 years in Food Service, said his phi-

losophy is to keep inmates’ “tummies full” and create a clean, safe work environment.

“I try to latch on to those who want to learn to change their lives a little bit. I don’t care what they did. They can escape their cells by coming to work. If I can change one inmate, then I’ve made a difference in the prison,” he said.

Wesley is also starting an apprentice program for inmate kitchen employees that will offer a 1,000-hourtraining Food Safety Certificate through the LaECI’s Education Department.

That department offers college-level courses with Ashland University as well as GED certificates.

The staff psychologist said that the prison employs two social workers and has a case load of 200 out of 1,800 inmates.

Chaplain Margaret Armstrong serves inmates of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and pagan religions by offering studies of the Koran, the Bible, and a choir.

She seeks a choir director to come into the prison once or twice a week to redirect inmates with “wonderful [vocal] talent not being used well.”

The prison also offers staff activities under a “morale committee” headed by Elaine Waller, Manager of the Finance Office.

Finally, CCA’s Senior Director of Partnership Relations Ben Shuster, of Nash-

ville, Tenn, assured breakfast guests that management is working to “get this thing back on track.”

“You’ll be seeing more of me at the facility in coming months,” he said.

Community Advisory Board (CAB) members left the meeting with favorable reactions.

“We can rehash the past, but it won’t do any good.

You’ve heard us enough. I believe we’re getting communication, and we truly appreciate this. Maybe we just got spoiled in the last ten years,” Udell said, referring to the city’s relationship with LaECI’s former manager, MTC. Patterson urged everyone to read the 111-page report issued by the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee (CIIC) following a spontaneous January inspection of LaECI, based largely on inmate and staff interviews. Though it generated unfavorable marks in safety and security, Patterson stressed that LaECI has developed an action plan to correct deficiencies.

Patterson called the breakfast meeting a “good first step.”

“Because our relationship is ongoing, the important thing is to build upon ongoing communications,” Patterson said. “ As an optimistic person, I believe we have to make this work.

CCA understands that.

That’s the way it has to be.”

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 5A

TOURIST announcement that ODOT would be pulling staff from the centers in order to better utilize its resources. No one is saying how long the lone staffer at Conneaut’s I90 TIC will remain.

Mark Winchell, Executive Director of the Ashtabula County Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACCVB), sent an upbeat response to Naylor saying that the ACCVB will distribute Ashtabula County Convention & Visitors Bureau guides at Travel Information Centers across the state, and that SFC will report to each participant the number of guides and brochures picked up by tourists at each location.

“We will share any results we obtain so our members will know which TICs are going through the most ‘Ashtabula County’ information. This will be helpful for others to know when you are making decisions when and where to place your guides,” he wrote.

ODOT’s communique stated that it is aware that the placing of travel and tourist information at the Travel Information Centers has been free in the past.

“We are sensitive to your budget issues and have worked with multiple organizations and companies throughout the tourism industry to offer this service at a fair and reasonable rate,” it read.

No votes were listed in the communique.

It says that SFC will offer at the state’s 10 TIC locations tourist information warehousing, program management, and distribution of brochures, including weekly restocking of “racks and other distribution points” and a web-based service to allow organizations to track brochure distribution by location.

Ohio Rep. John Patterson (D-99) released a more detailed overview of the program that states that space may be limited at the TICs because space will be provided on a “first come, first served” basis, and that SFC Graphics will determine where brochures will be displayed at each location.

From page 1A A fee must be received with the brochures to be displayed.

Patterson had said last week that he was working with ODOT on the matter because of its impact on local economic development.

“Tourism is a multi-million dollar business in Ashtabula County alone, and I-90 is a well-traveled interstate, with people traveling on it to go to Cedar Point and the Rock Hall,” he said. “They should certainly be staffing the centers in the ‘gateway’ locations of Ohio, on I-70 and I-77, such as Marietta. We need bodies.

And if ODOT won’t staff the centers, then we need to have a point person. We have to have people there.”

Adding that he feels like a Dutch boy with not enough fingers to plug the holes in the dike, Patterson said in an e-mail to Naylor last Friday that he has asked a legislative liaison at ODOT to look into the issue.

“If we had known about this issue sooner, we’d have been able to draft an amendment to the transportation budget,” he responded.

He also recommended that Naylor contact Ohio Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-32) because the transportation budget is now in the Senate where an amendment might be drafted. He did say that if the Senate changes the bill, it would have to come back to the House for approval and an amendment could be generated there.

Ward 2 Councilman Phil Garcia views both ODOT measures, pulling staff from the TICs and the “pay to play” brochure policy, as political moves by Republican Gov. John Kasich to reduce state spending and enhance revenue by shifting expenses onto struggling communities.

“We are charged to advertise to bring people into Ashtabula County? That’s what the state is for,” he told City Council on Monday night. “Does the governor know that tourism is a multi-billion dollar business? I am totally against any of this. The state is not doing its job. We’re the gateway to Ohio.”

Kingsville Public Library Events With Connect Ohio, Kingsville Public Library will offer free basic adult computer classes 3 to 5 p.m. March 19 at the Simak Welcome Center, 3205 School Street. Classes are part of the state’s “Every Citizen Online” (ECO) free basic computer and Internet training program, including e-mail and daily broadband use. Register 224-0239.

“Flower Gardening Fundamentals” Next Week At Kingsville, Conneaut Libraries Ashtabula County Master Gardeners will present “Flower Gardening Fundamentals” at county libraries this month. Topics include flowers for shady gardens, sunny gardens, and adding color to flower beds by using ground covers. The course is 10 a.m. to noon March 16 at Kingsville Public Library, 6006 Academy Street, and 1 to 3 p.m. March 20 at Conneaut Public Library, 304 Buffalo Street. Registration is required for the free program. Call Kingsville Public Library at 224-0239 and Conneaut Public Library at 593-1608.

“Spring Fling” Nearly Sold Out

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

American Legion baseball team manager Jim Tupa would not step into the plastic hula hoop he is holding or pop a piece of bubble gum into his mouth, but upwards of 200 people will be asked to do just that, and more, at the Legion’s first “Spring Fling” 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday night, featuring music by the Kingpins. In addition to hula hoop and bubble-gum blowing contests, Tupa will oversee a limbo competition and award prizes for “Best Dressed 50s/60s” attire. There will be a Chinese auction and 50/ 50 raffle. Food and pop are available, and snacks may be brought in. Call Tupa at 812-8714 on the outside chance a few tickets remain Saturday, but few, if any, are expected to be available. Proceeds go to the Legion’s traveling baseball team, for 15-to-19-year-old boys, and the Conneaut High School girls’ softball team.

Conneaut Arts Center

Pharmacy & Health

What To Do About Diarrhea Diarrhea is term used to describe the condition of loose, watery stools. It affects millions of people.

In most cases, diarrhea occurs along with an illness that affects a person for a few days. In some people, however, diarrhea may naturally occur more frequently. The most common causes include stomach flu and eating or drinking food or water contaminated by bacteria or parasites.

Many medications cause diarrhea as a side effect including certain antibiotics, and some types of chemotherapy.

Diarrhea can lead to the dangerous loss of water and other nutrients in the body needed for life.

Over-the-counter products like Rehydralyte and Cera-lyte are liquid solutions that help restore loss of water and nutrients.

Loperamide (Imodium)

by Kerry Gerdes Gerdes Pharmacy 245 Main St. 593-2578 can stop diarrhea by controlling the digestive muscles in the stomach. It should not be used in a person who has diarrhea and a fever.

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can help treat diarrhea that is complicated with other symptoms like fever and upset stomach. Soft foods like mashed bananas, applesauce, and dry crackers can be eaten to ease the digestive pathway.

Prescribed medications and antibiotics may be given if there is also loss of blood, severe stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea for fourteen days or longer.

Local Events March 14, 21 - TOPS meeting, 6 to 8 p.,m. at Marcy Family Center, Harbor & Liberty Streets.

