9/2/10 North Royalton earn Excellent ratings on state report cards
Officials kickoff plan to improve North Royalton stadium
May 27, 2010, 7:34PM
 Behnke Associates Inc. created this rendering of an artificial turf field and all-weather, eight-lane track for North Royalton City Schools.
NORTH ROYALTON
A community that once trailed neighboring suburbs is rapidly coming into the forefront.
On the heels of last year’s successful boys’ varsity football playoff run, the North Royalton Stadium Foundation is looking to raise $1.4 million before February 2011 allowing for the construction of an artificial turf field and an eight-lane all-weather track.
The “Turf the Field” stadium project was unveiled last Thursday morning. Among those in attendance were Broadview Heights Mayor Sam Alai, North Royalton Mayor Robert Stefanik, Foundation Chairman Larry Vasil and student representatives from the football, track and soccer teams, along with a marching band member.
“The city is moving forward with the YMCA of Greater Cleveland,” Stefanik said. “More efforts are being made to bring North Royalton into this century. We are now ahead of other neighboring cities.”
Stefanik, who said he once played on the field in 1969, said not much has changed in that time span. Facilities, comprised of a grass and dirt field, were originally built in the 1940s.
The encompassing track, which track coach Don Bazzo said floods each rainfall in lanes one and two, was constructed in 1995.
“We’ve lost revenue because we can’t host many events,” Bazzo said.
The track’s long and narrow shape also conflicts with neighboring competitor tracks when runners must acclimate to a new stance on the track. Officials said a stadium that now only hosts about 10 football events per year could accommodate as many as 200 school and community events.
Phase One of the initiative, which is estimated to be complete by the 2010 fall season, calls for the replacement of the visitor stands with 800 ADA compliant bleacher seats expandable to 2,000 seats by the end of the project. Paved walkways will also be installed, along with a portable visitor concession stand and restroom facilities.
Retaining walls will be added, along with level walkways and re-landscaping.
Phase Two calls for the installation of synthetic turf and an eight-lane track.
“Since 1940, our community has grown significantly, but our stadium has not kept pace with that change and growth,” Vasil said.
The renovated stadium would allow for regional sports playoffs and tournaments, including soccer.
As part of Phase Three, the 1,900-seat home grandstand would be replaced with a 3,000-seat area holding a larger press box and possible viewing box.
The concession stand and restroom facility would be replaced. “I’m fully convinced this goal will become a reality,” said Superintendent Ed Vittardi.
Alai also pledged his support. “I see the value of strong communities, and this can be a community fixture,” Alai said.
For more information, visit nrstadiumfoundation.com, or call Larry Vasil at (440) 570-2446.
Highland Athletic Director Kevin Kuntz to take job in North Royalton
April 14, 2010, 11:00PM
Highland High School Athletic Director Kevin “Bo” Kuntz submitted his letter of resignation, to the Highland School Board April 13. His resignation is effective July 31, 2010.
“I consider it a privilege to have served the students and families at Highland School," he said. "I am proud of what has been accomplished during my tenure and I have a great appreciation for the opportunity given to me by the administration and the Board of Education. It is my hope that Highland Schools received as much as they gave.“
Kuntz has been the athletic director at Highland for six years and he recently accepted a job as Athletic Director for North Royalton City Schools.
YMCA reps will meet with North Royalton residents
April 13, 2010, 1:38PM
 This rendering illustrates what a new YMCA in North Royalton may look like.
NORTH ROYALTON At 7 p.m. April 13, residents are invited to attend a meeting at City Hall, 13834 Ridge Road, to offer their input regarding the new facility, said City Council President Vince Gentile.
Gentile reached out to the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and requested a representative be present at the public meeting.
City officials recently entered into a purchase agreement with Citizens Bank of Flint, Mich. to buy the former Avalon Event Center at a proposed price of $2.1 million. Monies will be taken from capital improvement funds.
The Avalon Event Center was purchased in 2004 by Citizens Bank after creditors forced it into involuntary bankruptcy.
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland will renovate and operate the facility. For residents, that means no hike in taxes. Glenn Haley, YMCA president and CEO, is expected to make construction and architectural announcements by June and a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in the fall.
Preliminary plans call for a 45-55,000 square foot facility that can welcome anywhere from 7,500-10,000 members, said Gary Guzy, executive director of the Ridgewood Family Branch in Parma.
The facility, which will be renovated with $6-7 million in pledge-based donations, will measure between 45,000 and 50,000 square feet. Amenities will include a swimming pool, gymnasium, segmented fitness center, exercise studios and child care and watch services. To learn more, visit ymca4nr.org.
North Royalton begins warning phone users
March 17, 2010, 6:38PM
 This is one of 19 signs posted throughout North Royalton that communicates a new law restricting cell phone use while driving.NORTH ROYALTON As promised, signs alerting motorists to the new cell phone regulations are up and warnings will go out.
