Controlling Development in Medina County
Published June, 1999

David Beach of EcoCity Cleveland will paint a picture next month of how development should unfold in Medina County and Northeast Ohio to boost quality of life.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. June 15 in the choral room of the County Administration Building, 144 N. Broadway St., Medina.

Beach, who is director of the environmental group and editor of its monthly publication, will discuss “The Citizen’s Bioregional Plan for Northeast Ohio.” He will show how new homes and businesses can thrive and avoid sprawling, uncontrolled growth that hurts communities.

“It’s our sense that people are dissatisfied with development patterns in Northeast Ohio,” Beach told The Plain Dealer. “We’re raising issues about the future of the region and where it’s going. We want people to think about what the options might be.”

A six-member panel will respond to the presentation. They are: Dick Anter, executive vice president, Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland; Jim Dudek, president, Medina County Trustees Association; Bruce Freeman, director, Medina County Planning Commission; Andy Vidra, environmental planner, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency; Jeff Holland, attorney and founder, Medina County Land Conservancy; and Jim Gerspacher, attorney, Commercial Real Estate Broker.

EcoCity Cleveland is an environmental organization that addresses issues from urban sprawl to farmland preservation to inner-city redevelopment. Its publication, “EcoCity Cleveland” provides ideas and tools for a sustainable bioregion.

The program is coordinated by Ohio State University Extension, Medina County; The Medina County Commissioners; and The Medina County Land Conservancy.

For information, call the commissioners at 330-722-9208. (Submitted by Korinne Caniglia, OSU Extension program assistant)

Milk- It Does The Body Good

Make your next drink milk. Free cooking classes in June will help families plan meals that contain more calcium. New recipes and tips will help families put dairy and nondairy sources of calcium from cottage cheese to broccoli back in their diets.

“There has been an increase in daily recommendations of calcium at all ages because we’re seeing more signs of osteoporosis,” said Sheila Klimas, R.D., L.D. “It’s a middle-aged disease that starts while you are young.”

The classes feature a different topic every month. People can bring friends and attend as many sessions as they wish to learn about buying, preparing and storing food while cutting costs. Participants can sign up for door prizes and attend five classes to receive a free cookbook.

The topic will be “Dairy Delights” at these locations:

Medina: June 7 at 7 p.m. or June 8 at 10 a.m. at Medina Community Services Center, 655 N. Broadway St.; June 10 at 11 a.m. at Medina County Health Department, 4800 Ledgewood.

Wadsworth: June 2 at 1:30 p.m. at Steiner Youth Center, 567 School Drive.

Lodi: June 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Lodi United Methodist Church, 320 Medina St.

Brunswick: June 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Brunswick United Methodist Church, 1395 Pearl Road.

The classes are sponsored by the Family Nutrition Program of the county Extension office and the Women, Infant and Children division of the Medina County Health Department. Some classes also are conducted in cooperation with the Medina Community Services Center.

For more information, call Klimas at 7254911; 2257100 or 336-6657, extension 9237. Visit the office’s web site under the Local Links at www.MedinaMall.com.

Avoiding Food Poisoning

Listeria monocytogenes is a kind of bacteria often found in soil and water, which can cause serious illness. The bacteria is killed by cooking or by other heating methods, such as pasteurization, used to produce ready-to-eat foods. However, ready-to-eat food can become contaminated after processing within the processing plant or along the route from the plant to your plate.

The Medina County Health Department recommends all consumers practice these food safety guidelines:

1) Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often with hot, soapy water. Because Listeria monocytogenes can slowly grow at refrigerator temperatures, always use hot soapy water to clean up spills in the refrigerator. Always wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, and utensils with hot, soapy water after they come in contact with raw food or ready-to-eat food that requires additional heating.

2) Separate: Don't cross contaminate. Ready-to-eat foods and raw meat, poultry, and seafood can contain dangerous bacteria. As a result, keep these foods separate from vegetables, fruits, breads, and other foods that are already prepared for eating.

3) Cook: Cook to safe temperatures. If you are at risk for listeriosis, reheat luncheon meats, cold cuts, and other deli-style meat and poultry until they are steaming hot.

4) Chill: Refrigerate or freeze perishables, including ready-to-eat foods within 2 hours.

Do not eat any food that is recalled and ordered off grocery store shelves by the Federal Government or the producer. Return recalled food to the place where you bought it.

The food service personnel of the Environmental Division inspects grocery stores and restaurants throughout Medina County. Any potential food borne illness reported to the Health Department is investigated to find the source. To report food borne illness/poisoning or for further information, contact the Medina County Health Department Environmental Division at (330)723-9523 or the Nursing Division at 723-9688, from Brunswick: 220-6265, from Wadsworth: 336-4136.

Submitted by Suzanne Thomas, RN, B.S.N., a public health nurse and staff clinical writer at the Medina County Health Department.