March 15, 22, 29 - Lenten dinners 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Cabrini Hall, 744 Mill St. Fish $9, pasta, $5, with potato, vegetable, roll, coffee/tea. Dessert $1. Take-out available.

March 15, 22, 29 – Fish Fry, 5 to 8 p.m. at American Legion, 272 Broad Street. Sponsored by Women’s Auxiliary. Choice of fried perch or baked talapia ($10), or fish sandwich platter ($7).

March 16 - Community Kitchen 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at IOOF Hall, 253 Liberty Street. Homemade soup, breads, desserts.

March 16 - Reuben Sandwich/Corned Beef dinner, 5 to 7 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1025 Buffalo St. (440) 593-5888 Main & Buffalo Streets

“Illustration Across the Board” continues 4 to 5 p.m.

Mondays in March for middle-school students. Instructor is Katheryn Ford. Students will paint, illustrate, and more. $20/$18.

The CAC will begin accepting drop-offs on March 25 for the annual “Garage Sale for the Arts” held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 20, with free admission. Toys, clothes, small furniture, kitchen supplies are accepted. Call for pickup of larger items.

March 16 - “Spring Fling” 6 to 10 p.m. at American Legion, 272 Broad Street, with music by the Kingpins. Benefit American Legion traveling softball team. (Sold Out) March 17 - Dan Schall in Concert, 6 p.m. at Family Fellowship Foursquare Gospel Church, 641 Mill Street March 19 - 20 - North Kingsville Presbyterian Church Super Sub Sale pick-up 4 to 6 p.m. March 19, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 20 at Waters Catering, 3224 E. Center St., North Kingsville.

March 20 - Soup Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Amboy United Methodist Church, 554 W. Main Road.

Conneaut’s Creative Writing “Ode to Cocoa”

March 22-23 - “The Odd Couple: Female Version,” 7 p.m. at Conneaut High School. $5. Presented by Conneaut High School Thespians.

March 22-23 - “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, 8 p.m. at Conneaut Arts Center, 1025 Buffalo St.

by Gitta Racinskas

March 23 - Breakfast With the Easter Bunny & Craft Fair, 8 a.m. to noon at Monroe Fire Hall, 4095 Center Road.

Adults $5, children 6 to 12, $3, under 6, free.

A coffee bean can sometimes be seen covered with a layer of rich velvety chocolate.

The crunching of the bean can be heard but not seen As it dissolves, sliding over the anxious taste buds in my mouth.

March 23 - Easter Egg Hunt, noon at Family Fellowship Church, 641 Mill St. Free, with snacks, beverages.

Fun for all ages.

The cocoa bean is a cuisine that cannot be denied me.

If sauerkraut were covered with an abundance of chocolate, I would no doubt partake of it without question.

The same would be true of sushi.

Chocolate is a daily indulgence.

Whether milk chocolate or dark, The cocoa bean always delivers And satisfies.

March 23 - Fish Dinner, 5 to 7 p.m. at Amboy Hall, 359 N. Amboy Road. Adults $9, seniors (55+) $8, children 12 and under, $6. Take-out available. Sponsored by W. Lakeville Hose Boosters.

March 29 - Easter Egg Hunt, noon, ages 2 through 5th grade, at Conneaut Human Resources Center, 327 Mill Street. Sponsored by Conneaut Rotary Club.

March 30 - Pancake Breakfast and Car Wash, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Main & Buffalo Streets. Breakfast $6 adults, $5 seniors (60+), $4; children 2-12, under 2, free. Car wash: donation.

Religion

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 6A

Brian Ewig Is Interim Pastor at First Baptist Church

By MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT – Brian Ewig admits being somewhat surprised when the Leadership Council of First Baptist Church accepted his request to become interim pastor following the departure of the Rev. Jonathan Singer in late August.

“The Leadership Council had met to assemble a Pulpit Committee to find an interim pastor, and I said I’d like to try the job, and to my surprise, they agreed instantly. I began in November,” said Ewig, an Erie, Pa., native who has lived in Conneaut most of his life.

The part-time assignment brings to Ewig’s mind the elderly woman who years ago told him, “Mark my words. You’ll be a pastor sometime.”

“We lived in Beaver Center, Pa., until I was about 7,” began Ewig, a former newspaper reporter and substitute teacher. “My mother taught school in Conneaut.

We changed churches when I was in my early teens and began coming here.”

Those were the days under Bill Brantingham, First Baptist’s longest-serving pastor for about a dozen years.

“This was a good church, child-friendly, and close to

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Brian Ewig, of Conneaut, is interim lay pastor at First Baptist Church, following the departure of the Rev. Jonathan Singer in late August. our own United Church that was independent, but a Bible-believing church. We believe the Bible is inherently correct, with no doctrinal error,” he said.

Ewig knew Singer’s predecessor, Todd Regester who, like Singer, served for seven years, which Ewig called “normal” for the American Baptist denomination.

Ewig says his temporary calling was inspired by a sixweek Sunday morning class led by fellow parishioner Walt Anderson last year, “Contagious Christianity.”

Ewig’s agreement was to serve from November through the end of January while the committee determined its pastoral needs.

But he is still serving, and the committee expects the process of finding a new pastor to take up to two years.

“Many churches are having difficulty meeting their obligations. Many pastors today are part-time, retired, or what they call ‘bi-vocational,’ meaning they have other part-time jobs. These are some of the issues we have to work through [in finding a full-time pastor],” Ewig said.

Ewig describes Conneaut’s 200-year-old American Baptist congregation as less strict than some Baptist groups. Neighboring American Baptist congregations include North Kingsville, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Dorset, Geneva, Painesville, Perry, and Chesterland.

“In my grandmother ’s time, women didn’t speak in church, but we’re not so exact here. Women are in leadership roles,” he said. “We need all the help we can get.”

Speaking of help, Ewig is being mentored and trained in lay leadership by personnel from the American Baptist regional office and local churches. His long-time involvement at First Baptist is

an asset.

In his interim role, he spends three hours a week in the church office, prepares a Sunday sermon, leads a Wednesday evening Bible study, and visits shut-ins.

“I think it’s important to have someone here to run current programs,” he said.

“I had done preaching on occasion when the pulpit was empty, so I had done that. I have been a Sunday school teacher since I was out of college and was head of the Christian Eduation board on and off for years.”

What Ewig likes best about serving as pastor is visiting the sick and shutins.

“I’ve had the privilege of meeting about 17 of them in the congregation. It’s a chance to share love, compassion and outreach.

They’re very appreciative, and I am honing skills that I hadn’t had,” he said.

Perhaps because of his Communications degree, Ewig finds that preaching without the aid of outline or notes comes easily.

“I’ve taken the advice of Paul. ‘If you are called, not to worry, but stand up and trust the spirit will give you to speak,’” he said. “I pray, and the Lord guides me. I ask Him to speak through me. The Spirit does the work. All the good the church

Religious Briefs Church Meals

Church Sign: “Keep the faith, but share it with others.”

– North Kingsville Presbyterian Church The Rev. Jan Walsh will preach at 9 a.m. contemporary and 11 a.m. traditional worship March 17 at New Leaf United Methodist Church, 283 Buffalo Street. New Leaf Adult Choir will sing “Calvary Invitation” under the direction of Rebecca Levering. Free brunch 8:45 to 10:50 a.m. People in Prayer for Progress 10 a.m. Saturdays at New Leaf South on Gateway Boulevard. Youth Fellowship will meet 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 17 at New Leaf South.

At March 17 worship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 876 Grove Street, the Rev. Frank Gore, pastor, will preach on “Leaving is Loving,” part of his Lenten sermon series, “They Call Him the Savior.” Worship with Holy Communion is 8:30 a.m. (contemporary) and 11 a.m. (traditional). Nursery available for birth to age 5.

