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Independence first-time host to Radio Field Day
by Charles Cassady A leading technology brand came to Independence in June. But it was not a giant corporate headquarters or digital hub. Rather, the Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Society, for the first time, utilized Elmwood Park for a 24-hour period as its base station for “Field Day” 2024. “It used to be in Seven Hills,” […]
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Community gathers for Independence Day celebration [photos]
Family members (l-r) Kailee Schwender,Ellie Schwender, Quinn Schwenderand Rachael Mummert gatheron a blanket in Elmwood Park. The Reed family, (l-r) Paisely, Cee, Zariah and Breasia, was among the many community members present in Elmwood Park on July 3. The night ended with a colorful fireworksshow. Photos by Chloe Leng.
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Commercial marijuana sales prohibited; cameras added to city campus
by Laura Bednar June 11 city council meeting Independence City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting adult-use cannabis operators, including cultivators, processors and dispensers. The move comes as a response to state Issue 2, which passed in November, legalizing recreational marijuana. Said Councilman Jim Trakas, “[The policy] mirrors our medical marijuana policy that was passed five […]
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Board discusses supplemental staff contracts, finances
by Laura Bednar Before approving supplemental contracts for the 2024-25 school year, Independence Board of Education members discussed the number of contracts and finances behind them. Treasurer Eric Koehler said the district typically spends $400,000 annually on academic and athletic supplemental contracts. Not all supplemental contracts were listed on the agenda; often they are divided […]
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FirstEnergy, garden club members spruce up Bramley House landscaping
by Laura Bednar One of FirstEnergy’s Green Teams spent time volunteering at the historic Bramley House on Brecksville Road in late June. Independence Historical Society President Deb Hudnall said the gardens and landscaping at Bramley House had been overtaken by weeds, and society members were unable to handle the work themselves. The society then received […]
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Alumni association honors Russell Fortlage with Diploma of Distinction
by Dan Holland The Independence High School Alumni Association held its annual “Diploma of Distinction” award ceremony on June 10, with this year’s award going to the late Russell Fortlage, a lifelong resident of the city who passed away in May at the age of 82. The award was presented to Fortlage’s wife of 52 […]
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Community cop patrols among the people
by Dan Holland Patrolman Cristopher Collise of the Independence Police Department is returning to the roots of policing by interacting directly with residents in his new role as “Community Cop.” Collise began the new position June 17 following ongoing discussions with Police Chief Robert Butler. The role came about after Collise, who has been with […]
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Saint Maron Church welcomes new pastor
by Laura Bednar Rev. Patrick Kassab will take the helm of Saint Maron Church, a parish with two locations: Carnegie Avenue in Cleveland and Brookside Road in Independence. Kassab, born and raised in Lebanon, was ordained in 2014; his assignment to Saint Maron will be his first as pastor of a parish. He began his […]
Police Beat
Information provided by the Independence Police Department May 31—A male was served a criminal summons for stealing $140 worth of merchandise from a Brecksville Road business. May 31—Police responded to a Rockside Road business for report of two customers not paying their bill and fleeing the restaurant. Police found the vehicle, and one of the […]
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Debt after Death – What Every Family Member Should Know
by Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC You come home one day to find a letter from a credit card company. It demands an $80,000 debt incurred by your late spouse. The credit card company demands payment and threatens to take legal action against you if you don’t pay. Don’t be afraid of these bullies. […]
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Tips for Staying Cool in the Summer Heat
by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating So far this summer we have experienced quite a few extended periods of extremely hot weather. Whenever the temperatures stay elevated, an air conditioner that is not working at its peak efficiency begins to fall behind. Sometimes this situation can be avoided by following these simple steps. Check your […]
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Developers present housing plans at Concordia town hall meeting
by Laura Bednar The city held its second town hall meeting since deciding to purchase the Concordia Lutheran Church property on Stone and Brecksville roads in 2022. City officials did a background talk about the property and the logistics involved for its development before Petros Homes and New Leaf representatives gave a presentation on the […]
Collecting Coliseum Memories
The Richfield Coliseum opened 50 years ago with Frank Sinatra as the headliner. We’re interested in your memories of the famous arena that had only a 20-year life span. Please send your story by August 10 to news@scriptype.com, with “Coliseum” in the subject line. If you would rather “speak” your story, call 330-659-0303 and ask […]
U.S. Poet Laureate to visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park
On July 12, at 6 p.m., Cuyahoga Valley National Park will host the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón for a special event. The event is part of an initiative started by the National Park Service, Library of Congress and the Poetry Society of America that features site-specific poetry installations in the parks. In each park, a […]
Boys volleyball team reaches state tourney again
by Laura Bednar After making it to the semifinals of the Division II state tournament in 2023, the Independence High School boys volleyball team followed its inaugural year by doing it again in May. “It was exciting to be at states two years in a row,” said head coach Lexi Prokopius. “Last year we focused […]
