High school students invited to spring Envirothon
Envirothon, a competitive outdoor team event, offers a unique learning experience for high school students. The 2025 Area 2 Envirothon will be held on April 9, 2025, at the Cooke Family Wildlife Conservation Park, 4774 OH-13, in Shiloh. The event is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources. A team […]
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Independence names new head football coach
Independence Local Schools appointed Matthew Burns as the new head coach of the Independence Blue Devils varsity football team, pending approval from the board of education at its Jan. 21 meeting. Burns, who currently serves as an eighth-grade mathematics teacher at Independence Middle School, has been an assistant coach with the program since 2022. “We […]
Primary students engage with new technology in drone club
by Noell Wolfgram Evans Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … drone? If you noticed something flying down the hallways at Independence Primary School, your eyes weren’t deceiving you, you were just witnessing the newest school club in action. In November 2024, the school unveiled a new fourth-grade club centered […]
Petros presents site plan for Concordia development, public hearing set
by Laura Bednar Jan. 7 planning commission meeting The Independence Planning Commission had its first look at the preliminary site plan for the subdivision on the former Concordia property at Brecksville and Stone roads. Greg Modic, the president of land development for Petros Development Group, presented the site plan, which showed four new homes in […]
Cuyahoga Valley Genealogy Society
The Cuyahoga Valley Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. Members and interested public are invited to attend in the Willow Room of the Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Blvd.This month’s topic will be “Cooking in the 18th Century,” presented by Karen Kashary.Getting a meal on the table […]
District waits to join state lawsuit
by Laura Bednar Dec. 17 board of education meeting The Independence Board of Education will postpone its decision to join the Vouchers Hurt Ohio Initiative of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding lawsuit. The coalition brought a lawsuit against the state over the EdChoice voucher program, which provides students from designated […]
Mexican restaurant opens near Rockside Road hotel
by Dan Holland With the December opening of Gran Fiesta Mexican Grill & Cantina at 5300 Rockside Rd., managers Jose Ponce and Luis Sanchez are hoping the new family-owned restaurant will become a staple of the Independence dining community. “We just want the city to know us by the great service, friendly staff and quality […]
The Grapevine
Independence High School senior Rocco Ressler was named to the First Team Offense in the 2024 Division VII All-Ohio Football Teams. He is a wide receiver/tight end for Independence. On Dec. 21, Brian Hunter Vollman graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism – Sports and Media degree from the Reed School of Media and Communications at […]
Primary school students ‘break out’ of traditional learning
Michele Crum’s enrichment classes at Independence Primary School have taken learning to a whole new level. This fall, students were introduced to Breakout EDU boxes, transforming the classroom into an educational escape room that required solving puzzles, cracking codes and thinking outside the box – literally. The Breakout EDU initiative presents students with a series […]
Registration open for 2025 master rain gardener courses
Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, Chagrin River Watershed Partners and Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District are offering five Master Rain Gardener courses in 2025. Participants will learn how to design, install and maintain residential rain gardens. Rain gardens are saucer-shaped gardens filled with native, wet-tolerant plants that are designed to collect, filter […]
Methodist church’s little pantry is labor of love
by Michele Collins A group of Sunday school students from the Independence United Methodist Church have created a little food pantry to help community members in need. More than just helping others, it gives the children and their Sunday school teacher, Katrina Yeigh, a project that helps them in their mission work. “We are always […]
Police Beat
Dec. 3—Police were dispatched to a Quarry Lane hotel for a welfare check when a female guest was screaming inside her room. She had an active warrant out of Independence for failure to appear for a sex offense and an active warrant out of Parma for failure to appear for larceny. She was taken to […]
Cuyahoga Valley Genealogy Society
The Cuyahoga Valley Genealogical Society will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. Members and interested public are invited to attend in the Willow Room of the Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Blvd. This month’s topic will be “Cooking in the 18th Century,” presented by Karen Kashary. Join us to learn […]
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Five Characteristics of a Quality Preschool Program
By Heather Gerheim,South Suburban MontessoriSchool Children’s House Guide Preschool is an important first step in your child’s education. With so many options available, it is difficult to know what to look for when searching for the right school. Here are some points to consider: Independence Look for a school where independence is nurtured. Are the […]
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Family Trust Planning – Doing it Right Copy
by Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC It is a common misconception that a simple will efficiently passes on your legacy. In reality, a basic will does not avoid probate and does not provide asset protection. Therefore, there are several compelling reasons to consider a family trust. Many clients we meet initially believe that trusts […]
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Maintaining Your System
by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating From the Experts Maintaining Your System An interesting phone call came to me last month from my cousin who has a winter home in Arizona. Recently widowed, she called me for advice concerning her furnace and air conditioning system. She called a random HVAC company out for a checkup […]
Valley View Towpath Trail section temporarily closed
