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Kirtland Girls Track and Boys Basketball Win Big
Read more about Girls Track on page 2 and read about Boys Basketball on page 4
Irish Dancers Prep for Competition in Ireland
By Sherry Gavanditti @karlovecmedia com
On April 14, a group of 18 local Irish dancers will pack their most glitzy and glamourous competition attire, board a plane for Dublin, Ireland, and compete for a world championship title.
The group, representing Murphy Irish Arts Center in Chagrin Falls and Willoughby, have worked hard to get to this point — competing and performing when they can at various places throughout and beyond their communities.
Dancers Lil Horna, 14, a Kirtland High School freshman, and her sister, Dorothy, 10, who attends Kirtland Elementary School, donned their costumes and shoes March 21 and performed at Hamlet at Chagrin Falls, a senior living campus, providing residents a sampling of their high-kicking, leg swinging, shoe-tapping Irish dances.
Groups of dancers from MIAC, founded in 1978 — including those going to Dublin — performed various degrees of Irish dance to six
Dancers• Page 4
Coffee with Council
Coffee with Council is Saturday, April. 19 10-11 a.m., at Kirtland City Hall. For more information, contact Joe Smolic at 440-487-8984 or JSmolic@ kirtlandohio.com
Maggie’s Donuts Rolls into Kirtland page 8
Kirtland Schools Finance Committee to Meet April 17
The Kirtland
SHERRY GAVANDITTI/KMG
Hamlet at Chagrin Falls resident Betty Runge asks sisters Dorothy Horna, left, and Lil Horna questions about their formal Irish dresses, which represent the more elegant dresses used for championship performances.
SHERRY GAVANDITTI/KMG
Lil Horna, left, and Addie Miniard show off their moves.
Girls Tracksters Earn All-Ohio Honors at Championships
By alan kornSpan SportS@karlovecmedia com
The Kirtland Hornets Girls Cross Country and Track Teams have had an exciting 2024-2025 school year under the leadership of Head Coach, Dr. J.P. Moran.
In fact, Hornets Girls Cross Country qualified for the state championships as a team for the first time since 1986, when they were led by three time State Champion (1986, 1987, 1989), and future Louisville Cardinals
All-American, Dr. Michelle Borgert Ihmels.
Helping to lead the Hornets cross coun try team to the state championships for the first time in 38 years were Ainsley Borthwick, Izzie Copeland, Anna Hill, Grace Mastrange lo, Kylie Sayle, Sylvia Vosicky and Megan Ur banick.
Leading the Hornets at the 2024 Cross Country State Championships was junior Izzie Copeland whose time of 19:20.49 in the 5K was Kirtland's third best in school history.
After qualifying for the cross country state championships, Coach Moran said that his athletes on the Indoor Track Team were highly motivated to get their picture on the wall at Kirtland High School.
In order to do that, Kirtland athletes need to receive All-State Honors.
In indoor track, this means finishing in the top eight of their event at the state cham pionships in order to secure a spot on the podium.
In pursuit of their dream to earn All-Ohio Honors, the Girls Track Team participated in three indoor track meets during the 2025 season including one at the University of Mount Union and two at Kent State University.
At the University of Mount Union on Feb. 2, the Hornets finished first in the 4x800m relay, second in the 4x400m relay, and Copeland finished third in the 800m.
Copeland also finished in fourth place in the 800m at Kent State University on Feb. 16.
The following week, on Feb. 23 at Kent State University, the 4x800m relay finished second.
Based on the results of the indoor track season, the Hornets qualified for the state championships in the 4x400m relay, and 4x800m relay. In addition, Sylvia Vosicky qualified for the 400m and Izzie Copeland qualified for the 800m.
At the OATCCC Div. IV Indoor Track and Field State Championships on March 7 at Spire Academy in Geneva Ohio, the Hornets
See Track • Page 3
Junior Izzie Copeland earned All-Ohio in three events at the OATCCC Indoor State Track and Field Championships at Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio on March 7.
A Note from the Mayor
Happy Spring!
Boy it is nice to see some sunshine after a winter that sometimes felt like it just wouldn’t end. This winter did produce some things to celebrate though, especially for Kirtland High student athletes. Reese Kost became the first gymnast to make it to the state tournament in Kirtland High School history. Congratulations Reese, what an amazing accomplishment!
On the hardwood, the Hornet varsity basketball team, led by coach Shawn McGre gor, made it to the Ohio High School State Final Four. And they darn near won the semifinal game. The Horvnet basketball team came up a little short, but point guard Vince Car riero would leave the court having become the all-time leading scorer in Kirtland boys’ basketball history. Vince’s career was nothing short of amazing and he made this commu nity very proud over his four years.
