Bath Country Journal

View the full August 2022 Bath Country Journal

Revere High School art teacher wins educator award

by Ivy Socha The Summit Artspace Arts Alive Educator Award highlights a teacher that shows a passion for their job as well as dedication to helping art students learn and succeed. The 2022 recipient of this award is Robert (Bob) Pierson, a visual arts teacher at Revere High School. Prior to obtaining his art education […]

The Big Idaho Potato Truck is coming to town

A truckload of Idaho potatoes is on its way to Richfield and the community is invited to come to Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers on Brecksville Road on Sunday, Aug. 7, from 3-7 p.m. to be part of the fun. Whitey’s owner, John Bigadza, and his son Matt, have become vodka distillers and their main ingredient […]

Bath contractor forms 11-piece rock band

by Laura Bednar When it came out in conversation that Bath resident John Troike plays the drums and his friend plays the trombone, their initial response was typical of musicians: Let’s start a band. What started as a chat between two friends on a golf course evolved into a classic rock cover band called “Old […]

Township Administrator’s Corner

Public sector employment offers many incentives and opportunities and may present an attractive option to those who are seeking a new career path. With a variety of job classifications available, Bath Township may be the place to start a rewarding career right in your own community. Whether one’s interest lies in law enforcement, fire service, […]

Former fire station for sale; committee members reappointed

by Laura Bednar June 21 township trustees meeting Bath Township approved an agreement with commercial real estate company CBRE to sell the property at 70 S. Cleveland Massillon Rd. Police Chief and Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli said the former site of Bath fire station No. 2 had more recently been used by Copley Township for […]

Trustees approve 2023 budget; swear in new firefighter

by Laura Bednar July 11 township trustees meeting Bath Township trustees held a budget hearing before their regular meeting to outline proposed expenditures for 2023. Township Administrator and Police Chief Vito Sinopoli outlined township finances by department. He said property valuations in the township remain stable, and the township has no outstanding debt. Bath received […]

Bath detective earns county ‘Top Cop’ award for work with U.S. Marshals Task Force

by Laura Bednar Det. Mike Gabel, a full-time Bath Township Police officer for the past 30 years, has earned the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office “Top Cop” award. Each month, Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh chooses a Top Cop based on nominations from staff members. Kelsey Dennis, victim advocate in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, […]

Township nets grant to enhance North Fork Preserve

Bath Township received a state capital budget grant for $120,000 to support improvements to the North Fork Preserve of Bath property at 4400 Everett Rd. With the support of District 27 Sen. Kristina Roegner and District 38 Rep. Bill Roemer, Bath Township was approved for the capital grant, competing with other local governments throughout Ohio […]

Revere Superintendent’s Corner

by Revere Superintendent Dr. Michael Tefs This school year the Revere Schools will deconstruct the literature and research on healthy school start times and medically appropriate student sleep schedules, while surveying students, employees, and families along the way. During its April 2022 meeting, the board of education heard from Revere alumnus and parent, Dr. Zach […]

District to examine school start times

by Sheldon Ocker June 28 school board meeting Revere Superintendent Michael Tefs informed the board of education of his intention to examine school start times in the district. “There is a mile long [record of] references and research on this topic,’’ he said, citing studies by the Center for Disease Control, the American Academy of […]

Middle school updates science resources at federal expense

by Sheldon Ocker July 19 school board meeting Three members of the science faculty described to the Revere Board of Education reasons for the acquisition of new tools for middle school students. It’s been 13 years since curriculum resources have been updated at the middle school, said Ryan Fletcher, head of the middle school science […]

BVS thanks all who made home tour a success

To the Editor: The members of Bath Volunteers for Service are gratified to announce the record-breaking success of their 44th Tour of Distinctive Homes. This was the organization’s second professionally filmed and narrated virtual home tour, featuring seven unique properties for ticketholders to view from the comfort of their own homes. The tour is an […]

Kiwanis collecting for Heart of Revere at Community Day

Heart of Revere offers free used clothing, shoes, spirit wear, home goods, newly packaged personal items and school supplies to assist those who are dealing with a financial hardship and are living in the Revere schools community. The nonprofit will have a display of items that are contained in their Heart Boxes at Richfield Community […]

Local fire departments see fewer applicants, lose part-time firefighters

by Laura Bednar A nationwide firefighter shortage has spread from the U.S. Forest Service to community departments. According to a Los Angeles Times article, only 62% of federal firefighter positions were filled in California, an area known for wildfires. The lack of new recruits is also a problem in Richfield Village and Bath Township. Richfield […]

Bath Volunteers for Service rebrands with marketing grant

by Laura Bednar Bath Volunteers for Service received a grant from Akron-based design and marketing company TRIAD for the second year in a row. BVS first applied for the “Design4Good” grant last year to rebrand its annual “Tour of Distinctive Homes” event. Due to the pandemic, the tour was canceled in 2020 and virtual in […]

