By Angela Huston

Special to The Gazette

More than 500 visitors attended the fifth annual Cops and Kids Event on Sept. 27 on the grounds of Medina Meadows. The event promotes bike safety and an opportunity for children to become acquainted with community law enforcement officials and their roles.

The day included many fun activities, canine demonstrations, free food, a visit from meteorologist Dick Goddard and a landing by the Life Flight helicopter. Janice Jokkel of Romp ’n Stomp contributed by setting up a large inflatable children’s area, and True Value provided a second inflatable play area.

Medina Meadows coordinator Kim Szerpicki and activities director Jean Bergman orchestrated the day with the help of the entire Medina Meadows staff who set up, prepared food and assisted in a variety of situations. Residents watched the activities.

Sponsors of the Cycling Safety Rodeo, now in its third year at the event, were Dr. Lyndin and Brenda Merrick of Straight Up Chiropractic, Jerry Klue, Ferrell-Whited Therapy Services LLC and Medina Community Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association represented by Evelyn Czyz; David, Andrew and Charlene Chema; Bill Cohen; Bill Roser; Karen Whitaker; Kellie and Lenny Conetsco; Debbie Yowler; Barb and Rex Demczyk; Karen and Randi Gossett; Irene Zieja; Joe Assion; Pam Schott and Chandle Stalvey.
The first 250 children attending the rodeo received a free, properly fitted helmet donated by Wal-Mart.

Don Barnett of Century Cycles did bicycle safety checks, and Jingle Brothers donated enough ice cream for 500 people in memory of Maureen Commery.

The Medina Police Department was represented by Larry Newberry, David Smith, Lenny Conetsco, Todd Grice, Mary Pritchard, Al Roland, Dan Warner and Dan Getto. Warner and Getto gave a demonstration with two German shepherd dogs trained in search, apprehension and narcotics.

The dogs were donated to the department by Tom Schmidt.
Montville Police Department was represented by Mike Kinzel and David Pinkas; Medina Township Police Department by Chief David Arbogast, Sgt. Todd Zieja and Laurie Shoemaker; the state highway patrol by Trooper Paul Terrion; Medina City Fire Department by Jeff Hall and Ed Green; the Sheriff’s Department by Bev Fraser, Juanita and Larry Floyd, and Betty Baker; Life Support Team by Jenny Goe and Tony Januszewski; and DTS Mobile Medical by Zach Zents and Scott Custer.

Among the visiting families were Margo Coleman and her children Caine and Cairyse; Martin Dediu and his children Natalie and Alex; Lisa Gaddens and her grandchildren Savannah, Alyssa, Alexander and Emanual; Rita Meade and her daughter Kaylee and friend Trinity Yates; and from Florida, Jim and Marcia Richling and their grandchildren Eve and Anna Krejci.

A few other attendees included Medina County Sheriff Neil and Pat Hassinger, Medina City Councilman John Wetzel, Medina Chief of Police Dennis Hanwell, and Lloyd Naragon.

Medina County Community Fund

The Medina County Community Fund and Women’s Endowment Annual Meeting and Program took place Sept. 25 at Weymouth Country Club.

Retiring MCCF President Joe Kohmann welcomed about 75 people to the luncheon before Randy Arehart delivered an invocation of gratitude.

Kohmann introduced new advisory board officers Marie Edmonds, Thomas Steinke, Don Miksch and Barbara Dzur, and members Bob Berry, Jan Coleman, Tim Hagerty, Doug Leohr, Jim Mottice, Diana Riley, Dino Sciulli, Lucy Sondles, Dave Wetzel, Penny Evans, and new members Andy Baker and Steve Vojvodich.

He then recognized the 12 2008 MCCF grant recipients. Since its 1994 inception, the fund has distributed about $245,000.

Women’s Endowment Fund President Penny Evans introduced officers Ann Cole and Jill Heck, and board members Gloria Brown, Katie Horn, Hannah Jones, Jane Lang, Madeline Laribee, Linda Loveless, Betty Lynham, Nancy Pound, Valerie Rapp, Vicki Karabinus, Nancy Sprowls and new member Joanne Oliver, then announced the six WEF grant recipients. Since its 1998 inception, WEF has distributed more than $51,000.

John Petures, president and CEO of Akron Community Foundation, was the featured speaker.

The enthusiastic Petures, who was attending his 227th meeting since June 1, told stories about how the funds have changed people’s lives.

He said it was a noble calling to be able to give back and noted that one of the greatest community outpourings came at the time of the Great Depression.

Others attending included Crystal Baker, Paula Banks, Lori Betz, Bill and Pauline Bittner, Jackie Campolo, MCCF Executive Director Barbara Cumming, Jean Daniel, Bob and Pat Drum, Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, Kelly Faciano, Amanda Fulton, Steve Hambley, Terri Heckman, Jean Holland, Dan and Nancy Ihrig, Melanie Kasten-Krause, Beth Kilchenman, Bev Kreiner, Jane Lang, Jane Langol, Sunny Ledford, Cindy Mahl, Bea Nagy, Joannie Neff, Rosemary Olson, Jeff Palker, Jackie Pilette, Rob and Valerie Rapp, Cindie Schneider, Linda Smalley, Bob Smith, Mindy Wills and Tom Wolfe.

MCCF sponsors were Baker Sand, Chalfont Manufacturing, Critchfield Critchfield and Johnston, CRU Solutions, Dorman-Farrell, Marie Mirro Edmonds, FirstMerit Bank, Homestead Insurance, J.M. Smucker Co., Nobby Lewandowski, Medina General Hospital, David and Susan Muffet, Partners in Plastics, Pride One Omni Real Estate, Rea and Associates, RPM International Inc. and Westfield Bank.

Cornhole Classic

The Brunswick Area Chamber of Commerce Cornhole Classic proved to be a great success. After Mayor Dale Strasser tossed the first bag, there were 11 rounds of competition. The championship team of Bill Sobleskie Sr. and Bill Sobleskie Jr. from Akron went undefeated the entire day, but the second place team of Jason Nixon and Jason Goodwin lost by only one match.
Third place went to Catalin Crihalmean and Mariana Balcacean, and fourth to Dave Anderson and Scott Anderson.

Presenting sponsor was Heimatland Restaurant. Event sponsors were Madd Chef Bistro, Bullseye Activewear Inc., Electrical Fire and Data Systems, Medina General Hospital, Wiant Jewelers, Big Ear Entertainment, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Homestead Insurance Agency, Scott’s Party Rentals, Mimi Vanderhaven’s Fabulous Buys, Cleveland Clinic-Brunswick, Kids Town Child Development Center, Joe Billitz of State Farm Insurance, ArKay Florists, Medina VOIP and RJM Landscape Design.

The volunteers who made the event happen were John Krebs, Berndt Schneider, Michael Schneider, Mike Tomaschyk, Amber and Jim Dalakas, Claus Meyer, Vince Carl, Jeff St. Pierre, Sam Boyer, Bob McHue, Carla Houdak, Joe and Laura Billetz, Michelle Cabassa, Connie Costanzo, Tim Smith and Rick and Melissa Malone.

Huston may be reached at areanews@ohio.net.

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