The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-02-14 |
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.... ," Bj .. ■ .^F, ■ E Local cops honored by VFW — Page 3 I Dale marks 40 years in banks — Page 5 Amherst News-Time? Wednesday, February 14, 2001 Amherst, Ohio Happy Valentine's Day; Still need a gift? ' r- 3 _S - •-■ r x I * H H - "*! - $ r ^ -. — , « _p * 3 , »« < 5 - •■" x» o /J 1 by JASON TOMASZEWSKI News-Times reporter You just survived Christmas and New Year's is over. But there is no time to rest on your laurels. Valentine's Day is here and sweethearts everywhere are scrambling to get that perfect gift The News-Times enlisted the help of several local gift shops and florists to show us some of the new trends and old standbys of Valentine gift giving. Eileen Novak of Eileen's Greens and Things on Telegraph Road in South Amherst is a virtual Valentine expert She has been in the floral and gift business for the past 27 years, and claims to have seen it all. "I'm a litde concerned about the guys this year," stated Novak. "Typically when Valentine's Day comes on a weekday a lot of guys forget about it. It's easy to remember when it's on a weekend because they usually take their date out, but it's harder when it's in the middle of the week.** For the guys who find themselves in the dog house after forgetting a day like this, Novak has an entire line of items to help them get back into good graces. "We have our dog house cards and arrangements," stated Novak. "I expect to see quite a few guys in here next weekend." In addition to her dog house line, Novak also offers a wide variety of CONTINUED on page 8 Above left: Eileen, from Eileen's Greens and Things proudly displays some of the items she has available for Valentines Day. Above right: an employee of Anew Florist shows off a lovely Valen tines display. Both florists offer a wide variety of Valentine themed items. iiifin «.*.-,Tmcat rr I rtt-.raiTm VlHTC* ft-TIVAL •r Pi./» Y5 -. News-Times reporter Jason Tomaszewski takes time out for lunch to class to see just how much things have changed since his high in the senior lounge at Marion L. Steel High School. While Tomas- school days. zewski is more of a super duper senior, he did spend the day going Where's Jay? We've put News-Times reporter Jason Tomaszewski to the test again. Assignment: get involved in the community. Second stop: the classroom. Mix in one part 21 Jump Street, two parts Billy Madison, and a pinch of "Never Been Kissed" and you've pretty much summed up my experience at Marion L. Steele High School last week. Like Richard Greco in the popular eighties TV drama, I was there to see what high school was Like in the new millennium. However, just like Billy Madison, everyone knew that I was not a regular student. Those who have seen "Never Been Kissed" know that Drew Banymore wrote a ncw-paner article about her experiences going back to school. There 1 wes at six in the morning asking myself, "What are you doing?" I have never been a morning person, but I can deal with rising at eight to get to work by nine. But those two hours that I lost were horrendous. Knowing that I would be spending the day mingling among the most fashion conscious group of people in the United States, I was careful to pick out an ensemble that would be casual but respectable. I settled on a sweater and jeans. After munching a light breakfast, I headed off to school. At the high school, I was greeted by the office staff. They were all aware that I would be visiting the school and made me feel welcome. Rather than go through a schedule by myself, I was going to shadow a student as she went through her day. I was matched up with Lara Petredis, a senior CONTINUED on page 2 Schools fall one point on district report card; still in tip-top shape by PAUL MORTON News-Times reporter The Amherst schools slipped a little on the district report card this year, but they retain their rating — and attitude — of continuous improvement. According to official results released by the stale department of education last month, the Amherst schools earned a score of 21 out of 27 performance standards on the district report card, measuring the district's performance during the 1999-2000 school year. On the last report card, the district passed 22 rxiformance standards, also earning ara-mgofcc-ntinuoi-f improvenienL The report card measures a district in 27 performance standards, including percentages of students who pass the state proficiency teats given to students in fourth, sixth, ninth, 10th and 12th grades. The tests for each grade are divided into five parts: citizenship, math, reading, writing, and science. . The final two performance standards ate student attendance and high school graduation rate. . Although the district as a whole slipped, there was encouraging news at the high school, where for the first time the district scored a clean sweep of all 16 applicable standards, including graduation rate. In each of the previous two years the stale issued district report cards, the Class of 