Talk of the Town
Still deciding on your Valentine’s Day plans? Here’s your chance to hear Hudson High 2015 graduate Olivia Van Goor sing romantic jazz at Cleveland’s Bop Stop on Friday, Feb. 14.
Van Goor returns to Northeast Ohio from her current Detroit-area home, where she is a full-time jazz vocalist. She and her family moved to Michigan just a couple of years after her high school graduation.
“I always find comfort coming back. I make a point to get takeout from Noble House and visit Hudson Springs Park. Last time, I even spent an afternoon at the [Hudson] library before heading back to Michigan,” said Olivia.
She performed a Valentine’s show last year at the Bop Stop in 2024 and was invited back for 2025. She brings with her trumpet player Tommy Lehman, pianist Theron Brownand drummer Zaire Darden.
“Last year, I had a couple of surprise people in the audience that I hadn’t seen since graduating from HHS. I love that I get to reconnect with friends from Hudson when I play in NE Ohio.”
Olivia said she left Hudson High not knowing she would explore a vocal career while at Denison University. She credits the foundational education she received at Hudson schools.
“My advice to any young Hudson performer is to be present in that education, and then once it feels right, go where the wind takes you!” she said. To hear more about Olivia’s talent or her shows, visit oliviavangoor.com.
Grandparents (and even parents) looking for creative alternatives to kids’ eyes excessively locked on video screens can thank Hudson author Dave Grunenwald for his award-winning books and Grandparent Merit Badge program that encourage families to disconnect from digital distractions to reconnect with each other.
Dave’s book, Lucas and Emily’s Animal Adventure, recently finished as a finalist in three different categories of the 2024 Best Book Awards, sponsored by American Book Fest, including best interior design, children’s novelty & gift book and novelty & gift book.
Dave wrote the Lucas and Emily books and developed the Grandparent Merit Badge program to encourage curiosity, creativity and quality time between grandparents, parents and children. He is committed to helping families disconnect from devices.
“I come from a very large family but have only two grandkids,” he said. “I have experience as a brother, son, dad, uncle and cousin, but none as grandfather. I wanted to create a framework of fun activities for all grandparents.”
He appreciates the time he spends with his two grandchildren who live in Hudson. He and his wife have lived here for nearly 45 years, and they raised their two daughters here.
“To grandparents everywhere, just be there,” Dave advised. “Learn from the Grandparent Merit Badges or create your own to-do list. Put the phones and IPads down and spend time together.”
For more information on Dave and his books or merit badges, visit grandparentmeritbadges.com.
When you’re a freshman playing NCAA Division 1 football, it’s pretty memorable to be on a team that makes it to a playoff bowl game in January. That’s something HHS 2024 grad Tommy Ricard, son of Frank and Jen Richard, won’t ever forget. He and his teammates from the Virginia Tech Hokies traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to participate in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3 against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Tommy, a center for the Hokies, has played football since second grade, beginning with Hudson Hawks and continuing all the way through high school.
“It means a lot to play collegiately because of everyone who helped me get here,” he said. “My Hudson roots are significant because of all the great people at HHS, St. Mary Catholic Church, Hudson football, etc., who have supported me and been impactful in my life.”
Tommy is majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He said he and his VT teammates spent a week in Charlotte practicing and enjoying team activities leading up to the big game, which ended in a Hokies loss.
“A highlight was getting to ride a race car around a NASCAR track,” he notes.
While the Hokies went home without the bowl championship trophy, Tommy has memories to last a lifetime. We wish you well in your remaining years at Virginia Tech!
Congrats to Dr. Susan McCutcheon, who has lived in Hudson for more than 40 years, on her recent appointment to a new Congressionally mandated ad hoc committee linked to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Susan worked at the VA for 38 years before retiring in 2021.
“I was an ‘extreme commuter’ for over 10 years, driving to Washington, D.C., on Sunday and returning back to Hudson at the end of the week,” she explained.
The committee will evaluate how well the Department of Veterans Affairs assesses and tests for mental and physical conditions related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST). MST refers to experiences of sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment experienced during military service.
“My hope is that the committee will be able to make recommendations that will improve the current process for assessing impairments and determining the appropriate compensation for our veterans who now suffer mental health and/or physical conditions that are directly related to MST,” she said.
Susan and other committee members are expected to produce a final report of their findings no later than March 2026. She said about one in three women and one in 50 men confirm they have experienced MST when screened by a VA provider and treatment of physical or mental conditions related to MST is provided to veterans free of charge
“This appointment after my retirement gives me an opportunity to again serve veterans and make a difference in their lives,” said Susan.
Thank you for your service, Dr. McCutcheon! Stay warm out there, and remember to send us news about your family and friends so we can share it with your Hudson neighbors.
Photo caption: Hudson High alum Olivia Van Goor will perform at the Bop Stop in Cleveland on Valentine’s Day. All Photos provided.