About Town

If you haven’t already taken note, the natatorium and spa, as well as the activity pool at the Brecksville Community Center is closed through Oct. 1 for annual maintenance.

This year, crews plan to replace the main pump for the natatorium, which involves removing the old pump, installing the new one and adjusting the plumbing. Crews will also be installing a variable frequency drive with the new pump to improve the pump’s efficiency and lifespan.

In addition, structural repairs are also be conducted on the building’s support columns near the spa, which involves the excavation of part of the pool deck to reinforce the columns, and repairs to the affected deck area.

Fractured or missing tiles throughout the pool deck will also be replaced.

Rachele Engle, Brecksville’s director of parks and recreation, said the nature of the repairs prevented the aquatics team from immediately starting annual maintenance upon the pool’s closure Sept. 5.

The annual maintenance includes draining the pool, cleaning all stainless walls and surfaces, drain boxes, gutters, the entire pool shell and spa shell. It also includes the draining and cleaning of the pool’s surge tank and delayed cleaning the entire pool deck, first aid room and equipment closet, and the deep cleaning of all the chlorinators and chemical controllers.

“This annual work typically takes two to three weeks, but we are unable to begin or complete most of that work until the larger projects are completed,” Engle said.

The pool and spa are expected to reopen Oct. 2.

There’s no doubt that the 2022 Brecksville-Broadview Heights Velosano Trike & Bike event was an overwhelming success, but local officials say the second-annual event, which took place Aug. 12 at the Blossom Hill complex on Oakes Road, blew that event out of the water.

The 2023 event raised more than $42,000 for pediatric cancer research at Cleveland Clinic Children’s – nearly $10,000 over last year’s fundraising total – with a total of 133 riders ages 3 to 12 participating.

The program provides a unique opportunity for children and their families to have fun and stay active while supporting a great cause – as 100% of every dollar that participants raise is donated to pediatric cancer research at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Be on the lookout for information about next year’s event.

If you didn’t have the chance to participate in the Trike & Bike fun this year, don’t worry. There’s another fun event coming the community’s way just in time for Halloween.

The 2023 Brecksville Trick-or-Trot 5K race and 1-mile youth fun run will take place on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Blossom Hill complex on Oakes Road.

Prizes and awards for top runners and best costumes in a variety of categories, including funniest costume, best hero/villain, cutest kid, best duo, most creative, best group, scariest costume and more.

Early registration – $30 for 5K run and $15 for youth run – prior to Oct. 8, includes an event t-shirt. Late registration from Oct. 8 to the day of the event is $35 and $20 respectively.

To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/Oh/Brecksville/BrecksvilleTrickorTrot.  

Matthew Popielarczyk, a 2017 graduate of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Toledo this spring, and will continue his education/career as a General PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at UH Parma Medical Center.

Nick Mihalich graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University on June 11 with a master’s degree in music performance.   

Cole Mihalich completed his sophomore year at Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in film/television.   He is currently a student ambassador and maintained dean’s list status for the past three quarters.  

Megan Costanzo was named to the dean’s list at Youngstown State University for the spring 2023 semester.

Kristina Polcen graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in 3-D digital design.

Tommy Putnam, a 2022 Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School graduate, finished his freshman year at Allegany College of Maryland as a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Academic Team, finishing in the top 1.5% of all NJCAA athletes nationwide. 

In addition, Putnam had 14 appearances as a relief pitcher for ACM. He is currently pitching for the Northwoods Collegiate League in Duluth, Minnesota after starting the summer in the Shenandoah Valley Collegiate League in Virginia. He is continuing his academic and collegiate baseball career at Skyline College in San Bruno, California this fall.

Natalie Chase of Brecksville, Ohio, was recently enrolled into Marietta College’s Physician Assistant Graduate Program. Thirty-six students are part of the Class of 2025 that began a rigorous 26-month journey in June. ∞