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Volume 55, No. 13
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Alliance Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting To Burn Down Chesterland Church Staff Report An Alliance man pleaded guilty in federal court Oct. 23 to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and to using fire and explosives to commit a felony, all in connection with his attempt to burn down a Chester Township church because of its support for the LGBTQI+ community. According to court documents, on March 25, 2023, Aimenn D. Penny, 20, of Alliance, made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC), in Chester Township. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground. Burn marks were left on the doors to the church preschool and shards of glass remained at the site from a broken See Penny• Page 4
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Aimenn D. Penny, 20, of Alliance, pictured at a March 11, 2023, protest of a drag event held in Wadsworth, Ohio, faces up to 30 years prison after pleading guilty Oct. 23 to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and to using fire and explosives to commit a felony, all in connection with his attempt to burn down a Chester Township church because of its support for the LGBTQI+ community.
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A Molotov cocktail caused damage to the doors of the preschool at the Community Church of Chesterland in an attack early in the morning of March 25, 2023.
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The Turkey Bowl: A West G Thanksgiving Tradition Submitted The smell of pumpkin and cranberry is in the air which means one thing — the greatest of sports traditions: the West G Varsity Hockey Turkey Bowl is back for its 22nd anniversary! On Thanksgiving morning, the
puck will drop at 10 a.m. sharp at Gilmour Rink. Doors open at 9 a.m. And, as always, the young, eager varsity team will take on the aging, but motivated alumni. Keeping with tradition, the ceremonial first puck will be dropped
by West Geauga Principal Ryan Patti, who was a star member on the inaugural West Geauga hockey team two decades ago! We are always looking for new players and invite any high school students (including from neighboring towns who don’t field a hockey
team) interested in playing for West G to come to the Turkey Bowl. Bring your equipment or watch from the stands. No hockey skill required. Just a desire to play for West Geauga. For those interested in more information please reach out to Erin Slay 216-789-2131.
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Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Town Crier State of the Workforce
Nov. 8, 6 p.m. West Geauga Local Schools in partnership with the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve and BridgED will host a panel discussion about changing workforce needs, emerging trends and the skills employers need for the careers of tomorrow. Held at West Geauga High School, the informative session will help guide students and
families in making good academic and work experience decisions for their future. No registration required - open to the community.
Kristallnacht Candlelight Vigil
Nov. 9, 6 p. m. Geauga County’s third annual candlelight vigil will be held on Chardon Square to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. Organized by Mary Briggs, candles will be provided.
Lions Club Meeting
Nov. 9 and 23, 7-8 p.m. Chesterland Lions Club holds meetings the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at the Lions Shed located on the east side of the West Geauga Board of Education building. The club welcomes new members.
Donations Sought
Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mayfield Church and Lake-Geauga Habi-
tat for Humanity’s ReStore are teaming up to collect furniture, appliances and other items for the ReStore truck. The truck will be at the church located at 7747 Mayfield Road, Chester Township. Visit Lake-GeaugaHabitat.org for a list of acceptable items.
Gift Of the Magi Boutique
Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11900 Chillicothe Road in Chester Township, is hosting its annual Gift for the Magi Christmas boutique featuring quality gift items by juried artists and crafters and a quilt raffle. Admission is free. Join the Boutique Bounce by also shopping the boutiques of St. Anselm Church in Chester Township and Old South Church in Kirtland. Pick up a card at the first stop and have it stamped at each show for a chance to win one of three grand prizes. Call 440-729-1668 for more information or visit stmarkchester.org.
Holiday Bazaar
Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Old South Church, 9802 Chillicothe Road in Kirtland, is hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar. The bazaar offers hundreds of homemade items, a bake and candy sale as well as a huge attic treasures sale and homemade lunch. Visitors can join in the Boutique Bounce by also visiting the boutiques at St. Mark Lutheran Church and St. Anselm Church.
Christmas Boutique
Nov. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Anselm Women’s Guild annual Christmas Boutique will be held at St. Anselm School, 13013 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. There will be handcrafted and unusual items for holiday shopping as well as a snack bar, bake sale and prize raffle. For more information, call Shirley Chambers at 216-832-5158.
Free Community Lunch
Nov. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend a free community lunch at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 11900 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township.
CWC Lunch and Program
Nov. 15, 12-1:45 p.m. Join Christian Women’s Connection for a luncheon and basket raffle at Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Road, Bainbridge Township. Speaker Nora White will deliver a message of hope, joy and peace. To RSVP by Nov. 9, email cwcchagrin@ gmail.com or call/text 440-213-1205.