March also brought the opening of Maggie’s Doughnuts in the Kirtland Plaza. If you haven’t tried Maggie’s yet, you’re miss ing out. Not only can you find some of the area’s best doughnuts, but specialty coffee and baked goods seem to be second nature for Cristina Soriano. Stop in to support this great new Kirtland establishment and thanks to the Soriano’s for investing in our city.
deserve to stay safe while they work on behalf of Kirtland taxpayers. Speaking of brush – the Spring brush pickup will commence as follow. Ward 3, the week of April 7- Ward 4, the week of April 14- Ward 1 the week of April 21 and last but certainly not least, Ward 2, the week of April 28. Please visit our city website www.kirtlandohio.com to view brush pickup guidelines.
As the weather warms up, please be mindful of our Public Works Department crews out on the roadways fixing potholes, clearing brush and working on roadside drainage. These hardworking men certainly
Track
from page 2
finished All-Ohio in three events.
Making the podium at the state championships and earning All-Ohio Honors for the Hornets was the 4x800m relay (3rd placeCopeland, Sayle, Urbanick, Sylvia Vosicky - 10:17.86), the 4x400m relay (4th place - Copeland, Lexi Vosicky, Sylvia Vosicky, Megan Urbanick – 4:21.9) and Copeland (800m - 4th place - 2:23.72).
Afterwards, Coach Moran was very proud of the effort the Hornets gave.
“The girls, they competed so well,” Coach Moran said.
In particular, Coach Moran noted the importance of Copeland's excellent performance in the 4x800m relay to help the Hornets earn All-Ohio Honors.
“Izzie Copeland just ran a masterpiece of a first leg (of the 4x800m),” Coach Moran
On April 12, please join us at City Hall for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. This is for Kirtland families and we’re expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and we hope to see you
The next few months, Kirtland City government will be working on key issues, one of which is working with a local utility provider, Chagrin Valley Gig, to bring high speed fiber internet to all areas of the city. Our hope is that by partnering (no cash from city coffers) with Chagrin Valley Gig, that over the next couple of years, high speed and reliable internet will be available to all residents and
Led by Council President Ron Fenstermaker, Kirtland City Council and administration will continue to evaluate road funding and repairs, work toward economic development opportunities and stay committed to having one of the best and safest committees around.
Happy Easter!
Mayor Potter
said. “Her cut in, her competitiveness, placement to get us into the position we were in, it was phenomenal.”
In addition in the 800m, Moran said that Copeland ran one of her best races.
“She ran one of the best races I've seen her run in the open 8,” said Coach Moran.
Added Copeland, “Coming in I was seeded 8th, so I just really wanted to give it all I got so I had no regrets. My mindset was to go out hard, find a good place and try to stick and work with the girls ahead of me. In the last 300 I knew I had to give it all I got and just kind of pushed to the end and I gave all I had left.”
With the excellent performances in the cross country seasons, Coach Moran said that the outdoor track and field team also has a goal of making it to the state championships.
“We would love to get back there (state championships) in outdoor,” Coach Moran said. “That's a huge goal for the season for a lot of the girls.”
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Mayor Kevin Potter
Hornets Never Gave Up on Ride to Basketball Final Four
By alan kornSpan SportS@karlovecmedia com
“Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up,” said Jim Valvano.
Valvano, who led his North Carolina State Men's Basketball Team to the NCAA National Championship in 1983, spoke these words during a magnificent, heartfelt speech at the 1993 ESPY awards as he was battling cancer.
Valvano's incredibly inspirational words have grown to embody a unique American sports treasure, “March Madness.”
Led by Head Coach Shawn McGregor, the Hornets Boys Basketball Team took the Kirtland community on a magical “March Madness” ride to the OHSAA Div. VI Final Four.
And they never gave up.
In a true testament to paying homage to the immortal words, the Hornets never gave up in their Final Four matchup with the Monroe Central Seminoles on March 14 at Otterbein University.
Although the Hornets lost an extremely close contest, 58-54, they fought until the final buzzer sounded.
Coach McGregor, in the post-game press conference, talked about his team's resilience and the extraordinary effort his players demonstrated throughout the game.
“We left all of our heart out there, you can't be more proud of a team that does that,” McGregor said. “I am super proud of
Dancers
from page 1
songs after MIAC founder Sheila Murphy Crawford, who emceed the event, explained the roots of Irish dance and attire.
Lil and Dorothy’s mother, Laura Horna — whose father is half Irish and who has family in Ireland — watched her two daughters with a smile
Lil has been Irish dancing since she was 7 and Dorothy, since she was 6, Horna said, adding Dorothy has participated in at least 50 performances and Lil, in at least 100.
