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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Christ the Redeemer to host new concert series
Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Brecksville has announced the debut of Concerts@CRLC. The goal of the concert series stems from Martin Luther’s quote: “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.” James C. Alfieri, director of music at CRLC, believes that Concerts@CRLC is a perfect way to complement the church’s music […]
Police take a solar-powered approach to stop speeding
by Noell Wolfgram Evans The Independence police department has taken a new approach to traffic control: solar-powered speed signs along Chestnut, Hillside and Brookside roads. The signs were strategically placed in those areas, although it’s not a permanent addition. “The speed signs are able to be moved; they are currently located at areas with high […]
Four athletes inducted into new Hall of Fame class
by Dan Holland Independence High School hosted the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame inductions on Feb. 8, which honored four standout athletes during a luncheon and presentation held in the high school media center. The program was started in 1988, according to Tim Skoczen, who has served as president of the IHS Hall of Fame […]
Superintendent updates council on district vision
by Laura Bednar Jan. 14 city council meeting To kick off the first Independence city council meeting of the year, Independence Local Schools Superintendent Kelli Cogan updated lawmakers on her work since taking her position in August. Cogan said her goal is to have other school districts look to Independence as an example. She created […]
Planning commission approves preliminary Concordia site plan
by Laura Bednar Feb. 4 planning commission meeting Independence planning commission voted unanimously to send the preliminary site plan for the Concordia housing development at Brecksville and Stone roads to city council for review. The decision followed a public hearing and discussions with Greg Modic, president of land development for Petros Development Group. Economic Development […]
Community members voice support for baseball coach
by Laura Bednar Jan. 21 board of education meeting More than a dozen community members voiced support for Independence High baseball coach Jim Crooks, who was placed on leave after a Jan. 10 incident with a basketball coach from Trinity High School. Jim Crooks’ son, Sam Crooks, said Trinity’s coach harassed him online and later […]
Almost 3 million visit CVNP each year, as it celebrates a half-century birthday
by Dan Holland According to National Park Service statistics, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, was the twelfth most visited park in the United States in 2023, welcoming nearly 2.9 million visitors. Consisting of nearly 33,000 acres of reclaimed rural lands and former industrial sites along a 25-mile stretch of the Cuyahoga River Valley between Cleveland […]
Local author features towpath, national park as backdrop for novel
by Emily Canning-Dean Growing up in Akron, Broadview Heights resident Jonathan Walter has many memories of The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Including these northeast Ohio gems in his newly released time travel suspense thriller, The Towpath, seemed like the perfect fit. “I have fond memories riding on the trail […]
Police officer earns first ‘Everyday Hero’ award, honored at Cavs game
by Laura Bednar Independence police Sgt. Everett Haworth was recently recognized as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ and SERVPRO’s first “Everyday Hero,” a monthly celebration of a Northeast Ohio first responder who goes above and beyond to protect the community. Winners are chosen based on community nominations by a board of SERVPRO and Cleveland Cavaliers organization members. […]
IHS Academic Challenge team featured on News Channel 5
The Independence High School Academic Challenge team recently competed against Midview High School and Western Reserve Academy in a televised match on News Channel 5. The episode will air on March 1 at 11:30 a.m. Tune in to see the local students in action.
Grapevine
Congratulations to our local students who have had academic success at their colleges and universities. The following Independence residents have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2024 semester at the University of Mount Union: Nathan Bernstein, Eliza Botzman and Hannah Morrow. James Mathies, of Independence, was named to The University of Alabama president’s list for […]
Student writers advance to state level JustWrite tournament
by Samantha Lumpkin Independence High School has proven it has an assembly of talented writers after the IHS JustWrite team earned the distinction of Overall Champion at the Regional JustWrite Tournament at Cloverleaf High School in January. Independence’s team of 12 students all qualified for the state tournament in May. JustWrite is a writing competition program […]
Police Beat
Jan. 1—On Chestnut Road, officers issued a summons to a driver for open container along with traffic citations for no operator’s license and operation without reasonable control. The three passengers in the vehicle were underage. Jan. 4—A female was arrested for prostitution and possession of criminal tools at a W. Creek Road hotel. Jan. 4— […]
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What are those icicles telling you?
by Tom Olecki, Owner, Broadview Heating This past January was a record-setting month. Temperatures dipped below 0, and it seemed snowfall of a couple of inches occurred almost every other day. This combination of extreme cold and frequent snow has allowed the buildup of snow cover on our roofs. Driving around I noticed what seemed […]
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The Essential Components of a Comprehensive Estate Plan
by Dan A. Baron, Baron Law LLC Estate planning is a critical process that ensures your assets, family, and personal wishes are protected and managed in the event of your incapacity or death. Despite its importance, many people delay creating an estate plan due to misconceptions, procrastination, or the belief that it’s only for the […]
Planning commission approves preliminary Concordia site plan
by Laura Bednar Feb. 4 planning commission meeting Independence planning commission voted unanimously to send the preliminary site plan for the Concordia housing development at Brecksville and Stone roads to city council for review. The decision followed a public hearing and discussions with Greg Modic, president of land development for Petros Development Group. Economic Development […]
Lake Erie photo contest announced
The Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s 33rd annual “Life on Lake Erie” photo contest is an opportunity for Ohioans to capture and showcase the unique beauty, wildlife, communities and vibrant life surrounding all the wonder that Lake Erie has to offer. The photo contest invites photographers to submit up to five images that represent the essence […]
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 […]
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