There are 19 signs posted at various entrances to the city outlining three restrictions on using a cellular device while driving through town.
The law, which was officially adopted Jan. 15, bans texting while driving, requires motorists to use hands-free cellular devices and prohibits minors from using cell phones while driving. It makes exceptions for emergency vehicles and situations.
A 30-day grace period is in effect through April 7. On April 8, patrolmen will begin issuing citations prompting motorists to appear in Mayor’s Court, said Safety Director Bruce Campbell.
The violation of this ordinance is a minor misdemeanor punishable by up to a $150 fine and court costs. The North Royalton Mayor’s Court has established a waiver amount of $25 plus $72 in court costs.
According to Campbell, unless it otherwise applies, motorists who are stopped will not be cited in addition for the city’s “Full Time and Attention” ordinance which prohibits such behavior as reading, applying make-up or holding a dog while driving.
Congratulations to 3 Grand Prize winners
3/3/10
 The winner of the 2010 Chevy Malibu is Helen Pilat from Parma.
Helen bought her winning ticket from her granddaughter, Jennifer Pilat who is a member of our award winning Marching Band.
Second Place prize winner of $700 is Kathi Vogler.
Third Place prize winner of $300 is Bob Imars.
Top student ticket seller is Omar Khanfar, a sixth grade MS student, who sold 115 tickets. Omar won the $100 Top Seller Prize.
The Athletic Boosters, Band Boosters and the HS Administration would like to thank
Bob Serpentini Chevrolet for his generous donation of a car to our school for this fablulous fundraiser that raised over $40,000 for the participating clubs.
North Royalton City Schools administration drafting a five-year strategic plan
February 20, 2010, 10:38AM
 NORTH ROYALTON A sound mission statement and strict financial planning are two of the items covered in the school district’s five-year strategic plan.
According to Superintendent Ed Vittardi, the plan, which sets the course and direction of the district, will be completed by April 15.
“The best course of action is to create a future,” Vittardi said. “This document will be a five-year plan on how we make decisions, what we value and what we believe in when dealing with limited resources.”
A two-day retreat was held to review information gathered from small group meetings and focus groups. The retreat team represented all aspects of the community from parents without children in the district to religious leaders to older adults.
“It is an outstanding process to get a consensus from a large group of people,” Vittardi said. “This process is really powerful.”
From information learned at the two-day retreat, six action teams have been created. Community leaders, school administration andstaff make up each team. The six teams are facilities, community engagement, collaboration, communication, student achievement and financial.
Each team is responsible for developing plans of action to meet specified goals.
“The schools belong to the community,” Vittardi said. “There is a history in this city of residents being very proud of the school system. Through this strategic plan we will continue to engage the community and reflect the values of this community and its residents.”
The completed strategic plan will be presented to the school board for adoption May 10.
North Royalton High School "Alumni Band Night" welcomes
more than 400 former band students
September 09, 2009, 1:12PM
 Sara Macho-Sun NewsFormer North Royalton High School band students marched alongside current members for "Alumni Band Night" commemorating the career of retiring band director Marty Lydecker.
NORTH ROYALTON -- Though planning began in June, Friday evening's "Alumni Band Night" was really an event nearly 24 years in the making.
More than 400 former North Royalton High School band students performed in Friday's halftime show commemorating the retirement of Marty Lydecker, band director since 1986.
Lydecker will retire at the conclusion of the school year.
Alumni from 10 states, including the District of Columbia, made the trek back to Bear Country to perform.
"There is absolutely no doubt that more than 700 current and former band members participated," said retired Band Booster president John Kelly.
To get the word out to scattered band alumni, Kelly compiled names of all the former students who ever attended an alumni band event.
He added to that all of the addresses on file from previous classes.
A mass e-mail and "snail mailing" went out in July, and a 2007 alum created a notification page on facebook.com, Kelly said.
"I would especially like to thank a dedicated group of about 50 current and alumni parents who worked very hard the last couple weeks and on Friday to pull this all off," Kelly said.
The group supervised a multitude of tasks including rehearsal sign-in and the distribution of music. "It was all worth it just for those few seconds when the entire crowd stood as one to give Mr. Lydecker a standing ovation," Kelly said.
Thomas Welsh, from the Class of 1996, gladly accepted the invitation to connect with old friends. "Band was a big part of my life for four years," Welsh said. "It definitely shaped my life and was character building."
For Mary Lou Lydecker, Marty's wife, the commemorative event brought back hundreds of memories. "All the years are just flashing before my eyes," Mary Lou said. "Every football game, every trip, it is just overwhelming."
The band boosters will hold a retirement banquet in honor of Marty Lydecker at 6 p.m. June 11, 2010, at St. Paul Hellenic Banquet Center, 4548 Wallings Road in North Royalton.
For updates and more information, click on northroyaltonhighschoolband.com.
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