There is a special joy that grandchildren bring to the family. In the 21st century, grandparents are finding themselves more involved with their school-aged grandchildren than any other generation as they take on roles as guests, volunteers, teacher aides and storytellers at local schools.

Dr. Carol Rosiak, principal of Goldwood Primary School in Rocky River, sees grandparents as a welcome addition to the classroom.

“We are very fortunate in our school to have strong parental involvement,” she says. “When grandparents also get involved in education, the children see how the whole family unit supports education. Grandparents who come into our school either to volunteer or to be part of special events show a genuine love and excitement for education and are so supportive of the teachers and staff.

“They share their appreciation for the educators and are very kind when they are in the building. This is witnessed by all and again positively impacts our school community,” Rosiak says.

GETTING INVOLVED — GRANDPARENT STYLE

To accommodate a variety of family situations, Goldwood Primary celebrates “Special Persons’ Day” because some children do not have grandparents.

“On this special day, the special person comes to school, the children sing songs and show their guests how technology in the classroom enhances educational opportunities with Smart Boards, iPads, specific software programming and other tools,” Rosiak explains. “Some do a craft with their special person or go to the book fair hosted by the PTA so their grandparents are able to take them to shop.”

Bob Whitaker, principal at Fort Island Primary School in Copley, sees many opportunities for grandparents to become active in their grandchildren’s schools.

“Our PTA sponsors two Grandparents Day breakfasts with over 250 participants each day,” he says. “We also have had a ‘Silver Readers’ program in collaboration with the local Copley seniors group.

When Larry Theurer’s garden in Old Brooklyn wasn’t yielding as many vegetables as it used to, Larry and his wife Brenda recalled a PBS television special that showed an elderly Asian man hand-pollinating his pear trees in Japan. The area had lost all its honeybees from pollution.

The next day, Larry tried his hand at pollinating his own garden with a cotton-tipped swab dipped in water; the result was amazing.

“My garden exploded,” Larry says. “The big difference was in the yields. So my wife and I decided to find out more about honeybees. We checked out various beekeeper organizations in Medina County, Lorain County and a few more counties. That year, 2009, we also went to the Cuyahoga County Fair and met people from the Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association. The association was only about six months old at the time.”

Larry and Brenda began attending beekeeper meetings at the Rocky River Nature Center. “The club was very warm and receptive,” he says. “And nobody wanted your annual dues up front until you were sure this was something you’d like to do. They genuinely wanted to see you succeed as a beekeeper.”

Larry is now president of the GCBA, one of the youngest and largest clubs in Northeast Ohio. Members meet the second Wednesday of the month with educational and networking sessions. The association holds an annual bee conference. This year’s event featured nationally known naturalist beekeeper Ross Conrad, a feature writer for Bee Culture Magazine, which is published in part by A.I. Root Company in Medina.

A POST-RETIREMENT HOBBY

Larry, 60, who retired in 2015 after 31 years with Cleveland Public Power, considers himself nearly a full-time beekeeper. Hives can require constant attention to keep up with the ever-producing honey yields, to protect hives from predators and to prevent colony collapse from pests such as varroa mites and hive beetles.

A Cleveland Indians game is all about having fun. When the cry “Play Ball” goes out, those two words send shivers down the spine of most Indians fans. In the next few hours something exciting is going to happen, and the ballpark will be filled with cheers (and maybe a few groans). No one knows that feeling better than long-time Indians season ticket holder Terry Bittner, 58, who will be there cheering on the Tribe with his family and friends.

Hope runs eternal for the 2016 season and for Bittner, this season is going to be another great ride.

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RECOLLECTION OF THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN YOUR LIFE?

In 1965, I received a 9-volt transistor radio for my birthday which I could hide under my pillow at night and listen to the games. Back then, Vic Davalillo and Sam McDowell were my favorites. I remember on Opening Day going to school with a book that I had cut all the pages out of so I could hold the radio in the center and hide it from the teacher. I ran the ear plug wire up my sleeve and turned my head so the teacher couldn’t see what I was doing. Of course I got caught, but I remember the principal asking me what the score was before sending me back to the classroom.

DID YOU GO TO GAMES WITH YOUR FAMILY?

Tribe games were definitely family events. The place is so friendly. I’d hold my youngest son on my lap and my two other kids and my wife, Cheryl, would enjoy the game from our other three seats. The kids are now 32 (Andy), 28 (Molly) and 26 (Cory).

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?

Hitting, hitting, hitting and some improved defense. I’m counting on the pitching to be there.