2002 failed to pass the math portion of the proficiency tests in sufficient numbers to pass Ihe performance standard, although they came within one and a half percentage points each time. In the current report card, though, 10th grade students passed the math portion of the test at a 91.1 percent clip, 6.4 percentage points better than last year, and 63 percentage points better than the same class did as ninth graders. That was only one of 12 lest areas at the high school level that saw increases in the scores. And some of the biggest increases came in the 12th grade, where pawing the lest is not required for graduation, although ffiwtffti cao earn scholarships from the stale for passing all five sections of the left But as dramatic aa the increases were at the high school, ihe declines 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 4* Citizenship 76.7* 89.2* 73.7 Mathematics 54.6 70.2 61.5 Reading 69.2 S2.2* 79.2* 9576* Writing 79.6* 83.8* Science 64.3 76.4* 59.8 G* Citizenship 83.8* 87.9* 83.4* 68.0 Mathematics 69.1 74.7 Reading 69.1 62.3 67.2 Writing 918* 90.0* 80.8* Science 74.1 61.2 69.0 g* Citizenship 84.6* 88.1* 92.6* Mathematics 73.8 84.6* 88.1* Reading 94.4* 98.0* 97.1* Writing 92.6* 95.6* 97.0* Science 83.3* 87.7* 89.7* 10'" Citizenship 93.4* 93.4* 95.4* Mathematics 88.8* 84.7 98.5* 96.7*" 90.7* 91.1* 97.9* " ' Reading 98.1* Writing 96.9* 98.9* 94.3* Science 93.2* ,2.h Citizenship 73.1* 61.9* 61.6* . " 79.2* 79.7* Mathematics Reading 68.9* 79.9* 76..* 80.2* Writing 82.1* SI. 3* 92.1* Science 67.0* 68..'<* 96.9* 76.2* Student Attendance 95.4* 95.6* 97.8* Graduation Kale 96.1* 20 94.9* 22" .... Standards Passed 21 Happy as/Piggy's' this family is here to serve community were nearly as severe at Harris School. Fourth grade citizenship showed a decline of 1S.S percentage points, and fourth grade science fell 16.6 percentage points from last year. The district passed both of those standards last year, but the decline- dropped the two subjects below tbe minimum 75 percent needed to score a point this year. Testing coordinator Judy Alexander said scores should begin to improve in coming years, since (be district realigned the curriculums for all subjects two years ago. "We've been wotting to get our curriculum aligned with the state models," Alexander said. "For instance, we've been using a new math series that uses a spiral method. It periodically goes back and reviews everything die student has learned to that point, because that's how the lest works." She said the fourth grade students who take the lest this year are the first to have been using such a system for their entire school careers. In addition to realigned curriculums, at Shupe Middle School sixth graders are given opportunitka for extra help. Principal Greg Ring said CONTINUED on page 3 by JASON TOMASZEWSKI News-Times reporter Not since the arrival of Kermit The Frog and Jim Henson has someone been pleased to be called Piggy. That is unless you are Don Pignitdla and his daughter Michelle Henke. They own and operate Piggy's Main Street Market on East Main Street in South AmhersL While Pignitella has owned the store for the past seven years, the store has been in that location since the 1940s. "It was originally Thomson's Dairy," he explained. "They bottled milk there, made ice cream, and even had an eating room. They were a full fledged dairy." It wasn't until the Thomsons sold the store to tbe Riddle family that it started to become more of a convenience store. According to Pignitella. be purchased the store from tbe Riddles with tbe plan to continue the tradition started by tbe Tbomaona. "My daughter and I warn k_d___f around tbe idea of getting into this batiaaaa far about a year before we bought the place," he said. "I was working for a beer distributor at the time, but Michelle steered me in this direction." After seven years. Piggy's has built a reputation for being a hub of activity in South AmhersL According lo^jg- ♦ nitella South Amherst IJP ^ dents often call his esTish- ment to get infonnation about things going on in the community. "There is always- someone here talking with us," explained Pignitella. "We get calls here for information about everything from water main breaks, to if school is out The funny thing is, most of die time we know tbe answer to the question." That point was made obvious during Pignitella's interview. A South Amhent police officer stopped by to pick up some drinks. While he was there he --formed Pignitella that ihe chief had hurt his hip again. Anyone who wan to know Anything about ths goings on in South Amhent need only to talk with tbe people at Piggy's. Piggy's haa toco-ue ao po- CONTINUCOon page • ■ ..BMlB&^i.,^
Object Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-02-14 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 14-FEB-2001 |
Searchable Date | 2001-02-14 |
Collection | Amherst News-Times |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Type | Text |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
Description