Run to the Sun 5K a success in second year

by Laura Bednar The Bath Parks “Run to the Sun 5K” drew almost 60 runners in its second year, five more than last year. The race took place on June 17 at the Bath Nature Preserve, starting at the Chief Logan statue, winding to the observatory and back. “This 5K is the only race in […]

Abused farm animals find love at local sanctuary

by Wendy Turrell When husband and wife Erik Wells and Anne Spahr bought their three-acre property with a barn on Granger Road, they knew they wanted to have a few farm animals someday. It wasn’t until seven years ago, when Happy Trails Farm Sanctuary asked them to take in two sheep from a hoarding situation, […]

Bear moves along after brief sighting in township

by Laura Bednar A black bear was spotted in Bath Township early in July. Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said the police department received reports of the bear on Shade Road, and 30 minutes later on Ghent Road. Fairlawn Police confirmed a sighting of the bear on Stanley Road. Sinopoli said experts suggested the animal was […]

Grapevine

Our deepest condolences go out to the Hower family for the loss of James Hower. Service and dedication to the community was a way of life for him. Motivated by his desire to protect and serve the community, Hower trained to be a volunteer fireman shortly after moving to Bath Township in 1964. He served as […]

Bath couple uses science, compassion to recover lost dogs

by Laura Bednar Bath residents Tom and Tamara Slopek have refuted the stereotype of a “dog catcher” by practicing a humane method of recovering lost dogs and reuniting them with their owners. The couple became involved in dog recovery through JJ’s Ruff Roads, a nonprofit lost dog search and rescue organization. Tamara said she met […]

SECOND HALF 2021 REAL ESTATE TAX BILLS DUE JULY 22

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE announced that second half 2021 real estate tax bills were mailed beginning June 10. The closing date for payment is July 22, with the exception of military personnel. Property taxes are deferred for military reservists who are on active duty. Call 330-643-2641 or visit fiscaloffice.summitoh.net for […]

Nominations open for new Akron Zoo awards

The Akron Zoo is hosting its first annual Community Awards to honor organizations and individuals for dedication and commitment to the greater Akron community. Nominations are open through Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. The winners will be honored at an award ceremony in spring 2023. Self-nominations are accepted. The four awards are: Be the […]

Ohio Turnpike invites travelers and residents to customer appreciation event

The Ohio Turnpike will host a customer appreciation event at Portage Service Plaza in Mantua from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, July 15. The service plaza is located at milepost 197 westbound on the Ohio Turnpike in Portage County. Staff from the Ohio Turnpike and the Ohio State Highway Patrol will remind travelers […]

Township Administrator’s Corner

Budget development is an integral part of the planning process of any government entity. In the period immediately preceding July 20 each year, extensive work is performed in preparing and filing the Bath Township budget for the following year. Budgeting is the process of allocating resources to the prioritized needs of a government entity and […]

Park director outlines current status and future goals of Bath parks

by Laura Bednar The annual Bath state of the parks address covered the history of township parks, plans for North Fork Preserve and a variety of birds that annually migrate through Bath. Trustee Elaina Goodrich gave an overview of each park in the township. Four acres of Bath Hill Park was purchased in 1979 to […]

Stormwater billing adjusted, two North Fork Preserve projects funded

by Laura Bednar June 6 township trustees meeting The Summit County Engineer’s Office has notified residents and businesses about changes to the Surface Water Management District, effective January 2023, for the tax collection year 2022. Bath Township Police Chief and Township Administrator Vito Sinopoli said residential properties are charged $4 per month for sewer and […]

Brecksville dentist continues to push for rezoning Ghent Road home

by Laura Bednar At a June 9 public hearing, the Bath Zoning Commission listened to citizen comments on the 18-month-old effort to rezone a house at 1075 Ghent Rd. Dr. Tim Pristas is asking to rezone the property from R-2 residential – single-family homes – to B-4 restricted business – office space adjacent to retail […]

Revere Superintendent’s Corner

We’ve all reflected, deeply I am sure, on last month’s horrific Robb Elementary School shooting. Yet another senseless school shooting in our country. I will never be able to make sense of national tragedies like the one in Uvalde, Texas. Designing, implementing and evaluating school security protocols are far from my original academic training. An […]

Revere analyzing success of strength and conditioning program

by Sheldon Ocker May 17 school board meeting Revere High School Principal Andy Peltz and Athletic Director Don Seeker have been engaged in an in-depth study of the school’s strength and fitness program as well as Revere’s relationship with the Crystal Clinic, which provides rehab services, and Sculpt Fitness, an off-site conditioning venue. In addition […]