2/25/2010 - West Side Leader
     

New federal firearms law affects CVNP

CVNP — A change in federal law effective Feb. 22 allows people who can legally possess firearms under federal, Ohio and local law to possess those firearms in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).

The new law allows possession of firearms in national parks subject to the firearm laws of the state and communities where the parks are located.

In Ohio, this allows both open carrying and concealed carrying of firearms in CVNP.

“We have been working closely with local, state and federal officials to ensure that we clearly understand the provisions of the laws that will now apply to our visitors when they are in the park,” said CVNP Acting Superintendent Paul Stoehr. “We encourage every visitor who may wish to bring firearms to the park to do their research ahead of time and ensure that they are aware of and abide by the laws that apply.”

The new law has no effect on existing laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms in national parks or hunting. Hunting still is not allowed in CVNP. Federal law continues to prohibit firearms in certain facilities, such as park visitor centers; these facilities are posted with appropriate notices at public entrances.

For more details, visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Enforcement/Concealed-Carry.

Local police departments announce Safety Town information

SUMMIT COUNTY — Safety Town is a free summer safety program offered to children who are about to enter kindergarten. Children are provided instruction on an assortment of safety topics. Also, in a simulated village complete with miniature buildings, tricycles and traffic signals, children will practice and experience a variety of situations so they may respond if confronted with those same situations in real life.

Following is information on upcoming programs:

• Bath — June 14-18, 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. or 12:30 to 2:45 p.m., Bath Elementary School, 1246 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road. Bath residents and/or future kindergarten-age students of Revere Local Schools or Old Trail School are eligible to participate. Registration is open March 4 through June 1, and registration forms are available at the Bath Police Department, 3864 W. Bath Road.

• Copley — June 28 through July 2, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m., Copley-Fairlawn Middle School, 1531 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. Copley residents and/or future kindergarten-age students of Copley-Fairlawn City Schools are eligible. Registration will be open March 25 through June 18. Forms are available at the Copley Police Department, 1280 Sunset Drive, and should be available online at www.cop ley.oh.us soon, according to organizers.

• Fairlawn — June 14-18, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m., Fairlawn-Kiwanis Community Center, 3486 S. Smith Road. Fairlawn residents and/or future kindergarten-age students of Copley-Fairlawn City Schools or St. Hilary School are eligible to participate. Registration will be open March 25 through June 1, and registration forms are available at the Fairlawn Police Department, 3487 S. Smith Road, or by e-mailing wentza@ci.fairlawn.oh.us.

• Richfield — June 14-18, 9 a.m. to noon, or July 6-9, 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m., Hillcrest Elementary School, 3080 Revere Road. Richfield residents and/or future kindergarten-age students of Revere Local Schools are eligible to participate. Registration is open now through May 28, and registration forms are available at the Richfield Police Department, 4450 Streetsboro Road, or online at www.revere.k12.oh.us on the Hillcrest page.

Student volunteers also are needed to help at each location. Minimum age requirements are as follows: Bath, 12; Copley and Fairlawn, 13; and Richfield, grades seven and up.

For more information, call: Bath, (330) 294-2144; Copley, (330) 666-4218; Fairlawn, (330) 670-4300; or Richfield, (330) 659-9201, ext. 238.

Bald eagles nesting in CVNP; trail restrictions in effect

CVNP — There were positive signs of bald eagles performing nesting activities in the Pinery Narrows area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) Feb. 13-14, CVNP officials announced last week. Therefore, the eagle closure is now in effect until the nesting season is over, which is late July.

The Pinery Narrows area is north of Station Road Bridge Trailhead in Brecksville.

The National Park Service will close certain areas surrounding the bald eagle nest to human traffic to minimize disturbance. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail will remain open to moving traffic, but closed to stopping and standing for any length of time.

Other restrictions include the following:

• The railroad tracks and 30-foot right of way on either side of the tracks between state Route 82 and the Fitzwater Yard are closed to all pedestrian traffic. The train will maintain its regular operating schedule.

• The Cuyahoga River, downstream of the Brecksville Dam to the Fitzwater Road Bridge, is closed to all water activities (boating, wading and fishing). Fishing is permitted at the dam and beneath the high-level state Route 82 Bridge.

According to CVNP officials, in late winter eagles lay one to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 35 days. Eagle eggs are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, so adults must remain on the nest constantly. Human disturbance can disrupt this care.

Although recently removed from the endangered species list, the bald eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit taking, killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.

GASP assists sheriff’s office

SUMMIT COUNTY — During the past two years, members of Guardians Against Sex Predators (GASP) dedicated a total of more than 11,000 volunteer hours assisting the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the local community.

According to GASP founder Fran Doll, in 2009 GASP hosted 45 separate community fingerprinting events providing area families with free Child ID Kits for 1,354 local children. In addition, 37 GASP volunteers observed local trials involving sexual crimes, 41 received advanced training in performing field searches and 30 assisted the sheriff’s office with scanning and filing more than 1,500 records. Doll estimates GASP contributed the equivalent of at least $100,000 in volunteer hours for the past two years.

“GASP truly has become a real asset, not only for local law enforcement, but for the entire Summit County community,” said Summit County Sheriff Drew Alexander. “GASP volunteers not only assist us in developing and implementing programs to combat sexual predators, but they support our efforts in a variety of ways.”

GASP, an Akron-based nonprofit organization, was founded in 2006 by Doll, a retired entrepreneur and grandmother, who originally intended it to be a source of additional “eyes and ears” to assist in searching for children during local Amber Alert situations. During the past four years, GASP has developed into an organized group of 188 volunteers trained and supervised by the sheriff’s office to assist in predator-related projects and educational initiatives for the community.

For more information, visit www.gasp123.org or call (330) 247-1402.

Public comment sought on wildlife issues

GREATER AKRON — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is inviting the public to annual open houses in five communities, including the Akron area, March 6 from noon until 3 p.m.

The Akron area meeting will take place at the Northeast Ohio Wildlife District Three Office, located at 912 Portage Lakes Drive in Coventry.

“At each open house location, fish and wildlife biologists, along with law enforcement officers, will be on hand to answer questions,” said David Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife.

This year’s topics include fishery management changes for walleye, saugeye and sauger in some of Ohio’s inland waterways. Changes to rules concerning the taking, possession and propagation of native Ohio amphibians and reptiles also will be considered.

Season dates and bag limits of game species will be available, including white-tailed deer. 

Participants also will have the opportunity to comment on the draft version of the Division of Wildlife’s Strategic Plan.   

The Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules during its April 7 meeting.

For details, visit www.wildohio.com or call (800) 945-3543.    

— By Maria Lindsay

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