A Moment With the Mayor

Moment with the Mayor for August 4, 2018
9/11 Memorial
I had the privilege of speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the 9/11 Memorial in the City of Medina last week, where more than 300 people were in attendance. The Medina Rotary Club, led by club member Dr. Kelly Low, worked with Mayor Hanwell in the planning of the project. Many individuals, organizations and businesses raised and donated funds needed for the memorial, located at Medina Fire Station 1 on W. Reagan Parkway. A 9-foot, 2-ton steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center was incorporated into the 9/11 memorial, while an additional structure memorializes Flight 93. It seems particularly appropriate, as Flight 93 flew over Medina County on September 11, after the plane was taken over by terrorists. The names of the courageous passengers and crew on board Flight 93 are etched in stone and a written narrative about that day is also on display. A new pavilion area was built to allow visitors the opportunity to reflect on the event and to honor the people whose lives were taken. Although the atmosphere the morning of the unveiling was upbeat, the crowd became quiet and reflective as the bells rang at 10:03 a.m., opening the ceremony at exactly the time that Flight 93 crashed on September 11. The speakers that day reminded everyone how fragile democracy is, and how zealously the first responders, search and rescue, and the military worked to save lives after the terrorist attacks. I recommend that you take time to visit the memorial, to remember, honor and renew the spirit of patriotism and unity that were in such evidence following 9/11.

Balloon Event
You may remember seeing hot air balloons in the sky years ago during balloon days, and now you’ll have the chance to see them on Saturday, August 4th as the Wadsworth Municipal Airport hosts Balloons over Wadsworth, the finale of
Wadsworth’s Balloon Festival Weekend, which kicks off with Main Street’s August First Friday event downtown on August 3. The balloons on Saturday will launch between 6:00-7:30p.m., and food trucks will be serving as early as 4:00p.m. The balloons will return for an "After Glow" from 9:00 - 9:20 p.m. and will provide a unique opportunity to take photos and see the balloons light up. Parking is available at the airport. You are welcome to bring your own seating and blankets. Wadsworth Community Radio will be live on location with music and pilot interviews.

Neighborhood Speeding
During the summer months, the City often receives complaints from residents about excessive driving speeds in their neighborhoods. Nice weather, summer activities and new/young drivers are all contributing factors. Safety Director Matt Hiscock has instituted a speed awareness campaign to help drivers realize how fast they are traveling and hopefully, affect a change in their driving habits. Interestingly, it is often residents from the neighborhood in question who are speeding. The awareness campaign is composed of three objectives: educating the public; engaging the public; and reducing speed of neighborhood traffic. To educate and get the attention of drivers, Mr. Hiscock will install a cluster of yard signs in the front lawns of neighboring residents who have requested them. Following that, an electronic “Your Speed” sign is temporarily attached to an existing sign post, so drivers are able to see their real time driving speed. The sign can also record data, such as time of day, rate of speed and number of cars traveling in the area. The information collected is then used to address the third objective, by identifying when and where enforcement efforts would be valuable to help deter speeding. If you and 4 or 5 of your neighbors wish to participate in this program, please call the Safety Director’s assistant at City Hall at 330.335.1521, with your address. Due to the number of calls in the summer, it could take a few weeks to initiate the process.

211 Services
Often we receive calls for help from those in need in Wadsworth. Fortunately, United Way Medina County provides a detailed resource that is accessible by dialing 2-1-1. This is a free community service that provides information about social, health and government resources 24 hours a day. Many different agencies are available to help with: food, clothing, housing and utility assistance; services for older adults and people with disabilities; family support, parenting, and child and youth services; substance abuse and mental health treatment; employment programs; tax assistance, budgeting and credit counseling. There are also opportunities to volunteer and donate. Information about qualifications for those in need is included. Simply call 2-1-1 or visit them online at 211neohio.org. The following is a link to a video that demonstrates the level of impact of this service in Medina County: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnAc_qBVnU8. There are some compelling stories from anonymous individuals whose lives have been improved with the information they received at 2-1-1.

Until next week…

Robin Laubaugh, Mayor