Kingston’s centenarians deserve honor

BOUQUETS >> To the Kingston Residence of Vermilion for hosting a birthday party Feb. 19 for five of its residents who have reached or surpassed the age of 100.

The assisted living facility at 6010 W. Lake Road honored the centenarians with music from their younger years, treats to dip in a chocolate fountain, cake and plenty of decorations.

Carolyn Darrow, executive director of Kingston, said Sailorway Middle School students made cards and posters that hung from the walls of the room, as well as gift bags for each honored resident. St. Mary Catholic School made books for the five residents.

The honorees were: Marian Howland, who turned 100 on Jan. 11, originally from Huron; Leonard Duke, of North Ridgeville, the only man, celebrated his 100th birthday Feb. 15; Helen Reinhard, 101, currently holds the longest stay of any Kingston resident with almost 13 years at the facility; Mary Clark, 103, originally from Bay Village; and Beverly Smith, 103, born and raised in Elyria, and has lived in Vermilion for over 80 years.

Darrow said, “This is a very special time for us. It’s quite unusual that in a small facility of this size, we would have five people that have attained 100 plus years. We’re very happy to have them with us and be able to celebrate.”

Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer said the event was a special opportunity to catch history in person.

He said, “Nothing beats talking to the actual people that have been there, and today we’re talking to five people who have accumulated 500 years of history in their heads. They’ve got a perspective of the world I doubt many of us will ever have, and it’s a real privilege to be here today.”

We applaud Kingston Residence of Vermilion for celebrating the residents who reached 100 years of age. BOUQUETS » To the Start With Hello Club, a student-led group in North Ridgeville City Schools, which hosted an afterschool event Feb. 13 filled with fun activities at the Ridgeville Academic Center, 34620 Bainbridge Road.

The event was the brainchild of Jenna Villanueva, 13, an eighth-grader at the school, who wanted something for all of the students.

Jenna said, “I just wanted to find a way to bring people together. I wanted to make sure we had a party that everyone (in grades third through fifth) was invited to. As a group (Start With Hello), we don’t want to leave anyone out.”

Students made valentines and posters, and played cornhole.

Start With hello Club member Kya Wilson, 15, an eighthgrader, said she was elated by the good turnout.

Kya said, “We made an announcement over the loudspeakers and made sure everyone knew about it. I’m glad we had a lot of students show up.”

The event was helped with funding from the Mental Health, Recovery and Addiction Services Board of Lorain County through the You Belong program.

We commend the students for organizing and planning a quality program to include all of their peers.

BRICKBATS » To Jamal Samhan, the 25-year-old Lakewood man, and Kristalyn Marcum, the 31-year-old Hinckley woman, who are facing charges for their alleged involvement Feb. 13 in shoplifting from Great Northern Mall that led to them hitting a North Olmsted police officer with a vehicle.

Samhan and Marcum are facing charges of aggravated robbery and felonious assault, both first-degree felonies.

North Olmsted police Detective Matthew Beck said Marcum, at 7:40 p.m., committed a shoplifting offense of $275 from Dillard’s, 25188 Country Club Blvd.

She then fled to the passenger seat of a Kia Sportage with Samhan in the driver’s seat.

The vehicle moved forward and struck a North Olmsted officer who was working mall security that night.

The officer was transported to Cleveland Clinic - Fairview Hospital with non life-threatening injuries where he was treated and released.

North Olmsted police received information that the two were in the area of Cooley Avenue and West 126th Street in Cleveland.

Officers found and arrested them Feb. 17.

Samhan and Marcum are innocent unless proven guilty.

But these are serious charges against them. BRICKBATS » To the three women Elyria police say stole $2,500 in merchandise Jan. 30 from Discount Drug Mart.

An Elyria Police Department Facebook page post said the women took the items from the store at 500 N. Abbe Road and walked out to a white in color minivan that was in the parking lot and fled in an unknown direction.

The post said all three women had dark hair and were wearing dark clothing with one of the women wearing a shirt that had “Calvin Klein” on it.

That’s a lot of merchandise from a drug store.

Police need to apprehend these women before they strike again.