“I like it. A lot!” Dorothy exclaimed after the performance. “It teaches me to be stronger. What I like most about it … I like doing steps.”
Lil added, “I love making new friends and getting to see them, like, every day at dance.
what they did, the season that they had, the run that they had.”
As Coach McGregor mentioned, the Hor nets showed great resilience and never gave up throughout the game.
Although the final four game started with the Seminoles making four of their first five shots, and the Hornets going 0 for 6, they never gave up.
The Hornets got on the scoreboard in the first quarter on a layup by Aiden Hurd to make the score, 8-2.
The Seminoles then outscored the Hor nets 10-5 to take a 17-7 lead into the second quarter.
The Hornets stayed resilient as the sec ond quarter began. In fact, they quickly cut the Seminoles lead down to four in the first two minutes to 19-15 after a reverse layup by junior Lucas Renfro, a 2025 All-Ohio Honor able Mention honoree.
In a game of runs, the Seminoles extend ed their lead to 12 points at 29-17 with less than 2:20 to go in the first half. The Hornets then added two baskets by Ben DiFranco to go into halftime trailing 29-21.
After intermission, the Seminoles extend ed their lead back to ten at 35-25 with a lit tle more than four minutes left in the third quarter.
But still, the Hornets did not give up.
See Basketball• Page 7
And, I like traveling. It's really fun. I like dancing for the community to show them the Irish culture.”
As the group prepares for their six-day trip in Ireland, Horna said she never tires of it.
“It's my favorite because there's a compe tition aspect to Irish dance that I never knew existed,” she said. “But, this (senior campus performance) is just light and easy and no pressure and very fulfilling. Dancers mingle with residents after their performance and answer any questions and they love it and the dancers love it, as well.”
the United States and Northeast Ohio, and Cleveland in general.”
For the championship performance, parents will have created, condensed and packed any props needed, then shipped them ahead of time.
A different team of MIAC Irish dancers won first place in the world competition in 2015 in the dance drama category — which tells through acting, props and music, but no words, Horna explained.
And yet another MIAC team won the world championship in Ireland in 2022 in the dance drama category, Horna said.
Horna said joining MIAC was the best decision and everyone at the center truly feels like family.
“Sheila knows what she's doing. She's been doing this for a very long time and the friendships that my girls have made … there’s nothing like it,” she said.
And like a family, the dancers will enjoy a couple of day-excursions while in Ireland, and practice during the evenings, she said, adding Lil is competing with another team from MIAC, as well.
“It’s called an Eight Hand Ceili team, with eight young ladies who qualified at the regionals this past year,” Horna said. “So, we're taking that team because all of the dancers were already going and did so well. This is the first time in a while that a Ceili team is going to the world championships from Murphy's.”
Horna said Lil’s ultimate goal is to get to the highest level of competition, called OC or
PC, which is preliminary championship. So, she's almost there … reaching open championship. That’s her goal.”
In her 47th year as an Irish dance teacher, Crawford said she’s immensely proud of all of her students and plans to continue raising money to help pay for their trips.
“For the upcoming Ireland trip, they need $54,000 to cover all expenses, including shipping the props, which must be redesigned and condensed or shipped to Ireland, then reconstructed,” Crawford said, adding other expenses include airfare, food, lodging and renting a bus for six days.
Throughout the year, the dancers and parents help raise money with concerts, bake sales and offer Irish-dance-a-grams, like a singing telegram, but with Irish dancing.
“We’ve raised about $30,000,” Crawford said. “The goal is for all the dancers to have their trip paid for, and so far, we are able to pay for about half of it.”
Perhaps, a bit of luck of the Irish will help with the rest.
Donations can be made at rallyup.com and at murphyirishartscenter.com.
ALAN KORNSPAN/KMG
Junior Lucas Renfro led the Hornets with 18 points in their Final Four contest against Monroe Central on March 14 at Otterbein University.
By kathy talty
Kiwanis Korner
Spring is here. It is wonderful to see the daffodils up and smiling at us.
We had the great pleasure of having award-winning KHS Robotics Club wow us with their knowledge, great enthusiasm, polished presentation and endearing robot, Gerald. We can’t wait to see Gerald compete with the other schools in our area at the Strawberry Festival.
A few of us attended the Midyear Convention in Columbus, which enlightens us with ideas of how we can better serve our community. We were honored to participate on the panel for the Service Leadership Programs. Later that day, it was a happy moment to have Jerry Bartels, our past president, and Rick Fox receive Distinguished Club President and Secretary awards. Then, to top it off, Rick Fox was inducted into the Kiwanis Hall of Fame for all his endless dedication and service to the Kirtland Kiwanis and our community. Bravo!