Outreach Spaghetti Dinner
Nov. 16, 6-7 p.m. Christ Presbyterian Church offers free drive-thru spaghetti and meatball dinners the third Thursday of each month. Salad and dessert are included. The church is located at 12419 Chillicothe Road in Chester Township. See Town Crier • Page 6
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
From the Road Department Winter Plowing in Chester Township Like it or not, winter weather will be arriving soon and, as always, the Chester Township Road Department will do its best to keep the roads clear and safe. The following information outlines some of the township’s winter season policies and procedures. • Chillicothe Road (Route 306) and Mayfield Road (Route 322) are state roads. The plowing on these two roads is performed by Ohio Department of Transportation, not the Chester Township Road Department. Should you need to report a plowing issue on either of these roads, please call the Geauga County ODOT office at 216-584-2315. • Chester Township has entered into a contract with the Geauga County Commissioners to plow the county roads, which are Mulberry Road, Wilson Mills Road, Sperry Road south of Mayfield, and a portion of Caves Road from Russell Township to Wilson Mills Road. If you need to report a plowing issue on these roads, or any Chester Township road, please contact the Chester Township Road Department at 440-729-9110. • Chester Township has 183 lane miles of county and township roads, which take approximately three and a half hours to plow with six crews. If continuous heavy snowfall is encountered, the response time is generally increased by an additional one to two hours depending on the caliber of the storm. It can, therefore, be several hours after a road is plowed before the truck returns for another pass. • The township does not have a “bare roads” snow plowing policy. Typically, the main roads are salted thoroughly, while hills, curves and intersections are salted on secondary roads. • The township is not responsible for the
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Chesterland News
removal of snow thrown into any driveway as a result of plowing the roads. Please avoid plowing, shoveling, or blowing snow from your driveway onto the roadway. Piles of snow left on roadways can create dangerous obstacles for motorists and plow trucks. Leaving snow in the roadway could be subject to a possible citation. • Mailboxes should be kept in good condition in order to withstand being hit by the force of snow being thrown off the snow plows. If a mailbox is damaged or the post is broken due to thrown snow, the township will not repair or replace it. The township will only repair or replace a mailbox that has been directly hit by the plowing equipment. If the township does have to replace a mailbox post, it will be done with a post that is no larger than a 4 inches by 4 inches, due to the fact that mailbox posts are required to be break-away if they are struck by a vehicle. If a plastic mailbox structure is hit by plow equipment, it will be replaced with a conventional box and wood post. • Please set garbage containers at least 6 feet back from the edge of the road. This will help reduce the possibility of your containers being toppled. • Finally, residents should stress to their children to stay out of the path of snow being thrown from township plows and not to tunnel in piled snow. The snow thrown off plows travels at a high rate of speed and may contain rocks or pieces of ice. If you have any questions regarding any of this information or need to report a plowing issue, please contact the Chester Township Road Department office at 440-729-9110. Any emergency situations should be reported to the Chester Township Police Department at 440-729-1234. Thank you and drive safely this winter!
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8389 Mayfield Road, Suite B5 Chesterland, Ohio 44026 Phone 440-729-7667 OFFICE HOURS FAX 440-729-8240 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. ads@karlovecmedia.com Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday editor@karlovecmedia.com Closed Wednesdays Jeffrey B. Karlovec, Publisher John D. Karlovec, Editor Cassandra C. Shofar, News Editor Clay Karlovec, Sales Representative Jamie A. Ward, Sports Editor Clinton Sestak, Sales Representative Ann Wishart, Staff Reporter Karen S. Kaplan, Graphic Design Brian Doering, Staff Reporter Emma McGuire, Paginator Amy Patterson, Staff Reporter Regina Swinerton, Classifieds Pamela J. Molnar, Production Supervisor
Deadlines • Editorial submissions are printed as space is available, at the publisher’s discretion, and may be edited for length, clarity and grammar. All submissions are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Wednesday publication date for consideration for that edition. • Email all editorial submissions to news@chesterlandnews.com. • The space reservation deadline for paid advertisements in that week’s Chesterland News is 4 p.m. on the Thursday prior to publication. Late ads may be accepted at the discretion of management. • Email advertising requests and questions to ads@karlovecmedia.com.
Circulation • The Chesterland News is distributed for free to homes and businesses in the communities of Chester Township and parts of Russell Township. It is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.
