Brunswick Thanks Strongsville for Its Compassion, Support
Mayor grateful for signs, ribbons after fatal crash
Brunswick Mayor Gary Werner said residents in his city were touched by the outpouring of support from Strongsville following the crash June 3 that killed four high school students.
In a letter to Mayor Tom Perciak, Werner thanked the Strongsville community for the hundreds of blue-and-white ribbons and the signs that adorned Pearl Road June 7, offering support to Brunswick residents traveling to Jardine Funeral Home for Lexi Poerner's wake.
"The condolence and consolation those ribbons and messages conveyed were deeply appreciated by all," Werner wrote.
The tribute was organized by Strongsville resident PJ Warner, who, with help from about 15 volunteers, spent hours tying ribbons, making signs and attaching them to utility poles along Pearl Road.
The Brunswick mayor said one sign in particular captured the sentiment: "Rivals Only On the Field" reflected the unifying effect the tragic accident had on both communities.
"I wanted to be sure to convey to you that these many touching gestures did not go unnoticed," Werner wrote.
In addition to Lexi, Jeffrey Chaya, 18, Blake Bartchak, 17, and Kevin Fox, 18, were killed in the crash on Boston Road in Columbia Township.
Warner, a Strongville mom, said she was inspired to organize the effort here after a chance meeting with Lexi's parents the day before their daughter's wake.
Perciak read Werner's letter at Monday's City Council meeting.
"In this trying time for our city," Werner wrote, "acts like those of your residents provided real comfort to us, and we wanted them to know it."
Dana Petry
2:49 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Seriously? If it bothers you do much, go help clean it up yourself.
lyn
7:03 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I agree with James.
It was a nice thing to do.
But now it is looking bad and needs removing.
I am tired of seeing old garage sale signs and other things left up that should be removed BY THOSE WHO PUT THEM UP. It should not be assumed that it will just disappear or be removed by the service department or someone else who finally is tired of seeing the street looking like its lined with trash.
Again, it was nice to see. But now it does not honor their memory after the elements have taken its toll. It only looks like Pearl is neglected.
Jean Williams
9:50 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I was shocked and angry yesterday when I read what james posted, but after driving down pearl road I do now see his point, I also see this now as a sign of disrespect to those who have died, since all those ribbons and signs are now torn and tattered and now mixing with the litter below
Tim Walker
10:50 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
n every city and town there are precious, wonderful people who have enough heart and class to be able to sympathize with the pain of their neighbors and then there are the mean, nasty and insensitive whose only concern in life is their own comfort. It takes all kinds! Enough said! Thank you Strongsville!
joe simonton
11:16 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tim while at this time I do not agree with James, his comment is a valid one (at what point does a tribute become a sign of neglected disrespect)
JT
1:33 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
What are wrong with u people so they r falling apart I agree with Dana if u don't like it go clean it up the mayor of Brunswick was writing to strongsville to say thank you and u people have to take this and complain about liter come on get a life and lyn do u always have to say something naivte all the time
joe simonton
10:19 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
JT you are a prime example of a Bruntuckian Edumacation
lyn
11:15 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
...and majored in "naivtism".
JT
11:08 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Nice joe prime example of a striongs stuckup
Jean Williams
11:15 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
JT how is summer school going
JT
6:58 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
i do this on my iphone were it corrects the words it wants and not what i want and sends before i want it too But THANK YOU now i know that the kids that get bully at school what their parents are like. You people should be ashamed of yourselves
PJ Warner
8:03 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
I'm so sorry. I will take them down this week. I didn't really know when would be a good time to take them down and I am a single mother of two and have not had a day with out them since. Will be done this week. I apologize if this seemed disrespectful to the victims..it certainly wasn't my intent.
Ken McEntee
9:14 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
PJ. You don't need to apologize for your act of kindness. Some people will find a negative in anything. What you did will be remembered in two communities for a long time, and will undoubtedly inspire others to step forward in the future.
joe simonton
10:13 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
PJ let those who do not like them still up, get up off their computer and take them down themselves.
I took the 5-6 down yesterday that might have been what everyone saw, rain does tend to do that to cardboard, the ones at the end of town still look fine
22 year resident
10:58 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
PJ,
Thank you and God Bless You for your unselfish work to honor and support those who were touched by this tragedy. I am just one of Strongsville's residents who thought the gesture showed heart and class.
Sarah Waters
9:18 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
I grew up in Strongsville and now live in Brunswick. What does that make me? Just because you live in one town does not make you stuck up or a hillbilly. Shame on you for judging a person based on the location of their home.
To PJ - what you did for the friends and families of the victims was extremely selfless and heartwarming. I wish there were more people in these communities that would spend more time focusing on caring for one another than worrying about how green their grass is.
LB
10:20 am on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Well said Sarah....and to the rest of you who are SO BOTHERED by the blowing ribbons that PJ and others put up as an act of kindness and support...GET UP OFF OF YOUR LAZY ASSES AND CLEAN IT UP YOURSELVES!! People around Strongsville worry about the most trivial things I have ever heard of in my life..and sadly I live here...shameful....
LB
12:07 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Memorial ribbons for the families that lost their children tragically are A LOT different than bright orange signs..Ignorance at its best...
Debbie Palmer
3:13 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Had to delete the last few comments. Sorry. Can't get into name-calling.
Jean Williams
3:18 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
you are quick ! ! !
I was just about to question why they were not using their real name and kept calling people names
LB
3:29 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
I don't use my real name because most of the parents around Strongsville let their kids run rampant after hours, blowing air horns at people, vandalizing homes and put up with underage drinking (just read the police blotter)..because they care more about trivial things like their green lawns. I don't need those thugs around my home. Therefore, I remain anonymous. Pretty sad actually. And Debbie, you'll notice I didn't call anyone names in this comment therefore it should remain in the conversation. Freedom of speech.
Jean Williams
3:32 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
strongsville is full of thugs ???
joe simonton
3:34 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
not just any old thugs jean, BUT rampant drunk air horn blowing thugs
LB
3:39 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
All you have to do is read the police blotter - it's right there in front of you. Control your kids and we wouldn't have these problems..Oh and while your at it..teach them some respect too. Seems to me most grew up with silver spoons in their mouths. Don't you know Strongsville is know as "drugsville"? NICE. I'm done. Bye Bye
Jean Williams
4:06 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
LB which is it the thugs or the drugs??? while your at it do you want to complain about the bugs and barking pugs I think you could just use a couple of hugs
LB
4:14 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
That was funny!
DF
11:31 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Dang. I don't even live in your state, but have been touched by this entire story. What a very thoughtful thing to do in honor of young lives lost. Just a shame that someone had to go get their panties in a wad when they could have just mentioned, in a much more positive way, hey can someone please clean these up? Geesh! What belligerent idiots!