North Olmsted 2022

Celebrating diversity A look at new local businesses

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Community members making a difference ANNA HEINZ GEORGIA WILDER MICHAEL KOVACK JASON COOPER

Meet two star students

Meet the Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones is dedicated to leading North Olmsted toward a bright future.

North Olmsted School safety and security is always a top priority and topic of conversation in North Olmsted. Leaders from North Olmsted City Schools and the City of North Olmsted started having collaborative meetings to discuss safety.

These meetings have included walk throughs of different safety scenarios, strategy planning in the event of a threat, and discussions detailing how each entity would respond and individual responsibilities based on role.

Before students returned for the new school year, all school district staff members participated in ALICE training. School Resource Officer Jim Carbone along with other officers from the North Olmsted Police Department ran multiple active safety scenarios in all of our school buildings. Each building debriefed and discussed each scenario after.

North Olmsted City Schools also hired a second school resource officer. Officer Joann Felton joined the district as a part-time school resource officer assigned mainly to North Olmsted Middle School. Joann comes to North Olmsted from the Solon Police Department where she earned State DARE Officer of the Year and National DARE Officer of the Year.

Pictured top: North Olmsted School Resource Officer Jim Carbone discussed the active shooter drill with staff members at the high school.

Pictured left: Leaders from North Olmsted City Schools and the City of North Olmsted came together to discuss safety both in the schools and in the community.

Follow NOCS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube!

City Schools

Student Learning In Action!

The Model United Nations Club (above) hosted Rev. Nta William Nche, a Cameroonian peace activist and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian faith. He shared his experiences and lessons from his peace building efforts.

Fourth grade students (above) used LEGO Spike kits and Chromebooks to build and program their own cars! Students worked together as a team to problem solve and construct their car. These LEGO sets were purchased through grant money.

A select group of 6th grade students (above) had the opportunity to attend the Westshore Young Leaders kick off event. Students participated in leadership and teamwork activities while interacting with students from other local schools.

First grade students (above) were introduced to sphero indi - a robot car! Students used colored mats to create routes and patterns for the car.

These kits were purchased through grant money.

Visit www.northolmstedschools.org for more information!

D E PARTM E N TS 5 Welcome from the Mayor 6 Celebrating Diversity

Two summer events celebrated the city's diverse community.

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7 Park Plans

Check out the latest updates planned for the city's parks.

10 Sparks of Innovation

See how the business community is adapting to change.

14 Star Students

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Meet two standout students from North Olmsted High School.

15 Skill Building

Discover a unique class that provides students with important life skills.

16 Faces of North Olmsted

Get to know community members making a difference.

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19 City Information

FEATURE 8 Meet the Mayor

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Dear Readers,

Welcome to this special edition of North Olmsted Magazine. It continues to be my great honor and privilege to serve as North Olmsted’s mayor. Our city is a vibrant melting pot of diverse cultures and people, and we feel it’s a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family, not to mention a great destination for visitors.

North Olmsted boasts close proximity to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and an abundance of amenities to enjoy, including beautiful parks and direct access to the Cleveland Metroparks, as well as major shopping at Great Northern Mall and a host of fantastic restaurants.

I invite you to explore all that North Olmsted has to offer. You certainly won’t be disappointed.

We look forward to seeing you very soon.

Sincerely,

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atest updates, news and events L Mayor’s Newsletter Senior Center Newsletter Parks and Recreation Newsletter

Get customized news, events and updates for the schools in which you are interested by visiting northolmstedschools.org.

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Celebrating Diversity North Olmsted hosted summer events to celebrate the city’s Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

By Jamie Brian

“North Olmsted is a melting pot of different communities.”

— Julia Bejjani, North Olmsted communications manager

Holistic. The musicians Eroc and Anu Imani shared the stage, and writer Solé performed her poetry.

“It was a day for us to remember the generations that have been oppressed and to celebrate their achievements and ongoing battle for racial equality,” Bejjani says.