• Copies are also available at rack locations within Chester and Russell townships. • Circulation in excess of 5,700. • Produced by the Chesterland News, LLC. • In case of error, we will re-print that portion of an advertisement that was in error. Notification of error should be made within three days of published date. • The Chesterland News, LLC assumes no responsibility of error contained in any pre-printed material delivered with the paper as an insertion therein. • The Chesterland News, LLC reserves the right to reject or revise any advertisement or news item for publication. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of those signing them and not necessarily that of either the Chesterland News, LLC, its affiliates or its advertisers. All letters submitted are subject to editing, and none will be returned. • The opinions and representations contained in advertisements are those of the advertiser. They have not been verified by the Chesterland News, LLC, nor should they be construed to represent the position or viewpoint of this newspaper or its publisher. • Under no circumstances will any record filed in the county be suppressed at any time for anybody, except by order of court.
Help Support the Chesterland News and Local Journalism The Chesterland News and newspaper journalism are critically important and essential in protecting the vibrant community in which we live. The Chesterland News stitches the communities we serve together. From news to in-depth articles on topics that deeply affect the community, the Chesterland News strives to bring you complete coverage. The cost of publishing this newspaper — editorial, printing, mailing and other production costs — is accomplished primarily through the support of generous advertisers. These advertisers are community leaders who understand the value of a stronglocal newspaper. We appreciate each and every one of them. To help us continue to invest in the community, we invite readers to show their support through a voluntary newspaper
subscription. If you value strong community journalism, please consider helping us with a voluntary subscription. The amount is entirely up to you. Simply complete the subscription form in this edition or call 440729-7667 ext. 500. For any donation of $40 or more, we’ll even toss in a free gift in appreciation: 1. FREE one-year online-only subscription to the Geauga County Maple Leaf, a six-time winner of Ohio Newspaper of theYear, OR 2. Six FREE 20-word classified ads over the next year. As always, we greatly appreciate the support you give us, whether it’s financially or simply by continuing to be a loyal reader of the Chesterland News. Jeff and John Karlovec
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Chesterland News
Penny
from page 1 bottle Penny used in the attack. Through Penny’s guilty plea, he admitted to using force through fire and explosives, intending to obstruct CCC congregants in their enjoyment and expression of their religious beliefs, according to an Oct. 24 press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Penny was arrested and charged earlier this year with violating the Church Arson Pre-
vention Act, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device. “Attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland for their support of the LGBTQI+ community is reprehensible,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said. “There is no room in this country for such bias-motivated violence and terror, and the Justice Department will continue to protect all Americans in their free exercise of religious beliefs by vigorously prosecuting those who target houses of worship. Our churches should be safe havens for all people, not sites subjected to violence motivated by hate and vitriol.” Penny admitted to attempting to burn down a church because he did not like the way congregants chose to express their beliefs, added Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Such acts of extremist violence are antithetical to core American values of freedom of expression and worship and we will not tolerate those who would use force to deny our citizens the free exercise of their rights,” Olsen said. “By pleading guilty, Aimenn Penny has admitted that he attempted to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland be-
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The sign in front of the Community Church of Chesterland was damaged in an attack early in the morning of March 25, 2023.
cause he disagreed with a planned LGBTQI+ event,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Violence is never appropriate to settle differences in beliefs. All members of our community are entitled to peacefully assemble, worship, and express themselves freely, without fear of violence or intimidation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio will aggressively prosecute criminals who threaten that right.”
Penny faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act and a 10-year mandatory prison sentence that will run consecutively with any other prison term imposed for using fire to commit a federal felony, according to the Oct. 24 press release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 29, 2024.
Community Meetings Listed are upcoming public meetings and executive sessions for November. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices. Chester Township: Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees; Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.
Russell Township: Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; Nov. 16, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees; Nov. 22, 6 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at Russell Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted. West Geauga BOE: Nov. 20, 7 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings are held at the BOE Community Room, 8615 Cedar Road, unless otherwise noted.
Help for the Holidays Geauga County Job and Family Services coordinates the Sponsor a Family Program to assist low income families with toys, food and gifts for the holidays. The program is open to Geauga County families with minor children who are receiving assistance such as food stamps. Interested families should contact Sara Shininger at 440-285-9141, ext. 1263 for more information.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Chesterland News
West Geauga Schools
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The school hallways are haunted with all kinds of characters on Halloween. Thank you to the students and staff for their costume participation, and the many volunteers who helped make the day special with parades, parties and special treats.