New Leaf United Methodist Church, 283 Buffalo Street, free Friday Community Dinners 5 to 6 p.m. Menu on March 15 is rigatoni and meat sauce. March 22 menu is ham and scalloped potatoes. Meals include veggies, homemade rolls & butter, desserts.

St. Andrew Church, 3700 Route 193, Sheffield Twp., is hosting an “All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast,” with pancakes, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy & biscuits, toast, juice and coffee 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 17. Adults $6, ages 5-12, $3, under 5, free. Seniors 60 and up, $5. Take-out available. Next breakfast April 14.

All-You-Can-Eat Hot Breakfast Buffet 8:30 to 11 a.m.

March 17 at Cabrini Hall, 744 Mill Street. Menu includes eggs, bacon, sausage patties or links, sausage gravy & biscuits, pancakes, fruit, beverage. Adults $6. Children under 6 eat free. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council #627.

Next breakfast April 7.

Soup Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, March At 11 a.m. worship March 17 at First Baptist Church, 20, at Amboy United Methodist Church, 554 W. Main Road.

370 State Street, greeters will be Norm & Faye Gross, Martha, Tim and Mandy Gross, and Nancy Batechelor. Easter Egg Free Wednesday evening suppers 5 to 6:30 p.m. at hunt is 11:30 a.m. March 23.

Family Fellowship Foursquare Gospel Church, 641 Mill Monroe United Methodist Church will worship 10:30 Street. March 20 menu is Chili, with beans & meat, with a.m. March 17 at Kelloggsville United Methodist Church, 4763 salad, corn bread, dessert, beverage. Diners invited to stay N. Monroe-Center Road. Pastor Samara Jenkins will preach. for 6:30 p.m. worship.

“Real Women, Real Faith” is the worship theme 11 a.m.

March 17 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Main & Buffalo Street. Five women from the congregation will share “This I Believe,” as other women read Scripture, lead prayers, serve as ushers and greeters. A pot luck family style dinner will follow worship.

“Stations of the Cross” is 4 p.m. Fridays during Lent at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 744 Mill Street.

Dan Schall

he said. “If we can’t laugh at ourselves? We shrug off missed musical cues or other occasional glitches. No one’s perfect.”

Ewig also enjoys the congregation’s social side, its dinners, youth group and ties to Camp Koinonia.

“The feedback has been good,” he said. “I’m happy. I like what I’m doing.”

He also likes the Sunday morning feelings at First Baptist.

“It’s a good feeling. It’s come-as-you-are. We’re welcoming and flexible, trying to keep the Spirit alive. I love the opportunity to be part of Christian leadership. But the folks and I have to be on the same page. God has used this church for decades and wants to continue to build what we have. When the Lord anoints a successor, that will be His will. Then I’ll know it and will be happy to welcome the new pastor.

I’ll step back and let his future unfold,” he said.

St. Patrick’s Day Reuben/ Corned Beef Benefit Dinner Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with friends at the Reuben Sandwich/ Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner 5 to 7 p.m.

Saturday at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Main & Buffalo Streets.

Dinner will be served 5 to 7 p.m. $7.50 Take-out is available.

Pictured among decorations FILE PHOTO provided by Imagination Custom Creations is church secretary Chris Brown.

Easter Egg Hunt March 23 Family Fellowship Church, l641 Mill St., will hold its fourth annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at noon Saturday, March 23.

The Easter Egg Hunt will be divided into age groups. No child will leave empty-handed.

Various gift baskets will be raffled.

Snacks and beverages will be provided. There will also be a raffle for various Gift Baskets. Snack food and beverages will be provided.

This free event will be held rain or shine. For more information, call 440-593-3095.

Lenten Services

Lenten fish fries 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays at Cabrini Hall, 744 Mill Street. Baked or fried white fish dinners, with baked potato, mixed vegetables, homemade roll & butter, cole slaw or apple sauce, and coffee or tea, $9; chil- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church dren $5. Pasta & sauce meal with cole slaw or applesauce Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Grove Street at Lake and roll is $5. Dessert $1 and pop/bottled water $1. Take- Road, offers 7 p.m. Wednesday Lenten worship, “Discoverout available. Also 50/50 raffle. Gift basket raffle at the ing the Parables.” final dinner March 29. Sponsored by St. Mary/St. Frances The services are preceded by a Soup-and-Sandwich SupCabrini Church. per, with dessert, served in Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m.

Wednesdays. The final service is March 20.

Dan Schall in Concert Sunday at Family Fellowship

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

does comes through the Spirit, not man. The Spirit makes it fruitful.”

Ewig finds that his time in the pulpit flies by so much that if he talks too long, his mother, Geri Conroy, will signal with the “finger across the neck sign” that it’s time to quit.

“I really don’t have any conception of time. I don’t wear my glasses when I preach, so I can’t see the clock,” he said with a smile.

Still smiling, Ewig called First Baptist a “fun” church.

About 40 of its active member roster of 100 attend weekly.

“We expected the numbers to drop when the pastor left, but we’re inching up.

‘Small but growing,’ and we welcome everyone,” he said.

Ewig says the First Baptist congregation does not take itself too seriously.

“I wouldn’t want to be so hide-bound, rigid in worship that there’s no room for humor or fun from the pulpit,”

him with anger as a young boy, questioning whether God - if there was a God — CONNEAUT - Popular had forsaken him.

But he soon realized that Christian singer Dan Schall will appear in free concert God had given him a gift of 6 p.m. Sunday, March 17, at music. Though Schall still Family Fellowship Four- stutters when he speaks, he square Gospel Church, 641 learned he was able to share what God had meant to him Mill Street.

Schall, of Zelienople, Pa., through song.

After decades of working overcame a stuttering affliction to praise the Lord and a full-time job and presentshare His works through ing concerts on the side, music. The affliction filled Schall and his wife, Linda,

formed the non-profit Dan Schall Ministries in 2001.

In addition to performing, Schall visits people who have been touched by his music and his message.

Schall’s concerts are filled with music and testimony, love for Jesus Christ, concern for his fellow man’s eternity as well as God’s love for man.

The concert is free. A free-will offering will be taken.

March 20 - Pastoral Assistant Nancy Guthrie will speak on “The Ten Bridesmaids.”

Conneaut Area Ministerial Association The Conneaut Area Ministerial Association (CAMA) 2013 Lenten service theme is “Prayer and Practice: Means of Grace That Nurture Faith and Shape Life.”

Ecumenical services, followed by fellowship, are held 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through March 21.

March 14 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Grove Street at Lake Road. The Rev. Scott or Jan Walsh, pastor of New Leaf United Methodist Church, preaching. Music

by First Congrgational United Church of Christ.

March 21 - First Assembly of God, 389 W. Main Road.

Nancy Guthrie, pastoral assistant at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, preaching. New Leaf UMC Choir.

Education

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 7A

Adam Laitinen Is Youth of the Month PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Honored on Feb. 26

by Conneaut Rotary Club as Conneaut Middle School’s Youth of the Month was eighth-grader Adam Laitinten (center), joined at the luncheon by his parents, Don and Pam Laitinen. His nominating teacher described him as an exemplary student who has earned a per fect 4.0 GPA throughout sixth, seventh and eighth grades at CMS, and as quiet, polite, respectful and a role model. In his remarks to the group, Laitinen called himself a “sports fanatic,” saying he loves soccer, golf and bowling and plays on the school’s basketball and tennis teams. His favorite subjects are science and American history. He aspires to become a lawyer or engineer. A volunteer at his church Soup Kitchen and Fish Dinners, Laitinen thanked his parents for their support and said the award means a lot.

TREES “But if tree removal is a priority to Council, this does not mean that you can’t change funding priorities,” said Eggleston. He was also adamant that only certified tree trimmers trained to work within ten feet of power lines would be permitted to do the work, which in the past has been left to Public Works crews.

