🌱 Flight To Cuyahoga Cnty Airport Crash, 2 Dead + Officer Not Charged

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Lakewood Daily. Come along for the most important things happening in town. In today's issue, we'll touch on:

But first, today's weather:

Mainly cloudy. High: 36 Low: 31.

Business owners and marketers in Lakewood: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories in Lakewood today:

1. A flight from JFK to Cuyahoga County Airport crashed, killing the two people inside. Businessman Binyamin Chafetz, 40, and the pilot, 44-year-old Baruch Taub’s plane went down in Westchester County, New York. The small plane suffered engine troubles shortly after leaving JFK airport. Before the crash, Chafetz sent a final goodbye message to his friends through WhatsApp. He spoke of his love for his children, apologized for his past mistakes, and asked that the community pray for him. (The Sun)
2. A Cuyahoga County grand jury decided not to file criminal charges against a police officer who claimed he accidentally shot a woman back in 2021. On Wednesday, the grand jury returned a no-bill rejecting felonious assault, reckless assault, and negligent assault against officer Eric Garcia. In a statement, Garcia told prosecutors he was following a man who had exited his car while holding a gun. The female passenger also emerged from the vehicle, and Garcia claims he accidentally shot her in the elbow. Lavontay Johnson, the driver of the car, was charged with reckless assault for creating the situation that allowed the shooting to occur. (Subscription: Cleveland.com)
3. On Jan. 26, you can experience some of the finest fishing lessons with a free workshop. The Ohio Basin Steelheaders Workshop will run from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 pm. at the Emerald Necklace Marina Cafe in Lakewood. The workshop will cover fly fishing, egg cure, float fishing, ice fishing, fly tying, and fish smoking. This is a great opportunity to learn why Ohio is famed for having some of the best fishing in the country. (Subscription: Cleveland.com)

Today in Lakewood:

• Heated Igloos At Detroit Avenue (12:00 PM)
• Personal Space: A Yoga Workshop For Caregivers At Firehouse Yoga (1:00 PM)
• Poetry Reading At Beck Center For The Arts (2:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you a fan of a good espresso martini? Now you can learn to make your own on through Jan. 26 at Western Reserve Distillers! (Western Reserve Distillery via Facebook)
• BVH and Melt Bar will host a fun and delicious Vegan Night on Jan. 26! All vegan items on the menu will get a 20 percent discount. (AllEvents)
• Broadway fans should head over to Muze Gastropub on Jan. 29! There will be a performance featuring some of your favorite Broadway show tunes. (Studio West 117)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.