On June 25, North Olmsted also honored the LGBTQ+ community with a Pride festival. Participants sang karaoke and created colorful chalk art. Local vendors Fortunes Cookies, Fosters Old Fashioned Fudge and Marissa McShepard sold their wares.

The Juneteenth and Pride events highlighted the resilience of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities.

“Both groups have struggled for decades,” Bejjani says. “Both groups deserve the right to express themselves and to be themselves and to celebrate how far they’ve come.”

Destiny McGill showcases her artwork at the Juneteenth commemoration.

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COURTESY JULIA BEJJANI

In June, North Olmsted celebrated its diversity with Juneteenth and Pride events.

“North Olmsted is a melting pot of different communities,” says communications manager Julia Bejjani. “Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones has really made it a prominent issue to show our diversity.”

The Juneteenth commemoration, which took place June 19, showcased artists, performers and Black-owned businesses. Vendor selections included clothing from Future Motives, sweet treats from Le’ Scoop Dessert Boutique and organic products from I AM Well

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Updates to North Olmsted Community Park will beautify the greenspace while eliminating maintenance issues.

By Jamie Brian

Visitors to North Olmsted Community Park will notice some changes to trails, fields and facilities in the coming months. Implementation of the master plan for North Olmsted Community Park is expected to begin in 2023 and will involve relocating the baseball fields from the south end of the park to the 22NOP24 north end, connecting the park’s walking trails and adding fields for additional sports, including lacrosse and soccer.

Plans for a new stage for the band concert series are also in the works.

“North Olmsted Community Park has remained the same for decades,” says Tim Pinchek, director of recreation and public engagement for the city of North Olmsted, adding that he hopes the updates will eliminate maintenance issues, such as puddling of water on fields after heavy rain and poor electrical performance. “This will be a beautification project that has been needed for many years and will be vital for the continued success of that park.”

With these improvements, families can continue making memories at North Olmsted Community Park for years to come.

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Meet the Mayor Discover Nicole Dailey Jones’ dedication to leading North Olmsted toward a bright future.

By Rachel Hagenbaugh

Mayor Dailey Jones congratulates veterans after the 2022 “Quilts of Valor” ceremony.

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make sure that the way that I treated whomever I was representing and whatever decisions I made in office would be reflective of the fact that every person out there is doing the best they can.”

Passion for Politics Jones’ desire to effect change through government started at St. Francis De Sales in Parma, where she served as the vice president of student government. At Parma Senior High School, she served as the president of her freshman, sophomore and junior classes, as well as senior president of student government. At Ohio Wesleyan University, where Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, government and international studies, she also participated in student government and was elected president during her senior year.

During college, Jones spent a semester in Washington, D.C., working at a strategy firm, where she saw firsthand how policy was influenced through different groups and organizations. She also interned for

The mayor honors recent Eagle Scout William Witalis with a special proclamation.

Mary Boyle, who was running for U.S. Senate in the state of Ohio, for two years during college. Upon graduation, Jones got a job in the U.S. Senate, where she learned how the legislative process worked.

“I had a great experience in D.C., but it was always in the back of my head that I wanted to return to Ohio and serve in the local government,” she says. “The best way to effect change was to be right here in my own community.”

When Jones moved back to Ohio, she chose North Olmsted as her new home and wasted no time getting involved in various volunteer boards and commissions within the city. When a position opened on city council, she ran and was elected as the Ward 3 representative, where she served for six-and-a-half years before being elected and serving as city council president for nine years. During her more than 20 years of experience in municipal, county and federal government, Jones also worked as a congressional aide to democratic U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur.

ANGELO MERENDINO / COURTESY MAYOR NICOLE DAILE Y JONES

The first time Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones considered a career in politics, she was in junior high school. Her father, who had worked in factories his entire life, had lost his job for the second time. She remembers watching TV with her parents, Greg and Arlene Dailey, in their small bungalow in Parma on Parklane Drive when she heard a disturbing message.

“The president at the time was doing an interview and made a comment about how if people are unemployed, it’s their own fault and they’re not trying hard enough to find employment. Watching my parents’ faces while that comment was being made on TV shocked me because my parents are two of the hardest working people I’ve ever met,” she says, crediting them with giving her the opportunity to become the first person in her family to attend and graduate college.

