During the May 30, 2019 Commissioners Meeting, a resolution was adopted proclaimining World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Lake County, Ohio on June 15, 2019. As a community, Lake C ounty values the importance of protecting and supporting our seniors and ensuring that they live in a safe and secure environment, with dignity and without fear or abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The Lake County Commissioners presented a proclamation to Lake County Job & Family Services Director Matthew Battiato.

Please click here to read the resolution.

During the Regular Commissioners Meeting on Thursday, May 9, 2019, the Lake County Commissioners welcomed two high school students shadowing County professsionals, Grace Roxbury and Amanda Blatz, and Lake Erie College student Charli Brown who is interning in the Commissioners Office for the summer and is majoring in Communications with a minor in Political Science.

From the left: Commissioner Cirino, Grace Roxbury a senior at Gilmour Academy, Amanda Blatz a senior from Mentor High School, Intern Charli Brown from Lake Erie College, Commissioner Young, and Commissioner Hamercheck.

Where Your Water Comes From…

On Saturday, May 18^th, the Lake County Department of Utilities is hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. of its Aquarius Water Treatment Plant, located at 38265 Aquarius Parkway in Willoughby, across from the Lost Nation Municipal Airport. The Utilities Department encourages visitors to register in advance by going to http://bit.ly/AquariusWaterTours, but walk-ins are certainly welcome.

The event is free and open to the public, and features plant tours, family-friendly activities, hands-on demonstrations, exhibits, and a “touch-a-truck” area that showcases many of the service and construction vehicles needed to maintain over 550 miles of underground water main.

The North Park Place Streetscape Project is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 6 and run through July. This project is in conjunction with the opening of the new Lake County Administration Building in August. All vehicle and foot traffic will be prohibited in the northeast corner of Painesville Square during this time. All traffic from South Park Place will exit onto Main Street.

North Park Place at Main Street Intersection:

A ROAD CLOSED barricade will be installed at the north end of Main Street and St. Clair Street during this project. It will prevent traffic from entering North Park Place via Main Street, next to the Board of Elections Office. Traffic will still be able to exit onto this portion of Main Street from South Park Place. Board of Elections parking for absentee voting will be allowed.

North Park Place and Richmond Street Intersection:

No parking signs will be placed in the park along the curb off North Park Place. A ROAD CLOSED barricade will be put up across from Painesville City Hall at the Richmond Street intersection informing motorists that North Park Place is closed. ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONELL from the Lake County Courts and United Methodist Church AND EMERGENCY VEHCILES will have the temporary ability to turn right onto North Park Place for parking during this project.

For more information, please contact the City of Painesville Engineering Department at 440-392-5926.

Please click here for a larger map of the area.

The North Park Place Streetscape Project is scheduled to begin at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, May 6 and run through July. This project is in conjunction with the opening of the new Lake County Administration Building in August. All vehicle and foot traffic will be prohibited in the northeast corner of Painesville Square during this time. All traffic from South Park Place will exit onto Main Street.

North Park Place at Main Street Intersection:

A ROAD CLOSED barricade will be installed at the north end of Main Street and St. Clair Street during this project. It will prevent traffic from entering North Park Place via Main Street, next to the Board of Elections Office. Traffic will still be able to exit onto this portion of Main Street from South Park Place. Board of Elections parking for absentee voting will be allowed.

North Park Place and Richmond Street Intersection:

No parking signs will be placed in the park along the curb off North Park Place. A ROAD CLOSED barricade will be put up across from Painesville City Hall at the Richmond Street intersection informing motorists that North Park Place is closed. ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONELL from the Lake County Courts and United Methodist Church AND EMERGENCY VEHCILES will have the temporary ability to turn right onto North Park Place for parking during this project.

For more information, please contact the engineering department at 440-392-5926.

