LocaL PostaL customer ecrWss/eDDm
Volume 54, No. 23
stanDarD Postage & Fees PaiD WiLLoughby, oh Permit 42
CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Vandalism at Community Church in Chester
INSIDE
By Jamie Ward jamie@karlovecmedia.com
CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE
Photos of vandalism done to the Community Church of Chesterland on March 25. The church has received threats since it announced an April 1 Drag Brunch at Element 41 in Chardon and Drag Story Hour that evening at the church.
No Pushovers At West Geauga By Rich Kelly sports@karlovecmedia.com
In his first season leading the Wolverines on the baseball diamond, Coach Derek Buell was dealing with youthful players in a tough league who were still early in the learning process for both the game and what he would bring as coach. Finishing with a 5-18 overall record, including 0-10 in the CVC Valley division, the Wolverines took their lumps. This new season brings a totally different outlook for the team, though, and a packed practice gymnasium on a cold spring afternoon, with more than 40 players taking their hacks from tees and rubber armed pitching coaches, provided evidence of that. The Wolverines will play at a much different curve this season. “We’re going to make a big transition this year on the field,” Buell said while watching his players work. “We’ve got a lot of new players starting this year. We lost six starters from last year, and while we didn’t have the best season last year, this group gained a lot of experience in the game, and they are starting out this year with a great attitude.” Solid pitching is always a good place for any team to start at any level, and Buell feels good about his group of starting pitchers. See Baseball • Page 3
The Community Church of Chesterland was vandalized over the weekend by what church officials described as a Molotov Cocktail, according to a church Facebook post. Chester Township Police released a statement that said at least one incendiary device had struck the exterior of the church, located at 11984 Caves Road, resulting in very minor damage. “No portion of the structure appeared to have ignited; however, scorching was noted on the building’s exterior,” according to a prepared release by Chief Craig Young. “Officers also noted that one of the church signs had also been damaged. Several items of evidentiary value were located at the scene, and subsequently secured See Church • Page 3
Cat Sanctuary Holding Benefit April 23 Staff Report Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary is hosting a dinner April 23 at the Banquet Center of St. Noel in Willoughby Hills to help the nonprofit organization continue to handle the impact of inflation. “We are providing for the cats’ needs, but our budget continues to take a big hit from inflation. Costs for food, litter, cleaning supplies, and veterinary care are challenging,” said Happy Tails President Tom Vasko in a statement. “It will be great if a lot of people attend our event to help us raise funds. If folks can’t attend, we hope they will still consider making a tax-deductible donation to the sanctuary, where cats reside in a mostly cageless, no-kill, indoor environment. When possible, we place them in foster or adoptive homes, but a number of them are senior and/ or special needs cats who will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives.” The $50-per-person benefit, held from 2-5 p.m. at 35200 Chardon Road, will include a family-style dinner of beef, chicken or pasta entrees (with vegan options available with advance notice); salad; vegetable side dishes; desserts; coffee and tea; soft drinks; wine and beer; and more, said media contact Doreen Lazarus-Harris, adding registration for the event will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Community Meetings Listed are public meetings and executive sessions for the month of April. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices. Chester Township: April 5, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; April 6, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees; April 10, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; April 19, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; April 20, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted. Russell Township: April 3, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; April 6, 2 p.m., Board of Trustees; April 19, 4 p.m., Citizen’s Park District (511); April 20, 2 p.m., Board of Trustees; April 26, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at Russell Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted. West Geauga BOE: April 3, 7 p.m., regular meeting; April 24, 7 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at the BOE Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road, unless otherwise noted.
SUBMITTED
Pictured is Mickey, a 2-year-old orange cat with a severely shrunken eye, during a recent veterinary exam. Abandoned near an apartment building, Mickey has been neutered, vaccinated and tested negative for feline diseases. He is extremely shy and frightened, and needs a patient adopter. Mickey received an antibiotic shot to combat infection and is scheduled for eye removal surgery to prevent further health complications.
There will also be silent and Chinese auctions, as well as a 5050 raffle and reservations are due by April 16, she said. “We thank the Cynthia Slezak Charitable Trust for its generous support of this event,” Vasko. said. “We’re also grateful to the businesses, organizations and individuals who are donating items and services for the silent and Chinese auctions.” Vasko mentioned donations of
cat food and kitty litter brought to the event would be appreciated, but aren’t required. Checks or money orders for tickets to the April 23 event and/ or donations can be mailed to: Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary, P.O. Box 581, Chesterland, OH 44026. To use PayPal, go to www.HappyTailsCatSanctuary.org. For more information, email HappyTailsCatSanctuary@gmail.com or call or text Doreen at 440-759-0076.
facebook.com/chesterlandnews @chesterlandnews