“It all came to a head and clicked with me that if I ever had the opportunity to be elected to anything, that I knew I would remember that moment at all times and

Members of North Olmsted City Council pose with the mayor (center).

COURTESY MAYOR NICOLE DAILEY JONES

“Through all of those positions, you have the opportunity to make your own connections with different people and organizations that help shape who you are and the way you approach problem solving, but also just observing,” Jones says. “You can learn a lot from how others around you deal with situations and have the opportunity to see a lot of different leadership styles. All of those experiences combined have been helpful leading up to this moment to serve my community as mayor.”

Growing a Greater Community One of the aspects of North Olmsted that Jones appreciates most is its ability to change while also remaining true to its roots. During the 1970s through 1990s, the city experienced a tremendous growth period. Now, Jones is focused on what the next 20 years will hold for North Olmsted, which includes taking action to refill storefronts, attract new businesses, rebuild the city’s streets and invest in quality city services.

“Retail is not going to look the same as it has in the past,” she says. “That’s one thing I heard as I was running for community office and sitting on city council and observing the changes that have been taking place. It’s been a really big challenge navigating how to position the city and allow for economic development and how we shape that and what kind of policies the city can implement to ensure that our trajectory into the future isn’t stagnant — that we’re not letting things happen to us — we’re shaping the future.”

A different kind of mayor — that’s the platform on which Jones ran and the reason she believes she was elected.

“I think that the feeling in the community was that we had remained stagnant for a long time and needed a fresh start.

We needed to have some new eyes on challenges that our community was facing and present some solutions to those challenges,” she says. “I believe that cities that continue to evolve and look at problem solving all of the time are the ones that are setting themselves up for success. Now is the time to make those changes and five to 10 years from now see some real change.”

Jones also is honored to become the city’s second female mayor and hopes to continue to inspire other women to pursue their goals and dreams through her City Service Department employees pose with the mayor and director of public service Kevin Kearney (right).

service. What advice does she have for those looking to follow in her footsteps?

“I always encourage all young people to serve their community — no matter what that looks like,” she says, adding that communities need people to be leaders in so many ways, whether that’s serving on boards and commissions, volunteering through churches or other organizations or participating in groups such as the Junior Women’s Club or local garden club. “All of those organizations make a community a wonderful place to live. I want young people to know that there’s leadership opportunities everywhere. Serving your community doesn’t mean you need to be elected to city government.”

No Place Like North Olmsted When Jones and her husband, Daniel Jones, decided to move back to Ohio, they considered many communities near her hometown of Parma. What attracted them most to North Olmsted is the big-city amenities coupled with small-town charm. Everything is connected for those who live and work in the city.

“The proximity to whatever type of service or need you could want is amazing,” says Jones, who has lived in North Olmsted for 21 years. “You have access to anything you could possibly want to get to, such as retail or any services you might need. Medical services, the airport, freeway systems — everything is connected to you in North Olmsted.”

Jones also appreciates the city’s proximity to the Cleveland Metroparks, which her family of seven enjoy greatly. Her five children, all of whom attend North Olmsted City Schools and range from a third grader to a high school senior, are involved in scouting and spend a lot of time outdoors. The family also is active in St. Clarence Church, and Jones is an active PTA mom.

When it comes to managing a household and a city, Jones says it’s all about staying organized, finding balance and having a strong support system.

“My husband, parents and all of my children and their friends and families, we all help each other out,” she says. “That’s something I’m so thankful for in North Olmsted — the people around here and the people my children are growing up with — it’s such a great thing.”

The mayor (center) meets with director of public safety Jennifer Scofield and fire chief Edward Schepp.

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In the face of a changing retail market, North Olmsted continues to adapt and position its business community for current and future success.

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COURTESY GRE AT NORTHERN MALL

Sparks of Innovation

COURTESY GRE AT NORTHERN MALL

Those who live and work in and around North Olmsted boast of its amazing amenities. Within just under 12 square miles, residents and visitors are connected to any type of service they could need or want.

