In light of the dramatic number of increasing cases of Covid-19 in Ashtabula County I have unfortunately decided to cancel our 2020 CAN THE CRUISER food drive event scheduled for this Saturday, November 14th.

Although the CAN THE CRUISER event is extremely beneficial for our local area I do not believe that at this time it is a good idea to have our officers in direct contact with several different persons during the collection hours.

It is ultimately the responsibility of the police department to protect and serve the community of Roaming Shores. The loss of just one of our officers; short or long term due to a Covid-19 quarantine, would substantially impact our ability to do both of the above.

If you still wish to contribute to Country Neighbors Christmas Basket Program you can take your donations directly to Country Neighbor, 39 South Maple Avenue in Orwell and drop them off in person. You can also mail your monetary donation to the above address.

Thank you for your understanding and we truly hope to see all of our community events back on track in 2021.

Will Roskos
Chief of Police
Roaming Shores Police Department
2500 Hayford Road
Roaming Shores, Ohio 44084
440 563-3135
chief@roamingshorespd.org

We received a report of an injury on the lake over the weekend. The accident reportedly involved a person whose leg got caught in a rope. The injured person was transported to the hospital for their injuries. The status of their injury is not known by the RRA at this time. This incident appears to be the result of an unfortunate accident and not a rule violation. Please practice safety at all times. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim for a speedy recovery. Thank you to our community members who were there to help and to our local safety services!

Labor Day Fireworks Cancelled!

We had hoped that our cancelled Fourth of July fireworks display could take place during Labor Day weekend.  Unfortunately, the situation regarding Covid has escalated during the summer.  The State of Ohio Health Department mandates allow fireworks displays, but they do not allow mass gatherings of more than 10 people.  Once again, the STARS Club, Association Board, the Fire Chief, the Police Chief and the Mayor all weighed in on the decision and it was the consensus that the risk is too great for our community at this time.  We talked directly to the State of Ohio Coronavirus Health Experts as well as our Ashtabula County Health Department officials in hopes that we could find a way to make it work with no success.  Therefore, the Labor Day 2020 fireworks are cancelled. 

While it is disappointing, we hope everyone understands the safety of each and every person, living, working and playing in our community is priority one.   Our past displays have drawn large crowds at both Beach One and along many of our roadways.  There is no practical way we can control this type of mass gathering without putting many at risk.

Please enjoy the rest of summer.  Stay safe, Stay healthy!  At least we have a beautiful community to enjoy sun and nature.  Thank you to all who contributed to the cost of this year’s fireworks.  The money will be used towards a 2021 display!  Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that our lives can soon return to some normalcy and that any pandemic issue will be only a memory.   Thank you to the many residents who have found ways to share special moments on the lake this year.  The July fourth private displays were awesome, and the music concerts have been much appreciated!  We truly do have a wonderful community full of wonderful people!

Please note change of venue to the Clubhouse

Date: July 18, 2020
Time: 8:30am until 5PM
Location: Clubhouse

No matter how much experience you have with boating, it is important to have the knowledge needed to keep your passengers, yourself and your boat safe. Get your state boating card and learn the skills you need to be safe while boating. Take the finest National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognized boating safety course available, followed by a boating test for boating certification*. By enrolling in the America’s Boating Course, you will learn navigation rules, equipment requirements, water sports safety and other valuable boater safety skills.

Cost for the class is $35.00. Please preregister with the RRA Office (440) 563-3170 or via Email. Pay at the door.

Who Must Carry the Card?

Vessel operators who are required to have the Ohio Boater Card must carry the card on board the vessel and have it available for inspection by an enforcement officer. Not carrying your Ohio Boater Card when it is required can result in a fine.

Ohio law requires all motorized boat and PWC operators born after January 1, 1982, who will be operating a vessel over 10 hp to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card.

Shores Strong!!!!  What an amazing and generous community we have here in the Shores.  Our food pantry program is truly Shores Strong because of each of you.  From those that contribute, those that use and those that volunteer, every neighbor is making this a success!! Thank you to all!!!

We do have some changes to implement due to the hot summer weather.  Since these are outdoor pantries they can get extremely warm in the summer months.  That is not a good environment for canned goods.  So… during our warm months of June, July and August, please put canned goods in the pantry section of Pasta Oven.  Please continue to stock our outdoor pantries for other non-perishable food items .

These certainly are unprecedented times in which we find ourselves.  It is going to take unprecedented consideration and flexibility to get us through to the other side.  Thank you all for being such good neighbors!! 

Please continue to feel free to take what you need.  That is what it is there for!!!  Please let others know about this resource.  Please continue to leave what you can.  Just put the canned goods inside at Pasta Oven during our hot summer months. 

We will be moving canned goods within the next couple days so feel free to use what you can now.  I guess you could call it our first “Pantry Canned Goods Sale”!!!  I’m not going to complain about the heat though!!!  Hopefully, someone can use the current stock of canned goods and there will be very little to relocate.

Again… THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY and a special Thank you to Pasta Oven!!!  Your Community Preparedness Team is appreciative of the overwhelming support of this project!  Stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy and stay well fed!!!  Shores Pride….Shores Strong!!

Lake Safety Committee

By: Bruce C. Bower

Among all the other situations I have moaned about, the boaters on our lake still manage to surprise me. Three or four years ago I noticed young parents taking their infant children for a ride on their jet-ski. Considering I’m not sitting on my deck for hours at a time, I saw many more than one incident every year. I called ODNR Watercraft Enforcement and asked about age limits for passengers on a ski. I also asked about what PFD is mandatory for infants/children under 30 pounds. I was told it was being considered to make an addition to the Ohio Revised Code. I was doing yard work at the lake last week and saw a young woman on a jet ski with an INFANT. The youngster could not have been more than six months old! Mom was holding the child and driving the ski at I estimate around 12 to15 mph.

I called ODNR Columbus and asked what was happening with the possible law to limit this activity. Here is what I got back: “there are no current proposals to set a minimum age or size for a passenger on a personal watercraft. The situation you describe is fairly uncommon so a law change would likely not be supported”. Do you hear that, our situation is FAIRLY UNCOMMON? We are UNIQUE. I do not have a degree in early child behavior or child psychology, but after watching my two children and four grandchildren grow and develop, I say youngsters do not remember occurrences before the age of one. What are these people trying to accomplish by putting their children in un-needed danger, certainly not for life long stunning memories? What about “shaken-baby syndrome, does that not apply here?

Here’s a list of What If’s: what if you run out of fuel, what if your engine quits, what if your engine catches fire, what if you hit debris, such as a semi-submerged log, what if you catch a wave incorrectly and tip over? What if you tip over, will you be able to save your child?  If you must continue this behavior, at least you should get a proper fitting PFD that keeps the child’s head up when in the water and one that is designed to flip the baby over to be face up.                                                                                                                                                                

This is the first article this season and I’m already hollering at you. As always, call me if questions or comments. Bower out      216.906.2301