Eggleston said that the amendment permits the city to enter private property to inspect trees at the homeowner’s request, but the city will not spend tax dollars taking to court homeowners whose diseased trees are in the rightof-way [front or tree lawn] and should be removed.

“We will let them know of the problem,” he said.

“There will be no notice regarding trees on the side or rear of the property.”

City Council also moved to a third reading an ordinance regarding vacating streets or alleys, and an ordinance on Solicitor and Itinerant Vendor permits to give the public a chance to offer input. The Vacating Streets and Alleys ordinance shifts the $300-andup costs of a survey and other county-required paperwork to the residents making the request. The Solicitor and Itinerant Vendor ordinance affects Farmers Markets. Law Director David Schroeder was represented at the meeting by Assistant Law Director Carly Prather. who was unprepared to explain rewording to the ordinances since Council moved them to a second reading on March 11.

From page 1A Council moved to a second reading an ordinance that would have supported the Conneaut Port Authority’s application to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for a D-5F permit for the dockfront restaurant it expects to open for the tourist season.

Ward 4 Councilman and Port Authority Liaison Tom Kozesky moved the ordinance to a second reading, remarking that he was surprised that no one from the Port Authority attended the meeting to offer details of its plans.

Council did pass an ordinance to create a fund for the “Moving Ohio Forward” demolition funds and to approve participation in an Ohio Department of Transportation mowing project on I-90.

Eggleston called ODOT to clarify the original agreement and was permitted to take out some sections. He said ODOT will be responsible and pay for mowing the I-90 median once construction has ended.

Eggleston also invited Police Chief Chuck Burlingham, Fire Chief Steve Lee, and Waterworks Superintendent Steve Kehoe to address council on departmental happenings.

Burlingham reported that three new police cars are being “traded out” and are expected on the streets next week. He said the packaging has changed on the Computer-Aided Dispatch for the first time since 1998, and it is demanding a “learning curve.” The department has an officer-in-

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training who replaced one who took a job in Mentor.’

He also expressed misgivings about an upcoming jail inspection that will focus on “139 points of interest,” including the opportunity for inmates to receive haircuts.

“Haircuts? For 12 days in jail?” he shrugged.

Lee reported 2,117 calls in 2012,including 26 structure fires, nine vehicle fires, and 1,463 ambulance calls.

EMTs have been training at UH-Conneaut Medical Center, an accredited chest pain center, and EMS is moving to paperless reports. Vehicles are receiving regular, scheduled maintenance, unlike the “as needed” basis of the past, and radios need to be upgraded per a 2013 FCC mandate for narrow-band radios.

“There are still issues,” Lee said. “And we are going to need a new ambulance in a few years.”

Kehoe offered an update on the new water line from Gore to Lake Road, saying that the stone placed to create a road for work crews will be removed in two weeks. Four hydrants were cut out from the old line.

Once warm weather hits, driveways cut for the new water line will be repaired.

The Water Department capital project for a new enclosed building below the water plant to give workers indoor access to screens to avoid outdoor exposure and icy patches during the winter, was discussed. The wash water effluent line also needs to be replaced and the main building

needs pointing. Estimated project cost is $325,000, with bidding on March 13 and bid opening April 3.

Eggleston thanked the administrators and said they will be giving quarterly reports.

Finance Director John Williams had no report.

City Council President Tom Udell said that, in response to phone calls, no statement had been released from the March 4 Finance and Ordinance Meeting that trash hauling with curbside recycling discussions predicted monthly bills of $40.

“The discussion was $40 every quarter, not every month. That’s where we’d love to be,” he said.

Eggleston said the city plans to talk to Geneva, which has curbside recycling with its one-contractor trash hauling. He said their prices have dropped each year.

Finally, At-large Councilman Neil LaRusch commented on the amount of spray-painted graffiti at the CSX overpass on Broad Street.

“We wanted them to repaint it, but we don’t like the direction it’s going,” he said.

He also projected that demolition of Washington Street buildings to make way for the new downtown Dollar General would begin in about six weeks. Developers are securing permits from Ashtabula County, he said.

Council will meet in televised session at 7 p.m. Monday, March 25, in Council chambers.

ALICE Training Begins March 21

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - School locations listed in the March 6 Courier regarding ALICE Training for parents of children in the Conneaut Area City Schools have been revised.

The March 21 session is at Conneaut Middle School; March 25, Gateway Elementary School; March 26 Lakeshore Primary School and March 27 at Conneaut High School.

All sessions begin at 6 p.m. in the school cafeterias.

In a letter to school district parents and guardians, Conneaut Area City School Superintendent Kent Houston wrote that Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct., was the most recent addition to the “American vocabulary when discussing senseless acts of violence in the educational setting.”

“It is an unfortunate reality that situations such as these occupy our thoughts in today’s world,” he said.

Houston went on to describe the ALICE training that is being adopted by numerous school districts because it emphasizes escaping scenes of violence, when possible, and to fight back against an intruder.

“This procedure is based on personal choice,” Houston said. “It is this choice that could be the greatest factor in surviving an active shooter situation.”

Since Jan., 2012, Conneaut Area City Schools has been working to bring the A.L.I.C.E. training to the classrooms. The upcoming parent information sessions are a means of cleaning up misconceptions about the A.L.I.C.E. program and providing information about the parents’ role in the process should the Conneaut schools be faced with this type of situation.

“No amount of planning or preparation can stop all school violence, but we can see to it that everyone has a choice in one’s own survival in the event of the ‘unthinkable,’” Houston said.

A.L.I.C.E. Team members include Houston; Conneaut Fire Chief Steve Lee; Conneaut Fire Capt. Tim Zee; Conneaut Police Chief Chuck Burlingham, Conneaut Police Sgt. Randy Poore, Conneaut Police Officer Chris MacKenson; Conneaut High School Assistant Principal Joel Taylor; Kevin Warren, Conneaut Area City Schools Building & Grounds; Brian Chase, Conneaut Area City Schools Technology.

Thrift Shop Meeting March 27 Conneaut Hospital Thrift Shop volunteers will meet 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, at Conneaut Public Library, 304 Buffalo St., to discuss donations to scholarships and UH-CMC. Light refreshments will be served.

Alumni Calendar Rowe ‘53/54 Rowe High School Classes of 1953/54 will meet for breakfast 9 a.m. March 19 at Perkins Restaurant, Conneaut Plaza. Guests welcome. Breakfasts held the first/ third Tuesdays of each month.

CHS ‘58 Conneaut High School class of 1958 will meet for a noon luncheon April 1 and May 6 at Perkins Restaurant, Conneaut Plaza.

The class will have a Brown Bag Lunch noon June 3 at Conneaut Township Park’s lower pavilion. Lunch may be purchased at Pat’s Lakeside Grill at the lower pavilion.

CHS ’64 A “Spring Break” get-together is 6 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Pat’s Fireside. Spouses and guests welcome.

CHS “Cabaret” Tickets on Sale Tickets are now on sale for the Conneaut High School Choral Department’s “Cabaret,” a musical theater extravaganza on April 26 at the high school.

The evening includes hors d’oeuvres by Phil’s Catering.

Tickets are $15.

They are available at Gerdes Pharmacy, Orlando Brothers Golden Dawn, Rainbow Cafe, Conneaut Savings Bank, Harbor Beverage, Poco Bandito, Antonette’s, Port Conneaut Federal Credit Union, and Anthony’s Restaurant For information, call Conneaut Music Boosters’ Brenda Fields at 593-3940.

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Sports

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 8A

Spartans begin baseball practice

PHOTOS BY ALLAN MONONEN

The Conneaut Spartans warm-up during a recent baseball practice.

The Conneaut Spartans baseball team beings practice for the upcoming seasons.

BY ALLAN MONONEN Gazette Newspapers

than last year,” Coach Graher said.

A team weakness may be depth.

