The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2001-07-04

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Amherst News-Time
Wednesday, July 4. 2001
Amherst, Ohio
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Superintendent Robert Boynton speaks to onlookers before the    last Thursday. At right, members of the board of education and other    Construction is slated for completion in October, 2002.
groundbreaking ceremony for the new Amherst junior high school     school officials break ground on the site of the new school building.
BOE breaks ground on school
by ERIK YORKE
Newt-Time* reporter
School superintendent Robert
Boynton sounded relieved last Friday when he spoke before a small
group gathered to observe the
groundbreaking of the district's future junior h*gh school.
This ceremony brings us to what
has been a three-year struggle," said
Boynton in a short speech kicking
off the ceremony.
Boynton, members of the Amherst Board of Education and other
chool officials then took their cere
monial shovels, placed them into the
ground and turned for the first time,
the soil on the site of the new
school
Board members present were
president Michael Sutton, vice president Sandy Freedman, JVS representative James Berthold, Carol
Jajack and Ron Yacobozzi.
Other school officials present
were Robert Wiersum, principal of
Powers Elementary, Dan Trent,
principal of Harris Elementary and
Michael Diamond, principal of Nord
Junior High.
Ihe event was not without controversy. Amid disputes over the
construction contracts revolving around the inclusion of contractors
from outside of Lorain County,
some protestors hovered around the
site handing out fliers which condemned the school board for "not
supporting the people who supported them, local people."
On the other side of the flier is
the roster for the Amherst Board of
Education.
According to Boynton, the issue
of who gained the contracts was not
a geographical one, but a legal one.
"We have to follow the Ohio revised code," Boynton said in an interview. "We must accept the low.
responsible bid."
Clark ft Post Architects, the company that made the designs for the
new school building were also mentioned in the fliers.
"We started designing in February. We took bids in May, took
contracts a week ago," said Ron
Cocco, one of the designers of the
school along with John Mazze. "We
assisted the schools in the obtaining
of competitive bids."
According to Cocco, actual construction on the site will begin July
9 and is scheduled for completion in
October, 2002.
CONTINUED on page 9
Builders blast
school board
for pick on bids
Because a Cleveland company will lay the bricks and an Ashland plumber will lay the pipes for the new junior high school, a
group of local construction workers laid out their displeasure with
the board of education last Monday night
A group of about 30 plumbers, electricians, and other
construction trade members crowded into the school board meeting last Monday to complain that four of the five contracts
CONTINUED on page 9
:
Young thespians prepare for the stage
Sunshine, Apprentice crews
rehearse for weekend plays
by ERIK YORKE
News-Time* reporter
While many students home
for the summer have been
spending their time in front
of the television, some Amherst students have been using
their time honing their theatrical skills.
Members of the 2001 Sunshine Company and Sandstone
Apprentices theater groups
have been working hard in
preparation to put on this
summer's shows: "Are We
There Yet?" the Sunshine
Company's offering and
"Hotel For Hollywood Has-
Beens," a comedy to be performed by the Sandstone
Apprentices.
Having begun rehearsals on
June 8. the students will perform on Saturday, July 7 and
Sunday. July 8 at Powers
Elementary School in
Amherst
On Saturday night, "Are
We There Yet?" will begin at
6 pjn. and "Hotel For Hollywood Has-Beens" will start at
8 pjn. On Sunday the shows
will be at 3 pan. and 5 p.m.,
respectively.
It's fun. You come here,
you have a good time." said
ffick Saadipour, co-director of
"Arc We There Yet?" put on
by the Sunshine Company,
which is made up entirely of
children aged 8 to 11 years
old. "Some of these kids,
their acting ability is beyond
belief."
They're doing really well"
agreed Julie Powell Saadi-
pour's co-director, adding,
"die play we're doing is especially difficult."
One of the performers in
the Sunshine Company, Aly
Welch, welcomed the
challenge.
1 have a solo part Usually
I'm afraid of singing in front
of people. I'm building my
self esteem," said Welch.
"Hotel For Hollywood Has-
Beens" is the comedy slated
to be performed this year by
the Sandstone Apprentices, a
group comprised of 12- to
15-year-olds. The director, JP.
