Take a Look at Brunswick

Welcome

THE CITY OF BRUNSWICK

4095 Center Road, Brunswick, OH 44212

ADMINISTRATION

Carl DeForest, City Manager/Safety Director

Robert Safran, Police Chief

Greg Glauner, Fire Chief

Todd Fischer, Finance Director

Dennis Nevar, Law Director

Taylor Petkovsek, Parks and Recreation Director

Grant Aungst, Community and Economic Development Director

Paul Magovac, Service Director

Tom Keppler, Project Editor & Information and Communication Manager

Gia D’Amico, Administrative Services Manager

For advertising opportunities, please call 216-377-3693. Take a Look at Brunswick is fully funded by participating advertisers. No tax dollars were used for its production.

Maintaining Public Engagement

CITY OF BRUNSWICK

PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN 2024

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will include 23 parks sites owned by the City totaling 335 acres. The plan is to help create a guiding document for the future development of the City’s parks system and the City’s Recreation Center.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Our consultant will be seeking public input to assess the current and future needs for parks and recreational amenities.

It is anticipated that Designing Local will work on the project from Mid-May to November, 2024.

Pickleball for All

Residents of all ages are finding fun and fitness in this popular sport. By

Lisa Galek

Few sports have grown as quickly in popularity as pickleball. According to USA Pickleball, this racquetbased game originated in 1965 near Seattle, Washington, as a family sport played with ping-pong paddles on a badminton court. Today, there are nearly 11,000 facilities where players can enjoy a friendly (or fierce) game. One location gripped by pickleball fever is the Brunswick Recreation Center, where daily pickleball matches are a growing attraction for residents.

Initially, pickleball was most popular among players over 50, but it’s steadily growing in popularity among all age groups in Brunswick. “Especially during breaks, we’ll see college students that are coming in to play pickleball,” says Taylor Petkovsek, Brunswick Parks and Recreation Director.

At Neura Park, players can enjoy outdoor pickleball games at the tennis courts. Since these courts were resurfaced approximately

five years ago, they’re now marked with distinct yellow lines to distinguish the pickleball playing area. Though it might look similar to tennis, pickleball is played on a smaller court with a lower net.

The Brunswick Recreation Center also offers three pickleball courts inside the basketball gym. Daily pickleball times are outlined on a monthly schedule. Most pickleball matches take place during the early mornings or afternoons.

As Brunswick looks to the future, the City is working toward creating a comprehensive master plan for its park facilities to be completed in late 2024. Whether or not that plan will include more pickleball courts will be up to residents. The process includes community focus groups where people can share their input.

“Just from what I’ve seen over the last few years, I have a feeling that [pickleball] is going to be a part of whatever the parks and rec master plan ends up looking like,” says Petkovsek.

Sam Yovanno Meet Pickleb all Enthusiast

Sam Yovanno is an 82-year-old Brunswick resident and a regular fixture on the city pickleball courts. He started playing the sport five years ago when he noticed some other players enjoying the game at the rec center. “I borrowed a paddle from the front desk and went out there, and they started explaining rules to me,” he says.

Today, Yovanno is part of a core group of about 40 pickleball enthusiasts who meet to chat and play together at the Brunswick Recreation Center. The group includes both men and women — most are retired with an average age of around 65. They’re always happy to welcome new players interested in learning pickleball rules. “I tell people, come on in, and we can coach them and see how they do,” says Yovanno.

Over the years, Yovanno has played various sports, such as softball, golf, basketball and racquetball, but he now plays pickleball at least five days a week. He enjoys the exercise and the great friendships he’s developed. “Pickleball has just been a great sport. And there’s a lot of interaction,” he says. “The people I’m associated with at the rec center are great people, and they’re there to have fun and offer encouragement as well.”

Sam Yovanno is second from the left, pictured here with other pickleball players

StrivingKeep

Faces of Brunswick

Get to know three community members who are making a difference.

