Lakeland Civic Band lauded for milestone

BOUQUETS >> To the Lakeland Civic Band, as it marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Band Director Charles Frank, who helped create the ensemble in 1977, has been its leader ever since.

“The quality of performance, what they’re able to do and what they’ve been able to produce, is far superior to what is expected of a community band at this level,” Frank said. “They actually, how can I say it, overplay themselves, even. It surprises me sometimes.”

Frank left Wickliffe High School in 1972 to start teaching music at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland and knew right from the start he wanted to see the school organize its own community band. Its jazz ensemble and choir had both been going strong for several years by then and he wanted to attract different kinds of musicians. But it was tough to draw from just the school’s enrollment, he said.

“After five years of a little bit of a fight of trying to build a band just out of student participants, Lakeland’s first president, Dr. Wayne Rodehorst, said to me: “Remember — community is our middle name,” Frank said. “In about three years, we were up to about 75 members. Now we’re up to 90.”

The band has performed not only at Lakeland, but also has been invited to perform at state and regional conferences, including Ohio Music Education Association conferences and the North Central Regional conference of the College Band Directors National Association.

We applaud Frank and the Lakeland Civic Band for all of the entertainment and enjoyment they’ve delivered to audiences over the past 40 years.

BOUQUETS » To West Geauga High School junior Kami Goodrick, for winning the Division II state diving championship on Feb. 22 at Canton McKinley’s Branin Natatorium.

She captured the state title with a score of 468.30, just ahead of Columbus Academy’s Esther Lawrence (455.10).

Goodrick, who was state runner-up as a freshman and took third as a sophomore, found her way into diving after an elbow condition halted her gymnastics career.

“I am very happy,” Goodrick said. “What makes it better is doing it with all of these amazing girls. We are so happy for each other.

“I was in the same spot I was in gymnastics where I was successful and had support and a decent amount of time to get there. I am really happy right now.”

At state a year ago, Goodrick was third with a score of 453.15, and a 430.85 got her second as a freshman in 2015.

“Honestly, the scoring was very different today than it has been in past years,” Goodrick said. “They were very, very hard today with judging. So I wasn’t really worried about scoring — I wanted to do the best that I could.”

Goodrick is the seventh diver from a News-Herald coverage area school to win a state title and the second girls champion.

We congratulate her on joining this elite group.

BRICKBATS » To Paige Mazny of Painesville, on being sentenced to three years in prison Feb. 27 for her role in a violent cellphone robbery in Mentor.

Mazny, 20, assisted co-defendant Anthony L. Williams in a Dec. 5, 2015, incident in which two women went to the 7100 block of Mentor Avenue to buy a cellphone. The phone had been posted on the BuySell-Trade Lake County Facebook page.

Mazny met with the two potential buyers and showed them the phone.

That was when the 36-yearold Williams, of Chardon, wearing a mask over his face, grabbed one of the buyers by her throat and put a black handgun to her head. He demanded cash and both of their phones, then tossed their car keys away. No one was injured. Mazny previously pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery before Lake County Common Pleas Judge Richard L. Collins Jr.

It’s too bad that Mazny didn’t exercise better judgment and decline to participate in this crime. She would have spared herself three years behind bars. BRICKBATS » To Donna Chidsey, after she pleaded no contest to one count of vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of two women on Aug. 22 in Parma Heights.

Chidsey, 74, of Parma Heights, entered her plea Monday to the misdemeanor charge in Parma Municipal Court. Sentencing is slated for March 29.

Police say Chidsey accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake while backing out of a space near a makeshift dance floor in Parma Heights during an outdoor concert. The accident resulted in the deaths of 68-year-old Nancy Gielas and 61-year-old Kathleen McDonald. Seven people were hurt, including Chidsey.

Let this tragedy remind us all how important it is to pay close attention while driving. Unfortunately, Chidsey learned this the hard way.