Laketran, Lakeland partnership bearing fruit

BOUQUETS>> To Lakeland Community College and Laketran on their expanding partnership.

Laketran is building an intermodal transit center on the college’s Kirtland campus.

The new structure will serve the 65,000 annual passengers using Laketran’s Local Routes, Park-n-Ride service to Cleveland and the recently added Campus Loop - Route 7 shuttle service at Lakeland.

The center is scheduled to open in spring 2020.

The transit center will be located adjacent to Route 306 in the Campus West Lot, where the current Laketran Park-nRide area is located. The new location will relieve traffic congestion at the Clocktower Circle, which over the years has become the primary pickup and drop-off location for buses, shuttles and cars.

The 2,200-square-foot transit center will provide an indoor, climate-controlled waiting area with public restrooms, outdoor shaded waiting areas and bike racks.

Laketran and Lakeland have been working on the project since 2015 with most of the time spent securing grant funds to pay for 80 percent of the project, the release stated.

Lakeland President Morris W. Beverage Jr. said many current and prospective students rely on public transportation to attend college.

“This partnership is a great example of two Lake County institutions joining forces to improve access to higher education and job training in our community,” Beverage added.

We couldn’t agree more.

BOUQUETS>> To University Hospitals for offering no-cost cardiac calcium scoring.

The Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute at UH Richmond Medical Center is among nearly 20 UH locations across Northeast Ohio offering the tests.

The non-invasive diagnostic procedure helps predict a person’s risk of heart attack in the next 10 years by measuring the amount of calcium present in the heart arteries, said Dr. Indiresha Iyer.

“Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary atherosclerosis, is the most common cause of heart attack,” Iyer said. “Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty deposits, or plaque, in the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Plaque can build up in the blood vessels and explode, causing a sudden narrowing that blocks blood flow to the heart and causes a heart attack.”

Heart disease, Iyer added, remains the No. 1 leading cause of death in the United States, in men and women.

“Preventative care is critical and really is the focus,” he said, adding the test is easy and fast. A physician order is required for scheduling.

Take steps now to keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of heart disease. No excuses: The test is quick and it won’t cost you anything.

BRICKBATS>> To the area drivers who are failing to obey safety laws and stop for buses.

Mentor School District has reported 24 violators to Mentor police, Mentor-on-the-Lake police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office since it installed cameras on its buses in January. About six other violators were seen, the district said, but bus drivers were unable to give descriptions of those violating drivers.

“As far as an impact resulting from the cameras, they show the violator vehicle very clearly,” Mentor Police Capt. Andrew Lehner stated, “which helps confirm the vehicle description and plate. We investigate each and issue citations as applicable.”

The penalty is up to a $500 fine and a potential license suspension, he said. Lehner reminded drivers: “If you’re traveling the same direction as the bus, you must stop when the reds (lights and stop sign) come on,” Lehner said. “If you’re traveling in the opposite direction of the bus on roads of less than four lanes, so two- or three-lane roads, the opposite direction must also stop. If it’s four or more lanes, the opposite direction does not have to stop.”

Pay attention, drivers, our children’s lives depend on it.

BRICKBATS>> To anyone who would make a shooting threat.

A Willoughby Middle School student is learning the tough lesson that such language can land you in hot water.

The 14-year-old told law enforcement that they didn’t mean anything by the threat, but now he faces charges in Lake County Juvenile Court.

Teens — and adults — say things they don’t mean all the time.

Unfortunately in today’s world, police must treat all threats as if they are meant.