With the 100-year celebration of the International Key Club, KHS Key Club celebrated with delicious cake. Just before dessert, Kirtland Kiwanis Club members proudly presented the certificate for Outstanding and Dedicated Key Club Advisor to a truly well-deserved Meriah Duncan.
Beaming with pride continues as our KHS Key Club received many awards at the Ohio
District Leadership Conference in Columbus. They were recognized for Key Clubbers International Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, second place for Major Emphasis Award, first place for Service Project Award, Marin Haupt won a special award for her commitment to serving Division 22 as lieutenant governor, and Priscilla Pennza, for winning the Ohio District Board Member of the Year Award. These students deserve a standing ovation.
Builders Club has made 12 beautiful Easter baskets to help the Easter Bunny in Kirtland. They are also ready to make over 700 bags of candy treats for test week in May. What a great way to do well on those tests.
K-Kids met four delightful sight-seeing dogs. They learned all about the service they provide their owners for both safety and allowing a little more independence.
Aktion Club kept St. Patrick’s Day alive by having an Irish trivia contest. Prizes were handed out and we all learned a little bit more about Ireland.
Rummage Sale is from May 8-10 at Pumpkinville on state Route 306. If you have any treasures to donate, please call Mary Sams at 216-347-0771. The proceeds will go to the Kirtland Foundation for their scholarship awards.
And lastly, Queen Bee’s buzz for this month: A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.
April Students of the Month
The Kirtland Kiwanis “Students of the Month” for April 2025 are fifth-grader Samantha Giavara, of Kirtland Elementary School, sixth-grader Noelle Fisher, of Kirtland Middle School, and 12th-grader Grace Mastrangelo, of Kirtland High School.
The Kiwanis sponsors the “Students of the Month.” The principal and staff chose one student from each school to be recognized. Each student has their picture taken, receives a certificate and a T-shirt that says, “Student of the Month.”
Garden Club Meetings, Plant Sale
Kirtland Garden Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Kirtland Community Center in the Sunflower Room from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Contact Mary at: GardenClubofKirtland@gmail.com. All welcome.
Mark your calendar: The 2025 Garden Club Plant Sale will be held May 8-9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in conjunction with the Kirtland Kiwanis Rummage Sale. Annuals, perennials and more will be available.
CHUCK BICKART/KIRTLAND KIWANIS
From left, “Students of the Month” Samantha Giavara, of KES, Liam Hollopeter, of KMS, and Grace Mastrangelo, of KHS.
Over the next three minutes of game time, the Hornets went on an 11-0 run led by Renfro (7 points - 2 field goals, and a three pointer) and Alfieri (4 points - 2 field goals) as they took the lead, 36-35.
In the final 1:10 of the third quarter, the Seminoles scored one at the line and added a two point field goal to go up, 38-36. Then, DiFranco scored a final bucket at the end of third to tie the game at 38-38 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Seminoles quickly took a 45-40 fourth quarter lead with 6:33 left in the game.
But the Hornets did not give up.
Carriero converted three free throws to
bring the Hornets to within 2 points at 45-43 with 6:11 left in the game.
The Hornets continued to battle down the stretch as they trailed by 4 at 53-49 after a Carriero basket with a little more than three minutes left in the game.
The Seminoles then took a 6 point lead at 55-49 with 1:32 left.
But, still the Hornets did not quit.
They managed to get within three points of the Seminoles at 57-54 with eight seconds to go.
Senior standout Vince Carriero, who earned 2025 Division VI second team AllOhio honors, was proud of how the Hornets never gave up throughout their amazing Final Four run.
“Every playoff game, somebody stepped
Lake Metroparks Farmpark Hosts Quilts 2025 Show
The Lake Metroparks Farmpark is excited to present its Quilts 2025 show March 28 through April 27 at 8800 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland.
The exhibition, presented by Creative Stitches, will display 200 quilts daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., showcasing vibrant colors, patterns and heartfelt creativity, and will include workshops with a featured artist.
“There are so many fascinating stories behind these quilted works of art and the dedicated artists who have brought them to life,” said Lake Metroparks Farmpark Event Specialist Andrea Pasquale in a press release. “We’re especially excited to have Cyndi McChesney as our featured artist this year.”
McChesney, of New Kent, Va., has been quilting for more than 40 years and has enjoyed a fulfilling career as an author, pattern designer, quilt shop owner, custom quilt mak-
er and instructor, according to the press release, which added she has earned numerous awards, including National Quilt Association Certified Teacher of the Year, and written two books, “Fun with Panels” and “Playful Panel Quilts.”
