LATEST LOCAL NEWS

Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills

PARMA - School board member Cyndee Bratz again will serve as president of the elected board.

Rosemary Gulick was elected by members as vice president for the second year. The decision was made Monday during the board's annual organizational meeting. The terms of both Bratz and Gulick expire Dec. 31.

The Ohio Department of Aging has released the results of its 2008 Nursing Home Resident Satisfaction Survey.

The survey asked questions about administration, choices, direct care and nursing, laundry, meals and dining, social services, therapy and general satisfaction to determine the families overall satisfaction with the facility. Results of the survey are used to help families make important decision about the best place for their loved one.

More then 24,500 family members participated in the survey which critiqued 630 facilities in Ohio. Of those facilities, 33 of them scored above state average.

Holy Family Home in Parma was ranked one of the top 25 nursing homes in Ohio. HFH received a 96.6 score out of a possible 100 making them above state average. The standings earned them an additional quality point in a reimbursement formula used by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

As the snow continues to fly, Parma officials remind residents of the annual winter parking ban on city streets from 2-6 a.m. effective through April 15. Violators will be ticketed.

On Jan. 16, B. Dalton Books at Parmatown Mall will close its doors for good.

The store, which has been at the mall for almost 30 years, will say goodbye to its loyal customers when they close at 9 p.m. that night. The store has been a Parmatown staple since it opened on Oct. 8, 1980.

Throughout the store's existence it has grown a loyal fan base through its convenient location, small size, friendly staff and the staff's overwhelming knowledge of their products. Many of their customers have been shopping with them since they opened.

"I've enjoyed coming here because the staff has always been wonderful," said Parma resident Mary Ann Lanser. Lanser has been buying books at B. Dalton for the past 20 years. "I would get books for my children as they grew up," she explains. Lanser says that she just never felt the same about the Borders Express (formerly Waldenbooks) that is located at the other end of the mall. Lanser even refers to B. Dalton as "her store".

"They always have a better selection," explains longtime customer Ajanta Patra of why she shops there. Patra, who grew up in Independence, has been browsing the store since she was a child. "It's really kind of sad," she said.

Barb Teron, the store's manager, has worked with her staff at the Parmatown location for the past 15 years. Many of her co-workers, such as Ellen Ryan and Jennifer Travnik, have been there equally as long. "I think it's really sad the whole mall seems to be closing," Teron said.

Though Teron is sad to see the store close she has nothing but good things to say about both Parmatown and the B. Dalton company.

"I couldn't have asked for a better company to work for," she said. "We truly feel that we have had a great job and that it was an honor to serve our community in this capacity. Many of you have expressed your sorrow to see us go. Your kind words have made us realize even more how rewarding our time there really was. We will miss you," Teron wrote in a letter to her customers.

In addition to serving the general public for the last 30 years, B. Dalton also was an active member of the local community. They provided books and services to many local area schools working closely with Valley Forge and St. Charles schools. They also have helped out the Parma Regional library.

B. Dalton began running a going out of business sale the day after Christmas, which will run until it closes its doors. All items are at 50 percent off and Teron says that prices will not go any lower. She also encourages people to come check it out before everything is gone. Currently about half of the store is still intact.

The Parmatown B. Dalton joins a group of other B. Dalton locations which have been forced to close down as their leases come up due to the troubled economy. Teron believes that by closing smaller B. Dalton locations it will provide B. Dalton's parent company, Barnes and Noble, a better revenue at their larger super stores.

Parmatown spokeswoman, Laurie Malto, said that currently it is unknown what will replace B. Dalton's space in the mall.