Approximately ninety people attended the annual meeting of Friends of the Crooked River on November 12, 2024. The meeting was held at the Himelright Lodge at Summit Metro Parks’s Cascade Valley Metro Park, 1134 Cuyahoga Street, Akron.
Introduction: Board member John Kaminski offered a welcome, greeting guests and introducing current board members and our two new candidates. He mentioned several highlights of FoCR’s activities this past year, including brief words about the Brecksville dam removal. (Underlining John’s remarks, Harold Marsh read aloud a letter from Ohio EPA’s Bill Zawiski that confirmed the conclusion of the dam removal project.) John also touched on the amicus brief prepared for the City of Akron, the revision of the FoCR website (and thanked Melanie Wilson for her efforts in that regard), and mentioned the several outings offered this past year. Finally, John noted the special recognition conferred on Elaine Marsh by the City of Akron: a tunnel-boring machine named in Elaine’s honor.
Election: The election of board members was held, by email vote and in-person by members present at the annual meeting. John Kaminski and Gary Whidden were re-elected, and two new candidates, Ann Gilmore and Kendra Heiser, were elected as well. Consequently, the board of trustees of Friends of the Crooked River is currently comprised of Ann Gilmore, Kendra Heiser, John Kaminski, Elaine Marsh, Harold Marsh, Ken Schneider, and Gary Whidden.
Awards: Elaine and Dianne Sumego then presented Dam Buster awards to the many partners who cooperated with Friends of the Crooked River to remove the Canal Diversion Dam. Awards were given to members of the Board of Friends of the Crooked River as well as to staff of
Ohio EPA
City of Akron
Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization (NEFCO)
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
and, in absentia:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Cleveland Metroparks
Ohio Department of Transportation
State Historic Preservation Office
GLNPO
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Scot Heberling
and finally
Melanie Wilson, and
Dianne Sumego.
Presentations: Representatives of organizational partners of FoCR offered presentations. First, Heather Ullinger of the City of Akron discussed the status the Gorge Dam removal process. Questions from the audience followed, and Elaine offered kudos to the City of Akron for its efforts on behalf of water quality. Then, Mike Johnson, Chief of Conservation at Summit Metroparks, discussed the reintroduction of lake sturgeon to the Cuyahoga River. Both presentations may be viewed here (the passcode is “FOCRMeeting11!!”). A third presenter, Jessica Glowczewski, Watershed Superintendent for the City of Akron, was unable to attend the meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Ken Schneider, Secretary
December 16, 2024