Title | The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-02-14 |
Place |
Amherst (Ohio) Lorain County (Ohio) |
Date of Original | 14-FEB-2001 |
Searchable Date | 2001-02-14 |
Submitting Institution | Amherst Public Library |
Rights | Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights and reproduction requests or more information, go to http://www.ohiohistory.org/images/information |
Full Text | .... ," Bj .. ■ .^F, ■ E Local cops honored by VFW — Page 3 I Dale marks 40 years in banks — Page 5 Amherst News-Time? Wednesday, February 14, 2001 Amherst, Ohio Happy Valentine's Day; Still need a gift? ' r- 3 _S - •-■ r x I * H H - "*! - $ r ^ -. — , « _p * 3 , »« < 5 - •■" x» o /J 1 by JASON TOMASZEWSKI News-Times reporter You just survived Christmas and New Year's is over. But there is no time to rest on your laurels. Valentine's Day is here and sweethearts everywhere are scrambling to get that perfect gift The News-Times enlisted the help of several local gift shops and florists to show us some of the new trends and old standbys of Valentine gift giving. Eileen Novak of Eileen's Greens and Things on Telegraph Road in South Amherst is a virtual Valentine expert She has been in the floral and gift business for the past 27 years, and claims to have seen it all. "I'm a litde concerned about the guys this year," stated Novak. "Typically when Valentine's Day comes on a weekday a lot of guys forget about it. It's easy to remember when it's on a weekend because they usually take their date out, but it's harder when it's in the middle of the week.** For the guys who find themselves in the dog house after forgetting a day like this, Novak has an entire line of items to help them get back into good graces. "We have our dog house cards and arrangements," stated Novak. "I expect to see quite a few guys in here next weekend." In addition to her dog house line, Novak also offers a wide variety of CONTINUED on page 8 Above left: Eileen, from Eileen's Greens and Things proudly displays some of the items she has available for Valentines Day. Above right: an employee of Anew Florist shows off a lovely Valen tines display. Both florists offer a wide variety of Valentine themed items. iiifin «.*.-,Tmcat rr I rtt-.raiTm VlHTC* ft-TIVAL •r Pi./» Y5 -. News-Times reporter Jason Tomaszewski takes time out for lunch to class to see just how much things have changed since his high in the senior lounge at Marion L. Steel High School. While Tomas- school days. zewski is more of a super duper senior, he did spend the day going Where's Jay? We've put News-Times reporter Jason Tomaszewski to the test again. Assignment: get involved in the community. Second stop: the classroom. Mix in one part 21 Jump Street, two parts Billy Madison, and a pinch of "Never Been Kissed" and you've pretty much summed up my experience at Marion L. Steele High School last week. Like Richard Greco in the popular eighties TV drama, I was there to see what high school was Like in the new millennium. However, just like Billy Madison, everyone knew that I was not a regular student. Those who have seen "Never Been Kissed" know that Drew Banymore wrote a ncw-paner article about her experiences going back to school. There 1 wes at six in the morning asking myself, "What are you doing?" I have never been a morning person, but I can deal with rising at eight to get to work by nine. But those two hours that I lost were horrendous. Knowing that I would be spending the day mingling among the most fashion conscious group of people in the United States, I was careful to pick out an ensemble that would be casual but respectable. I settled on a sweater and jeans. After munching a light breakfast, I headed off to school. At the high school, I was greeted by the office staff. They were all aware that I would be visiting the school and made me feel welcome. Rather than go through a schedule by myself, I was going to shadow a student as she went through her day. I was matched up with Lara Petredis, a senior CONTINUED on page 2 Schools fall one point on district report card; still in tip-top shape by PAUL MORTON News-Times reporter The Amherst schools slipped a little on the district report card this year, but they retain their rating — and attitude — of continuous improvement. According to official results released by the stale department of education last month, the Amherst schools earned a score of 21 out of 27 performance standards on the district report card, measuring the district's performance during the 1999-2000 school year. On the last report card, the district passed 22 rxiformance standards, also earning ara-mgofcc-ntinuoi-f improvenienL The report card measures a district in 27 performance standards, including percentages of students who pass the state proficiency teats given to students in fourth, sixth, ninth, 10th and 12th grades. The tests for each grade are divided into five parts: citizenship, math, reading, writing, and science. . The final two performance standards ate student attendance and high school graduation rate. . Although the district as a whole