Welcome to the City of Seven Hills, Ohio
VII Hills Hall of Fame
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2019 RESIDENTS OF THE MONTH
I have lived in Seven Hills for 34 years, when Joe and I got married in 1983, we first lived in Parma for 2 years then moved to Seven Hills.
I grew up in the east side, in the Collinwood neighborhood.
I have grown to love living in Seven Hills, I think the city has many beautiful areas and views that are breathtaking.
What I really love is the location we are 20 minutes away from east
to the west - in the heart of Cuyahoga County!
The people are friendly, and we could not ask for better neighbors.
We are blessed to have made our roots in this beautiful city.
FEBRUARY 2019 - JOANN G. RENCZ
Abriana Rondin, a life-long Seven Hills resident, will graduate from Lutheran West High School in 2019, and will attend Youngstown State University in the fall of that year. She is an NCAA Division One scholarship soccer player, and her sports history in Seven Hills paved the way for this accomplishment.
I started with sports in Seven Hills at age four in the instructional soccer program. I grew up playing soccer in both recreational and travel play for the city and always had pride in wearing the Seven Hills name on my jersey and led teams to many championships for Seven Hills. When I was eight I got my first taste of basketball in the Seven Hills recreation league as a second grader playing in a third and fourth grade league. I was the smallest second grader in my class and didn’t have the strength to shoot, but with defense I helped contribute to our team’s championship success. Some of my greatest sports memories were playing Seven Hills basketball. I also participated in T-League, coach pitch and softball in Seven Hills, but gave it up due to playing soccer and basketball practically year-round. I’m so excited to play with the Youngstown State Penguins this fall, 14 years after kicking a soccer ball for the first time in Seven Hills.
Here are some of the accomplishments/records broken during her high school experience:
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134 career goals. This is the all-time Cuyahoga County scoring record and eight all time in Ohio.
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74 career conference goals. This is the all-time scoring record for the PAC-12 conference.
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46 goals in 2018. This is the Lutheran West all-time record.
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25 conference goals in 2018. This is the PAC-12 all-time single season record.
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Second Team all-Ohio.
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3-time PAC-12 scoring leader.
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4-time first team all-conference.
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2-time conference MVP.
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4-time school MVP.
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4-time first team all greater Cleveland.
MARCH 2019 - ABRIANA RONDIN
APRIL 2019 - BUTCH ARMSTRONG
Butch Armstrong was born in Shaker Hts., Ohio. He started listening to music at the age of four. His first love was playing the trombone, but after hearing, “The Beatles,” he began to play guitar at the age of 10.
At the age of 12, Butch and his brother, Vito, started playing professionally. Their first band was called the “Neatles,” and later became known as, “Knight Riders.” They appeared on, “The Jerry G Show,” on WKYC-TV, and on the nationally syndicated show, “Upbeat,” on WEWS-TV.
After high school, Butch joined the local/national act, “Rastus,” a Jazz-Blues fusion band. In the mid-1970s, Butch toured and recorded with Sonny Geraci of the “Outsiders” and “Climax.” During the Disco-era he played with “Cyclone,” and later with, “The Hoffman Group,” and the “Cedar Taylor Band.”
In the late 1970s, Butch moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he auditioned for one of his favorite bands, “Chicago,” and also met and jammed with, “Tower of Power.”
In 1981, Butch returned to Ohio. He got married and settled in Seven Hills, where he raised his family and has remained to this day. He played with the band, “Goodfoot,” before finally forming his own band, the “Armstrong Bearcats,” an in your face Blues and Rock and Roll band. Butch and his bandmates became the band in demand when national acts needed a local opener. They are still busy playing out all over northeast Ohio and have been staples at the Seven Hills Home Days.
