| Columns |
 | COUNTY LINE, BY DAVE LANGE
12/23/2008
This being Christmas and all, with many of us being warm and fuzzy for peace on Earth and all, I thought I'd take a look at love and goodwill in the community where I live. According to definition, community is applicable to common interests and fellowshi
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 | Grandma's guidance not forgotten
12/23/2008
No doubt about it, this is a wonderful season. And, if you are of a certain age, there will be sadness for those who are not with us, at least not physically. We miss them and remember them perhaps more vividly than at any other season.
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| | Squirrel phobia isn't just nutty overreaction
12/23/2008
Last summer, after a visit to the West Side Market, our family and a visiting friend returned to our car loaded with fresh bread, succulent fruit and other goodies from the market's many vendors. We set up some folding chairs -- which I keep in my car all
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| Facebooking facts is for friends
12/17/2008
An open letter to my Facebook pals: You flattered me when you asked me to be your friend, because, as you know, one can never have too many.
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| Court's contempt is commanding
12/17/2008
The American Civil Liberties Union won a 2002 case in which a Richland County Court of Common Pleas judge was ordered to remove a poster of the Ten Commandments from his courtroom. The ACLU successfully argued that it was a violation of the constitutional
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 | Wishes for joy, hope have season, reason
12/17/2008
In a small town very much like mine and very much like yours, stood a single pine tree. Maybe it had been there 20 years. Maybe it had been there 50 years. Maybe at one time it was surrounded by other trees larger than itself. No one in the town really kn
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| Claridon meetings are priceless
12/10/2008
Claridon Township Trustees voted 2-1 recently to pay an attorney $200 per hour to attend their meetings.
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| Dark reminder knots family ties
12/10/2008
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| Upside to being sick gets lost in the sniffle
12/10/2008
'Tis the season.
Not for tinsel and merriment but for colds and the flu.
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| Shooting star meets falling star
12/04/2008
Joe the Plumber's monkey wrench couldn't turn John the Maverick into John the President, but it could turn Helen the Database Searcher into Helen the Job Searcher.
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| This is best time of year anyway
12/04/2008
Hate to go all Scrooge on you. That's the last thing we want to be called this time of year. But ...
Seems that, in the age of enlightenment, some of us still have an issue with what name we give to
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 | Dreary winter days can have bright spots
12/04/2008
My husband and I were driving to Chester. It was a dreary day, drizzling, foggy, cold.
"Don't let the weather get you down," said Tom. "Think of that beautiful day when we drove to the Cleveland Clinic."
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| Election took some local twists
11/26/2008
In the days following the historic national election, readers of the Times newspapers learned that another Newbury school levy had been rejected, but a renewal levy for Berkshire schools had passed. They learned that rezoning issues to permit the construc
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 | This gift list is sure to satisfy
11/26/2008
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| As kitten takes over, Dad could be left out
11/26/2008
"I thought I said no more breathers," my husband, John, seethed as he looked at the new little pile of fur curled up and sleeping precisely in the middle of his chair.
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| Scourge of socialism is rampant
11/19/2008
The recent presidential election campaign brought howls against the scourge of socialism. But even hypocritical howlers love socialism.
It was no mere happenstance that one
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| Don't tell teenagers where to go
11/19/2008
Teenagers. If you have ever had one of these creatures around the house, then you know how they can try the patience.
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| Turkey-day wisdom has thankful message
11/19/2008
'Twas the week before Thanksgiving, and all through the land,
people were watching their savings disappear like quicksand.
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| Religious convictions undermined
11/12/2008
Among my deeply held religious convictions, I am opposed to forcing my neighbors to yield the use of their property for my personal gain. I also would not want to jeopardize their lifeblood and perhaps their very lives in a quest for self-enrichment.
I
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| Pumpkin roll not for spectators
11/12/2008
Let's put the pumpkin roll in the same category as the wilderness. No one needs to see it to appreciate it. It's just nice to know that it's there.
Over the years, that's changed to a point where it has become a spectator sport, which is how a Solon ma
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| Men's inflated needs roll round and round
11/12/2008
Home expenses are never fun, but some, like new paint or wallpaper, a new couch or a new landscaping, can be exciting for the instant gratification they bring.
Other expenses, like a new furnace, hot-water heater or roof, just lack that sexy feel-good-ab
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| Straight-ticket voter says no way
11/05/2008
Now that the 2008 elections are over, I can safely reveal how and why I voted on key issues that appeared on Ohio's statewide ballot without being accused of trying to influence the outcome.
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| Depression stories worth repeating
11/05/2008
As kids, there was nothing that could make our eyes roll back in our heads more readily than when one of our parents would begin a dinner-table conversation with, "During the Depression, we ..."
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| Decision at crunch time is tricky compromise
11/05/2008
Last Thursday, the day before Halloween, I was combing the aisles of Costco, trying to determine what I kind of candy I should distribute the next night.