Facility Building Tours The West Geauga Board of Education invites members of the community to tour each of the district’s four school buildings. The facility tours will provide a behind-the-scenes look into the daily maintenance and operations and provide residents with a deeper knowledge of the current conditions of each building. Guided tours will be held Nov. 18 from 9-10 a.m. at Westwood Elementary School; Nov. 18 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Lindsey Elementary
School; Dec. 16 from 9-10 a.m. at the middle school; and Dec. 16 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the high school.
Federal Funding Update
The district will hold a meeting at 4 p.m. Nov. 15 via Zoom to provide annual updates on the use of federal funding and garner stakeholder input. Visit www.westg.org for the Zoom link, which can be found in the News section or under Events by clicking Nov. 15 Federal Funding Update.
ROSE NEMUNAITIS/ KMG
Vicky Liptak, Geauga Park District’s graphic designer, adds more colorful fun to Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park’s nature-based playground in Chester Township.
Graphic Designer Brightens Play at Bessie Benner By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com In 2022, Geauga Park District’s Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park in Chester Township reaped the benefits of a construction project that made improvements to its trail system and replaced an outdated playground with an updated, nature-based one. Large cement drainpipes were placed for tunnels and the planning department asked
if Vicky Liptak, the park’s graphic designer, could come up with some simple shapes to paint on them and make them more fun for children. “What better inspiration than nature in a park,” Liptak said —her recently-completed project following some beautiful autumn days. Liptak went with GPD planning department’s direction of simple shapes and created See Designer• Page 7
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West Geauga Superintendent Receives BASA Award By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com Smiles and cheers filled the West Geauga Schools Board of Education meeting Oct. 30 as the Buckeye Association of School Administrators presented a leadership award to Superintendent Richard Markwardt. BASA Executive Director and former Chagrin Falls Superintendent David Axner appeared to present Markwardt with the honor. “I rarely use the word ‘thrilled’ to describe my reactions,” Markwardt said. “That noted, I’m indeed honored to receive the BASA award. I was actually presented with the BASA leadership award earlier this (October) in Columbus.” BASA is a private, nonprofit organization that serves school superintendents and other
administrators throughout Ohio, according to the organization’s website. Axner said the characteristics for receiving the award included extreme community involvement, acts of professionalism, being a leader of character, an innovator and setting an example to your peers. “Our goal is to provide external validation for what you already know,” he said. “Hopefully, you know that you have an outstanding superintendent.” Jennifer Felker, superintendent of the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve, and President Geoff Kent also formally acknowledged Markwardt receiving the BASA award, presenting a resolution of recognition for West Geauga Schools’ academic achievement and the superintendent’s supportive role in those efforts. “Dr. Markwardt and I go back a long time
and has been such a mentor to me, personally,” Felker said. “I can’t thank him enough. This award from BASA is outstanding.” The ESCWR offers a variety of services for students who reside in Geauga and Lake counties and provides innovative programming and services to support and promote student achievement, according to the service center’s website. “I am incredibly privileged to have the talented administrative team, dedicated teachers and staff, great students, supportive residents and board of education who collectively make West Geauga the wonderful school district that it is,” Markwardt said. “Any recognitions that I receive are theirs, as well.” School board President Ben Kotowski called Markwardt the conductor of West Geauga Schools due to his administrative ability and knowledge of education. “To have a great orchestra, it takes a great conductor,” Kotowski said. “This community has benefited immensely.”
Town Crier from page 2
Young of Heart
Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m. Geauga Young of Heart will meet at St. Anselm Church in Chester Township. Bring a brown bag lunch. Snacks and beverage are provided. The speaker is Sandra Zikursh with “Christmas Memories.” The annual Christmas Party, for members only, will be on Dec. 1 at Manakiki Country Club. For reservations, call Mary Ann at 440729-7489 or Monica at 216-659-8117.
Holiday Volunteers Needed Geauga County Department on Aging needs volunteers Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23 to deliver meals to area seniors who are alone for the holiday. Volunteers will pick up holiday meals at the Chardon Senior Center, 470 Center St., Building 8 in Chardon, and deliver them to their assigned seniors’ homes. To volunteer, or for more information, call the Geauga County Department on Aging at 440-279-2145.
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West Geauga Schools Superintendent Richard Markwardt receives the 2023 Exemplary Leadership Award from Buckeye Association of School Administrators Executive Director David Axner.
Shoe Drive Fundraiser
West Geauga High School gymnastics team is collecting gently worn, used and new shoes through Dec. 15. Drop off donations at the high school and middle school entrances, DONS C.A.R.S. and All-Around Gymnastics. The team will earn funds based on the total weight of pairs collected. The dollars will benefit the team’s uniform fund, facility fee, competition fee and more.
