Letters to the Editor
September 2008

Union Gospel Press developers destroy family’s backyard

To the Editor: (Plain Press, September 2008) Standing on the edge of what was once the back yard of her family's home, Mary (Oskay) Slone wipes the tears from her face. “I just don’t believe this,” she said, as she continues to stare down at the gully left by the wide sweep through her lawn made by the big shovels of contractors working on the Union Gospel Press.

The annihilation resulted not only in the loss of a sizable portion of the grounds of their back yard, but the fence, shrubs, plants, flowers, a small fish pond and a section of their deck as well. This is not to mention a span of nearly sixty years that bridge together the childhood memories of Mary, her sister Audrey, brothers Ed, Dan and Tom.

Mary and Andrew Oskay acquired the property at 717 College Avenue in 1950, at which time they moved in to the abode with their small children and two of Mrs. Oskay’s brothers, Alex and Steve. It was their dream home, complete with a fenced-in back yard.

As those sixty years came and went, the Oskays would live to see their children grown, and married with homes of their own. There would also be the delight of grandchildren for many years. As the family kept growing, so did the list of invitees to the many celebrations of birthdays, communions, showers, weddings, births, anniversaries, holidays, or just plain family gatherings out behind the house.

Many neighbors, friends and often times strangers were welcomed in, partook of the family’s hospitality, and joined in the festivities of their traditions. Blessings and kindness were the main courses of the day if you found yourself in the presence of an Oskay jamboree.

Mrs. Oskay passed away in 2001, her husband a few years before, leaving their beloved home for their children’s continued enjoyment. In honor of their mom and dad, the siblings vowed to continue with the customs started so many years ago.

There will be no Labor Day gaiety this year. The old home place will be quiet, there will be no visitors, no grand buffet of covered dishes, no aromatic smoke rising from the grill, no laughing tykes running around the tables or trying to catch the fish in the water hole.

Not only is there no longer enough space to accommodate bringing together their many loved ones and relatives, but the excavation left hazardous conditions and materials in the immediate area. It could be said that the contractors poured a barrier of concrete right through the middle of the cookouts, the parties and the fun.

The owners/developers of the old Union Gospel Press building moved in, ripped down the sixty-year old boundary, took out the earth, shrubs, flowers, plants, and left a tangled web of anger, frustration, disappointment, teary eyes and broken hearts.

The owner of the Union Gospel Press building, Mr. Roberts, wishes to possess the acreage by claiming encroachment. Even if at one time there had been an encroachment, it was before the Oskays purchased the home and over 60 years ago.

Adverse possession is recognized under Ohio law if one maintains a piece of land as if they owned it the land, the eventually becomes theirs when they cared for the land for the period of time listed as the statute of limitations in the Ohio Revised Code. The Ohio Revised Code states that the statute of limitations for adverse possession is twenty-one years. This being said, if the Osay family purchased their real estate in 1950, in its entirety, cyclone fence already installed, then it would leave one to believe that the statute of limitations ran out in 1971.

The Ohio Supreme Court recently upheld the long-standing principle of adverse possession in a ruling handed down on August 5, 2008, in the case of Evanich v. Bridge.  

This ordeal has not only been costly monetarily to the Oskay family, but it has taken away most of the enchantment held so dear in the hearts of a close knit clan encircled by the seasons of love.

Jerlene Justus
West 7th Street



Residents urged to help Frank Giglio save his house

To the editor: (Plain Press, September 2008) Nice article. [Landmarks Commission saves W. 14th St. house from demolition, August 2008, Plain Press].  I did not know this has been happening. That house is a gateway to this neighborhood and should be saved. And Frank, hey! He’s not a bad guy. I’ve known him for years.

You know, in the almost 30 years I’ve lived in the Southside, I’ve seen fundraisers to shut down an asphalt plant, to help a family whose son was seriously injured overseas, anything to helping the living or helping to bury a loved one. Why can’t we rally to help Frank, and preserve an asset to Tremont?

The misguided efforts of the building and housing department, our councilman and our CDC show what still prevails here --throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and that is wrong! There are humans involved here (Frank is one, you know) and history too.

By the way, Commander Sultzer, you are way out of line. Your job is to serve and protect, not be a enforcer against innocent people. Take a sensitivity class or two.

Bob Frederick
W. 11th Street



Arson at Councilman Cimperman’s house called “cowardly act”

To the editor: (Plain Press, September 2008) Although I am not a real steadfast admirer per se of Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman; I would like to point out that I am definitely not in any way, shape or form a fan of the imbeciles and cowards who would send death threats to this honorable and good man.

It takes a real man to send threatening letters to a person who is in the public eye? And, I hasten to add, doing something positive and lasting to help those in his community with whatever problems that they may have. I think that this is what Mr. Cimperman does for those around him. He should receive commendations and the thanks of those in the Tremont community who are the recipients of his help in need. These kind things that he does for those around the ward he does openly and with the thanks of those around him.

But these cowardly acts of desperate men (women?) who have sent death threats with such kind greetings as “Die!” deserve nothing more than public humiliation and social ridicule and disdain for the destruction and the hurt that they have caused by their actions.  

So, Mr. Cimperman helped a couple of people who happened to be black after these “Worthies” burnt the people’s house down just because they were people of color. I always thought that one was supposed to be free to live anywhere one wanted to live and do whatever it was that a person wanted to do in this country. Well, maybe I was wrong. I shudder to think that the color of one’s skin was still a standard of comparison in this day and age. …

Fear and hatred do not grow out of anything more than ignorance. These people who desire to hurt you, Mr. Cimperman are ignorant cowards who cannot accomplish anything in the light of day. They are not any different than the old nightriders of a bygone era.

So, Mr. Cimperman, keep the faith and hold firm in the knowledge that you are doing the right thing. They will be found out for who and what they are at the right time. God bless.

John Cartwright
Ward 13 resident



Protecting ourselves – students urged to carry pepper spray

To the Editor: (Plain Press, September 2008) Why on earth are students (girls especially) not trained in the use of Pepper Spray, and equipped with it? These days there are two things students should not leave home without: Cell phone, and Pepper Spray; and Cleveland schools would well lead the nation in an initiative of this sort.

It is not idle theorizing to suggest that school shootings like Columbine would have been nipped in the bud had half a dozen students been carrying pepper spray.

Isn’t it a case of gross negligence that adults allow so few of our youngsters to carry and be drilled in the use of this very effective self-defense?

Hayes Rowan
Cleveland OH

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