Morgan, takes the reigns of
this community production before leaving lo study acting
and directing in England.
They're a really talented
group of kids," said Morgan.
They work hard when you
make them."
One of the cornerstones of
the two community groups,
according to Powell is that
everyone can get involved.
"Everybody hat a chance to
be a character," said Powell.
"Everybody can feel special"
"It amazes me, how much
work they've all put into
this," said Chip Ingersoll, producer of both plays, of everyone from the children to the
volunteers, like Tom Teets,
who stepped in at the last
minute lo play the piano for
-Are We There YetT   It's
going to be s good show,"
added Ingersoll.
Ihe Sunshine Company
members performing in   Are
We There Yet?" are as follows: Sarah Andrews, Drew
Ashton, Clay Barns, Nolan
Bams, Janet Bellush, Andrea
Bernardo, Gin* Bonaminio,
Krystal Borntrager, Angelo
Calabrese, Hilary Carrender,
Alexis Chervenak, Olivia Cotton, Michele Drugs, Christina
Essi, Nicole Favre, Eleanor
Geer, Lauren Glowacki, Jeff
Hamm, Maggie Hoffman, Kat-
lyn Jeffreys, Cassandra Kelly,
Michael Kelly, Greg Lauba-
cher, Jane Lehman, All Marr
Michelle Meats, Angelica
Meggitt, Genna MurieUo, John
Powell, Rachel Preskr, Mackenzie Remster, Michael Salisbury, Nicole Santatonio, Chloe
Shauck, Rachel Solomon,
Anne Sleeker, Casey Sweet,
Christopher Sweet. Aly
WW
Members of the Sandstone Apprentices theater group practice an irnprovisational exercise
that wW help hone their stage skills. For more
photos of the upcoming student plays, see
Page 2.
Welch. Kevin Welch. Caitlin
Wenrich and Tare Witten.
The members of the Sands-
lone Apprentices appearing in
"Hotel For Hollywood Has-
Beens" are as follows: Katie
pjiarejpi Kayb Q?ffman.
Jenny Of**^*, Lauren Qvtto".
Crystal Cruz, Mandi Dodson,
Dan Drags, David Essi, Mike
GieJe, Kevin Hobson, Alice
Hyster. Evan Jones, Christina
King, Amber Lewandowski,
Nikki Macy. Kaitlin Mafo-
babic. Austin Meggitt, Megan
Miller, Jamie Meyers, Kyle
Olson, Joy Powell, Lauren
Preskr, Caitlin Ritenaur, Ra-
nia Shattour, Matt StavesU,
Laray Vaquera, Monica Voi-
anie. Alcssandra Wachholz,
Sam Wagner, Brian Waller,
Sarah WUbura, Lindsay Yuh-
asz and Erin Zeitler.
Man charged with child rapes is denied bail
by ERIK YORKE
Newe-Tlmee reporter
Armstrong was indicted on 11 According to a police report, Shawn Hadaway of the Lorain ing to While, because
counts of rape, four counts of pan- Armstrong allegedly invited young County sheriff's depsrtment. Anns- was charged as a violent sexual pre-
; J     , .    .,:.. ■.-        .__ girls into his home and re gun Mr J troog is currently being held in me dstor he will face, if convicted, a
dermg obscenity involving a minor that they iindrere for hiin. He then Lorain County Jail without bond, maximum sentence of life in prison
"We're having an
any other victims,"
The Sheriff's
open cal to
Hadaway.
«""i uuwcuHjr wwivuig ■ huh m* g^y ynfom for him. He then
Anerbeini charged with 15 felo-   "* ** *""%*[%** ""* * allegedly photogo^saxl and vidso-
mmhmfl tSSeailArmsttaLl   nunor * * ""^ aiai,oi *""* «**» *«. Annstrong alas al-
. of 408 Oakaoti Drive, was hv   or performance. He was also hv «gedry look one gtf into hit bsd-
I?   dieted Jons 20 on even
dieted on gross sexual imposition   room after the girls had
According lo Detective Sgt.
His trial dale has not yet
Lorain County
The Lorain County Sheriff's De-
Oreg  psfiweat to tow
wheaaer saere am i
stent or tiw Lontin Cottssy I