“After 7 or 8 guys the ninth and those off the bench will be determined. We are constantly evaluating them,” Graher added.

in seniors Joey Borgerding, Christian Williams, Dylan Morici, Michael Mirando, CONNEAUT - Conneaut and juniors Cody Martin and baseball coach Walker CJ Rice.

Senior Don Sackett will Graher begins his second year at the helm of Spartan also compete for the Spartans this year. baseball.

Coach Graher thinks one Several lettermen return

of this season’s squad team strengths should be pitching with Borgerding, Rice, and Morici taking the mound.

Junior Tyler Cox will also be in the mix for pitching depth.

“I am very confident in our pitching, we should have 5 or 6 pitchers and be deeper

“Offensively, we are not a power hitting team, we will have to score runs in different ways, bunt, hit and run and play small ball.

Many of the kids run well,we will have to be active on the bases. On defense we can’t give the

teams extra outs and improve our mental toughness,” Coach Graher said about the teams offense and defense.

The season begins when the Spartans host Lakeside on April 1 at Skippon Field.

Game time is 4:30.

Lady Cougars club growing

BY ALLAN MONONEN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - The Conneaut Cougar youth wrestling program has been in competition since Ed Sanford started the program in the 1970’s.

Cougar wrestlers have been boys with a few girls trying the sport.

Now with Cougar veteran Alesha Zappitella leading the way, Lady Cougars are now coming together.

Zappitella has wrestled with the program since she was five years old, her brother Lance was a wrestler and she wanted to try the sport.

This past wrestling season Alesha wrestled her way to a District berth, finishing second in the Sectional Tournament at 106 pounds while competing against guys.

Last summer, 2012, Alesha’s experience with the Cougars helped her win a national Championship in Folkstyle and a Third Place in the National tourney in Freestyle.

PHOTO BY ALLAN MONONEN Now Alesha has brought together a few Members of the Lady Cougars are: Sydney Burgard, Claire Randolph, Kendra Rozalski, young ladies with the Cougars who will coach Alesha Zappitella, Tierney Burgard and Ashley Burgard. Crystal Drennan is absent.

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wrestle in a State Tournament Saturday in Doylestown, Ohio.

Alesha won her weight class the last two years.

The young ladies vary in age and size, they compete in Cougar wrestling in addition to a teen from Euclid, Crystal Drennan, who is a friend of Alesha and wrestled for Euclid High School.

The Lady Cougars are: Alesha, senior, Conneaut, 106 pounds; Drennan, 11th grade, Euclid, 106 pounds; Ashley Burgard, 8th, Ashtabula, 155; Sydney Burgard, 5th, Ashtabula, 80; Tierney Burgard, 5th, Ashtabula, 70; Claire Randolph, 3rd., Conneaut, 64 and Kendra Rozalski, 3rd., Conneaut, 75 pounds.

At the tourney Saturday, Alesha Zappitella did not wrestle but coached the girls. She had a Champion in her coaching debut as Ashley Burgard won her weight class at 155.

The girls l were very successful overall as Sydney Burgard, Claire Randolph and Kendra Rozalski were second in their classes. Crystal Drennan placed third and Tierney Burgard was fourth.

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Sports

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 9A

Senior wrestlers gather one more time

Ricker Maple, of Jefferson, and Dakota Brininger, of Geneva, wrestle during the senior wrestling classic.

BY BYRON C. WESSELL Gazette Newspapers

Zappitella led 11-9 after the first period and 21-19 after two periods. The two wrestlers continued to switch earning points and tying it up with escapes in the third period as they wrestled to a 32-32 tie as time was running out. The two wrestlers stayed on the ground with the score tied at, but the match was eventually given to Zappitelli as she got up and was rewarded an escape point for a 33-32 win.

The final match of the evening featured another Conneaut wrestler in Austin Sherman against Ricker Maple, of Jefferson, in his second match of the evening.

Maple would pick up a rare second win on the night with a 12-9 win in another fun match. The score was tied at 3-3 after one period as the two wrestlers tried to see how many times they could spin each other around the matt much like a cheerleading rattling off numerous back flips. Maple then got the edge in the second period up 6-4 before picking up the 12-9 win.

Unable to attend the senior classic were: Russell Wanda, Conneaut; Travis Pellis, GV; Heath Martin, GV; Sean Szitas, GV; Jerry Scott, Jefferson; Joey Babic, Jefferson; Troy Stitt, Jefferson; Caleb Harris, Jefferson; Nick Montgomery, Madison; Aaron Sweeney, Madison; Tim Streisel, Madison; Drew Jones, Perry; Ryan Sill, Perry; Cory Gramberg, Perry; Evan Nichols, Perry; Jake Denman, Riverside, Evan Rosborough, Riverside; Dalton Anderson, Riverside; Kris Leonard, PV; and David Baker, PV. In attendance but unable to wrestle were: Zach Campbell, of PV, and Chuck Morgan, of Lakeside.

Matt Bidwell, of Conneaut, and Steve Paratto, of Grand Valley, coached the two wrestling squads. Roger Sherman volunteered his time to officiate the matches.

ASHTABULA - The 15th Cody Ellis, PV, Alesha Zappitella, of Conneaut, Ricker annual Star Beacon-Mike Maple, of Jefferson, Zach Campbell, of PV, and Rocky Scully Senior Classic took Tripodi, of Jefferson, are introduced during the senior place on Monday, March 4 at wrestling classic.

Lakeside Gynasium.

Only nine senior wrestlers were on hand during the event as wrestlers from Perry, Madison, Riverside and Grand Valley were unable to attend.

The first match of the evening featured Ricker Maple, of Jefferson, and Dakota Brininger, of Geneva, at 138lbs. Maple was up 9-8 in a close match after a few back-to-back planned escapes and spins by both wrestlers. The second spin featured more acrobatics than you see in a normal wrestling match as Maple led 16-12. The two wrestlers finished out the 6-minute match with Maple winning 19-16 as both wrestlers had fun throughout in the final Grand Valley Mustangs Head Coach Steve Paratto and high school wrestling match. coach Aaron Brown, of GV, participate in the Star The second match was Beacon-Mike Scully senior wrestling classic. between two Jefferson Falcon wrestlers who wrestled against each other in practice many times throughout the season. Rocky Tripodi at 170lbs and Blake Perry at 182lbs. The two Falcon wrestlers continued to play around as they started the evening with a timed removal of their warm-up pants to show off their yellow and black striped legging worn by Perry and fishnet stockings worn by Tripodi. Rocky Tripodi led 14-13 after the first period.

The two wrestlers continued their routine into the second round with Rocky picking up more points and a 27-22 lead. The two wrestlers seemed to lose track of who was gaining points as Tripodi led 38-29 in the third period before a fake elbow drop allowed him to pick up a quick pin.

The third match of the evening was between two Alesha Zappitella, of Conneaut, wrestles against wrestlers who wrestled in teammate Billy Post, during the senior classic. the same 182lb division for the majority of the season in Pymatuning Valley’s Cody Ellis and Lakeside’s Otis Conel. The two wrestlers felt each other out for the majority of the first two periods as it was tied 3-3 after one and Conel held a slim 7-6 lead after two. The two wrestlers got a little more serious with about 40 seconds left in the match as Conel was able to win on an escape 10-9.

One of the most interesting matches of the night featured two Conneaut wrestlers weighing in at 106lbs in Alesha Zappitella and Billy Post at 220lbs. The two wrestlers seemed to be planning for a tie as they kept the Blake Perry, of Jefferson, Dakota Brininger, of Geneva, Austin Sherman, of Conneaut, Billy match close throughout. Post, of Conneaut, and Otis Conel, of Lakeside, get ready for the senior wrestling classic.

PHOTOS BY BYRON C. WESSELL

Cody Ellis, of PV, Coach Dave Miller, and Zach Campbell, of PV, watch the action during the Star Beacon-Mike Scully senior wrestling classic.

Cody Ellis, of PV, wrestles against Otis Conel, of Lakeside, during the Mike Scully senior classic.