North Olmsted’s reputation as a desirable destination to conduct business continues to garner the attention of national retailers and investors. During the fourth quarter of 2021, Bridge33 Capital, a commercial real estate investment firm in Seattle, Washington, purchased Great Northern Plazas for $63 million as part of a five-property acquisition featuring shopping centers in four other states. And the old Bed, Bath & Beyond space is being repositioned as an Amazon Fresh grocery store, bringing a new food concept to the city.

“One of the things we’ve seen nationally is that the retail market is changing.

What remains true for North Olmsted is that it continues to be a strong market,” says Max Upton, the city’s economic and community development director. “It’s really interesting that the innovators and disruptors who are changing the face of retail still view North Olmsted as a geographically significant and strong real estate market.”

Part of the reason, Upton says, is that people who live, work and play in North Olmsted spend a lot on retail services.

“Per capita, we spent three times as much as the state and national average on retail goods and services,” Upton explains.

“Initially, I was shocked when I saw that.

But, as I dug deeper and deeper, I realized it made a lot of sense.”

Strides at Great Northern Mall

Great Northern Mall consists of 1.2 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment options, which include a diverse mix of more than 100 national, regional and local businesses.

Overall, malls throughout the nation are going through a period of transition, Upton says, adding that Great Northern Mall, which is at nearly 90% occupancy, is continuing to thrive due to its ability to find new uses for old spaces.

“Great Northern Mall continues to build on its rich, 46-year history and adapt to the changing needs of consumers,” says Dan Crandall, the mall’s marketing and business development manager, adding

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that in addition to being a popular destination with an inviting atmosphere, Great Northern Mall prides itself on its creative promotions, unique experiences and special events (Kids Club, Princess Parties, Malloween and free community yoga classes, to name a few) to further engage visitors. “Stroll through Great Northern on any given weekend, and you may find yourself in the middle of a salsa dance class, a community bingo tournament or a family story time,” Crandall says.

Children enjoy Great Northern Mall's Princess Party.

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shopping trip or a quick errand, Great Northern is a convenient place to do it all.”

Booming Business

As Great Northern Mall continues to experience success, the rest of the city’s business community also is booming.

This year, North Olmsted welcomed a variety of new businesses, including Eagle Cabinet and Design, a kitchen remodeler; Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, offering tasty, traditional American fare; Pathway Caring for Children, which helps children and families realize the possibilities of their lives through foster care, adoption and mental health services; K9 Resorts, a luxury pet hotel; and popular fast-food establishment Arby’s.

CELEB R AT I NG Also new to North Olmsted is Pulp Juice &6 Smoothie Bar, 19 2 an Ohio-based franchise 2 202 that offers more than 40 smoothie blends, as well as a variety of fresh-squeezed juices, Y EA R S wraps, salads and more.

“My wife and I have always had a plan to open a small business in our hometown,” says Matt Rotheram, owner of the North Olmsted Pulp store. A former NFL football player, Rotheram adds that protein shakes and smoothies were a daily part of his life as a professional athlete.

So, he was naturally drawn to Pulp’s fresh smoothie concept. “Pulp is a business model focused on the community. It’s a place where you can come with anyone — young children, friends, parents, grandparents, etc. I can guarantee you will find something for everyone on this diverse menu.”

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In addition to special events, the mall adds special touches that make people’s visits even more enjoyable. Earlier this year, it commissioned the talents of local artists to create more than 20 new pieces of public art that are on display throughout the property.

By the third quarter of 2022, Great Northern Mall had welcomed a dozen new businesses, including local kiosk tenants such as Go Games, RC Toys, Charging Cables and More and Alice’s Candy. JoJo’s Arcade and First Team Actors Studio brings Hollywood-caliber training to Northeast Ohio and adds a unique use of mall space. Meanwhile, Fiesta Grill, a new concept offering fresh Latin cuisine, opened in the food court. Before the holiday season, Kona Acupuncture and Zebrano Furniture will open.