MAY 2019 - NADA FLEMING
Daughter of immigrant parents, I was born in Cleveland, and raised in Garfield Heights, Ohio. After graduating from Garfield Hts. Sr. High, I attended St. John College and St. Alexis School of Nursing where I graduated as a Registered Nurse. In my senior year of the nursing program, I was accepted into the Officer Candidate Program with the United States Navy and served 2 years active duty at Great Lakes Naval Hospital during the tail end of the Vietnam War. After my release from active duty, I continued my nursing career in Wisconsin, California, New York and Virginia. Upon returning to Ohio in 1983, we settled in Seven Hills and I resumed my nursing career at Metro Health Medical Center where I worked as an Operating Room nurse coordinating 5 different Services. I also resumed my Military career by entering into the Naval Reserves in 1985. As a Reservist, I was stationed across the United States in places like Virginia Beach; Bethesda, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; San Diego, California; Great Lakes, Illinois; Charleston ,South Carolina, and Ketchikan, Alaska. I also had the opportunity to serve in Yokosuka, Japan, and in 1990 was activated to serve in Bahrain for Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. Upon return from the war, I was awarded The Fleet Hospital 18 Nursing Leadership Award. I entered into the Navy as an Ensign and retired with the rank of Commander after 21 ½ years. I joined the Seven Hills VFW POST 7609 in 1996 and am currently the Sr. Vice Commander. I have served as the Post commander over 3 years as well as Surgeon and Judge Advocate for the post. I have always loved to teach and always wanted to help people since I was a young girl. I was teaching swimming lessons at the age of 9, and was one of 10 girls in the 9th grade who had started the first Candy Striping Program at MaryMount Hospital volunteering over 1000 hours. While working at MetroHealth and the Reserves, I also coached soccer and served one year as President of the Seven Hills Soccer Federation, was the PTA Legislative Officer for John Glen Elementary School in 1989-1993 and den mother of the Seven Hills Cub Scouts. As a member of the VFW , my responsibilities were to coordinate and organize the VFW/Seven Hills Memorial Day Parade, coordinate the long weekend Poppy Drives in May and June, set up and organize the Honor Guard opening ceremony for Seven Hills Home Days and our VFW Booth, coordinate and run the V.O.D./Pat Pen Essay Scholarship Programs which involved the schools in the Parma Public School System, Parochial schools, home schools, Brecksville-Broadview Heights , and Cuyahoga Heights Schools, organize the VFW hotdog sale for Harvest Fest, organize and work the VFW/Seven Hills Childrens’ Christmas Program and participate in several school, nursing home and city Veterans Day programs. I also serve as the Women Veterans Chair and POW/MIA chair. During my years with the VFW, I received the National Outstanding Community Health Care Employee of the Year Award, the President’s Volunteer Service Award for CERT, Inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, and helped our Post to receive All State Award during my reign as commander. I have served with the Cleveland Honor Flight Program taking WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. Along with the above, I am still a Trainer for QUAD City CERT and was one of the Founding members in 2003. I feel that I have been blessed to be able to serve our community and so many others. I am grateful for the opportunities.
Nada R. Fleming RN NC USNR-Ret
JUNE 2019 - KAYLA POWERS
My name is Kayla Powers and I am a dream chaser. I am twenty-three years old and my imagination is always running wildly. I have lived in Seven Hills my whole life and wrote most of my first book ‘The World’s Craziest Love Triangle’ in my backyard. I am also already halfway done with the second book for the series ‘The World’s Craziest Challenge’. My first book is available on Amazon and my second one will soon follow. I come from a loving family and also have an amazing boyfriend. I have a soft spot for small animals and will remain a diehard Jonas Brothers fan till the end of time. I came up with the idea for my book series to help distract myself from the stresses of everyday life, and I hope to do the same for others. My book travels back in time into a world where werewolves and vampires are real...and gorgeous. I have also dedicated my first book to everyone who believes in me and all the other dream chasers out there. Congratulations Seven Hills Hall of Fame Resident of the Month for the month of June!! We have talented residents in Seven Hills!!
JULY 2019 - MIKE BINDER
Mike Binder was born and raised in Parma, Ohio. He moved to Seven Hills in 2000, and has lived there ever since.
Mike coached youth softball for 16 years, initially his eldest daughter’s team at Our Lady of Good Council Parish. He coached with the father of his eldest daughter’s best friend and they have stayed friends to this day. They also coached together for several years a varsity team from Old Brooklyn in the Emerald Necklace Girls Fast Pitch League.
After Mike moved to Seven Hills, his daughters played fast and slow pitch softball in the Seven Hills Baseball Federation leagues. Mike coached throughout, and even spent four years as President of the Federation.
Working with computers for a living allowed Mike to create websites for both the Seven Hills Baseball Federation and Emerald Necklace leagues. The websites are both still in operation 19 years later.
In addition to his community work with youth sports, Mike has been a life long musician. His mother taught him to play the piano when he was eight, and his love of music was born. He learned to play the violin at the age of nine through the Parma School System and learned how to play the guitar at the age of 11.
Mike’s first band was formed in high school. It was called, “Sinner’s Fate.” The band stayed together even after high school and morphed into a band named, “Archer.” The band eventually disbanded in 1984, so Mike began performing solo acoustic guitar shows. He earned a living through college as a solo entertainer playing venues from the wineries of Geneva on the Lake, to establishments in the Flats of downtown Cleveland, to gathering places on the Lake Erie Islands.
Today, Mike is one of the busiest professional musicians in the Cleveland area. He sings and plays guitar in several groups. One is, “The KingBees,” a Blues/Jazz group that originated in 1993. His most recent group is a popular Pop/Rock group called, “The Jam Machine.” He also often performs acoustic duo shows with lead vocalist Priscilla from, “The Jam Machine.”
Mike is looking forward to performing with, “The Jam Machine,” at this year’s Seven Hills Home Days festival. The group will hit the main stage at 8 pm, on the night of Saturday, July 27.