Bloodmobile
Nov. 20, 12-6 p.m. American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. Visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 to make an appointment.
WGEF Thanksgiving Breakfast
Nov. 23, 7:30-11 a.m. The West Geauga Educational Foundation’s annual Thanksgiving Day breakfast at the Chesterland McDonald’s returns after three years. Enjoy a warm holiday breakfast of pancakes, sausage and beverages for only $7. Dine in or take out. Proceeds fund WGEF’s grant program. Visit WGEF.org for more information.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Designer from page 5
common habitats found in all the parks woodland, wetland and meadow. Playground features include a slide, small hills to climb, a rock-climbing/rope-climbing feature, toddler swing, wooden play hut, log-climbing, the newly-painted concrete tunnels, a play deck and sand pit with a digger tool. “The shapes are nature-inspired wildlife and are big and easily recognizable,” she said. As she painted, many passers-by commented on how nice the graphics looked. “Children like touching all the shapes and are excited and happy to see some fun colors when they arrive,” Liptak said, with a big smile. Liptak is responsible for designing all GPD’s visual marketing communications, including advertisements, maps, brochures, interpretive signage, logos and promotional materials for events and programs. She also designs the Park Explorer Activity Guide seasonal mailing and coordinates with Sandy Ward, marketing coordinator for content and writing. “Our small, two-person marketing department works as quite an efficient team,” Ward said. “Everyone who works with Vicky knows she’s a hidden gem. She operates entirely behind the scenes, lending her immense creativity to help the parks shine every day of the week. To know her personally is to know that her own passion for nature is reflected in her work. Among Vicky’s many strengths is her ability to graphically represent Geauga Park District as the most engaging, accessible system of parks, trails and services that it is.” Liptak knew from a young age she wanted to make a career of art. She grew up in eastern Cuyahoga County and moved to Chester Township 20 years ago. “We made Geauga County our home and love living where we do,” Liptak said. She attended Ashland University and spent three academic quarters as part of AU’s art program at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree
Chesterland News
in commercial art with a minor in marketing and worked for two private companies during the first 15 years of my career, and then the opportunity at the park district became available,” She said. “I was very happy to begin working for the park district, where I have been now for 15 years. I can do what I love to help market an organization with such a wonderful mission.” Liptak and her husband enjoy walking in the parks and more recently, fell in love with kayaking. “The parks provide great opportunities for us to do those things,” she said. “All the parks are wonderful, each with its own personality, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Big Creek Park. The trail system is amazing and walking among those tall trees in any season is truly uplifting.” Liptak paused to dip her paint brush into a nearby can, as more park visitors commented on her work, which adds a spark of brightness to the playground. “People who love their parks can feel a sense of pride and ownership when they see her work and people who don’t know what the parks may have to offer them are often quickly interested to find out,” Ward said. Liptak said the most enjoyable part of her job is getting to be creative on a daily basis, and with this specific project, she’s able to soak in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors while creating. “I enjoy coming up with concepts and visuals to show people how great our parks are and why everyone should be visiting them,” Liptak said. “It would be difficult not to love a job where you are promoting such a wonderful thing.” Ward inviting anyone to page through the Park Explorer Activity Guide each season to witness Liptak’s talent. “As a taxpayer myself, I feel fortunate to have Vicky representing everything the parks have to offer everyone in the county,” Ward said. The Park Explorer’s winter edition, which includes all programs and events for January through March 2024, will be mailed out the first week in December. Registration for programs opens Dec. 20 for Geauga County residents.
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West G Foundation Excited to Bring Back Pancake Breakfast By Brian Doering brian@karlovecmedia.com The West Geauga Educational Foundation’s annual Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast will be making a triumphant return Nov. 23 at the Chester Township McDonald’s. WGEF Vice President Sara Sustin said the foundation is happy to be back after a three-year hiatus.
“With social gatherings postponed and restaurants closed during COVID, we couldn’t do our annual pancake breakfast and any type of fundraising or social gatherings were difficult,” Sustin said. “Additionally, it’s hard to remain relevant and visible when you are isolated from your community.” The event will take place from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. at 8329 Mayfield Road and include pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice or milk for $7.