One of the mall’s goals to ensure its success is to continue to fill retail spaces with options that will appeal to the greater community and keep the mall relevant for the next generation of shoppers.

“We want to further entrench Great Northern into the community through special events, partnerships and charitable activities,” Crandall says. “In addition to everything happening inside the mall, C E L Eeverything B R AT I N G that it is also worth noting surrounds it. Great 1Northern is 2ideally 96 202 situated in the center of2 North Olmsted’s retail district, with its own exit YE Ahighway RS off of Interstate 480. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is just minutes away, and a number of nearby hotels, offices and corporations contribute to the regular daytime traffic. So, whether it is a leisurely

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Rotheram says North Olmsted is a community that needed a food/drink concept such as Pulp.

“My wife and I both grew up in North Olmsted and graduated from North Olmsted High School,” Rotheram says. “We plan to use this business to connect with the North Olmsted community and give back to the community we love.”

In addition to new businesses, the city also is celebrating a variety of expansions for existing businesses. Earlier this year, Ashley furniture completed its expansion from 12,000 to nearly 40,000 square feet. RollHouse, formerly a bowling alley, is investing nearly $5 million to transition into an entertainment concept that will feature a private bowling suite, themed escape rooms, a patio and dining options that include burgers, wings, pizzas, ribeye bowls and more.

Although North Olmsted’s business community is thriving, Upton emphasizes the city’s urgency to maintain momentum. That includes the creation of a Community Improvement Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and promoting the economic and civic development in a community, as well as considering initiatives put into place by other cities and implementing strategies that will allow for future growth.

“We’re trying to have a relentless urgency to succeed now,” Upton says. “That’s what we’re doing every day, and we’re just getting started.”

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Visit: www.PowerOfMore.org North Olmsted Magazine 2022 13

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Star Students

By Chrissy Kadleck

Huston Nagy Huston Nagy doesn’t miss a beat as he sings a cappella and moves through the halls of North Olmsted High School guided by his full-time aide.

At only 18, senior artist Bianca Sako has amassed an impressive portfolio and a list of accolades that include one of her art pieces being named a Top 25 in the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition, as well as yielding a Governor’s Award of Excellence — one of her proudest recognitions.

“I love realism. If I could do art for the rest of my life, I would just do that,” 14

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at Petco at Steelyard Commons. “Things like getting project summaries ahead of time is really helpful for me.”

A member of Special Edition, an a cappella vocal group at the high school, Nagy wants to go to college to become a music teacher. “I’ve wanted to do that since I was seven or eight,” he says. “I’m really, really into music, and I'd like to start writing my own songs.”

says the softspoken Sako, whose work entitled, “Fighting for Your Freedom,” stood out among the 7,000 submissions from across the state. “It’s a picture of a veteran, but his face is my dad’s face,” she says.

Especially talented in colored pencil and oil painting, Sako says she started drawing when she was young but began taking it seriously around eighth grade. Always strong in art and math, she recently grappled with the decision of whether to pursue advanced studies in engineering or architecture.

But with the encouragement of her art teachers (especially Mr. K.), Sako is applying for early acceptance to Rhode Island School of Design, one of the first and most prominent art and design schools in the U.S. While she considers herself selftaught, she credits her art instruction at North Olmsted High School with giving her the freedom and encouragement to focus on artwork she wanted to create.

“Anything that I wanted to do, I was allowed to do, and that was helpful in my personal growth,” she says with a smile.

“That experience has been so valuable, and it improved my overall creativity.”

COURTESY NORTH OLMSTED CITY SCHOOLS

Bianca Sako

A gifted musician, honors student, swimmer and avid golfer, Nagy, 16, doesn’t let being visually impaired since birth limit his ambitions or overshadow his natural talents. In fact, this past summer, he golfed in the Firestone Junior Cup. At school, he uses assistive technology provided by the district to help navigate schoolwork. One such technology, called Braille Note, converts worksheets and printed material into braille for Nagy and enables him to enter his information, which is then translated back to the teachers in their preferred format.

