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Volume 54, No. 7
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Newbury Residents Sound Off on West Geauga Board of Education By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com The West Geauga Schools Board of Education last week heard from several community members in anticipation of the board taking action to demolish another portion of the former Newbury Schools property. During the Aug. 8 meeting, Newbury resident David Lair said he got involved because he wanted to help find a solution that benefitted not just the township, but the whole district. “We’re part of the district, we want it to succeed,” said Lair. “If we blow this, Newbury is going to be the redheaded stepchild of the West Geauga school district. Doing this so poorly is leaving a bad taste in our mouth. I get the feeling that the folks over here look down on us and that’s unfortunate.” Lair is a 62-year resident, having served in various positions in township government, including the Newbury Schools Board of
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Chardon resident Angela Hansen, founder of community theater production company Curtain 440, begged West Geauga Schools Board of Education to let her and the Newbury community use the auditorium as it was meant to be.
Education and the Newbury Task Force. Lair said he felt like the West Geauga board never clearly communicated with and repeatedly blew off the efforts of the task force and read a comment from Dave Gifford,
another member of the task force, about the demolition of the intermediate school. “I don’t understand why you feel the need to spend money to tear down the school that Newbury Township is willing to take off your
hands for a community center at no cost to you,” said Lair. “Maybe you feel that this may be a valuable residential property someday that you can sell for cash. That is not a likely scenario.” See Newbury • Page 6
Group Seeks Return to ‘Respectful’ Political Discourse Aug. 18 Forum Focuses on Guns, Abortion By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com
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Maximus Yost, standing, said a forum on abortion and firearm policy to be held Aug. 18 by Geauga Bipartisan Advancements will be an opportunity for people to talk about these divisive issues without feeling attacked. A previous community forum, pictured, was held by the group last October to discuss development of the Geauga Lake property.
In a world of 24/7 television news, never-ending political campaigns and ongoing social media arguments, talking about politics is likely the last thing most people want to do in their spare time. But Geauga Bipartisan Advancements thinks that can change. The group, founded last year by then-Kenston High School students, has hosted two events encouraging open and respectful political dialogue regarding local issues. A third — a community discus-
sion on abortion and firearm policy — is planned for Aug. 18 at the Geauga West Public Library. Maximus Yost, who helped form the group and is planning the event, said it’s an opportunity for residents to discuss, in a civil way, the present landscapes and potential future shifts of abortion and firearm policy in the state and country. “We would love to see residents who hold opinions on both sides of either issue attend so they can try to understand the opinions they disagree with,” he said. See Politics • Page 3
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