Rocky Tripodi, of Jefferson, Blake Perry, of Jefferson, and Dakota Brininger, of Geneva, watch a match during the Star Beacon-Mike Scully senior classic.

Billy Post, of Conneaut, and Otis Conel, of Lakeside, watch their fellow area seniors wrestle.

Austin Sherman, of Conneaut, wrestles against Ricker Maple, of Jefferson, during a senior classic match-up.

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 10A

Men Arrested on Sheriff’s Warrants

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Two men picked up by Conneaut police during a traffic stop on March 6 were released to the Ashtabula County Sheriff ’s Office on outstanding warrants.

According to police reports, police patrolling Harbor near Jackson Street at 11:40 a.m. passed a red Nissan traveling southbound that was making a loud clunking noise. As the officer pulled behind it and activated lights, the front seat passenger exited and took off running south through a yard

towards the N&S Railroad tracks.

The officer exited his patrol car and announced “Police!” and ordered the subject to stop running, but he kept running.

The driver, identified as Jeffery Westcott, told police, “I don’t know,” when asked who had taken off running.

When asked if anything was located in his vehicle, he stated “No, go ahead and search it.”

The rear passenger, John Eckonen, exited the vehicle, was patted down and escorted to the patrol car. He and Westcott were placed in the

rear seat.

Inside the vehicle near the driver’s side door police found and confiscated a small ring baggie, a common means of packaging narcotics.

When Westcott handed over his wallet when the officer asked for his license, he began trembling when the officer asked if anything illegal was in the wallet. “Yes, there’s Subutex in it,” he said.

The item was confiscated, and he was cited.

Dispatch notified police that Eckonen had several arrest warrants, and he was arrested.

As police were dealing

with Westcott, someone contacted the police station and said that the subject who had run off from the traffic stop had been picked up in a silver vehicle traveling eastbound on Route 20.

The suspect, Mr. Tirado, was picked up by Conneaut officers. He was found to have several arrest warrants from the Ashtabula County Sheriff ’s Office and Pennsylvania Police took Eckonen and Tirado to the police station.

Tirado was placed in the detox cell. Both were later released to the Ashtabula County Sheriff ’s Office.

No License, No Turn Signal = Citations

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

pumping gas outside did not have a valid operator’s license.

According to police reports, CONNEAUT - Officers in- by the time officers left the vestigating a complaint at True store, the van was waiting to North at 10:36 a.m. March 9 exit the True North lot westwere approached by a male bound on State Street but had who said a person driving a not activated his turn signal. A green Ford Explorer who was white male was behind the

Man Passes Out in True North Restroom

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Marvin Jones was found to have passed out in the men’s restroom at True North at 3:59 a.m. March 8.

According to police reports, True North notified Dispatch that a man may have passed out because he had been in the restroom for over an hour.

The clerk suspected that he was intoxicated.

Officers knocked on the restroom door, which was locked, but got no response.

They retrieved a key from the manager and entered, observing Jones passed out on the toilet. Urine was on the

floor in front of him.

Jones looked at police with a dazed look and appeared to be under the influence. In slurred speech, he told officers he was not sure where he was and began to argue with police when they told him he had passed out in the gas station rest room.

He finally stood up and officers detected the odor of alcoholic beverage on his person. When asked if he had consumed alcohol, he said, “Yes, at Just One More Bar.” He said he had been there for several hours consuming Crown Royal.

Jones was cited for Disorderly Conduct and released to a sober friend’s custody.

Men Cited for Disorderly Conduct

Matthew Bliss. Guy told police that Bliss has been hawheel.

Financial Responsibility Susrassing his 15-year-old Officers stopped the vehicle pension.

CONNEAUT - A passer- daughter despite his havHe was cited for turn signal by in front of Conneaut ing told Bliss to leave her on Main Street, near the High School 10:56 a.m. alone.

Grandview Avenue intersec- and FRA suspension.

He advised that Bliss Raymond contacted a friend March 7 called police to retion, and advised the driver, Jay Raymond, why he was being with a valid license and was port two males yelling at has been sending his stopped. permitted to leave with the one another in a heated ar- daughter messages via Facebook.

Raymond did not possess a friend behind the wheel of his gument.

Guy said the two men According to police revalid license. He was under a vehicle. ports, officers dispatched to had been engaged in a the scene observed one shouting match as the armale they knew to be gument became more Raymond Guy, walking heated.

Bliss’ story corroborated

by MARTHA SOROHAN Kaczoroski was also south of the school and an- with Guy’s. other white male standing Gazette Newspapers highly intoxicated and in front of the high school.

Both were issued minor smelled of alcoholic beverOfficers identified the misdemeanor citations for CONNEAUT - Officers ages. His eyes were glossy, second man as 21-year-old disorderly conduct. were summoned at 10:35 his speech was slurred and a.m. March 9 to Main Street, he could barley stand on his in front of City Hall, for re- own weight.

During their conversation ports of someone who had When told to cease his bewith Kaczoroski, who was by MARTHA SOROHAN fallen on the sidewalk. havior, he said, “What the Gazette Newspapers According to police re- difficult to understand, offic?#*@? I am getting accused ports, personnel from Station ers learned that he fell down CONNEAUT - Ronald of hurting my own children.”

1 were on the scene when of- outside of Golden Dawn on Sigley was cited for disorThe other two men, idenficers arrived. The person the sidewalk. derly conduct 11:49 a.m. tified as employees of Kaczoroski admitted that March 8 after an incident at Ashtabula County Children who fell, identified as John Services. told police that Kaczoroski, was seated on a he had too much to drink that a local mobile home park.

According to police re- when they arrived at the hospital bed, with blood drip- morning and lost his balance.

He was cited for Disor- ports, officers were dis- home, and told Sigley that ping from his chin and a lacpatched to a fight in progress they were investigating a derly Conduct. eration on his right hand. across from Lot #62. They complaint, Sigley became arrived to find one male, irate and began yelling at From page 3A identified as Sigley, standing the top of his lungs.

Other neighbors gave in front of the trailer speaksimilar accounts of the inciing to two subjects.

Principal Dawn Zappitelli cause of its location in the Upon seeing officers, he dent. commended four high school corner of the state.

Sigley was cited. began yelling profanities. musicians who were named to “We are as far northeast the state Honors Choir. The as anyone can go,” he said. school would be on “delayed “We are the ones who are alstart” for the Ohio Graduation ways driving.”

Test on March 11. Those takCampbell said that even ing the test would begin if Conneaut were chosen, it by MARTHA SOROHAN called a friend who brought school at the normal time, but would be several years before out his ATV, but he was unGazette Newspapers non-test takers were to arrive anything materialized. able to pull them out. at 9:30 a.m.

“Don’t get excited. We just When police arrived, CONNEAUT An In his Superintendent’s got interviewed,” he warned. Underridge Road East resi- Watters said that another Report, Houston talked about Some of the schools in the dent notified police 6:55 friend was en route with a the upcoming ALICE training league are already on p.m. March 9 that a group bigger truck and tires. All sessions for parents in Conneaut’s schedule, he said. of people on ATVs and were given the chance to get March. Training sessions for The board also heard trucks were trespassing in the vehicles removed. The his back yard along power third truck also got stuck.

Technology Chair Brian lines. students will follow.

Sleeper was issued a miDuring a pre-meeting Chase explain the need for at According to police re- nor misdemeanor citation work session on Feb. 20, least one more server to ports, officers went to the for Disorderly Conduct as Conneaut High School Ath- handle the district’s com- area and noticed stationary he cursed several times and letic Director Jim Campbell puter load but said the dis- headlights underneath the was directed twice to stop said that representatives trict will be participating in power lines. Two vehicles yelling.

Eventually, a ride was from the All-American Con- a pilot program to transfer were stuck in the mud and contacted and all parties left ference had visited the school information onto “cards” to unable to leave the area.

