Sagamore Grapevine

by Kathleen Steele Gaivin

Alas, summer is over. Students and teachers are back in school. I’m looking forward to hearing your news from summer as well as school and sports news in the months ahead.

Nordonia High School inducted its 2019 Hall of Fame class at the football game on Aug. 31. Honorees include: Chad Grether, Breanne Horrigan, Jeff Kime, Kevin Kowalski, Don Kuchta, Vic Milani, Taylor McDonald, Justin Pope, Jarred Tanner, Lenny Trusnik, the 1977 state championship wrestling team and the 2002 state runnerup football team. Hall of Fame inductions happen every five years.

Nordonia’s own Denzel Ward, cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, demonstrated his giving spirit again. This time, Ward surprised 27 teachers from Carylwood Intermediate School in Bedford with a shopping spree for essentials. Each teacher received a $200 gift card for JC Penney. Additionally, Ward donated $1,000 worth of socks and underwear for kids in need. Ward attended Bedford schools until he transferred to Nordonia. His father, Paul, was principal of Carlywood until his untimely death from cardiac arrest three years ago.

St. Barnabas Villa received the fifth annual Nordonia Hills Garden Club Beautification Award in recognition of interesting landscaping or gardens that can be seen by the public. The villa has both decorative landscaping and a thriving vegetable garden.

The Rev. Chase Jones and his wife, Amanda, are looking forward to growing their multi-generational congregation with The Chapel Nordonia, scheduled to open in Macedonia in March. The Chapel in Akron has five campuses: Akron, Green, Wadsworth, Kenmore and Cuyahoga Falls.

Brooke Stehlik graduated from Kent State University with honors with a bachelor of arts in psychology. She will pursue her master’s degree in counseling at Walsh University. We want to hear from you.

Any engagements to report? New babies? Share your family’s news and school, military and community achievements with us at kgaivin@scriptype.com.