Geauga County Maple Leaf 3-21-2024

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Cannabis Operator Hopes For Future in Chardon

Public Speaks Out Against Allowing Dispensary

By Allison Wilson editor@kArlovecmediA.com

Despite a temporary moratorium still in place on issuing zoning certificates for cannabis and marijuana production, Scott Halloran, of Buckeye Relief, appeared before Chardon City Council March 14 to ask them to consider allowing his dispensaries in the future.

Buckeye Relief is an Ohioowned and operated cannabis cultivator and processor based outside of Cleveland, according to its website.

Halloran emphasized the locality of the business, noting he is a Geauga resident.

“We are the largest medical marijuana company in Ohio, by volume and by product distribution,” Halloran said, noting they have dispensaries in Columbus, Bedford and Cleveland Heights.

Newcomer Brakey, Incumbent Spidalieri Clinch Commish Spots

By Amy PAtterson

Amy@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga County voters selected newcomer Carolyn Brakey and incumbent Ralph Spidalieri in the March 19 Republican primary election for Geauga County commissioner, according to the final

unofficial results of the Geauga County Board of Elections.

Brakey, who ran for Commissioner Tim Lennon’s seat after he chose not to run again, defeated her opponent, former Commissioner Walter “Skip” Claypool, with 7,684 votes to his 5,893 — a 14% margin.

Reached via text Tuesday night, Brakey said she is honored to receive the support of Geauga Republicans and will carry the party’s message into the general election.

“When I announced I was running for commissioner, I promised See Election • Page 3

City Adopts Template to Rent Geauga Theater

Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control is aiming to have applications for dual-use licenses — allowing medical marijuana dispensaries vying for

See Cannabis • Page 6

By Allison Wilson editor@kArlovecmediA com

Between two theater companies vacating Geauga Theater in the last five years and several groups expressing interest in the historic building, Chardon City Council believes a rental agreement is the best solution for its future use.

During its March 14 meeting, city council approved a template for a rental agreement — subject to revisions by the law director — similar to that used for the Heritage House on Chardon Square.

“Based on the history of a single group trying to operate the theater and the number of groups that have expressed interest in us-

Middlefield Mayor Urges Collab with Cardinal Schools

Garlich Explores Making Village a ‘Charter Government’

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich proposed several actions March 14 to ensure the healthy growth of the community following a year-in review presentation.

Most notable was Garlich’s hope to build a partnership between the village and Cardinal Schools leadership, a position he has not held in the past.

When neighboring Berkshire Schools was in the process of cre-

ating and funding a new, all-grade school several years ago, Garlich urged Cardinal to merge with Berkshire.

“I was a strong proponent of consolidation,” he recalled.

Village residents were opposed and Garlich ceased his campaign for consolidation, but last Thursday, he said the district still has problems.

“My concern is Cardinal is too small now to function. The kindergarten class is half the size of the

West G BOE Makes Settlement Agreement With Ames page 9

Opinion page 10

Bainbridge Bans Adult-Use Cannabis — For Now page 6 Sports pages 13-14

Obituaries pages 15

Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices start on page 20

Classifieds page 23

Election

from page 1

to work with everyone inside and outside the Republican Party who wants to move Geauga forward in a more virtuous direction,” Brakey said. “That promise still stands and extends to my opponent’s supporters just as much as my own.”

A business attorney, Brakey owns and operates several businesses in the county related to energy and currently serves as president of the Geauga County Board of Health.

Claypool offered his congratulations to Brakey when reached for comment.

First elected commissioner in November 2014, Claypool previously served several months in 2013 after being appointed to fill a seat left vacant by Commissioner Bill Young. He was voted out of office in 2018 after losing the primary election to Commissioner Jim Dvorak.

Cardinal

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senior class,” he said. “We need to figure out why Cardinal is losing students.”

Several Middlefield Village Council members said they would be willing to start a committee to brainstorm possible solutions.

“I’m not sure we can fix it, but if we don’t try, I guarantee you we can’t fix it,” Garlich said, adding he has communicated with Cardinal’s superintendent, who responded positively to the idea.

“Cardinal is strong financially and continues to make decisions to improve both academically and fiscally,” Cardinal Schools Superintendent Jack Cunningham said March 16. “The mayor did reach out to me about collaborating and discussing how to work together to look at ways to increase enrollment. The district will always be open to looking at ways to improve our community and position as a district. We have a lot to offer our families and businesses.”