The breakfast’s placemat design and printing are being donated by Karlovec Media Group. In 2022, the foundation was unable to host the popular event due to limited staffing and resources. The WGEF is a nonprofit and volunteer-run organization that awards money for innovative and creative programs in West Geauga Schools, according to its website. It was created in 1985 by a group of parents and is maintained as an endowment with a percentage of the previous year’s income used to support educational opportunities. WGEF has awarded over $550,000 in grants to teachers, students, parents, administrators and other volunteers, Sustin said. “Our grants allow teachers, administrators, parents and volunteers to try new approaches to education,” she said. “In addition, we hold fundraisers each year to grow the endowment amount and thereby distribute more grants the following year.” The WGEF also sponsors a college prep practice test series for the PSAT, SAT and ACT at West Geauga High School and is the founding sponsor of the Kickstart College
Fair and College App Day at the high school. Sustin said the foundation has continued to reach out to members and supporters with area events like Unity Days with the West Geauga Chamber of Commerce, Sip and Support at Colonial Beverage in Chester, and a take-home pancake breakfast with WGEF swag and local products. “We have never stopped providing funds to West Geauga innovative grants every single year,” Sustin said. “The community is germane to our vision and events like this help align the community with West Geauga students by supporting innovative grants with a pancake breakfast purchase.” Sustin said she looks forward to letting the West Geauga community know WGEF is still here supporting the community and the students. “It’s so wonderful to have one location to briefly bring together so many people for a shared cause on a beautiful holiday morning,” Sustin said. For more information about the Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast, please visit https:// wgef.org/.
Arts and Entertainment Fairmount Speaker Series
Nov. 12, 3-4 p.m. Fairmount Center for the Arts continues its “Pull Back the Curtain” speaker series with “Public Space Revolution: The Fight to Make Cleveland a Livable City – 1978-2023” at the center located at 8400 Fairmount Road in Russell Township. Engage in dialogue with Steven Litt, art and architecture critic with the Plain Dealer, about Cleveland’s past, present and future plans for public spaces. Light refreshments will be served. Advance reservations are recommended for the free lectures by calling 440-338-3171 or visiting fairmountcenter.org.
Seniors Home Delivered Holiday Meals
The Geauga County Department on Aging and local Thanksgiving sponsors Cherished Companions, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, Mapleview Country Villa and the Chardon VFW will offer a free traditional holiday meal to any Geauga County senior, age 60 and older, who will be home and alone on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. There will be no regular Home Delivered Meal delivery or congregate meals on Thanksgiving. Instead, holiday meals are available by preorder only. Thanksgiving Day meal requests are due by Nov. 17. For more information or to sign up for a meal, call the department on aging at 440-2792163 or 440-279-2183.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Chesterland News
Grendell Hearing Delayed Again For Unspecified Medical Issues By Amy Patterson amy@karlovecmedia.com
A disciplinary case against Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Judge Tim Grendell has been again postponed due to “continued medical issues.” The case was first brought last November by the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, which has charged Grendell with four counts of misconduct. A hearing originally scheduled for June was postponed until October due to the sudden, tragic death of an 18-year-old named in the initial complaint against Grendell. An email from ODC Assistant Disciplinary Counsel Martha Asseff obtained by the Geauga County Maple Leaf shows the delay could last through the new year. “Due to continued medical issues, Judge Grendell’s disciplinary hearing will not be going forward as scheduled next week,” Asseff wrote to a Geauga County Auditor’s Office employee, who was scheduled to testify in the case. Grendell and Probate/Juvenile Court Administrator Kim Laurie did not respond to a request for comment prior to press deadline. Asseff said ODC expects the chair of the three-person hearing panel to issue an order in November setting new dates. The hearing is likely to be set for the first quarter of 2024, she said.In September, Grendell requested summary judgment on one of the four counts he faces — that he “abuse(d) the prestige of judicial office” by testifying in favor of wife Diane’s Truth in COVID Statistics Bill in the Ohio House of Representatives in June 2020. Grendell’s legal team said his testimony
did not violate a rule of judicial conduct that expressly permits a judge to provide testimony before a legislative body about the merits of a proposed law. In his request to have the charge considered for summary judgment, Grendell said he was within his First Amendment rights when speaking in favor of the bill. In their response, ODC attorneys said Grendell’s request is procedurally improper and should be summarily overruled. “As hearing panel chairs of the Board of Professional Conduct repeatedly have held, the rules for the government of the bar of Ohio do not provide a mechanism for a panel chair to rule on such a motion,” the filing said. “Moreover, summary judgment is inconsistent with the procedural framework set forth in the rules applicable to disciplinary proceedings, which includes independent evidentiary scrutiny of the basis for a complaint prior to its certification.” On Sept. 26 Panel Chair Peggy Schmitz issued an order rejecting Grendell’s request to issue a summary judgment. Schmitz said cases heard by the Board of Professional Conduct have no provision for the filing of dispositive motions after an answer has been filed in the matter. “To the contrary, the rules provide for the dismissal of a complaint, or of a specific charge or count of misconduct, only by the unanimous vote of the entire hearing panel, and only after the presentation of (ODC’s) case, or at the conclusion of all the evidence,” Schmitz said. A prehearing conference is scheduled for the morning of Nov. 8.
