Mentor women lauded for leadership

BOUQUETS >> To 80-year-old Nan Horvath of Mentor, for the dedication she’s shown leading groups of bicyclists throughout Lake County for more than 30 years.

Horvath regularly guides groups of Cleveland Touring Club members throughout miles and miles of Lake County.

Horvath took up the sport more than 30 years ago when her mother-in-law gave her an old, 3-speed bike. In order to keep up with her husband, Bruce, also a cyclist, she upgraded to a 12-speed model.

After learning of the Cleveland Touring Club, the couple became members.

In 1986, she decided to initiate a Tuesday evening group ride with the starting point in Concord Township.

The first night two people showed up. Since then, the assembly of biking enthusiasts has grown. There are now four levels of riders numbering in the dozens who meet Tuesday evenings from spring through fall to enjoy exercise, camaraderie and fun.

Horvath leads the “social” or entry level.

“We ride on the Lake Metroparks and Geauga Park trails,” she said. “We also do a lot of road riding.

“I am the leader and map the ride as we go. The ride is different every week and gets longer as we have more light in the summer.”

Horvath encourages those who are thinking about taking up bicycling to follow through.

“Get outside,” Horvath said. “Ohio is beautiful. You see more from a bike.”

And Nan Horvath should know that as well as anyone.

BOUQUETS » To 92-year-old George Roudebush of Chardon, on completing another successful outdoor track and field season, including a recent trip to Toronto for a North American/Central American masters division meet.

He won gold medals in his specialty, high jump, and hammer throw and discus, in his 90-94 age group.

According to the World Masters Athletics rankings, Roudebush has the season’s best 90-94 performances in the world in the 80- and 200-meter hurdles and, after a 1-meter clearance this summer, surpassed 92-year-old Curt Davison’s .97 for top high jump.

“I think it went pretty well,” Roudebush said of the summer. “I got a good high jump. I got myself back into the new year. I got the No. 1 ranking in the decathlon and the other two hurdles. And I’m not going to be too far off in the hammer throw, of all things, because some of the big guys don’t show up.

“So overall in the summer, I think my ranking performance held up. I’m another year older, but I’ve got the same thing and probably have a better high jump. And the 100 meters? That’s going to stand up pretty well.”

We congratulate Roudebush for his strong finishes in the Toronto meet and retaining his status among the elite in the World Masters Athletics rankings.

In addition, we’re confident that Roudebush, with his strong commitment to training and competing, will stay on the right track to excel at all of his future athletic endeavors.

BRICKBATS » To Kelvin Shaw, a former Cuyahoga County Public Library delivery driver, who admitted to stealing thousands of the library system’s DVDs and CDs over a 12-year period.

Cleveland.com reported that Shaw, 43,of Parma, was sentenced Aug. 29 in Cleveland to one year of probation after pleading guilty in July to theft in office.

Cuyahoga County Judge Carolyn Friedland also ordered Shaw to repay the library system $1,000.

Prosecutors say Shaw took advantage of a Cuyahoga County Public Library rule that allowed employees to take home DVDs without checking them out. Shaw took home library materials but never returned them.

Investigators eventually placed a tracking device in a copy of the movie “Inferno” and then followed him to his apartment, where they found nearly 4,000 of the library’s DVDs and CDs.

Shaw apologized in court, callings his actions “stupid, lazy and dumb.”

We’d also like to add the word “selfish” to that list of qualities, as Shaw apparently didn’t consider how he was denying many other library patrons the chance to enjoy all of the DVDs and CDs that he stole.

BRICKBATS » To any motorists in Northeast Ohio who disobey speed limits in school zones or illegally pass school buses throughout the 2017-18 academic year.

Do the disobedient drivers not realize that violating these laws could injure or kill an innocent child?

Wherever they’re going in such a hurry, it’s not worth risking a tragic vehicle-pedestrian crash. So they should do everyone a favor and obey the laws regarding school zone speed limits and circumstances that forbid passing school buses.