Nagy had the idea to make a video prior to starting his junior year that would share the accommodations he uses as well as some tips and tricks for his teachers ahead of the new school year.

“Since I’m blind, it usually takes me longer when we have a big project or something,” says Nagy, who had his first job over the summer stocking shelves

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Skill Building

North Olmsted High School’s Home Repair and Maintenance class offers life skills and a taste of the trades.

COURTESY NORTH OLMSTED CITY SCHOOLS

By Chrissy Kadleck To fully understand the demands and complexities of homeownership, students in North Olmsted High School’s Home Repair and Maintenance class spend most of a semester building a house from the ground up — a very cozy house measuring about 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep and 6-and-ahalf feet high.

Open to all grades, this popular class teaches high school students how to master skills related to residential repairs and provides a veritable toolbox of skills and knowledge involving home foundation, home framing, roofing installation and repair and electrical safety and repair.

“My big mission is, I want kids to understand how a house is put together. What is underneath your house? What’s inside your walls? What’s above the ceiling? How was the roof framed?” says Todd Eberhardt, who has been teaching in the district for 29 years. “But we need a model to fix and

repair things, so we build that model first.

Once the house is done and when the students aren’t there, I’ll go through and pull shingles off or break holes in walls or I’ll mess with the electricity. I play it up like the houses have been vandalized. Then they have to troubleshoot and fix it.”

This non-traditional class appeals to all kids at all levels and abilities and encourages them to consider career pathways into skilled trades.

“I come from a trades family,” Eberhardt adds. His father was a master craftsman, and even though Eberhardt showed interest in following his family’s lead into the construction business, his father insisted he go to college. “I have many friends who worked in the trades and they make a very good living and they love it,” he notes. “I try to push that as much as possible, and I know we have had a lot of kids show interest in the trades because of this class.”

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Faces of North Olmsted Meet four community members who use their unique talents and passions to make a difference in the community. By Rachel Hagenbaugh

Anna Heinz

Children’s Services Supervisor, Cuyahoga County Library North Olmsted Branch Since Anna Heinz started working with the Cuyahoga County Library, she has been spearheading changes that affect children throughout Greater Cleveland. In her first role as the county’s toy librarian, she helped expand the Brooklyn Branch’s lending program so that toys could be sent to members throughout the library system’s 28 locations.

Heinz also was instrumental in bringing a StoryWalk to the Brooklyn Branch.

When she became the children’s services supervisor for the North Olmsted Branch, adding one in her own community was a top priority.

“The StoryWalk is a way to connect both exercise and physical activity, but also literacy and having something that families can do together,” she says, adding that the StoryWalk will be located at North Olmsted Community Park, beginning at the

Georgia Wilder

Case Manager, Oxcart Pantry

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pantry is serving the clients. “When you have something that’s such a basic need that might not be being met completely and you can help someone with that, you give that person a little hope. That’s the best part.”

COURTESY ANNA HEINZ / COURTESY GEORGIA WILDER

Today’s Oxcart Pantry looks very different from when it started nearly 50 years ago as part of the city’s human resources department. Located in the basement of Old Town Hall, it offered a minimal amount of food and didn’t have many clients. Now, the pantry serves about 120 people per month, offers a variety of canned and fresh foods and is nestled in a house that has been converted to serve the pantry’s needs.

“Now, we can develop very nice relationships with the clients, and I think the environment has a lot to do with that,” says Georgia Wilder, the Oxcart Pantry’s case manager, noting that the pantry, which serves North Olmsted residents who meet certain income guidelines, also hosts special events, such as mobile produce, fill your backpack and holiday

programs, as well as operates a community garden. Although most of the food comes from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the pantry also depends on individual and group donations. “Every month, we distribute a flyer letting people know what the pantry is in need of.”

Wilder is responsible for running the pantry, which includes stocking and ordering food, making sure products are rotated, assisting clients, making referrals and taking care of administrative duties, such as making sure the pantry is following federal guidelines.

“When this position became available, I thought it was perfect for me because I’ve always been in social work,” she says. “It’s just natural for me.”