McChesney will teach workshops on panel-style quilting April 11–13. Additionally, an entertaining trunk show lecture will be offered on April 12. Registration is required for these workshops and lecture, according to the press release. The show will end with a threeday shopping event of local quilt shop vendors April 25–27. Demonstrations on the latest tools and techniques will also be offered during these Quilt Vendor Days, according to the release.
Quilts 2025 is included in Farmpark admission ($7–$9). Farmpark members, children younger than 2 and active military and their families receive free admission.
You can find more information at https:// goto.lakemetroparks.com/quilts-2025.
up,” said Carriero. “We always had guys who made big plays. Even tonight, it was just (that) we didn't hit enough shots, you know, but I am just happy with the way everybody fought throughout the whole thing. Nobody ever gave up and everyone just kept on fighting, which is all our character.”
In this OHSAA State Semifinal game against the Seminoles, the Hornets were led offensively by Renfro (18 points), Carriero (12), Will Burt (7), Aiden Hurd (7), DiFranco (6) and Alfieri (4).
Before this year's 2025 team went to the final four, the Hornets had four boys basketball teams that won district championships.
The Hornets Boys Basketball Team won
District Championships in 1970 and 1972 under Head Coach Dick Crowell, and in 1991 and 1998 under Head Coach Al Russ.
Before 2025, the Hornets only other run to the Final Four was in 1991.
In 1991, under head Coach Al Russ and led by starters Dave Grinstead, Aaron Hudy, Fred Kochevar, Marc Schiano, and Craig Svendsen, the Hornets played in the State Semifinal game at St. John's Arena against St. Henry.
St. Henry, who went on to win the state championship, defeated the Hornets 57-43.
The Hornets were led in the 1991 Final Four game by Svendsen (12 points), Andy Case (8) and Kochevar (6).
Staff report
Maggie’s Doughnuts Rolls into Kirtland
By donna l roBinSon editor@karlovecmedia com
Ever since their inception in 1847, dough nuts have indulged sweet tooths near and far.
The pastry’s popularity and irresistible pull on the human palate have persisted through the years — recently illustrated by opening of a new Maggie’s Doughnuts and Café in Kirtland.
Cristina Soriano, manager of the store, celebrated its grand opening March 27 and is excited to bring the Kirtland communi ty a place where they can grab some delicious doughnuts, coffee and food in a clean, comfortable and in viting space.
“My husband Massimo and I have lived in Kirtland for 20 years,” Soriano said. “Our children go to the Kirtland Schools and we wanted to bring a business for all ages to en joy.”
The Kirtland location marks the eighth Maggie’s Doughnuts shop in the area — the original store, in Middlefield, is owned by Bill Poole.
Soriano had a baking business for 15 years in her home, where she supplied many area businesses with her baked goods and specialized in custom orders.
“I decided to go with Maggie's Doughnuts and Cafe, as it is a franchise, plus in-
school district doughnuts for their meetings and take part in the annual Kirtland Kiwanis Strawberry Festival in June.
“I loved being in the kitchen and coming up with new recipes,” Soriano said of her journey to becoming a baker. “I am a selftaught baker. I have spent many hours testing recipes and building my business. I am
“We do not have any gluten-free items at this time, but it is something we are looking into providing in the future,” she said. “There are (also) special doughnuts that will only be available on certain days of the week.”
The store’s most popular baked good include cream stix, apple fritters, glaze donuts and croissants. Soriano says her business
she said. “We were very excited to open our doors and introduce our cafe to Kirtland.”
Visit her Facebook page at Maggie’s Doughnuts & Café Featuring Bake by Cristina Soriano for more information and updates/specials or menu changes. For other questions, email maggieskirtland@gmail.com or call 440-379-7099.
Key Club Showcases Leadership, Service at Conference
SuBmitted
Kirtland High School's Key Club members demonstrated their commitment to service and leadership during the Annual District Leadership Conference (DLC) held March 14-16 at Embassy Suites Dublin, bringing home multiple awards and strengthening their connections across the state.
Twenty-two Kirtland students attended the conference, which brought together approximately 150 Key Club members from across Ohio to celebrate achievements, develop leadership skills and prepare for the upcoming year.
"It's rewarding to be able to take some students to DLC and to expose them to leadership opportunities beyond our local club," said Meriah Duncan, Key Club advisor.
The Kirtland chapter received multiple awards at the conference, showcasing their dedication to service and community engagement. They earned first place for their Service Project Award, which recognized their fundraising efforts during the homecoming community event where they raised $400 for the Red Cross of Asheville through sales of hot apple cider, hot chocolate and cotton candy.
