Amherst News-Times, 2001-02-28

              I  /   •  _--__-_______^_--_-_-_----___--__----_------__-_-__---__--__--_---------------_^
/   Auditions set for Workshop show — Page 5    Grappler to face state test — Page 12
Amherst News-Time
--    : z z
- o _ _
- -ft z _■■
s
-) ■'.'. X rH
S   n <-s
o .->
*!_>._:
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Amherst, Ohio
ADBA meeting will outline grant uses
So you have a suitcase full of money. What do you do with it? That is
just one of the questions that will be
answered at the Amherst Downtown
Design Fair on Thursday, March 1,
at the Nordson Depot
While the city doesn't exactly
have a suitcase full of money, they
do have $400,000 in grant money to
revitalize central business districts,
provide downtown housing, eliminate blight, and create and retain
private sector job opportunities for
low-and moderate-income residents.
The public is welcome to attend
the fair, but Amherst Downtown
Coordinator Greg Balbierz hopes to
sec local contractors and business
owners.
Balbierz. has gathered a slew of
people and organizations to give a
detailed presentation on just how the
money should be spent, and what
the rules are regarding the spending
of the money. Of those who will be
in attendance are the Urban Design
Center of Kent State University,
State Treasurer's Office, Pogge-
meyer Design Group, and local
banks.
"This will hopefully bring
together everyone who will be involved in the revitalization project
together," stated Balbierz. "The
contractors will be hearing the same
thing as the business owners. Everyone will be on the same page. We
want the downtown property owners
and contractors to understand the
procedures for usage of the grant,"
The day will begin with the regu-
An Amherst police dispatcher keeps things
ready for the next call. The dispatch room in
side the Amherst police station looks more like
the situation room inside the White House.
Where's Jay?
N-T reporter Jason Tomaszewski
hopped a ride with the police to see
what happens at night in Amherst.
"Bad boys, bad boys, what 'cha gonna do?"
If they are in Amherst, apparently nothing. Recently I had the pleasure of riding along with
the Amherst Police Department for one nighL
The idea was, not only to see what the
criminals of Amherst were up to, but also to
see how the boys in blue work.
I had made arrangements with sergeant Dan
Makruski to ride along during his Thursday
night shift SgL Makruski works 9 pjn. until 7
ajn., so I was prepared for a long night
When I arrived at the police station, I was
greeted by Sgt. Makruski. He introduced me to
patrolman Rosebeck. Rosebeck is a new trainee,
who would be going along with Sgt. Makruski
and me. Once we all made acquaintances, I
was handed a release form to sign. As I
printed my name and added my signature, I
thought to myself, 'What's the worst that can
happen?"
We had some time before we had to hit ihe
, streets, so Sgt Makruski gave me a complete
tour of the police facilities. He showed me the
Jispatch office, which looked more like the war
room in the Pentagon than a small town police
headquarters. I saw the locker facilities, and the
workout room that everyone has access to. It
was while I was viewing the locker area that
Sgt Makruski showed me a kevlar vest He
asked me to pick it up so that I could get a
led for what it is like to wear something like
it To my amazement I had to exert some
energy to lift it The vest had to weigh at least
75 poundst But when given the choice of being
k little ___cc*mfortabie or having a bullet logged
in year chest I'd take uncomfortable any day
of Ihe week. To be honest, I couldn't help but
think of the scene from "Dumb and Dumber."
"What if they shot you in the face? That was
a risk we were willing to take."
From the locker facilities, we visited the
holding cells. Sgt Makruski informed me that
gey had the capabilities lo hold someone for
five days when the department is fully funded.
Bach cell had a stainless steel sink and toilet a
had that was nothing more than a ledge molded
dnt of the wall, and a small window in the
door. Even though I knew that I wasn't in any
uouble, and the door was never closed, I
couldn't help but feel a little scared standing in
the cell I can only imagine what it must be
like to be incarcerated.
As the tour continued, I saw where the prisoners are booked, and where evidence is stored.
One room that was particularly fascinating was
an interview room. Inside this small room was
a table and two chain. Upon the table was a
laptop computer. Sgt Makruski Informed that
the computer can detect stress levels in someone's voice and tell police that they are lying.
I guess long gone are the days of a bright
light in your face.
When the tour was over, it was time to go
on patrol. Sgt Makruski asked me if 1 wanted
to wear a vest while we were out I politely
declined stating, "I wasn't expecting any shoot-
outs tonight"
As we drove through the streets of Amherst
Sgt Makruski and patrolman Rosebeck made
conversation. At times one would look back
and ask if I was drooling on the seats. Of
course it was late, but I was amazingly alert I
think it was the constant possibility that at any
time something could happen.
As we talked, I noticed something about the
officers. They would stop mid-syllable whenever
something would come over the radio. Even
though it was a particularly quiet night these
guys were all business. They were always
prepared.
After a short while in the car. we beaded
back io the station. There Sgt Makruski and
Roseback completed some paper weak as I reviewed my notes. Makruski then held a short
meeting of all the officers on duty before we
headed out again. This time there was actually
While patrolling around the back of the
Brickhouse Cafe, Roaebeck naked that the
door to one of the parked can waa open. He
went over to inspect the car and noticed that
there was an expensive amp in the back seat
Concerned that someone might have tried to
take it officer Rosebeck and Sgt Makruski at-
CONTINUEO on page S
lar meeting of the Amherst Downtown Business Association at 9 a.m.