Although she’s vital to the pantry’s success, she’s quick to credit the 30 volunteers who help keep things running smoothly.

“Without them, we couldn’t do everything that we do,” she says, adding that her favorite aspect of running the food

playground and circling around the top portion of the new walking trail. It will include 18 posts, each of which will contain a page spread from a picture book, as well as questions and activities that help participants engage with the story and trail.

Books will rotate on a quarterly basis. For the first book, Heinz chose Someone Builds the Dream.

“It’s such a beautiful story about how so many people come together to make this dream a reality, and that’s how I’ve always felt about North Olmsted,” Heinz says. “It’s a community that comes together to make it the best place possible to live and raise a family.”

As the children’s services supervisor, Heinz also plays a vital role in the creation and implementation of the branch’s variety of programs geared toward youngsters from birth through fifth grade.

“We’re trying to promote literacy skills and a lifelong love of learning, as well as community and social skills that will carry children on through adulthood,” Heinz says. “All of these skills are essential for anything they’ll be pursuing in life.”

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Michael Kovack

COURTESY JULIA BEJJANI

Senior Outreach Coordinator, North Olmsted Senior Center Michael Kovack spent his entire career as a social worker interacting with children and their families. He never considered working with older adults.

But last fall, the outreach coordinator position for the North Olmsted Senior Center became available.

“North Olmsted is near and dear to my heart,” Kovack says. “At no point in my career was I able to work in a community that felt like home. That was the original driving force.”

Ready to try something new, Kovack was excited to take on the challenge. His responsibilities include everything from facilitating programming and health and wellness initiatives to acting as a social worker, helping the six to eight clients who contact the senior center daily.

“Whether someone needs assistance paying their utility bill or help with their lawn care — you name it — my job is to problem solve it and figure it out,” Kovack says, adding that he also

conducts home visits, performs crisis management and cooks for the center’s food program. “I want people to know that they don’t have to age alone. If you ever catch yourself being overwhelmed by things like Medicare or Social Security or want to downsize and check out assisted living options, call me. Whether it’s a referral or something else, I’m going to help you out.”

In addition to assisting older adults with financial needs, activities of daily living and other inquiries, Kovack is dedicated to outreach efforts, including educating the community about the senior center. He’s also spearheading a theater group to provide a fun way to engage with the community.

“We made a video, a parody of The Office TV show,” he says.

“I write the skits myself and had someone from city hall film it and put it on Facebook and Instagram.

The feedback was awesome.”

Kovack can be reached at 440-716-4264.

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Jason Cooper

Fleet Mechanic, North Olmsted Service Department

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COURTESY JULIA BEJJANI

Jason Cooper grew up appreciating all that police officers do for the communities they serve. Now, working as a fleet mechanic for the North Olmsted Service Department, he’s able to utilize his talents to help ensure the safety of those he’s admired since childhood.

“I feel like it was always one of my goals to work in public safety, and I love that I’ve found my spot,” Cooper says. “My boss encourages training and self-improvement. It’s an atmosphere where you’re encouraged to grow.”

Cooper helps build and maintain approximately 140 vehicles and 360 pieces of equipment ranging from plow trucks to police cars.

“We’re kind of like family doctors for the city’s vehicles,” he says, adding that North

Olmsted’s service department is one of the few that performs all of its maintenance in-house. This allows for a lot of customization, specifically to the city’s police cars.

Programming for the vehicles is written inhouse, and Cooper is constantly researching ways to make them better.

“The cars are built to calm things down and deescalate situations,” Cooper says, highlighting features that include automatically turning the siren off when a police vehicle is put into park, a low-frequency siren that allows motorists to feel (rather than simply hear) when a police car is approaching, vehicle-to-vehicle sync capabilities that allow the lights on police cars to flash together using global satellites and a sensor that dims police car lights by 20% when the sun goes down or during overcast days.

“One of the cool things that you probably won’t find in a lot of other places is that our police cars are personalized. If the officers need something, they can contact me through the chain of command, and I’ll research it and see what I can do,” he says. “I try to give the officers something that they can rely on and make their day a little bit easier and safer to give them more peace of mind and help them do their jobs the best they can.”