The club also earned second place for their Major Emphasis Award, highlighting their sponsorship of the K-Kids Club, a Kiwanis Service Leadership Program that engages around 100 Kirtland elementary school students.
On any given meeting day, Kirtland Key Club members provide six to 10 high
schoolers to support the monthly K-Kids meetings, tailoring activities to different age groups. For younger students in kindergarten through third grade, activities focus on compassion projects like writing letters to elderly residents in convalescent homes and creating no-sew blankets. Fourth- and fifth-graders engage in more complex service learning, such as planning and implementing food drives, learning the step-by-step process of organizing community service events.
Additional honors included second place in the Digital Promotional Poster Contest, which evaluated submissions on originality, creativity and effectiveness for member recruitment. The chapter also received third place in the Year-in-Review Scrapbook Competition, which chronicles the club's activities throughout the administrative year.
Kirtland junior Priscilla Penza, who served this year as lieutenant governor for Division 20, was recognized as Ohio District Board Member of the Year. Penza also served as chair for this year’s DLC.
Kirtland also served as a host school for the event. This responsibility involved helping set up sessions and serving as ambassadors throughout the weekend.
Another Kirtland student, junior and vice president-elect Lauren Palagyi, raised an impressive $718 for the Thirst Project during the conference. Her fundraising efforts contributed significantly to helping the entire delegation surpass their $1,000 goal, ultimately raising over $1,700 in just one day. The Thirst Project aims to provide clean water wells in Eswatini, a country in southern
Africa, where each well costs approximately $12,000 and can serve over 300 people.
Service was a central focus of the conference, with all 150 Key Club members participating in an annual large-scale service project. This year, attendees collectively wrote letters to juvenile cancer patients and crafted paper roses, continuing the organization's tradition of including hands-on service even during leadership development events.
"The conference becomes a celebration of the year and a kick-off for next year," said Duncan.
The Kirtland Key Club has grown significantly under Duncan's four-year leadership, increasing from approximately 35 members to 60 dues-paying members this year.
This growth reflects the club's success in creating meaningful service opportunities and fostering leadership development among students.
Through their participation in Key Club, Kirtland students are not only serving their community but also developing valuable leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Happy Tails to Hold Annual ‘Purr-pose’ Benefit May 4
Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary will be hosting its third annual “Purr-pose” benefit May 4 in support of the nonprofit, mostly cage-less, no-kill shelter.
The event — held from 2-5 p.m. at the Banquet Center of St. Noel in Willoughby Hills, 35200 Chardon Road — will include a family-style dinner, silent and Chinese auc tions, a 50-50 raffle and will feature singer Bobby Leach.
Cost is $75 per person and registration will begin at 1:30 p.m., according to a Happy Tails press release about the event, which added reserva tions are due by April 27.
Donations of cat food and kitty litter brought to the benefit would be appre ciated, but aren’t required, the sanctuary said in the release.
The dinner, served at 2:30 p.m., will feature beef, chicken, salmon and pasta en trees (vegan options available with advance notice). Other items include salad, vegetable side dishes, desserts, coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, beer and more, according to the press release.
Two of the “special needs” cats available for adoption from Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary are Shelly, left, and Ziggy. Shelley, about 2 years old, is a spayed, long-haired, friendly female. She tested “positive” for FIV, an immune deficiency, but has a good chance of living a normal life span with good nutrition and general good care. Ziggy, about 3 years old, is a neutered, short-haired, friendly male. He must eat special food to prevent the return of urinary tract crystals which were previously surgically removed.
Sponsors of the benefit are Gail Linda Kopp, Mary Treanor, and Patty Engel and Matt Willingham, of Charity Rx.
“We heard ‘rave reviews’ from the people who attended our last two events at St. Noel’s Banquet Center and we’re pleased to hold our annual event there again,” said Happy Tails President James Harris in the release.
adoptable cats, but we are committed as well to caring for senior and special-needs cats, most of whom will spend their lives in our facility or in our foster homes.”
“Our attendees can enjoy a tasty dinner while helping the sanctuary. We have some
Checks or money orders to attend the event and/or tax-deductible donations can be
mailed to: Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary, P.O. Box 581, Chesterland, OH 44026. To use PayPal, go to www.HappyTailsCatSanctuary.org. For more information, call or text Doreen at 440-759-0076 or email HappyTailsCatSanctuary@gmail.com
Staff report
The Kirtland Public Library is located at 9267 Chillicothe Road. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about any of these programs or to register, please call the library at 440-256-7323 or visit www.kirtland.lib.oh.us
Adult Programs Clubs
Knit
& Crochet
April 7 • 6 p.m.