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| Names don't fool higher learners
10/29/2008
Michael Schwartz, the president of a large state university in a big city not far from here, wants to change the name of his institution of higher learning. How about THEEEEEE Cleveland State University?
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| There's no excuse for undecided
10/29/2008
Here we are less than one week away from the most historic presidential election in 40 years, and there still are some people out there who can't decide who to vote for. They are termed the "undecided."
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| Dog deserves respect in Halloween costume
10/29/2008
Growing up on Lake Michigan, it never really mattered what I was for Halloween, because, without a doubt, snow would have fallen well before Oct. 31, and my mother would force me to wear a snow parka, hat, gloves and boots.
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| No thank you for petty politics
10/22/2008
Politics can be a thankless job.
Take the political-action committee known as Citizens to Preserve Chardon Traditions, for instance. The PAC was formed during the 2007 election season in a campaign to prevent candidates supported by the Geauga County Dem
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| Ghostly tales stretch over valley
10/22/2008
Journalists are skeptical by nature, rarely taking anything at face value. Here's an example: The legendary City News Service of Chicago had as its motto, "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."
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| If laundry list needs bucket list, call Dad
10/22/2008
TGIF no longer stands for "Thank God it's Friday." In our house, TGIF means, "the God-blessed (insert name of household appliance) is Fried!"
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| Free money has color of green
10/15/2008
Bainbridge Township Trustee Matthew J.D. Lynch wants to give me money. I like Matt Lynch.
Bainbridge Trustees have been debating what to do with the approximately $6 million that remains of the $15 million Paul Frohring estate-tax windfall that was besto
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| Small town cares for its own
10/15/2008
The good thing about living in a small town is you know everybody, and everybody knows you. The bad thing about living in a small town is you know everybody's business, and everybody knows yours too.
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| For frightful events, ghost must get in line
10/15/2008
It's October -- the time for scary stories about lurking monsters and the mysteries of the unknown and unimaginable. No, I'm not talking about the election and the financial crisis. Those stories are far too scary to repeat.
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| Chagrin Falls envy goes two ways
10/09/2008
If you live in Chagrin Falls Township, you do not live in Chagrin Falls Village. Mayor Thomas Brick is not your mayor.
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| Bring troops home for holidays
10/09/2008
If you have ever been apart from the people you love during the holidays, then you know how lonely it is.
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| Exercise motivation is more than T-shirt
10/09/2008
It has been my experience that most boys need very little encouragement to try a new sport. For years, we reign in their testosterone and tell them they can't kick, they can't throw things, don't push other people, don't run and be quiet. But sports give
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| Law on side of uncensored art
10/01/2008
The 18th "People's Art Show" will open Oct. 24 at Cleveland State University. Billed as "a free, unjuried, uncensored exhibition celebrating creativity, diversity, imagination and freedom," the show has generated some controversy in the past.
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| Zoning board stuck in wonderland
10/01/2008
Came home from last week's Chagrin Falls zoning appeals board meeting with a headache. I cover these meetings about once a month but never got a headache before, except that this time it was our ox being gored.
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| Communicable stress has gnawing symptom
10/01/2008
After making the pediatrician's office my second home for so many years, I have probably absorbed enough knowledge to earn a
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| Ohio weathers storm on its own
09/24/2008
About 300 First Energy Corp. workers reportedly returned to Ohio from Texas last Wednesday. I was among the power company's estimated 111,000 customers in the Cleveland area eagerly awaiting their arrival, because, three days after wicked winds generated
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| Taxing goes with bragging rights
09/24/2008
"Now, you've gone and done it," Miss Demeanor said as we settled into a corner booth at Yours Truly. "You have told folks from South Russell that they don't live in Chagrin Falls, and they are very upset."
"I know, got three calls about my trespasses thi
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| It's about time media get to bottom of this
09/24/2008
From the election coverage and the government bail-out of major financial and insurance institutions to the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Ike, the media has been packed full of breaking news stories. So many newsworthy stories that you may ha
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| Fashion police ready for undercover work
09/19/2008
The "Priorities of the Panties" is coming to a showdown. Throughout the country, cities are placing House bills known as the "Baggy Pants Bill" on the books of their local legislatures, making it illegal for boys and men to expose a large portion of thei
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| It's no-brainer for left-brainers
09/19/2008
Full disclosure first. I am a member of the board of trustees of the Valley Art Center.
Sometimes Chagrin Falls takes itself too seriously. Much of it emanates from our by-the-book village government, which is guided by laws drafted by lawyers and ad
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| Detours don't deter big spenders
09/19/2008
"Would you do me a favor and explain what it is that people around here have against shortcuts."
It was my old pal Mush Limburger on the line. I'll try to do that, Mush, if you could just explain to me what the heck you're talking about.