slipped, there was encouraging news at the high school, where for the first time the district scored a clean sweep of all 16 applicable standards, including graduation rate. In each of the previous two years the stale issued district report cards, the Class of 2002 failed to pass the math portion of the proficiency tests in sufficient numbers to pass Ihe performance standard, although they came within one and a half percentage points each time. In the current report card, though, 10th grade students passed the math portion of the test at a 91.1 percent clip, 6.4 percentage points better than last year, and 63 percentage points better than the same class did as ninth graders. That was only one of 12 lest areas at the high school level that saw increases in the scores. And some of the biggest increases came in the 12th grade, where pawing the lest is not required for graduation, although ffiwtffti cao earn scholarships from the stale for passing all five sections of the left But as dramatic aa the increases were at the high school, ihe declines 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 4* Citizenship 76.7* 89.2* 73.7 Mathematics 54.6 70.2 61.5 Reading 69.2 S2.2* 79.2* 9576* Writing 79.6* 83.8* Science 64.3 76.4* 59.8 G* Citizenship 83.8* 87.9* 83.4* 68.0 Mathematics 69.1 74.7 Reading 69.1 62.3 67.2 Writing 918* 90.0* 80.8* Science 74.1 61.2 69.0 g* Citizenship 84.6* 88.1* 92.6* Mathematics 73.8 84.6* 88.1* Reading 94.4* 98.0* 97.1* Writing 92.6* 95.6* 97.0* Science 83.3* 87.7* 89.7* 10'" Citizenship 93.4* 93.4* 95.4* Mathematics 88.8* 84.7 98.5* 96.7*" 90.7* 91.1* 97.9* " ' Reading 98.1* Writing 96.9* 98.9* 94.3* Science 93.2* ,2.h Citizenship 73.1* 61.9* 61.6* . " 79.2* 79.7* Mathematics Reading 68.9* 79.9* 76..* 80.2* Writing 82.1* SI. 3* 92.1* Science 67.0* 68..'<* 96.9* 76.2* Student Attendance 95.4* 95.6* 97.8* Graduation Kale 96.1* 20 94.9* 22" .... Standards Passed 21 Happy as/Piggy's' this family is here to serve community were nearly as severe at Harris School. Fourth grade citizenship showed a decline of 1S.S percentage points, and fourth grade science fell 16.6 percentage points from last year. The district passed both of those standards last year, but the decline- dropped the two subjects below tbe minimum 75 percent needed to score a point this year. Testing coordinator Judy Alexander said scores should begin to improve in coming years, since (be district realigned the curriculums for all subjects two years ago. "We've been wotting to get our curriculum aligned with the state models," Alexander said. "For instance, we've been using a new math series that uses a spiral method. It periodically goes back and reviews everything die student has learned to that point, because that's how the lest works." She said the fourth grade students who take the lest this year are the first to have been using such a system for their entire school careers. In addition to realigned curriculums, at Shupe Middle School sixth graders are given opportunitka for extra help. Principal Greg Ring said CONTINUED on page 3 by JASON TOMASZEWSKI News-Times reporter Not since the arrival of Kermit The Frog and Jim Henson has someone been pleased to be called Piggy. That is unless you are Don Pignitdla and his daughter Michelle Henke. They own and operate Piggy's Main Street Market on East Main Street in South AmhersL While Pignitella has owned the store for the past seven years, the store has been in that location since the 1940s. "It was originally Thomson's Dairy," he explained. "They bottled milk there, made ice cream, and even had an eating room. They were a full fledged dairy." It wasn't until the Thomsons sold the store to tbe Riddle family that it started to become more of a convenience store. According to Pignitella. be purchased the store from tbe Riddles with tbe plan to continue the tradition started by tbe Tbomaona. "My daughter and I warn k_d___f around tbe idea of getting into this batiaaaa far about a year before we bought the place," he said. "I was working for a beer distributor at the time, but Michelle steered me in this direction." After seven years. Piggy's has built a reputation for being a hub of activity in South AmhersL According lo^jg- ♦ nitella South Amherst IJP ^ dents often call his esTish- ment to get infonnation about things going on in the community. "There is always- someone here talking with us," explained Pignitella. "We get calls here for information about everything from water main breaks, to if school is out The funny thing is, most of die time we know tbe answer to the question." That point was made obvious during Pignitella's interview. A South Amhent police officer stopped by to pick up some drinks. While he was there he --formed Pignitella that ihe chief had hurt his hip again. Anyone who wan to know Anything about ths goings on in South Amhent need only to talk with tbe people at Piggy's. Piggy's haa toco-ue ao po- CONTINUCOon page • ■ ..BMlB&^i.,^ |
Format | newspapers |
LCCN | sn84028333 |
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