Historic property is home to 70 years’ worth of Christmas traditions

When Gary Puntel celebrated his first North Royalton Christmas, the former City Hall site was a schoolhouse and young people spent their weekends at the local bowling alley and roller-skating rink. North Royalton was very much a farming town and Gary’s new residence on Royalton Road contained acres of rolling, pastoral countryside, complete with a large pond for swimming, a billowing Willow tree for climbing, and plenty of space for farm animal grazing. It was 1947 and Gary Puntel was just five years old. His parents Fiore, an Italian immigrant, and Hilda, had just moved with their children ....

Rolling bins credited for curbside recycling increase

  City officials are happy that their goal to increase the participation in recycling among the residents is being attained.  “We were confident there would be a significant increase in recycling, similar to what many local communities experienced when we rolled out the 64-gallon cans,” said Mayor Bob Stefanik. Stefanik said that after meeting with members of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, the data they shared indicated that once a city offers automated recycling, the amount recycling had gone up from 20-60%.  He noted that the increase in recycling would bring the ....

Sewer rate study prompts some changes

The City of North Royalton commissioned the firm of with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Incorporated to formulate the 2017 rate study analysis earlier this year.  The study has concluded and Council has already legislated some changes.  Some residents will see a cut in their sewer charges, but most will probably see increases, if proposed legislation is adopted. City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance that authorizes the City of Cleveland, Division of Water to reduce the sewer charge for all users that are connected to the North Royalton Consolidated Sanitary Sewer District, but do ....

NR elementary students Skype with award-winning author

After reading the book, Poppy by Avi, students at Royal View, Albion, and Valley Vista Elementary Schools had the opportunity to engage in a Skype session with the author himself. Avi is an award-winning author who has written more than 75 books, many aimed at young adults. His accomplishments include the Newbery Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.

Due to a generous grant from the North Royalton Educational Foundation, a Skype session between Avi and the ....

A record crowd attends Christmas Parade and Lighting of the Green

North Royalton Mayor Bob Stefanik said it best.  “I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had for the lighting ceremony.  Everybody looks like they’re having a great time.  It’s a festive time of year.  This is really a family event.” Mother Nature had a lot to do with the large crowd.  Sunday, November 26, was a bright sunny day although a bit cool.  The temperature didn’t matter, though.  North Royalton families bundled up and came to the City Green to see Santa Claus arrive on the back of a North Royalton fire truck.  In addition, families saw Mayor Stefanik and ....

Royal Redeemer Care and Share Dinner serves most meals ever

“I just wanted to give back to the community.  I could have just stayed home.  But, I wanted to help others on Thanksgiving.” Those are the words of Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church member Mike Cropper, who helped to deliver meals on Thanksgiving Day through the Care and Share program. This was the 28th year that the Church has provided meals on Thanksgiving Day to those new to the North Royalton Community or who may not have any family or who might otherwise be alone on the holiday.  Judging by the number of people who came to the church for dinner, upwards of 400, fellowship was t ....

Christmas Parade and Lighting of the City Green kicks off the Holiday Season on Sun., Nov. 26

Santa Claus is coming to North Royalton. He’ll be the “star” of the 17th annual Christmas Parade and Lighting of the City Green event on Sunday, November 26. The Holiday Lighting Committee is continuing this fun event for children of all ages. North Royalton residents are invited to get into the spirit, enjoy the parade and create more holiday memories with families, friends and neighbors. The parade will step off from the Royalwood Road exit of the St. Albert the Great Church Parking lot at 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, November 26. The parade will march west on Royalwood Road, turn left onto ....

Saint Albert students deepen their connection with military veterans

North Royalton resident William Senger spends most Veterans Days quietly reflecting on the past with his wife, Betty. But this Veterans Day, Senger, a veteran of the Korean conflict, stood proudly alongside his granddaughter, a sixth-grader at Saint Albert the Great School, as he took part in a commemorative Veterans Day Military Salute on November 10 at Saint Albert the Great Church. As part of the sixth-grade social studies curriculum, students at Saint Albert the Great School research and seek out a veteran to interview. In most cases, the students are learning and hearing for the first ti ....

North Royalton Fire Dept. kept extremely busy tackling severe storm, church and house fires

The week of November 5 was an especially busy one for the North Royalton Fire Department. The week started off with a severe storm on Sunday, November 5, and ended with a church fire on Saturday, November 11. There were two house fires that were associated with the storm, according to North Royalton Fire Chief Bob Chegan. One house on Royalton Road caught fire when a primary power line came into contact with a secondary line, causing enough heat to catch the house on fire, said Chegan. That house ended up with extensive interior and exterior damage, including water damage when a water line ru ....

November Storm leaves many with damage and without power

Harsh winds and rain rolled into northeast Ohio in the early evening of November 5, when a cold front moved across the Great Lakes. The National Weather Service reported a confirmed 14 tornadoes across northern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. In addition, there were a large number of areas, such as North Royalton, with straight-line wind damage. “Unseasonably warm and humid air was in place across the region ahead of the front. The cold front gradually progressed across the Ohio Valley and thunderstorms initiated and swept east ahead of the front,” according to the National Weather Service ....