Community celebrates Memorial Day with service, exhibits and musical tributes
The Lawler and Kochan families wait for the processionto come from Public Square down Brecksville Road. Photos by Laura Bednar. The Moeller family enjoys hot dogs at Drug Mart following the Memorial Day services. The Independence Historical SocietyMuseum was open during Memorial Dayshowcasing exhibits such as a uniform andphoto of community member and veteranWes Gaab, […]
Celebrate Parks and Recreation Month throughout July
Join friends and family this July during Parks and Recreation Month to celebrate how the city is stronger, more vibrant and more resilient because of parks and recreation amenities. Parks and Recreation Month is an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association, a nonprofit dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the […]
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Council extends moratorium on marijuana sales, cultivation
by Laura Bednar May 14 city council meeting Independence City Council extended the city’s moratorium on accepting applications or granting certificates of occupancy for any building that would enable the cultivation and purchase of recreational marijuana through Aug. 30. The original moratorium was enacted in December 2023 following Ohio’s legalization of recreational marijuana. It was […]
Officer’s certification exceeds standard OVI detection training
by Dan Holland For Officer Kevin Fuka, of the Independence Police Department, his recent certification as a Drug Recognition Expert will help to better identify drivers impaired by any number of illicit drugs. Fuka, who completed the three-phase DRE training program in mid-March, attended the first two phases over nine days at the Ohio State […]
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Forecast shows deficit spending; busing issue explored
by Laura Bednar May 28 board of education meeting Independence school district Treasurer Eric Koehler’s five-year financial forecast through 2028 predicted continued deficit spending and an increase in personnel costs. The forecast shows $20.8 million in revenue in 2025, which rises to $21.9 million in 2028. Expenditures are projected to rise from $21.9 million in […]
The Grapevine
Thorin Chappel, Independence High School class of 2020, graduated with highest distinction from Duke University on May 12. He will be pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy at The University of Hong Kong on full scholarship. On May 11, Gracie Mousty graduated summa cum laude from University of Akron with a degree in chemical engineering […]
Police Beat
Information provided by the Independence Police Department May 2—During a traffic stop on Rockside Road, the driver was found to have a warrant out of Mississippi for fleeing and eluding law enforcement. He was charged with carrying concealed weapon and is prohibited from having a firearm under his warrant. May 3—During a traffic stop on […]
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Cottonwood and Your Air Conditioner
by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating If you haven’t had your air conditioning cleaned recently, I can almost guarantee you that the outdoor coil has become plugged with dirt, lint and especially cottonwood. Cottonwood, a type of poplar tree that is present throughout Ohio, is native to portions of the eastern United States. In late […]
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Will vs. Trust: Which Do I Need?
by Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC Both trusts and wills are useful estate- planning tools, and they often work together to create a complete estate plan. While both wills and trusts “tell” others who will receive your assets, they do it in different ways. What is a Will? A will is a simple document […]
Community questions Concordia development plan
by Laura Bednar Following resident complaints of little information coming from the city about the Concordia Lutheran Church property development plan, a group of over 40 community members gathered in early June to share information and determine unanswered questions. The property is located at Brecksville and Stone roads. Stone Road residents Jeff Blumenthal and Pam […]
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Longano residents voice concerns about Cornerstone access
by Laura Bednar June 4 planning commission meeting The Cornerstone of Hope grief counseling center on Brecksville Road is proposing a parking lot expansion, which would include an entrance and exit drive to the facility on Longano Drive. Several Longano residents stated their concerns about traffic being diverted to their street. The parking lot expansion […]
Cuyahoga County, community partners host Veterans Memorial Bridge tours
Veterans Memorial Bridge will be open to the public for fun and exploration this summer. The free, self-guided tours will take place on Friday, June 21, from 4-11 p.m., and Saturday, June 22, from noon-11 p.m. Visitors can enjoy the original streetcar station and tracks while taking in views of the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie and […]
Trails abound in CVNP and Independence
by Laura Bednar John Muir, known as the “Father of the National Park,” once said, “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” Residents of Independence have the opportunity to do just that with trails in the city and nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The Hemlock Creek […]
City recognizes National Day of Prayer
by Laura Bednar Independence took park in the National Day of Prayer on May 2, with several prayer events throughout the day. In the morning, members of the Youth for Christ/Campus Life group at Independence Local Schools met at the high school/middle school flagpole to say a prayer. Then, at 10 a.m. the public was […]
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Council changes public participation rules; city gains fastener company
by Laura Bednar April 9 city council meeting Independence City Council voted to approve council rules for 2024-25, including changes in public participation, public records and committee assignments. Many organizational protocols remained the same. Under the new rules, the public can speak during regular council meetings, but public participation is at the discretion of council […]