School levy finally passes
NORTH OLMSTED — School officials plan to continue examining district financial figures closely even though they finally got voters to approve an operating levy in a special Feb. 6 election.

Students take on three-time U.S. chess champion
WESTLAKE — Members of the chess club at Westside Christian Academy had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play one of the greatest chess players in the world Friday. Chess grandmaster Alex Shabalov, the U.S. chess champion in 1993, 2000 and 2003, played 45 students simultaneously during an exhibition at the Center Ridge Road school.

Project giving away shirt off your back
BAY VILLAGE — Community leaders plan to collect sports shirts and jerseys to give to needy children in Latin America.

When the new Gilles-Sweet Elementary School is completed by August, students and staff members in the upper level of the library will have this view of the building’s courtyard. (Photos by Larry Bennet)

City leaders tour new Gilles-Sweet school
FAIRVIEW PARK — The new school, a major part of the $50 million Gemini Project voters narrowly approved two years ago, will be open to students in August.