Please click here for a larger map of the area.

he Lake County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 2019 Foster Parent Recognition Month in Lake County during the May 2, 2019, Commissioners Meeting. There are 44 foster parents who have opened their hearts and their homes to children going through a very difficult time in their lives. Citizens are encouraged to demonstrate their respect and gratitude for foster parents who unselfishly share their lives and provide safe and loving homes for Lake Coiunty's children. A resolution was presented to Gene Tetrick, Supervisor of Lake County Job & Family Services Foster Care and Adoption Team and Matthew Battiato, Director of Lake County Job & Family Services Department.

Please click here to view the resolution.

For more information please contact the Lake County Veteran's Service Center at https://www.lakecountyohio.gov/veterans or call Phone (440) 350-2567/2904. 

Launched in 2011, MakeTheConnection.net connects Veterans, their family members and friends, and other advocates with mental health information, local resources, and Veterans’ own inspiring stories of recovery. Visitors can learn about the signs of mental health conditions or substance use problems and find sources of support. The site is free and accessible to everyone.
 

https://maketheconnection.net/

Out of over 250 students from different school districts in Lake County, the Board of Commissioners presented the awards for this year's Clean & Green Poster Contest Winners during the April 25, 2019 Commissioners Meeting.
 
From the left: Commissioner Jerry Cirino, High School and Overall Winner Richie Lanzaro from North High School, Elementary Winner Lukas Kendel from Jefferson Elementary in Eastlake, and Commissioner John Hamercheck. Not pictured is the Middle School winner Sydney Meyenberg from Willoughby Middle School. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2019 Clean and Green Lake County Poster Contest!

Above is the 2019 Poster Contest Winning Entry!

The Special Olympics—Lake County Ohio Dance Team (Deepwood Dancers) applied and were accepted to compete in a team dance performance representing the USA at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games, which were hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on March 14-21, 2019. While the Deepwood Dancers knew it was the largest humanitarian sports event in 2019, what they didn’t know was that at the conclusion of the World Games they would get to meet the Chairman of Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, and that a proclamation would be signed so that dance is now an official Special Olympics international sport. 

The Deepwood Dancers (listed below) are unique beyond their talents; individuals on the team have various developmental disabilities and their age span is 16—61. They embody diversity. 

• Camryn Byrne 
• Anthony (Tony) Cervella 
• Lani Engel 
• Kathy Habat 
• Kelleen (Kelly) Kinnaird 
• Sheryl Kintop 
• Charles (Charlie) Schulz, Jr. 
• Michael (Mike) Sukalac 

LCBDD/Deepwood Recreational Specialists Ellana Fishwick and Kara Shubert, along with dance team choreographers and Coach Tana Habat were in lock step with the Deepwood Dancers the entire time, making sure that they were ready to perform their best in the competitions.

Amongst the more than 7,500 athletes   representing 170 countries in 24 sports, the Deepwood Dancers had stellar performances and won the following medals:

•  Lani won a gold medal in the solo competition
• Charlie and Sheryl won a silver medal in the duo competition
• The Deepwood Dance team won a silver medal in the team competition

“The Deepwood Dancers were ecstatic about the opportunity to represent Lake County, Cleveland, Ohio, and the United States of America at the Special Olympics World Games,” said Tana Habat. “We expected excitement, but we saw so much more – friendship, courage and perseverance beyond our expectations.” 

The Deepwood dance team was formed in 2017 to help continue the movement to make dance an official Special Olympic competitive sport. They are a relatively new addition to the Lake County Special Olympics program and have been performing across Lake County the past two and a half years to help raise awareness for individuals with special needs. 

“We want to thank all who made donations and contributed time and energy to make this possible,” added Tana. “This was an amazing way to show support from our community and be part of the beginning of the movement to include dance in the array of Special Olympic talents.” 

A number of dedicated telecommunicators serve the citizens of Lake County on a daily basis by answering their telephone calls for police, fire and emergency medical services. Public Safety Telecommunicators are the single vital link and are the first responders for our police offices and firefighters by monitoring their activities, providing information and insuring their safety. A resolution was presented to Captain Mike Warner, Administrator Central Communications in the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Telecommunicators Week is April 14-20, 2019. To view the resolution please click here.