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Police Blotter The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Chester Township Police Department Oct. 20-Nov. 1 2023. BURGLARY Oct. 30 2:08 p.m., Mayfield Road. Male at Maywood Community unit trying to break in. Second suspect fled. Second male also has a knife. Possibly fled into woods. Witness called in stating he saw white male in a white hoodie get into a white van driving westbound on 306 from the area of the substation. Male arrested for obstructing official business and resisting arrest. CITIZEN ASSIST Oct. 23 6:50 p.m., Caves Road. Caller is requesting legality of putting political signs in front of her house. Oct. 27 8:32 p.m., Chillicothe Road. Caller’s cat is stuck behind the cabinets and they do not know what to do. Oct. 30 1:13 p.m., Norton Drive. Female turned over a .22 rifle for destruction. Stated she no longer wanted it and turned it over willingly with a statement attached. FRAUD Oct. 27 11:39 a.m., Lincoln Drive. Fraudulent withdrawal from bank account. Complainant had a fraudulent withdrawal from a fake name out of Minnesota. Requesting a
report for the bank so they can refund the money. SOLICITATON WITHOUT PERMIT Oct. 27 4:42 p.m., Valley View Drive. Male and female out taking political surveys. Caller does not believe they have a permit. See report. SUSPICIOUS Oct. 30 7:43 p.m., Ward Drive. Caller’s neighbor parked his truck facing the caller’s house so the headlights are shining in caller’s windows. He just moved his truck back onto the street. Caller spoke with officer as this is an ongoing issue with this neighbor. TRAFFIC CRASH Oct. 27 4:17 p.m., Manchester Drive. Caller’s husband fell while riding motorcycle down the street. Has a shoulder injury and road rash. Neighbor dropped him off at home. Motorcycle is still down the street. No other vehicles involved. Operator cited for no motorcycle endorsement. TRAFFIC OFFENSE Oct. 21 5:27 p.m., Mayfield Road. Possible drunk driver. Passing in construction zone. Also smoking marijuana. Male shaved head. Multiple left of center issues. Flicking people off. Approaching Aquilla in Claridon Township. Approaching 44. See report for OVI and child endangerment charges.
Real Estate Transfers Following is a list of area real estate transfers for the weeks ending Oct. 20 and Oct. 27, 2023, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only. CHESTER TOWNSHIP Ann Louise Failinger, 7130 Fox Ledges Lane, to Steven R. and Amy A. Goden, $900,000. (3.50 acres) Rebecca L. Inteso, 12451 Valley View Drive, to Natalia Fedoros, $225,000. (1.30 acres) John and Joanne Beck D’Astolfo, 12253
Shiloh Drive, to Brandon T. Selfe, $300,000. (1.53 acres) Scott A. Reinhard (trustee), 7404 Devon Lane, to Chad and Kimberly Slater, $315,000. (1.12 acres) DMK Ventures LLC, 13325 Green Drive, to Chambers Real Estate LLC, $227,500. (1.01 acres) RUSSELL TOWNSHIP John and Lori Knoble, 13591 Cuyahoga Trail, to Timothy and Cynthia Flanigan, $399,900. (7.19 acres)
Help Wanted Driver wanted for senior for local appointments and errands in Geauga and Lake counties. Flexible with days and times. Clean driving record and references required. 440-286-3616. SEEKING: Help with childcare in my Chesterland home. M-Th 3pm-8pm. Ideal candidate is experienced and dependable. Call/text 440-5523415.
CLASSIFIEDS 440-729-7667
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
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Chesterland News
Classifieds AUTOS & PARTS For Sale: Four(4) Goodyear all season 185/65R15 tires, mounted on rims, like new, $200. Leave message if no answer, 216-570-2298. $ WANTED $ Junk Vehicles. Call Zac 440-679-7293.
FOR RENT Burton Ranch Condo: 2/BR, 2/Bath, AC, laundry, 2-car attached garage. Less than a mile from Burton square. Private Patio, Vaulted Ceilings. Wonderful private setting surrounded by hundreds of acres of conservation land. No pets/ smoking. $1,550/month. Includes snow plowing, lawn, trash. Senior discount. 440-221-0649. Office Space in Chardon: second floor, Main street, approx. 535 square feet. $600/month, includes HVAC and water. Call 440-285-2247. Office space: in the heart of Chesterland. Several suites, 600–1300 sq. ft. Utilities included, fiber internet available. 440-490-4826.
