Thanks to Lake fair for week of fun

BOUQUETS>> To everyone involved with the just-concluded 2019 Lake County Fair.

The nearly weeklong event wrapped up July 28, marking the historic fair’s 164th year.

Director-at-Large Bob Dawson said 84,078 people were admitted the fair this year, about a 3 percent decrease from 2018.

“All in all, (this year) was almost a mirror to last year’s fair,” Dawson said.

He added that a number of vendors mentioned that they had similar success to last year’s fair, if not better.

“We would consider this a very good fair,” Dawson continued.

We’d agree. Opening day of the 2019 fair featured harness horse racing, accompanied by 4-H agriculture and livestock showcases. Various 4-H groups were also showcased throughout the fair’s duration, including those involved with shooting, archery, art, design and more.

Dawson said that the board of directors will meet soon in order to discuss how the fair went and look at potential future changes.

“We continue to strive for the perfect, record-setting haymaker of a fair that breaks the bank, as they say,” Dawson added.

We wish them luck in that quest and look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor each summer.

BOUQUETS>> To the Miracle League of Lake County, which is in the midst of allowing 90 area kids the opportunity to play baseball with the support of their families and community.

A league for individuals with special needs in its second season, the Miracle League began its eight-week summer session in June and will be playing a six-week fall session in August and September. The decision was made based on how last year’s inaugural season played out.

League Commissioner Mike Piper said that last year the league started later — July 28 — and therefore played games into early fall. The fall session is expected to end Sept. 28 this year, similar to last year’s delayed season.

There are about 90 players in the league this year, divided up into eight teams, which Piper said has increased the attendance of games and giving them a “new atmosphere.”

“It’s really creating a significant and obvious difference,” Piper said about the increase in players. “People have approached me about it often, about the difference in action at the field.”

Opening day for the Miracle League’s fall session will be Aug. 17, according to the league website. Games are played on Saturdays at Miracle Park, at 35200 Vine St. in Eastlake.

Keep up the great work.

BRICKBATS>> To Robert J. Rosenstein who was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid nearly $1.2 million.

Rosenstein, 65, a podiatrist with offices in Mentor, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay about $453,615 in restitution. The Highland Heights man pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Northern District of Ohio.

According to court documents:

Rosenstein was the president and sole shareholder of Affiliated Podiatrists, Inc., located at 7230 Mentor Ave., Suite 311, in Mentor, which was formed in 1984.

Rosenstein was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2013. He was suspended from the Medicare program and not allowed to bill Medicare for three years as a result of the conviction.

In 2014, Rosenstein closed Affiliated Podiatrists and caused articles of incorporation to be filed with the Ohio Secretary of State for Community Foot and Ankle of Mentor, located at the same address. Rosenstein controlled daily operation of CFAM and was the de facto owner of the practice.

A month later, Rosenstein caused CFAM to file an enrollment application with Medicare. The application was signed by someone else, not Rosenstein, and did not list Rosenstein as having ownership or a controlling interest in the company.

In 2016, he was barred from participation in the Medicaid program.

Rosenstein defrauded Medicare and Medicaid between July 14, 2014, and May 9, 2018, the release stated. He did this by performing medical services at CFAM for Medicare and Medicaid recipients and billing under another provider’s name.

Medicare was fraudulently billed about $968,938 as a result of Rosenstein’s claims while Medicaid was fraudulently billed approximately $219,330, the release stated.

We read daily about how we need to cut our Medicare and Medicaid expenditures but how can we know what our true expenses should be while there are fraudsters like Rosenstein out there.

Shame on him for taking advantage of systems designed to care for our most vulnerable and those in need.

Prison is where he belongs.