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| Right to petition often repressed
09/11/2008
The good citizens of South Russell Village and Chester Township who recently circulated referendum petitions in the good faith that they hold for democracy, only to have them unceremoniously dumped by local government, are understandably disillusioned. Th
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| Words' intents need some 'vetting'
09/11/2008
It's funny how you can go your whole life and never hear a particular word, then hear it a dozen times in the course of one week.
Language is a funny thing and in many ways is at the mercy of those who have the ear of the world, the taste makers and talk
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| Dad gets polished up on back-seat position
09/11/2008
The good news is that I now have a 16-year-old daughter who is more than happy to drive the entire 4 1/2-hour trip to my parents' home in Michigan. The bad news is that I now have a 42-year-old husband who insists on sitting in the back with the other thr
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| Drivers waiting for more signs
09/03/2008
When a Chardon Township resident asked his elected trustees for an additional sign reading, "Cross-traffic does not stop," on Clark Road last spring, I thought it was a reasonable request. He said the warning is needed at the existing stop sign where Clar
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| Lines drawn over Chagrin Falls
09/03/2008
OK, let's go over this again. Just because your post-office address says you live in Chagrin Falls, that does not necessarily mean you live in Chagrin Falls. A mailing address is one thing, but where you really live -- nice places like South Russell, Bain
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| Women are too wise to opt for polygamy
09/03/2008
I just finished reading "The 19th Wife," by David Ebershoff, the historical fiction account of polygamy and the subsequent divorce of self-proclaimed prophet and leader of the Mormon Church, Brigham Young, and his 19th wife, Ann Eliza. Bouncing between th
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| Naming names has consequences
08/27/2008
People who read more than one newspaper sometimes may wonder why a particular story receives conspicuous play in one of them and no coverage whatsoever in another. A variety of factors can account for those occasions, such as reporters having different ne
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| Murder mystery due in Chagrin
08/27/2008
Labor Day is upon us, so can "Murder by the Falls" be far behind? Yes, it's that time again for those lucky enough to score tickets to the annual Chagrin Valley Little Theatre solve-it-yourself mystery benefit set for Sept. 5 and 6.
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| Late summer lessons come in small doses
08/27/2008
It was one of those hazy, hot days of August before school began. My kids had had enough of the swimming pool, but I still relished one or two more days in the sun, so I forced them to go. I know -- I'm a terrible mother.
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| Aberrant capitals miss spaces
08/20/2008
They could call it the AmphiTheater. A capital "T" in the middle of the name might distinguish the modest outdoor entertainment venue being proposed for the hillside at Riverside Park in Chagrin Falls from what some people apparently fear could be confu
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| Olympics feature late-night drama
08/20/2008
The Olympics? Are they over yet? We all have to get some sleep. We can thank the time change from here to China for napping at our desks.
I didn't think I like the summer Olympics. So why was I sitting in front of the TV in the middle of the time watchin
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| Swim suits give men competitive advantage
08/20/2008
"I used to look like that," said my husband, John, as he watched me act like a love-sick schoolgirl every time Michael Phelps got out of the water during the Beijing Olympics.
"I'm sorry, what did you say, honey?" I asked, just a little perturbed that he
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| County Line - If stuff happens, so do lawsuits
08/13/2008
When I first learned about the 66-year-old Bainbridge man who is suing the Wal-Mart corporation over injuries he suffered at his local store, my thoughts turned to David and Goliath, one of the classic journalism angles. Some people may not know that Samu
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| Window On Main - Opportunity takes some knocking
08/13/2008
We have questions. Why are some of the good people of Chagrin Falls looking a gift horse in the mouth? It's just another day at the office as far as we're concerned and one more example of how nothing ever happens in our town without a controversy.
You m
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| 'Shoe tree' gives way to trucks
08/07/2008
Dear County Line: First of all, Bainbridge Township doesn't need any more high-speed thoroughfares, so it's ridiculous to spend over $1 million of the taxpayers' money to widen and repave Savage Road. Secondly, if they cut down the world-famous "shoe tree
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| Time is right for Chagrin Falls
08/07/2008
In case you have not noticed, Chagrin Falls is one happening place these days. I am not sure when the renaissance began. Maybe when streetscape was done. The wires came down, and our "cool quotient" went up.
Or perhaps it was the revamped village governm
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| Window on Main Street 073108
07/30/2008
There they go again. The guarantors of greatness, the emperors of expectations, the pundits of pride, the witnesses of a winning Browns season.
They are sports writers, commentators and columnists who, at the beginning of each football season, hand out
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| County Line 073108
07/30/2008
The local police reports this summer have included the usual array of alcohol-related incidents.
A Chardon man was charged with assault July 13 in connection with a fight between two stepbrothers at a party on North Main Street in Chagrin Falls. Another
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| Window On Main Street
07/23/2008
My sister Carole, God love her, is organizing the family archives. By that, I mean all of the photographs that have been stored for years and years in hat boxes on the shelf of the hall closet in our parents' home.
From the contents of those
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