By Lesley Gibson

Elizabeth Zeszotek

For Elizabeth Zeszotek, Brunswick isn’t just where she works as the director of Tri-C’s Brunswick University Center — it’s her hometown, her community and the place where she’s raising her family. In other words, she’s invested in its future and has built a career around helping the community thrive.

Zeszotek has worked with Tri-C for more than a decade, helping guide students to educational experiences that can enhance their career prospects and enrich their lives. She became the director of the Brunswick University Center in 2023 and now oversees a center that serves

more than 1,300 students a year with a diverse curriculum that offers everything from general education courses to manufacturing technology classes to senior programming. “We provide high-quality, accessible and affordable education,” she says. “You can take a class to learn a new skill, you can take a certificate course to enhance your career, or you can take something for personal interest.”

Working closely with the center’s deans, Zeszotek helps shape course offerings and connects with local business, community and educational leaders to learn how best to serve the needs of the northern Medina County community. “We have a higher population of high school students,” she says, noting that these students enroll in the College Credit Plus courses to get a jump-start on college. “But we see the whole gamut.”

Zeszotek is a graduate of Brunswick High School and lives in the city with her husband, two children and two dogs. “We have this beautiful community that’s growing, but people still seem to care about each other,” she says. “And you know, we all want to see the community succeed.”

We have this beautiful community that’s growing, but people

still seem to care about each other.

— Elizabeth Zeszotek

Paul Magovac

Roads connect us and are essential to our everyday lives. But despite their critical role, most people don’t put much thought into how streets are planned, built or maintained. Unless they’re Paul Magovac.

As Brunswick’s new Service Director, he spends his days thinking about the city’s roads, bridges and paths. He and his team keep the community moving (literally) over the 250 miles of roads that connect Brunswick residents to each other and the outside world, a task — considering the unpredictable and often harsh Northeast Ohio weather — that’s no small job. Magovac is responsible for managing the teams who build and maintain this critical infrastructure, including engineers, construction workers and snow plow operators.

It’s been fantastic here. [The community] supported us in the road levy and passed it.

— Paul Magovac

He comes into the role with a wealth of experience, including 23 years as a foreman in Hinckley Township followed by eight years in the same role in Brunswick Hills. Magovac can be found fishing or playing baseball in his spare time — and he loves to help people.

“It’s been fantastic here,” he says of Brunswick. [The community] supported us in the road levy and passed it. When they call and they have an issue, they don’t complain. They’re very appreciative.”

His immediate goals? Increasing the PCI (Pavement Condition Index) of Brunswick roads. “I really want to concentrate on paving to get the roads better than where we’re at now,” he says.

Robert

Safran

“I’m someone who always felt like I performed better in a larger organization where you have a goal and a mission statement,” says Robert Safran, Brunswick’s new Chief of Police.

That feeling has led him to a life of service. After serving with the U.S. Army in the Persian Gulf War, he graduated from

Faces of Brunswick

Cleveland State University before enrolling in the Cleveland Heights Police Academy. Safran started on the Brunswick force in 1998 and became Chief in 2024.

Safran oversees a force of more than 40 officers, 11 communication specialists, and administrators who work together to keep Brunswick safe. What’s the key to their success? “If you want to keep a safe community, there’s a shared responsibility between the residents and the division of police,” he says.

When he’s not busy keeping Brunswick safe, he’s most likely fishing with his son, an Army National Guardsman who recently returned from Syria. Safran is also a member of the Brunswick Rotary Club with his wife, Tiffany, who enjoys doing service projects in the Brunswick community. Service runs in the family.

We have really good partnerships with our residents, with our school community, with our business community.

— Robert Safran

Behind the Scenes

Brunswick Area Television delivers high-quality, hyperlocal programming.

By Lesley Gibson

In the heart of Downtown Brunswick, there’s an institution that produces a type of programming that’s truly unique: hyperlocal news and entertainment that keeps residents up to date on their community — and serves as an outlet for their creativity. In its nearly 40 years of operation, Brunswick Area Television (BAT) has served as an essential connector and continues to provide residents of northern Medina County with news, resources and opportunities unavailable anywhere else.