AUGUST 2019 - FRANKIE WOLF
Frankie Wolf grew up in Seven Hills, Ohio and comes from a very large family, having five brothers and sisters. During his sophomore year at Normandy High School he attended an acting convention in Los Angeles called IMTA in 2014. There he signed with HRI Talent Agency and Unified Management with the help from his mother agency Pro Model and Talent Management. A few months after the convention, Frankie made the move from Ohio to California. He currently lives in Glendale, California. He has worked on many projects including films such as We Still Say Grace, Monsters and Men, and Chance. He has also worked on television shows such as Nickelodeon’s, Henry Danger. He is now enrolled at Studio School studying acting and filmmaking. His goal is to write and direct his own films. Frankie tries to come home for a few weeks every summer to stay connected with the Seven Hills community. He also stays active with Pro Model and Talent, based in Akron, Ohio, where he helps instruct classes for people who are looking to start in the entertainment industry.
SEPTEMBER 2019 - SAMANTHA PERDUE
Samantha Perdue is an amazing young lady. She is a straight A student. She has a love for animals and a heart for taking care of others, Never shying away from helping take care of her Grandma Terry (who passed away in November). She also has the sense of community by donating her time to help at community events and school events.
Samantha Perdue is an all around athlete whose beginnings all come from the the Seven Hills Rec Program. She plays travel soccer for the Brecksville Bees, basketball for Hillside/Normandy, volleyball, track for Hillside/Normandy and Baseball for Warriors Travel Baseball Club and the New York City Wonders.
OCTOBER 2019 - CHRISTINE PAPCKE
NOVEMBER 2019 - MICHELLE TOMECKO
What an amazing woman who contributes so much to so many! A positive force in our Community- thank you for your spirited decorations in your yard and delicious cupcakes and so much more. Please take a moment to learn more about our neighbor Michele Tomecko.
We have talented residents in Seven Hills!!
I was born into a very close and yet crazy fun family of 7 kids (my identical twin and I are numbers 5&6). Raised in Cleveland Heights, I've always had a passion for art. I started drawing at the age of 5. Every opportunity I had, I would draw. My passions for art grew as I did, in high school I took Saturday classes at the Institute of Art and became Art Chairperson for the Heights Singers (our high school singing group well over 100 kids). While taking on this position, I learned all about set design...and loved seeing my larger than life designs for all to see. When I graduated, I was set on going to college to earn a degree in anything that had to do with art/design. I put myself through 2 years of school working in the production dept at the Sun Newpapers and then life took over. I ended up working in a bridal shop designing custom head pieces.
Fast forward, I've been married 23 years to my soul mate. We are both identical twins, we both come from families of 7 kids and we are both artists! We have 8 children...7 living. Our twins were born at 23 weeks gestation (12 years ago). Sadly we lost our son Nicholas 3 days after birth. Our surviving twin has many health issues and developmental issues which has consumed most of my time and energy these last 12 years. Their very early arrivals, pushed me into taking up writing In which I started a blog, The Tomecko Echo to keep family and friends up to date on my sons health and struggles....and then it kind of snowballed into a family blog, of which I am honest and upfront about life with raising 7 kids and caring for a special needs child. I started my cupcake business as more of a donational thing by accident. I wanted to give back to those who helped our family through tough times, so I baked and donated hundred of cupcakes for our church's fish fry bake sale every week during lent. From that, I baked for the police and firefighters, for fundraisers, birthdays, showers, weddings, MetroHealths NICU reunions, and local happenings like The Taste Of Seven Hills and the Say No to Drugs picnic.
I also make "I beat the odds" t-shirts for babies that are graduating out of the MetroHealth NICU and for kids that have beat the odds birthdays for years to come...all donated by myself and my husband. Just a way to give back to the hospital and to those that are just starting the long road of caring for a baby that has been in the NICU or born way too early.
Like many, I have found that what I wanted...what I thought I was going to do in life, is completely different. My life took side streets and back roads. It was up to me to make the most of what I was experiencing. So, as my life has gone on, I have tried to help those that need help. It has always made me feel better as a human, to give and do for others. Giving away my God given talents and skills that I have worked hard on is what I thrive and live for.
I am an advocate for my son and for all special needs kids
I have been very active in the March of Dimes by ringing awareness to our community about prematurity, miscarriages and infant death.
I volunteered and help start a parent to parent group with the Hospice of The Western Reserve, for parents who have babies/children who are on palliative or hospice care.
I am active in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Challenger Baseball and Make A Wish (our son had one granted a few years back).
My Halloween yard has been a passion every year. I love creating scenes, planning it out and making things from paper and foam board. I've thrown in a lot of "Easter eggs" for the community to find and smile about.
I live my life by giving and doing...it's what makes me happy and is who I am.
I love making people smile and give them hope that no matter how tough life is...to follow your passions! We are not promised tomorrow...I live my life with the strong possibility that I will lose another child...so to make the best of what we have...and make people smile...to make their day...that moment in time, just a little happy....makes me happy.
DECEMBER 2019 - ANN MATTY