April 15 • 6 p.m.
Open to anyone who enjoys knitting or crocheting, or is interested in learning these skills. Join the fun the first Monday and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. Bring your own supplies; drop in and get hooked.
No Pressure Book Discussion
April 28 • 1:30 p.m.
Join us in the Community Room to talk about any books you've read recently that
Kirtland Library
you want to recommend to others. Bring a bagged lunch if you would like to.
Cookbook Club
April 29 • 6 p.m.
This club is for anyone who wants to expand their cooking knowledge and have some fun in the kitchen. We will be making a recipe from the book “Taste of Home: What’s for Dinner.” Call the Library for more information or sign up at the website for this event.
Special Events
Low Back Injury: Cause, Prevention & Treatment
April 8 • 6:15 p.m.
Join physical therapist Thomas Adams for a discussion on low back injury. Explore anatomy, causes, prevention and treatment. Dr. Adams has over 20 years of experience treating both acute and chronic orthopedic injuries and has extensive background as a lecturer and as a consultant to business and industry. Please register for this event.
Culinary Class: Build-a-Bowl
April 14 • 6 p.m.
Have you tried to make a bowl recipe yourself? Sample some delicious food in a bowl for this class and take home a variety of recipes to try on your own. The cost for the class is $10 cash per person at the door. If you sign up and cannot make this class, please cancel at least three days before the class, as there usually is a wait list.
Scott Longert, Baseball Historian
April 16 • 6 p.m.
Scott Longert's newest book, “Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman,” has been released and he will be here to discuss Ray's life. From his childhood to the Major Leagues and his tragic death in 1920 and its aftermath.
Learn about Ray's closest friends: Jack Graney, Tris Speaker, Steve O'Neill and his marriage to Katy Daly.
Tea Blending Workshop
April 21 • 5 p.m.
Patricia Dennison, Certified Tea Sommeli-
er, will teach the art of blending botanicals with the Camellia Sinensis tea leaf. Guests will begin by sampling a selection Palmer Place Fine Teas, followed by sampling botanicals to create their own “signature” blend.
All attendees will bring home their own custom blend in a commemorative tea tin to keep for themselves or give as a gift. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
What Did Garfield Eat? Foods of the Victorian Era
April 22 • 6 p.m.
Americans of the Garfields’ time ate differently than we do today. Learn more about some of the foods and cooking methods used during the Victorian era. Garfield National Historical Site will be here to present on this fun and interesting subject for all foodies and cooks. Please register for this event.
Youth Programs
Special Events
Register for events at www.kirtland.lib.oh.us
Empowerment Circle
April 2 & 16 • 3:30 p.m.
Presented by Forbes House, Empowerment Circle is an initiative that fosters education about healthy relationships. The program includes educational presentations, group discussions and other activities. Forbes House uses evidence-based curriculum when creating and implementing Empowerment Circle. The group is most beneficial for those between the ages of 12 to 18. There is no charge to attend Empowerment Circle. Please register.
Stories and More Trees
April 11 • 10:30 a.m.
Families with children age 5 and under, the monthly Stories and More events include a story time followed by activities all on the same theme.
Celebrate trees and then explore several activities. Please register for this event.
City of Kirtland Easter Egg Hunt
April 12 • 10:30-11:30 a.m.
While the City of Kirtland holds its annual Easter Egg Hunt, visit the Kirtland Public
Library. The Children’s Department will be filled with Spring activities to explore. Make sure to bring your library card in order to check out some great books that you choose to bring home. No need to register for this event.
Teen Mini Pizzas
April 15 • 3 p.m.
Youth in grades 6th and up, create your own mini pizzas. You might find them so tasty that you will want to recreate them at home. Please register for this event.
LEGO Club
April 19 • 10:30 a.m.
Families, spend an hour creating with the Library’s LEGO bricks. Once you have completed your creation, you will place it in on display for all to see until the next LEGO Club. Please register for this event.
Daily Dose of Reading
April 26 • 10:30 a.m.
Daily Dose of Reading’s (DDR) "Play and Learn" is an intensive early childhood literacy program aligned with Ohio Early Education Standards and the Science of Reading. Children receive a concentrated, theme-specific session of pre-literacy skill training through reading, singing, activities and play.
Children receive a new book to take home and parents are provided with at-home literacy activities. This event is for children ages 3-5. Please register every adult and every child attending.
Weekly Events
Lapsit
Tuesdays • 10 a.m.