Cuyahoga Valley National Park will close the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail between Fitzwater Road and Pleasant Valley/Alexander Road in Valley View on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Jan. 20. The trail will be open on weekends from 6 p.m. on Fridays to 6 a.m. on Mondays. No detour is available.The […]
Light displays bring holiday dazzle to region
by Emily Canning-Dean Whether it is a quick jaunt to the county fairgrounds or a two-hour road trip to a popular tourist location, there are plenty of chances to take in all of the bright lights and cheer this holiday season. Thanks to the help of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council, the Cleveland Metroparks […]
Tree lighting features Santa, train and snacks; historical society hosts Mrs. Claus event
by Kim Scott Sowinski If you are a fan of Hallmark movies, you may have felt you were in one as the city of Independence continued the tradition of the annual tree lighting on Dec. 7. The city began putting up over 200,000 lights after the summer Home Days to prepare for the holiday season. […]
Firefighter promoted to lieutenant
by Laura Bednar Dec. 10 city council meeting Independence firefighter Kyle Krysiak was promoted to lieutenant and sworn in by Mayor Greg Kurtz. He has been with the department for 15 years and is a lifelong resident of the city. His wife Andrea and daughter Emma were in attendance for the ceremony. Krysiak thanked his […]
City to spend $40,000 for Civic Center locker room updates
by Laura Bednar Nov. 12 city council meeting Independence City Council agreed to pay $40,125 to Sixmo Architecture to provide specifications, engineering plans and architectural drawings for the renovation of Civic Center locker rooms. Recreation Director Tom Walchanowicz said the locker rooms have not been updated since 1991, aside from shower improvements. Once the plan […]
Police department first in state to earn national traffic safety award
by Laura Bednar The Independence Police Department became the first in Ohio to earn the 2024 Destination Zero National Officer Safety and Wellness Award in the traffic safety category. The award is presented by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The NLEOMF was created to honor the fallen, tell the story of American law […]
City completes phase II of cemetery expansion
by Laura Bednar The city’s second phase of improvements at Maple Shade Cemetery was completed in November. Engineer Don Ramm said Fabrizi Trucking & Paving performed the work, which included a four-acre expansion, new traditional grave plots, a new entrance, a concrete drive and landscaping. The project cost was $611,714. Ramm said the new layout […]
Property valuation increase could stave off deficit spending
by Laura Bednar Nov. 19 board of education meeting Independence schools Treasurer Jennifer Knapp presented the district’s five-year forecast to the board of education, which learned that expenditures are projected to outpace revenue, but a property tax increase may curb deficit spending for a couple of years. Revenue in 2025 is predicted to be $22.37 […]
Communication is key tool for fighting online dangers
by Dan Holland Representatives of the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, working through the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, presented “Social Media and Tech Night” at Independence High School on Nov. 21. The program, which addresses social media challenges and helps to identify and prevent potential online predator situations, was presented to students in […]
Independence Girls Volleyball team makes a statement
by Noell Wolfgram Evans After a three-year absence, the Independence High School Varsity Girls Volleyball team returned to the state tournament this season. Unfortunately, they could not overcome a powerful Coldwater squad in the semi-final round and fell three sets to one to the eventual state champs. “Of course our ultimate goal would have been […]
Auditions announced for the 2025 season of Tetélestai
Cleveland Performing Arts Ministries announced audition dates for the upcoming season of its musical passion play, Tetélestai. Auditions will be held Jan 11-12 and Jan. 18-19 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 9080 Shepard Rd., in Macedonia. CPAM is seeking actors/singers and tech crew for this musical presentation. A personal profile must be submitted to be scheduled […]
Police Beat
Nov. 8—Police were dispatched to a two-car accident on Rockside Road. A male driver involved was arrested for OVI after crashing into the back of the vehicle in front of him. He was coming from a company event at an entertainment complex on Rockside Woods Boulevard. Nov. 9—Officers were dispatched to a Quarry Lane hotel […]
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Five ways to incorporate Montessori in the home
By Remi Stefanski, South Suburban Montessori School Children’s House Guide The Montessori Approach can stretch farther than within the classroom. The benefits of the philosophy can be seen, not only in schools, but at home as well. If you are looking to incorporate the Montessori Approach into your home, here are 5 ways to integrate the approach […]
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Avoiding Emergencies
by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating From the Experts Avoiding Emergencies At some point you will probably have to call a repair company because your furnace has stopped working. Inevitably, mechanical things will break down and quit working. Many times we are able to repair whatever broke with a new part and you are ready […]
Coming Events
The Akron Zoo offers exhibit called “Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods”
The Akron Zoo is offering a special exhibit called “Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods” from Jan. 20-March 7 in the zoo’s Nature’s Theater. The exhibit will focus on three main topics: how Black residents in Akron expanded the John Brown Monument, fought a plan to move the zoo from Perkins Woods and operated a long-lived custard stand at the park’s edge. “Celebrating Black History” is open during zoo operating hours of 11 a.m.-4 p.m. daily and is included in general admission. For more information, visit akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550.
11:00 am - 4:00pm
The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum opened a new exhibit
The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum opened a new exhibit celebrating the 60th anniversary of one of America’s most iconic automobiles: the Ford Mustang.