Garlich urged council to keep thinking of ways to improve the village and make it even more attractive to new businesses, noting people would make the daily commute from

In the companion race, McArthur — who serves as Geauga County Republican Party chair — came in second to Spidalieri with 5,294 votes to his 8,160, a 22% margin. Spidalieri first took office in 2012.

Although Spidalieri did not return a request for comment by press time, he had a message for the public on his social media page March 18.

“Election Day is tomorrow, I humbly ask for your support and ask if you can share this on your page to send a message that Geauga voters will not be fooled by dirty politics

and untruthful politicians that only have an interest in themselves,” Spidalieri said. “Everyone that knows me knows I have always the best of interest for Geauga County and will always fight for us. Thank you always for your support.”

Turnout in the primary election was under 28%, a steep drop from the 60% turnout in the November 2023 election, and a fact lamented by McArthur, who worked at the elections for two years and was appointed to the board in February 2023.

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She stepped down from the election board post, now held by Rich Piraino, when she chose to run against Spidalieri.

“I hope people decide to show up to vote in November,” she said. “It's disappointing when so few people participate in the voting process.”

Two Democratic party write-in candidates, Garrett Westhoven and Bonnie Cavanaugh, received 921 and 828 votes, respectively. Brakey Spidalieri

out of town for a job, but they move to a community for good schools for their children.

He also recommended council members who may be thinking about retiring from their positions seek out committed residents who might be interested in sitting at the table to continue the current council’s mission.

Finally, the mayor said he has been evaluating the village’s form of government.

“This village is large enough to become a charter government,” Garlich said, adding the current statutory form of government is “a lot of work.”

A statutory government is more constrained by the Ohio Revised Code, while a charter government, such as the City of Chardon, is more flexible.

He and department heads presented a fiscal review of 2023 that showed continued growth.

The village receipts in 2023 totaled $9.14 million and expenses totaled $8.03 million, up from receipts in 2022 of $8 million and expenses of $6.43 million. In 2021, receipts were $7.76 million and expenses were $5.6 million.

Garlich presented a chart showing the village revenue and expenses in 2014 were about even at just over $4.5 million.

Village Treasurer Nick Giardina credited

some of the increase to the 0.25% income tax voters passed several years ago that yielded about $4.6 million in 2023 and again in 2022, up from $4.37 million in 2021.

A variety of grants secured by Village Administrator Leslie McCoy accounted for a good portion of the increase in the fund balance, which grew from about $8 million in 2021 to $12.8 million in 2023, Giardina said.

The income tax revenue goes toward permanent improvement projects, such as work on water wells #3 and #5; water tower maintenance; crossing signals and work on North Springdale Avenue; a sewer jetting program; and repairs of catch basins and water hydrants, according to the presentation.

Use of the electric vehicle charging station at Mineral Lake Park has risen from 12 sessions in 2021 to 133 sessions last year.

Giardina said the growth trend is holding.

“Business has done extremely well. Employment is strong,” he said. “The residents of this town continue to have wage growth — the data proves it. Yes, inflation helps, but it’s more than that. The amount of money households in Middlefield are making has increased drastically. We make it easy for businesses to come in. It shows in these numbers. People want to be here to have a business. And dozens of homes are being built all the time now.”

Community Meetings

Listed are public meetings and executive sessions in the county for the coming week, unless otherwise noted. To have a public meeting included in this section, fax information to 440285-2015 or email editor@geaugamapleleaf. com no later than Monday noon. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices.

Geauga County: March 19, 9:30 a.m., Board of County Commissioners; March 26, 9:30 a.m., Board of County Commissioners; March 27, 5 p.m., Geauga Public Health, Ste. 301. All county meetings are held at the Geauga County Administrative Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive (Ste. #), Claridon, unless otherwise noted. County commissioners meetings are held in Suite 350.

Bainbridge Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; March 25, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 26, 6 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Road, unless noted.

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Chardon City: March 26, 6:30 p.m., Planning Commission. All meetings are held at Municipal Center, 111 Water St., unless otherwise noted.

Chardon Township: March 25, 7 p.m., Park Committee. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 9949 Mentor Road, unless otherwise noted.