Bounces, rhymes, one book, scarves and shakers, geared for families with children under the age of 3. No need to register.
Storytime
Wednesdays • 10 a.m.
Enjoy great books, rhymes, songs, and surprises with your child. This storytime is geared for families with children aged 5 and under. No need to register.
Kirtland Schools
Congratulations to Junior Reese Kost who became the first Kirtland gymnast to partic ipate in the OHSAA state gym nastics meet. Reese qualified in the all-around, which includ ed the vault, uneven bars, bal ance beam, and floor exercise, and she had the opportunity to compete as an individual in the beam and bars. At state, she placed 16th in the all-around with a high score of 9.2 on the floor exercise. She finished tied for 14th on the beam (9.075).
By Chad VanArnhem, Superintendent
Congratulations to our girls’ indoor track team and Coach JP Moran who qualified for the state championships at Spire. The 4x800 team consisting of Megan Urbanick, Sylvia Vosicky, Kylie Sayle, Izzie Copeland took 3rd in the State. The 4x400 team of Megan Urbanick, Sylvia Vosicky, Lexi Vosicky, Izzie Copeland took 4th in the State. Izzie Copeland took 4th in the State in the open 800. The top eight in the State are awarded All Ohio and receive medals, so the team earned nine medals with three events earning All Ohio. Five different athletes earned All Ohio at least once, some multiple times, and Izzie 3 times All Ohio! Coach JP Moran, who has been named conference coach of the year numerous times, was just named the District Two Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year.
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, the Kirtland High School FTC FIRST Robotics Team traveled to Troy, Ohio for the State Competition, advancing through qualifying tournaments. After five rounds competing against the best 36 teams in Ohio, they were undefeated with a 5-0 record and ranked
League (FLL) teams who com peted and presented at the state level this past weekend. Hungry Hungry Hornets consisted of seventh grader Naomi Blankenship and four sixth grade students. Naomi was instrumental in leading Cole Prymicz, Crosby Loschert, Ronan Popovich and Westley Kelly to create a working proof of concept for their drone project. They reached out to numerous experts to present their project in order to receive feedback to improve their project. They also designed and programmed a robot for the competition field. Hungry Hungry Hornets represented Kirtland well and finished their season being recognized for their community outreach. The Steel Stingers consists of Audrey Knaus, Dmitri Blodgett, Danny Bryant, Calvin MacGillis, Andrew Urban, Noelle Fisher, and Maja Katic. The team has researched, collected data and shared with experts to develop a presentation about the impact of lack of sunlight on submarine officers. Our First Tech Challenge (FTC) high school students helped Steel Stingers 3D print glasses to help show their concept and develop their idea using the design process. The Steel Stingers also designed and programmed a robot that completed missions on the FLL field. Steel Stingers ended their season as one of the top teams in the state winning the Innovation Project Award.
Sophomore Martha Roseler, one of our foreign exchange students, is a finalist for the Maltz Museum's Stop the Hate writing competition. This was part of a writing workshop with Honors 9-12 and English 10
students in the fall. Martha wrote the poem called "A Byte of Cookies." There will be an awards ceremony on April 3rd. Kirtland High School was also named a Stop the Hate
The Guiding Eyes Volunteers, Betsy and Macie, visited Kirtland Elementary with their four dogs to speak with the Kiwanis Kids (K-Kids) group about the important role of service and guide dogs. Their visit was connected to the work of the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a program that has provided approximately 10,000 guide dog teams over its 70-year history - all at no cost to those in need. The students learned that the organization raises and trains about 500 puppies a year, to help individuals with vision loss live more independently. The visit inspired the K-Kids to appreciate the dedication and care that goes into training these life-changing dogs and the impact they have on people's lives.
Kirtland Key Club traveled and participated in the Ohio District Leadership Conference. Serving as the host school at the convention, Kirtland Key Clubbers helped the Ohio District board facilitate an amazing weekend. They won many awards for the 2024-2025 year of service, including Key Clubbers International Week Award, Teacher Appreciation Week Award, 2nd place for Major Emphasis Award and 1st place for Service Project Contest. Additionally, Marin Haupt won a special award for her commitment to serving Division 22 as Lieutenant Governor and Priscilla Pennza won the Ohio District Board Member of the Year Award. Elise Bernhardt won a $500 scholarship. The club also completed a service project for juvenile cancer patients raising over $1,700! Special thanks to Kirtland Kiwanis for their continued support and commitment to Key Club!
The Kirtland Local Schools staff and student wellness initiatives that focus on the benefits of providing movement breaks was recently featured in the Ohio School Board Journal. Our story starts on p. 22.
Thank you for your continued support and go Hornets