The City on the Small Screen

BAT was founded in 1986 to produce local and government programming for residents of northern Medina County, available on cable TV. In 2002, it was expanded to offer a public access channel, which allows residents to create their own television shows.

The core of BAT’s programming airs across three channels: The government channel shows live coverage of city council meetings and community-focused programs, such as resources for the senior population or information on local businesses. The rec channel spotlights the Brunswick Community Recreation and Fitness Center and features instructional videos. The public channel provides residents the freedom and resources to produce television shows and podcasts under the guidance of trained professionals. All three channels are available on Spectrum 1020, 1021 and 1022, and Breezeline Cable 21 and 22, Breezeline Stream TV 2004 and 2005, and on-demand at bat.viebit.com.

The station is operated by a three-person, in-house crew: Tom Keppler, Manager of

the Office of Information and Public Communication for the City of Brunswick and Access Specialists Ben Staunton and Chris Golian. Together, they run the studio at 4274 Manhattan Ave., near the intersection of Pearl and Center roads. BAT’s home since 2010, the studio features three separate filming sets and a podcast recording room that opened in 2021, thanks in part to an equipment donation from the Rotary Club of Brunswick. In addition, a kitchen that can double as a set for cooking-themed shows is fully equipped with professional cameras and editing equipment; it is available to residents to use on a first-come, first-served basis.

A Place to Connect

Much of the programming on the government channel is designed to pull back the curtain on city operations and to provide residents with a rich perspective into what’s going on in the community.

Meetings of the Brunswick City Council, Brunswick Hills Township Trustees and Medina County Commissioners air on the channel, as do shows that help boost awareness of the area’s offerings

and resources. “We can’t campaign or tell people how to think,” says Keppler. “But we can deliver the facts in an entertaining way and try to be clear and concise.”

On the rec channel, viewers can find free workouts and tips on how to use gym equipment or create their own workouts. They can also learn techniques for maintaining proper form.

Left to right: Access Specialists Chris Golian and Ben Staunton, Manager of the Office of Information and Public Communication Tom Keppler

Behind the Scenes

Up for Anything

For residents looking for an outlet for their creativity — or just a place to speak their mind — BAT’s public channel is where they can create original work. The channel is a showcase of the talent, imagination and values of members of the community, and any Brunswick or Brunswick Hills resident can produce a program on the station. Residents don’t need any technical training or television experience; BAT staff will train them on everything they need to know. And it’s all entirely free of charge.

“We were kind of YouTube before YouTube existed,” says Staunton, who has been with the station since 1998. “It’s cool that local productions can now be shared worldwide through social media and our on-demand website, bat.viebit.com.”

There are no restrictions on length or content, with a few limited exceptions. Programs can’t be overtly commercial or threatening in any way, but aside from that they can be as short as 30 seconds or as long as creators wish. “I say we’re one of the last havens for free speech,” says Keppler.

To produce a show at BAT, the process begins with a phone consultation with one of the station’s three staff members, followed by a studio tour to get a sense of what’s available on site. Staff will then work with creators to talk through their vision and the technical resources and training available to them.

“They can come to us with no knowledge of television production,” says Staunton. “We help them come up with their storyboard idea, put pen to paper and learn how to use all the equipment.”

“ We were kind of YouTube before YouTube existed.”

– Ben Staunton

For all productions, there are two options: Users can film in the studio and make use of the staff and equipment on site, or they can borrow cameras, film offsite and return to edit at the studio.

If participants choose to use the studio for filming, the BAT staff will work with them to make the most of the space available to execute their vision. “We’ll set them up and put on the lights and show them: This is what it will look like. What do you think here, do you want to add a coffee table?” says Golian.

The staff will also fully train participants on using the editing and filming equipment if they choose. “Some people like to do their editing at home and then bring in a finished product,” says Golian. “Some people like to edit here because they can ask us questions, and we can try to work through any difficulties.”

A Tapestry of Local Talent

Staunton estimates that on average, the station airs about 25 new shows a week on the public channel, and features everything from general entertainment to opinion shows, politics, sports chats, comedy and music. Anyone in the community can create a show.

