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Volume 52, No. 8
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
OSBA Official Heckled During Meeting By Diane Ryder editor@geaugamapleleaf.com Newbury Schools Board of Education members might be sharply divided over the issue of transferring the school district to West Geauga, but for the sake of a smooth transition for the students, board members must show a united front, an Ohio School Boards Association official told board members at their Sept. 12 meeting. Neither of the school board members who publicly oppose the transfer — Kirk Simpkins and Marty Sanders — attended the meeting. About 30 residents were in the audience. During a PowerPoint presentation, Steve Horton, OSBA senior board and management services consultant, said he was aware of the division in Newbury over the transfer, and how badly it has affected the entire community. “I don’t have to tell you guys See Newbury • Page 8
DIANE RYDER/KMG
Ohio School Boards Association representative Steve Horton addresses Newbury Schools Board of Education members Sept. 12 about the need for unity as they deal with the transition to West Geauga Schools next year. Two board members who oppose the transfer did not attend the meeting, and audience members heckled Horton following his presentation.
Making a Difference One Straw at a Time New Group Aims to Lessen Pollution By Rose Nemunaitis editor@geaugamapleleaf.com The short-term conveniences of choosing plastic water bottles, bags and straws are often inviting. But, these same single-use plastics are having inconvenient, longterm and uninviting consequences. Geauga Plastic Coalition wants to help lessen the impact of plastics on the environment through recycling awareness, reducing plastic use and partnering with local businesses and governmental entities. “I was recently encouraged by
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG
Geauga Plastic Coalition, which met in August at Chardon Public Library, aims to lessen the impact of plastics on the environment through recycling awareness, reducing plastic use and partnering with local government and business entities.
numerous local and state initiatives to enact legislation to reduce the use and subsequent pollution from single-use plastic bags,” said GPC founder Kevin Peterca, of Chester
Township. Neighboring Cuyahoga County recently passed an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags starting Jan. 1, 2020.
“I contacted some of the proponents of that Cuyahoga effort to determine if we could have a similar impact in my home county, Geauga See Plastic • Page 4
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