There business owners will hear a
review from the Kent Suite Urban
Design Center, who has had a representative been walking the streets
of Amherst collecting data for the
project Poggemcycr Design Group
will also make a presentation.
According to Balbierz, Pogge-
meyer will show the business own-
en just where the city is, where it is
going, and how it is going lo get
there in terms of revitlaizatkxi.
At 10:15 a rehab specialist will
explain the rules of the road for contractors. Specifically the specialist
will discuss CHIP Grant and Downtown Revitalization Grant procedures for contractors. The presentation will be followed by a question
and answer session.
At 3 p.m. anyone wishing to view
a project in progress can stroll down
to 187 Park Ave. to see exactly what
some of the renovations will look
like.
Balbierz has b *
the fair by attem   _. s-
sion in Columbus, regarding the implementation of the Downtown Revitalization Grant Balbierz will also
be able to answer questions regarding the grant money.
The fair is being sponsored by the
Amherst Downtown Business Association, the mayor's office, the auditor's office, the treasurer's office,
and the building department
More local lawyers throw
their hats into judge ring
Running for judge of the Oberlin
Municipal Court has become a popular idea in Amherst   '
Thomas Januzzi, Susan Ward,
and Martin Conry have all submitted petitions to run for the seat that
will be vacated by retiring judge
Martin M. Heberling.
Three more local attorneys have
recently announced their candidacy
for the seat John Keressi of Henrietta Township, along with Amhent residents Steve List and Frank
Janik have tossed their hats into the
primary race.
Janik is a graduate of Kent State
University and The Ohio State University. Janik, a democrat has practiced criminal law in every municipal court in Lorain County. He has
also served as an arbitrator deciding
cases in the Lorain County Common
Pleas Court.
"I feel that my extensive experience will help me in this itnce,"
stated Janik. "I'm not a politician
but I understand that you have to
run for this position. I just love the
law and love practicing it"
List is a farmer prosecutor in the
city of Amhent and the village of
Wellington. He has been practicing
law since 1979 and has been engaged in private practice in Lorain
County for 21 yean. He is a
Republican.
If elected, List said he will keep
the court operating without delay.
"No victime, witness or litigant
would be expected to wait long periods of time without information
and attention from court personnel,"
he noted.
He and his wife, Faye Sutton List
have two children and live in Amherst where they are involved in
Steve Ust
several community organizations including the Athletic Association, the
Baseball Association and the fire
department
Keressi is a graduate of Kent
State University and Akron University. He has been the assistant
county prosecuting attorney under
Gregory A. White since 1981 and
has been in private practice since
1979. He is running on the Republican ticket
Keressi is the former legal advisor to school district and township
offices, and was a law clerk to two
judges.
Keressi is a Lifelong resident of
Henrietta Township, where he and
his wife, Lucia, have two children.
He is active as a high school
coach, is past president and current
member of the board of Cornerstone
Pregnancy Services, a Firelands
Lions Club member and volunteer
Frank Janik
John Keressi
coach of the Amherst  Summer
CONTINUED on page 5
American Legion to build
new post on N. Lake Street
by JASON TOMASZEWSKI
News-Times reporter
If you build it, they will
come. That is the position
that Bill Henning and the rest
of the members of Amhent
American Legion Post #118
are taking regarding the construction of a new post lodge.
"There is still a lot of
work that has to be done,"
explained Henning. "But
we're very excited about
where we are now."
The legion has come a
long way in the last two
yean. It was about two yean
ago that the legion was
forced to sell their lodge
home when they lost their
liquor license.
The license was taken
when it was discovered that
illegal gambling was taking
place oa the premises. Now
the legion is on the verge of
building a new home.
According to Henning, legion members have been looking for property to build a
new lodge home ever since
the old one was sold.
"I would get calls to come
and look at a property all the
time, but taking one look I
could tell that it wouldn't
work," staled Henning. "It's
very difficult to find property
in Amherst Zoning can be a
problem."
That problem may have
been alleviated. The legion is
in negotiations to purchase
property on North Lake Street
in Amherst
"We are just waiting for a
formal transfer of the property," explained Henning.
"We've already been through
the planning commission, and
we've been approved by die
buildings and lands department Now we have to be
approved by city council. It's
just a matter of tune."
Henning staled that he
hopes to have the legion
lodge home built by July,
however he realizes that there
are still a few hurdles left to
jump.
"We still have some procedures to go through," staled
Henning. "But everyone is
pretty excited. We have 316
members in our lodge and
they realize that things don't
happen overnight but we are
still excited."
According to Heiming, the
legion plans to build a small
lodge home at fust then add
00 to it as the yean go on.
"We don't want a Taj
Mahal," joked Henning. "Just
something nice looking and
small to get us started."
Henning was quick to
praise the help of the local
VFW in keeping the legion
afloat the past two yean
"Those guys have been
great" stated Henning. "They
let us conduct meetings and
dinners at their lodge. Without them I don't know if the
legion would be around in
Amherst"
Henning feds that the
group's community activities
have been hampered by the
loss of their lodge home.
"We are normally very active
in the community," explained
1 leaning, "But since we lost
the old place we just couldn't
financially do some things.
We've had to turn down requests for charities that we
usually take."
According to Henning. there
will be a big opening ceremony when the new lodge
hone is nwyksed It will be
like
,
.1