“Because we’re not affiliated with a network, we have complete flexibility. And we’re open to hearing any ideas,” says Keppler. In addition, several local churches air their weekly services on the channel.

While many of the shows on the public access channel are regular or semiregular programs, creators can produce stand-alone programs like movies, live performances or documentaries.

There’s also a podcast space, opened in 2021, available to residents. “Some people get pretty shy when the studio lights are on and the cameras are turned on,” says Golian. “But there’s something a little less intimidating about just being in front of a microphone and not having yourself recorded — just your voice.”

Above: One of the studio spaces available at Brunswick Area Television; Below: The podcast studio in use

“It’s as local as it gets. It’s our neighbors talking about our issues.”

– Tom Keppler

Serving the Community

While the station’s programming serves as a vital connector in the community, the studio and staff also offer valuable resources for Brunswick and Brunswick Hills residents beyond what airs on the station. Any resident can come in and be trained on video or podcast equipment.

Community announcements can be submitted online, and the BAT team will publish the information on the roadside signboard, on BAT’s public channel and on the BAT Facebook page. In addition, they manage the content found on the City’s website, oversee multiple departmental social media accounts, assist with press releases and are often the main point of contact for the media.

“We love to help nonprofit organizations spread awareness of their missions to benefit our community,” adds Keppler. “And we regularly create reels and promotional videos for events hosted by the City of Brunswick.”

Filming space, time and equipment are all first-come, first-served. And the station is funded entirely by franchise fees from cable operators, so it’s not dependent on tax dollars.

“On behalf of our volunteer producers and City departments, the BAT staff would like to thank our viewers, new and old, for tuning in and being involved,” says Keppler.

Even though the station has been in operation for almost 40 years, it’s still thriving. Why, in the age of streaming and social media, do residents still tune in? “It’s as local as it gets,” says Keppler. “It’s our neighbors talking about our issues.”

Anyone interested in creating a show or learning more can call

Top left: The kitchen set at BAT; Top right: Using BAT equipment to film off-site; Bottom: BAT employees will teach residents how to edit their video footage to create finished products

Channel Highlights

Here’s a look at just some of the programming that airs on BAT:

Government Channel

• The Buzz on Business, produced with the Northern Medina County Chamber Alliance, highlights local businesses and events.

• The Golden Years offers resources and information for seniors.

• What’s Going On is a biweekly exploration of news and notable events in the area.

• Community Focus is a talk show that highlights local philanthropists and city services.

• Who Are You and What Do You Do? introduces residents to a different city employee each episode.

Rec Channel

• Free workouts from certified personal trainers

• Instructional videos on how to use gym equipment and perform body-weight movements with proper form

• Techniques for properly utilizing complex gym equipment like rowing or pulldown machines

Public Channel

• Polka Time Again airs videos of old and new polka performances.

• Sunday Worship shows weekly services from the Brunswick United Methodist Church.

• Voice of Families in Addiction educates viewers on the dangers of drugs and explores resources for harm reduction.

• Brunswick Community Church features weekly sermons presented by Buck Wilford at the Brunswick Community Church.

Channels are available on Spectrum 1020, 1021 and 1022, and Breezeline Cable 21 and 22, Breezeline StreamTV 2004 and 2005, as well as on-demand at bat.viebit.com .

BRUNSWICK CITY HALL

BRUNSWICK AREA TELEVISION

BRUNSWICK RECREATION CENTER

BRUNSWICK OHIO POLICE

BRUNSWICK DIVISION OF FIRE

Ser ving More Than Sustenance

Local restaurants make it their mission to give back.

By Sarah Webb

Brunswick restaurants have been serving more than food and drink. In fact, there’s no shortage of ways they’ve given back to the community.

“In the city of Brunswick, we think it’s important to be public servants, but it’s also about the community and recognizing that there’s something more important than just dollars and cents,” says Grant Aungst, Community and Economic Development Director. “To have that sense of community where people want to be part of something, it’s critically important. We’re a large community in the sense of population, but small in connection.”