One of the riders, Dale the area. The three drivers that day and looked at the temporarily provide more Watters II, said he and of the trucks, Watters, athletic facilities — including space on the servers.

Mark Sedmack were in the Sleeper and John Dickey, “It’s cost-effective, but it’s first truck “baja’ing” along were directed to contact the gym, weight room, and stadium — to consider brand new, six-month-old the power lines. When he someone with a trac-hoe or Conneaut as one of three technology,” Chase said. got stuck, Watters called bulldozer to remove the veHeinonen asked whether Chris Sleeper to bring his hicles the next day. teams it would like to round The incident was forout one of the divisions of its students’ bringing their own truck to pull him out. laptops from home might be Sleeper arrived and became warded to the Law Director conference. for charges toward Watters Campbell said they had a viable alternative, but stuck himself.

Watters and Sleeper for Trespassing. also visited Edgewood, Chase said that would give Grand Valley and the district no control over Pymatuning Valley High the system.

He said the answer relies Schools. Campbell believes down the ramp, leaving the that Conneaut was “number on the school board’s looking by MARTHA SOROHAN trailer and truck partly subfour” on the list, even at its Permanent Improve- Gazette Newspapers merged in the water. though Grand Valley and ment budget to decide what The owner of the vehicle CONNEAUT - With the Pymatuning Valley had not is affordable. The board help of a diver, a boat was had already contacted his intoured the district’s Technol- retrieved from the water at surance company, which applied for membership.

“They want a small ogy office at its March 7 work 10:08 a.m. March 10 after its called a tow truck prior to posession. school,” Campbell said. lice arrival. trailer brakes failed.

The board will meet in Houston said he would A diver was contacted and According to police relike to have Jefferson, regular work session at 5:30 ports, a fisherman called asked to respond, on his own Edgewood and other county p.m. and regular meeting 6:30 from the dumps on time, to dive and hook up the schools in the same league p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Woodworth Road advising vehicle for the tow truck. but said Conneaut is at a geo- the Southeast Building, sec- that brakes had failed on a The vehicle was removed man’s truck as he backed it from the water. graphic disadvantage be- ond floor, 400 Mill Street.

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

Local Man Arrested on Warrants Man Falls on Main Street Sidewalk

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers CONNEAUT - Taylor C. Batchelor was arrested March 8 on outstanding warrants.

According to police reports, officers learned of Batchelor’s outstanding warrants at 8:05 p.m. and went to his last known address on Bessemer Avenue to serve them.

As they stood outside the residence, they overheard two males conversing in the living room. They recognized one of them as Batchelor, sitting in

the living room, through the front window.

Officers knocked at the door and were met by Richard Sabo. When asked where the other man had gone after they began knocking at the door, Sabo said there had not been anyone else. “It was me sitting at the computer,” he said.

Knowing he was giving false information, officers asked again. Batchelor soon emerged from the back bedroom.

He was arrested, escorted to jail, and booked in.

CBOE At the school board’s regular Feb. 20 meeting, the board approved membership in the Ohio School Boards Association for $5,357, describing it as a “bare-bones” membership with all print material sent on line. It also approved a contract with Canter & Associates to perform the GAAP annual audit, not to exceed $4,200.

Treasurer Lindsey Cotton said the contract was $1,000 lower than other bids.

In personnel news, it approved maternity leave for teacher Julie Williams, April 8 to June 5; and medical leave for Amy Light, effective Jan. 28 to June 5.

It hired Rebecca Betteridge and Nicole Metzler as substitute teachers for the 2012-2013 school year.

In classified personnel changes, Carly Strader was approved as bus driver, 186 days, four hours a day at $14.98 per hour, from second shift custodian. The appointment is effective Feb. 11.

“She bid on an open route and as the senior person, was entitled to it,” said Conneaut Area City Schools Superintendent Kent Houston.

The board also issued a one-year HVAC maintenance contract to David Schreiber, 12-months, eight-hours a day at $15.04 per hour, effective Feb. 11, and to bus driver James Faidley, 186 days, 3.5hours per day, at $12.79 per hour, also effective Feb. 11.

The board hired substitute classified personnel Colleen Anthony, Eugene Emery,

Mark Geiser, Pauline Jarvi, Teresa Kotomski, and Robin Williams.

Some are already employed as classified workers in the system and want to expand their hours, Houston said.

In Principals’ Reports, Lakeshore Primary School Principal Jim Kennedy said that 72 percent of families were represented at the school conferences held in February. Houston called it “an awesome turn-out.”

“Spring conference attendance is generally brutal,” he said.

Kennedy said Lakeshore’s “Jump Rope For Your Heart” fund-raiser for the American Heart Association had raised $1,600 on line thus far.

Gateway Elementary School Principal Liesl Blackwell said the school would be collecting for the Animal Protective League in March. Third grade Family Fun Night was held March 5.

The Gateway Elementary School Book Club has moved to the Conneaut Public Library. The next date is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14.

Conneaut Middle School Principal Rita Maslovsky announced the Ohio Achievement Assessments are coming up April 22 to 30 and urged all students to be in class those days. She urged parents who have lost their web site passwords for the PASS program, that communicates student scores and other information to parents, to call her office.

Conneaut High School

Fighters Cited on W. Main Road

Underridge Road Trespassers Become Stuck in Mud

Boat, Trailer Submerged In Water

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 11A

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ENTER IN EVERY SPONSOR’S STORE NOTHING TO BUY!

WIN A $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM ORLANDO’S!

RULES: Enter in every sponsor’s store and increase your chances of winning! Nothing to buy! Simply unscramble the key words (all associated with Easter)) and deposit your official entry form in the contest box in each sponsor’s place of business by March 21, 2013 at close of business. Random drawing from all correct entries in each store will be held on March 22, 2013. Winners will be notified by phone. Only official entry forms appearing on this page can be used. Photocopies and other facsimiles are not valid.

Employees of this newspaper and sponsoring firms and their families are not eligible. Only one entry per family in each store.

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Egg-citing Easter ETESAR RSSGA ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter

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OEDLRCO CKIHSC

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Egg-citing Easter EJLYL SNABE ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter YAMLIF RTGAIHGEN ANS.

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TOWN PHONE DEPOSIT AT

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Orlando Bros.

Golden Dawn 281-285 Main Street 593-5039

Kingsville Towing 5370 Rt. 193 Kingsville

Raisian Funeral Home 581 Harbor St. 593-2505

Advantage Towing & Salvage 409 Bliss Ave. 593-7278

Bortnick Tractor Sales 5042 Center Road Conneaut • 594-3216

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Egg-citing Easter TREESA THUN ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter HAS WDDNYESEA ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter ENNETL OSANES ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter

REESAT OTNEBN ANS.

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SUGERLIIO ANS.

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TOWN PHONE DEPOSIT AT

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Marcy Funeral Home 208 Liberty St. 593-4253

Simak Trucking 3052 E. Center St., PO Box 599 North Kingsville, Ohio 224-1992

Conneaut Arts Center 1025 Buffalo St., Conneaut 593-5888

Flag Specialty Shop 324 West Main Rd. 593-6004

Rainbow Café 263 Main Street 593-2504

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Egg-citing Easter SETERA DARBE ANS.

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Conneaut Dairy Queen Brazier Restaurant 1009 Main St. 593-2765

Kremer Home 455 Main St. 593-6380

Broad Street Mini Mart 500 Broad St. 599-6551

H&R Block 263 Liberty St. 593-5400

Conneaut Savings Bank 305 Main St. 599-8121

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Egg-citing Easter RODCOEL UENSNIB ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter UZFYZ SNENUIB ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter DGOO RFDYIA ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter AERETS SMAH ANS.

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Egg-citing Easter RASTEE DYNUAS ANS.