City Information Facilities

City Hall 5200 Dover Center Road 440-777-8000 Fire Station #1 24291 Lorain Road 440-777-1214 Fire Station #2 29592 Lorain Road 440-777-3544 Police Department 27243 Lorain Road 440-777-3535 (Non-Emergency) Recreation Center 26000 Lorain Road 440-734-8200 Oxcart Food Pantry Georgia Wilder, Case Manager 26272 Butternut Ridge Road 440-716-4165 Senior Center 28114 Lorain Road 440-777-8100 Springvale Golf Course and Ballroom 5871 Canterbury Road Golf Course: 440-777-0678 Ballroom: 440-777-0161

Elected Officials Mayor Nicole Dailey Jones

Director of Law Michael R. Gareau Jr. Director of Finance Carrie B. Copfer City Council Lou Brossard, President of Council Christopher Scarl, Ward 1 Chris Glassburn, Ward 2 Mary Gilchrist, Ward 3 Mary Ellen Hemann, Ward 4 Patrick Kelly, At Large Duane H. Limpert, At Large Angela M. Williamson, At Large Bea Taylor, Clerk 440-777-8000

City Departments Building Jeffrey Grusenmeyer, Commissioner 440-777-8000

Economic and Community Development Max Upton, Director Kristine Jones, Administrative Assistant 440-777-8000 Engineering Pietro A. DiFranco, City Engineer 440-777-8000 Finance Carrie B. Copfer, Director 440-777-8000

Fire Edward M. Schepp, Chief 440-777-1214

Senior Center Tiffany Hunt, Administrator 440-777-8100

Human Resources Lisa Kidd, Director 440-777-8000

Youth and Family Services Christine M. Allegra, Part-time Juvenile Diversion Coordinator 440-716-4166

Law Michael R. Gareau Jr., Director 440-777-8000 Mayor’s Court Stacey Freeland, Clerk 440-777-8000

Waste Water Treatment Plant Brian Blum, Superintendent 440-777-1881

North Olmsted City Schools

Mayor’s Office Rick Haase, Assistant to the Mayor 440-777-8000

Board of Education Terry Groden, President Tom Herbster, Vice President Brian Hall, Member Gina Lehmann, Member Megan Murphy, Member

Police Robert Wagner, Chief 440-777-3535 Public Safety Jennifer Scofield, Director Kristine Jones, Administrative Assistant 440-777-8000 Public Service Kevin Kearney, Director Deborah Samrani, Administrative Assistant 440-777-8000 Recreation and Public Engagement Tim Pinchek, Director 440-777-8000 Deborah Samrani, Administrative Assistant

Administrative Offices 26669 Butternut Ridge Road David Brand, Superintendent 440-588-5300 North Olmsted High School 27301 Butternut Ridge Road Main Office: 440-588-5800 North Olmsted Middle School 27401 Butternut Ridge Road Main Office: 440-588-5700

north olmsted Chestnut Elementary School 30395 Lorain Road Main Office: 440-588-5500 Maple Elementary School 24101 Maple Ridge Road Main Office: 440-588-5515

Community Resources

Cuyahoga County Public Library North Olmsted Branch 27403 Lorain Road 440-777-6211 Frostville Museum 24101 Cedar Point Road olmstedhistoricalsociety.org North Olmsted Community Council nocc.clubexpress.com 440-777-4918 North Olmsted Chamber of Commerce nolmstedchamber.org 440-777-3368 VFW Post 7647 30036 Lorain Road vfw7647.com

Pine Intermediate School 4267 Dover Center Road Main Office: 440-588-5530

Post Office 28475 Lorain Road 440-777-4225

Birch Elementary School 24100 Palm Drive Main Office: 440-588-5400

Regional Income Tax Agency ritaohio.com 800-860-7482

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WILLIAM J. SWEENEY JR. D.D.S., M.S. SPECIALIST IN ORTHODONTICS North Olmsted Magazine 2022 19