For any establishment looking to get involved in helping the community, Aungst recommends reaching out to the city manager’s office to learn about opportunities.

“We recognize that some businesses just aren’t in a position to do that, and that’s OK, but we hope that as many people that want to participate will participate,” Aungst says. “For the most part, people are willing to give of themselves and give up their time, and if they’re able to give something more, that’s amazing. In the long run, they’re a very kind and giving community, and it brings people together and helps us grow as a community.”

Here’s a look at just some of the ways restaurants in Brunswick are giving back.

Confection Connection

A nonprofit bakery specializing in classic baked goods, Confection Connection has a special mission baked into its business model: It provides an accessible and inclusive work environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“The entire purpose of the bakery was to be this program. It was never meant to just be a bakery,” says Izzie Fox Woodcock, bakery operations manager.

Opened in June 2023, the bakery teaches employees not only how to bake recipes from scratch, but perhaps more importantly, imparts knowledge on life skills such as how to work with other people in a job setting, how to write resumes, how to conduct oneself in an interview and how to advocate for oneself.

Each individual within the program goes through two hours of training every day and three hours of paid work.

“It’s meant to be a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can get vocational training and learn new skills and prepare them to get jobs within the general community,” Fox Woodcock says.

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Spring Mist Farms

691 Pearl Rd. Brunswick Hills, OH 44212 springmistfarms.com

Goodyear’s Big Barn

697 Pearl Rd. Brunswick Hills, OH 44212

Goodyear’s Big Barn is a special occasion event venue. Maximum capacity is 150 people.

Cool Beans

Cool Beans, which serves coffee, pastries, salads, wraps and paninis at its main location in Medina, hasn’t officially opened the doors to its new concept in Brunswick: a drive-thru with outdoor seating for warmer weather.

Panini’s Bar & Grill

Just as the sandwiches at Panini’s in Brunswick are stuffed to the brim, so too is the restaurant’s capacity for giving back, with a special focus on the schools.

And yet, the establishment is already coming in hot on the giving front with its donations to the Sept. 13 Trike & Bike event at Brunswick High School. Trike & Bike is a series of community-organized bike rides for children throughout Northeast Ohio. The rides benefit VeloSano, which supports pediatric cancer research at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. In addition to donating its own funds, Cool Beans has spread the word about the initiative on its social media channels.

“This is something that’s so easy to give to, participating in it financially and helping to share it and spread the word,” says Laura Cavey, owner of Cool Beans. “Between my husband and I, we have five kids, and we’ve been fortunate where we don’t have any situations where we have to wonder what’s going to happen medically next.”

She adds, “If we can do anything toward finding new cures for that, any donation is worth it to me.”

330-723-7174

coolbeansmedina.com

“On a business level, over half of our staff are Brunswick High School (BHS) or Career Center students or alumni,” says Michael Terlizzi, general manager of the Brunswick Panini’s. “I have worked at Panini’s for 12 years now, and we have always been very active.”

Some of the restaurant’s initiatives include fundraisers to raise money for school groups, as well as food donations for Brunswick High School football home games, after prom, the Mrs. Northcoast Pageant and the Mr. Blue Devil contest. Panini’s also hosts team dinners for sports teams within Brunswick where a portion of the food is donated, and every year, the restaurant hosts a carwash to raise money for Pop Warner football players and cheerleaders and a retirement gathering for teachers in the community.

“We just like to give back to the community as much as possible to show our gratitude for the customers that keep our business profitable and the employees that work so hard for our company,” Terlizzi says.

3520 Center Road, Brunswick 330-460-6120

paninisgrill.com/locations/Brunswick

Cool Beans donates to Trike & Bike

9er’s Diner

Giving back to the community has been a high priority for 9er’s Diner since its founding in 2018. The diner is especially active in giving back to the Rotary Club, veterans and disadvantaged children.

Each Easter and Christmas, the diner collects gifts for children who’ve been impacted by the opiate crisis, and the first Tuesday of every month, the diner supplies meals for teens.