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Morris Flowers & Gifts 176 Washington Street Conneaut • 593-1196

Port Conneaut Federal Credit Union 1002 Broad St. • 593-6218

Andover Bank 339 State Street 593-6565

Thompson Smith Nesbitt Funeral Home 345 Main St. • 599-8106

Lake Pointe Rehab & Nursing Center • 593-6266 22 Parrish Road, Conneaut

GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS • WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2013 • 12A

Osburn Tire

Where Quality Tires Cost Less

440-593-2697 398 Main Street Conneaut, Ohio 44030 New Phone & Address!

ALIGNMENTS NOW AVAILABLE GOODRICH • UNIROYAL • FIRESTONE • DUNLOP GENERAL • TOYO • MICHELIN • GOODYEAR

Full-Service Hair Salon Offering Full Nail Services, Spray Tanning & Bed Tanning 219 Washington St., Conneaut • 440-593-6714

Meet Your

CONNEAUT AND KINGSVILLE AREA MERCHANTS! Puffer Does Construction Along with Roofing, Too

www.amandaandco.com

PHOTO BY MARTHA SOROHAN

Puffer Roofing is located at 3576 E. Center St. (Route 20).

by MARTHA SOROHAN Gazette Newspapers

ALL BREED PET GROOMING

Diana Adams ~ Owner/Groomer 3338 E. Center Street, Kingsville, Ohio 44068 SHOP: 440-224-2291 • CELL: 440-813-4449 diana28901@yahoo.com k9kutspetsalon

Kingsville Public Library Located in the heart of Kingsville at Rt. 84 & Rt. 193 FREE MOVIE NIGHTS Library Lawn Sale May 18th ~ Vendor Applications Are Now Available. Bring in your book donations for the sale!

440-224-0239 • www.kingsville.lib.oh.us OPEN: Mon.-Thurs. 10am-7pm & Fri.-Sat. 10am-4pm

Orlando Bros. golden dawn

Full-Service Meat Department

SUPERMARKET 281-285 Main St., Conneaut, OH

Hours: Sun. 8am-5pm • Mon -Sat. 8am-8pm Accepted

Farm-Fresh Produce

(440) 593-5039

Stop In To See Our Hundreds of Unadvertised In-Store Specials!

We Process Your Bill Payments*

Deli Department

*Fees Apply

Dominion East Ohio Gas • The Illuminating Company Charge Cards • Credit Cards • Cell Phone • And Many Others Bring Your Coins in On Your Next Visit!*

Buy Waste Management Bags Here!

Complete Line of

*Fees Apply

Double Coupons up to

Bakery Made to Order Cakes, Pies, Pastries, Breads

99¢

PUFFER ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION LLC Dexter Au 3576 US Route 20 North Kingsville, Ohio 44068 440.224.0050

MOBILE:

440.812.0347

EMAIL:

dclau026@roadrunner.com WEBSITE: www.pufferroofingconstruction.com

PREFERRED CONTRACTOR www.owenscorning.com

Just as a young man’s fancy turns to love in the springtime, a homeowner’s fancy turns to the home’s exterior — and more often than not, a glance at the roof to assess winter damage.

That’s where Puffer Roofing comes in.

“Now that spring is here, we recommend a roof inspection to assess winter damage, to make sure no shingles have fallen off,” said Cindy Au, who with her husband, Dexter, owns Puffer Roofing in North Kingsville.

Roofing calls are beginning to pick up now that warmer weather has arrived, Au says.

For the most part, roof inspections are free. There is never a cost for customers contemplating a roof replacement.

Homeowners who simply want to check their roofs for winter damage are charged a nominal fee.

“We look at roofs and let people know the status, if there’s been damage over the winter, “ Au said. “Some homeowners may be able to turn in damage claims to their insurance companies. In those cases, the inspection cost would be included in the claim.”

Puffer Roofing also inspects, cleans and replaces gutters.

“Homeowners should have gutters checked to make sure they haven’t pulled away from the roof,” Au said.

Though shingles remain the most popular roofing material, metal roofs are gaining in popularity because they come with a 45-year guarantee.

“The warranty includes chips, scrapes, etc., “ Au said.

Over the winter, Puffer has been busy with not only roofing projects, but inside construction jobs.

“We do many inside remodeling jobs during the winter,” Au said, naming the Step Above Lounge in Geneva as a recent client. “We also remodel baths and kitchens. “ Puffer crews also find time to donate to the community.

Over the past year, it donated and installed a roof along with interior drywall for a Habitat for Humanity house in Ashtabula, Last fall, and in partnership with Community Action, it replaced a roof for the “three-fourths-way house”

Club Agape on Main Avenue in Ashtabula. Puffer also does work with CHIP grant projects in Conneaut.

“We try to give back to the community,” Au said.

Since purchasing the 57year-old Puffer Roofing five years ago, the Aus have worked hard to maintain its reputation for quality.

Puffer crews complete about 300 residential and commercial jobs each year, working from 7 a.m. until dark year round. Residential jobs make up the bulk of the work.

“We’re a licensed, bonded limited liability company that guarantees our work for ten years,” Au said. “We don’t pay our workers under the table.

The job we do is going to last.”

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Puffer is a preferred Owens-Corning Contractor, meaning it uses Owens-Corning shingles and insulation and has met stringent criteria to earn the “preferred” status.

Puffer is also on Angie’s List.

“We’re one of the few roofing companies that offers a 10-year warranty and pays into Workmen’s Comp,” Au added. “Workmen’s Comp is a protection for us and the homeowner. If a worker falls, it won’t come off the customer’s homeowners’ insurance.”

Puffer warns homeowners to be leery of the “two men and a ladder” crews who pop up each spring offering low prices but no credentials.

They often leave town — some in the dead of night — leaving a customer with no recourse if the job is poorly done or incomplete.

“People call us when they have problems with these crews. They often don’t deliver what they promised and people don’t know it until the roof starts to leak. Customers are easy to fool because they aren’t there watching,” she said.

Au said homeowners should be leery of roofers who offer a two-year guarantee.

“That is not a good warranty,” she said.

Puffer Roofing is located at 3576 E. Center Street (Route 20) in North Kingsville. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Call (440) 224-0050.

Morris Flowers & Gifts St. Patrick’s Day & Easter...

Stop in for your green carnations and Easter lilies or fresh flower arrangements!

176 Washington St., Conneaut, OH 44030

440-593-1196 ★ For GOD & Country ★

Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare

In Memory of WWII Vet John Faehnrich

FLAG SPECIALTY SHOP FLAGS • Banners • Bunting • Bases • Decals POLES • Fans • Key Rings • Lapel Pins Patches • Picks • Stickers • Windsocks Dog License • Pet Scope ID • Voter Appl. Available Here

324 W. Main Rd. ★ Conneaut (440) 593-6004 ★ (440) 567-2617 cell

Hardware & Software Solutions Service & Repair • Quality Workmanship Custom Computer Sales Adware, Spyware and Virus Removal GREAT PRICES!

59 Underridge Rd. E • Conneaut, Ohio 186 Park Ave., Conneaut, OH 44030

(440) 593-6766

Biscotti’s Restaurant...

Because you’re worth it!

Open Evenings Serving From 4:30pm Tuesday — Saturday

Gift Certificates Available www.Biscottisrestaurant.com

"Three generations of caring for our community and its people."

Serving the community since 1928

Traditional Services • Cremation Services • Pre-Arranged Funerals Funeral Insurance and Trusts • Cemetery Monuments

Thomas J. Smith, Director Stephanie M. Hall-Nesbitt, Director Eric A. Nesbitt, Director

345 Main Street Conneaut, Ohio 440-599-8106

Wonder where old-fashioned customer service is at? We have it at...

YOUR AUTO REPAIR AND TIRE CENTER

ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING Mounting, Computer Balancing, Beadsealing, Valve Stems, Tire Disposal & Tax Included

Family Owned & Operated 5580 SR 193 South, Kingsville

440-224-2624

Mon.- Fri. 8:30am - 5:30pm • Sat. 9:00am - 1:00pm