FOR SALE Vent-free manually controlled system gas-fired heater, $150. Craftsman miter saw, $150. Complete Santa suit with headpiece, beard, $100. 440-897-4352. Mountain Bike with wide-nub tires, accessories. Excellent condition. Ready to ride. $85; 440-3526953 please leave message. Return call ASAP. Two(2) Lift Chairs, $300 each. 440-313-1413. Small wood stove, GC, $50. Hickory rocker, $75. Space heater takes propane grill tank, $65. Mini pony harness, $225. 440-313-1804. 40+years accumulated. Must Sell! Antique furniture. Wood tables. Chandeliers. Large Picture Frames. Wrought-iron gates, decoratives, wall sconces, candle holders. 216-513-3372. Storm Windows perfect for home & porch enclosures. Brand new and in the box. (7) 30-1/4 x 591/4, self-storing triple-tracks (2 glass & 1 screen inserts.) Regular price $250 each. Buy now for $125 each. Call George 440-336-5044. Firewood: Seasoned Red Maple. Average length 18”. Free delivery within 10 miles of Heath Rd & 332. 4’x8’x18” $100. 440-687-5404. Tilt back rocker recliner $25. Love seat $75. Full length couch $100. All in good shape. Priced to sell. 440-632-9675. Fresh cut firewood to your desired length. Split or rounds delivered, Oak & Maple. $50-$80 per 4x8 stack. 440-687-5404. Buck wood-burner stove: Model-91, catalytic, blower, SS-liner, cap; $600. Air tank: portable, 125-psi, 9-gallon, 25-foot hose, VGC; $25. 440338-1585.
Crossbows, Horton & Ten Points, Compound bows, Archery accessories, Camo clothing, knives, Hunting and fishing equipment. 440687-5404. ANTIQUES: Humpback chest, pitcher & bowls, copper kettle, clocks, sewing cabinet, wood rocking horse, wood crank wall phone, wood rockers. 440-338-3563. King 1200CFM dust collector $500/OBO, like new. DXMC301 Dewalt compressor $475/OBO, like new. Shopsmith, make offer. Table saw, make offer. 440-272-5736.
Grand Valley Tree Service offering complete tree removal, trimming, cleanup and lot clearing. Free Estimates. Fully Insured. 440-307-0996.
GARAGE/ESTATE SALES Holiday Shopping: Low prices on everything. A unique shopping place. Weekly Sales Thurs. Fri. Sat. 10a-4p. 9098 Old State Rd(Rt.608).
PETS & ANIMALS Kittens available for adoption, 5-6 months old, fixed & vaxxed, feleuk/FIV negative, & need indoor homes. Call Rebecca 440-321-2485. MS Kennels on the Farm, LLC offers in-home pet care. Call 440-636-2421.
REAL ESTATE Reduced!! $89k .34 acre lot in Bainbridge with Lake Lucerne amenities! Gas, Electric, Sanitary Sewer, Well Water all available. 440-5962608. Burton: .42 acres, 3BR, 2 full baths, basement, 2.5 car garage. Completely Remodeled: new roof, windows, flooring. Asking $299,000. 216513-3372.
WANTED TO BUY Buying all Stanley Bailey planes and machinist tools. Call Karl at 440-812-3392. Old fishing tackle wanted: fishing lures (wood or plastic), mouse to bear traps, wooden duck decoys. Call Lee 440-313-8331.
RENTAL WANTED Modest home for one person. I will repair and maintain if it needs work. 440-687-5404 or rhwent20@gmail.com. Wanted to rent: Storage building or shop building, will repair and maintain if it needs work. 440-687-5404.
SERVICES Did you know Karlovec Media Group prints business cards? Prices start at only $30 for 500 (B&W, 1-sided, no bleed). Call 440-729-7667 or email ads@karlovecmedia.com. Complete tree service, land clearing, firewood, excavation and sewer work. 440-687-5404. Offering special discounts for interior and exterior painting and staining. 20+ years experience. Professional and insured. Call Dan 440-342-4552. Joe Eicher doing roofing, siding, remodeling, cleanout houses, we do most anything. Call between 8a-4p, 440-813-4272. No answer, leave message.
CLASSIFIEDS 440-729-7667
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Chesterland News
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