“Everything we do is mostly for the kids,” says Ed Neiner, owner of 9er’s Diner. “The kids did not ask for how they’re brought up in this world, so if something bad happens to them, especially with the opiate crisis, it affects all of us at this restaurant.”

In addition, 9er’s offers discounts to veterans, and in 2019, the diner held a corned beef sandwiches night, where 10% of profits were donated to the Brunswick Hills Police Department. Similar benefits are held at the diner annually.

“We never usually turn anyone away,” says Neiner. “Whether it be a gift basket, gift cards, meals for school, we always give it. It’s just important that we give back. We try to help whenever we can. If everybody gave a little bit, we could wipe a lot of (these problems) out. Plus, it’s good corporate citizenship to support the community.”

63 Pearl Road, Brunswick 330-460-6357

9ersdiner.com

9er’s Diner hosted a fundraiser for the Brunswick Hills Police Department

Economic Development

Coming Soon: Market 42

By Lisa Galek

Brunswick residents have been eagerly awaiting the grand opening of Market 42. This ambitious mixed-used development promises a unique culinary and communal experience. The project was initially supposed to debut in March 2024, but unforeseen weather delays pushed the opening back to September 2024. However, anticipation for the new space has only grown during the extra months.

While not every detail is finalized, there is still a lot to look forward to in this new space. When the doors open later this year, Market 42 will bring an impressive 26,000

square feet of new food and dining options to Pearl Road.

With 11 unique restaurants, there will be something here for everyone’s tastes. The dining options include traditional Italian fare, Jamaican cuisine, an ice cream parlor, a coffee roaster and a brewery. “We anticipate having the leases in place by the end of June,” says Market 42 Owner Nick Kyriazis.

In addition to restaurants, Market 42 will offer a farmers market on the north side of the property. This area will showcase 23 vendors with foods from around the world, including Poland, Italy and

more. Visitors can browse vendors offering local food, produce, meats, seafood and bakery items.

For those seeking a moment to unwind, there will be wine tastings and a spacious beer garden with ample seating for 120 guests. This relaxing setting provides the perfect place to sip and chat.

The City of Brunswick also recently approved an outdoor open-air market scheduled every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open-air market will be held from the beginning of May and, depending on the weather, likely into October, Kyriazis says.

Visitors can soak in the sunshine on the expansive 5,000-square-foot patio terrace in the warmer months. There’s also space inside and outside the market for small semiprivate events. “I’m actually getting calls from people that have moved out of Brunswick to other states,” says Kyriazis. “They’re asking when [Market 42] will open because they’re looking to book events to come back and meet with family.”

Just steps away from shopping and dining is Market Highlands, a collection of 18 luxury townhomes constructed by Drees Homes. This residential area is connected to the restaurants and farmers market by a scenic walking path. Later this summer, a boardwalk will be installed along the pathway.

It’s not only Market Highlands residents, but everyone in the surrounding neighborhoods who will have easy access to Market 42 via these walking and bike paths. “The neighbors can utilize the pathway to walk to the market on a Saturday or Sunday and sit down at the terrace and have a beer or get food,” says Kyriazis.

Two retention ponds with water features provide tranquil spots for residents

There’s a big buzz that Market 42 is opening, and everybody is excited.”

— Nick Kyriazis

Economic Development

and visitors to relax. The area offers many other outdoor amenities, such as trails, a charming gazebo and a playground.

For Kyriazis, a Brunswick resident who relocated to the area from Las Vegas, developing Market 42 has been a labor of love. He envisioned creating a vibrant, local gathering spot with quality dining options and an inviting atmosphere — something he felt was lacking in the area. “It was an opportunity to have a sit-down place where you could get something different than fast food,” he says.

But Market 42 isn’t just about great food and drinks. The project also emphasizes community engagement and sustainability, including preserving 2.5 acres of local wetlands. Market 42 also hopes to provide a positive experience by uniting people in the Brunswick area. “We’re focused on getting the community together, walking from home, staying local and spending time with friends and family,” Kyriazis adds. “There’s a big buzz that Market 42 is opening, and everybody is excited.”