The Grapevine

by Laura Bednar

Longtime member of the Independence Athletic Boosters, Ron Bernstein, transitioned out of his role as treasurer in June with the graduation of his youngest son, Nathan. He has been a board member for 15 years, serving in every role, including president. He was treasurer for the past nine years.

Ron Bernstein. Photo submitted.

During his tenure on the board, major improvement projects include turf for the football field, weight room floor donation, new backstop and grass infield on the baseball field, golf training center, Blue Devils blow up tunnel, hurdle replacement program, additions to the high school gym scoreboard, a volleyball net, weight room equipment and a swimming parachute.

Bernstein is a member of the Independence Board of Education and has four sons with his wife Kelli, all of which attended Independence schools. Kelli acted as treasurer of the Independence Music Boosters.

“All of us who have been involved with the Independence Athletic Boosters have been amazed at the level of dedication Ron has to help make each student athlete’s experience being Blue Devil as positive as possible,” said Jeff Pascarella, president of the Independence Athletic Boosters. “You’ll still see Ron at the football games as he has graciously volunteered to continue walking up and down the bleaches selling 50/50 tickets. That is the type of person he is and will be missed.”

Tommy Ksiazka, an Independence High School senior, spent a majority of his summer utilizing his art skills for the Independence Youth Football team. Tim Schmitt, president of the youth football league, said the city of Independence had donated a storage trailer to the league for equipment.

Tommy Ksiazka painted the Independence Youth Football storage trailer to look like a
football field. Photo submitted.

With 200 kids aged 4-12 in the program, the trailer was much needed, but it was older and rundown. Schmitt said he reached out to the school earlier this year to ask if any art students were interested in earning service hours by painting the trailer. Tommy expressed interest, and after talking designs in April, he got to work, nearly doubling his 40-hour service hour requirement.

Schmitt expected to paint the trailer blue for Independence, but Tommy took it to another level by painting the entire trailer green with white yard-marker numbers to look like a football field. In the middle of the trailer is the Independence Youth Football logo.

“It’s a strikingly beautiful art project,” said Schmitt. “The care and precision Tommy put in is commendable for a high school student.”

Tommy performed the work himself, power washing, prepping and painting the trailer. At school, he is a member of the swim team, soccer team and plays percussion in the band, all in addition to his artistic talent.

Schmitt said the mural on the trailer adds to the backdrop of the field where the team plays, the former middle school property on Brecksville Road. He said visiting teams will see it during games and community members will see it if they visit the property on a walk. “Having a beautiful mural adds to the beauty of the community,” he said. “It is visible to anyone using that area.”

Congratulations to our 2024 student achievers and graduates.

Ashleigh Porter from Independence was named to the Miami University spring 2024 president’s list.

Iverson Socha, of Independence, was named to the dean’s list during the Spring 2024 academic semester at Salve Regina University.

Mike Andryszczyk, of Independence, was named to the dean’s list at Capital University for the spring 2024 semester.

James Mathies was named to The University of Alabama presidents list for spring semester 2024.

The following local students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2024 semester at Baldwin Wallace University: Ricky Dilworth, a graduate of Independence High School majoring in pre-allied health/pre-physical therapy, and David Jedrzejek, a graduate of Independence High School majoring in sport management.

Maria McCollum, a graduate of Independence High School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science: Public Health from Baldwin Wallace University.

Anna Balicki of Independence has been named to the dean’s list at John Carroll University for the spring 2024 semester.

The following John Carroll University students have been named to the Spring 2024 Boler College of Business Dean’s List: Jacob Ross, Andrew Soos and Angela Vitantonio. ∞