Chester Township: March 21, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Claridon Township: Feb. 26, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All trustees meetings are held at Administrative Building, 13932 Mayfield Road, unless otherwise noted. All Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meetings are held at Town Hall, 13930 Mayfield Road.

Montville Township: March 27, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; March 28, 7:30 p.m., Zon-

Burton Village: March 25, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at 14588 W. Park St., 2nd Floor, unless otherwise noted.

ing Commission. All meetings held at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road, unless noted.

Munson Township: March 26, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, unless otherwise noted.

Newbury Township: March 27, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 14899 Auburn Road, unless noted.

Russell Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Russell Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

South Russell Village: March 25, 7 p.m., Village Council. All meetings are held at Village Hall, 5205 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Cardinal BOE: March 27, 6:30 p.m., work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.

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Waiting in the Wings, Fine Arts Assoc. Moves into Annex

By Allison Wilson editor@kArlovecmediA com

After several months of a delayed decision, Chardon City Council voted on plans for the Geauga Theater and annex building at their March 14 meeting.

At a previous meeting Nov. 9, 2023, City Manager Randy Sharpe mentioned having been in discussion with Willoughby-based theater and arts group the Fine Arts Association regarding use of both spaces.

While the FAA will not be taking the theater, council voted to approve their use of the annex building across the road at 106 Water Street.

Mayor Chris Grau made note of the large volume of feedback the city has received since Thrive Performing and Visual Arts dissolved and vacated the historic theater.

“Consistently, we heard the same three concerns,” he said. “Keep the theater open and active. Provide art, music, theater classes to the community, especially the youth. Allow local organizations the opportunity to perform at the Geauga Theater.”

Rather than lease the theater space to one group, council decided to create a rental agreement available to multiple interested parties.

Grau noted that over the past five years, council has seen two different theater groups — the defunct Geauga Lyric Theater Guild and Thrive — exit the city due to issues with their own management, finances or time.

“Our internal committee of me, Vice-Mayor (Heather) Means, our city manager, Randy Sharpe, and internal staff have met often with a variety of interested organizations and individuals,” he said. “Our recommendations tonight include entering into a lease agreement at 106 Water Street with the FAA.”

The recommendation is based on the group’s significant experience, Grau said, adding the FAA has been active for over 60 years and has a strong financial standing and previous success in creating programs outside of their Willoughby headquarters.

“Many members of our community enjoy the benefits of attending their workshops and participating as members at their performing arts events,” Grau said, noting several of the FAA’s 16-member board of directors are Chardon area residents, as are some of their educational instructors.

“They are prepared to initiate programming immediately,” Grau said. “They have demonstrated the fact that they have a proven, sustainable business model and have a long-term vision to empower the Chardon community through the arts.”

Grau added the FAA plans to establish the Chardon Arts Center, rather than a satellite operation, he said.

The lease is a three-year term with two successive renewal options — one for a two-year term and one for a one-year term, Sharpe said, adding rent for the first three-

FAA CEO Paul Holm spoke before council, describing four of the theater group’s directives.

“Excellence in everything we do. Community engagement. We focus outward, we don’t exist for ourselves, we exist for the communities that we serve. Increasing access to the arts for everyone, regardless of their ability, aptitude and experience. And sustainability through growth,” he said. “Yes, numeric growth, but primarily individual growth.”

The FAA’s mission statement is to empower communities through the arts, Holm said.

“Today, the FAA is composed of 85 employees, including 54 teaching artists and arts educators, 13 music and art therapists, and 15 support staff,” Holm said, taking a moment to recognize three members of staff present who are from Chardon.

He noted that, while the FAA may not be locally based, they have still been present in the community for a time.

“You may not know, but the FAA has long had a presence in Chardon and Geauga County,” he said. “It just hasn’t been a physical one. For example, 80 of our more than 1,200 students and therapy clients come from Chardon and Geauga County. This does not include the many actors who often participate in (FAA) theater productions, but do not take classes with us.”

The group’s staff, faculty and board members are not Willoughby-centric, Holm said, adding four are from the Geauga area, while the rest are from 36 communities around

Holm emphasized the FAA’s service to the communities they operate in and around, as well as the diverse range of people they serve.

“In leasing this space, our goal is to build it around the people who call Chardon home. In Chardon, of Chardon and for Chardon. That is why we suggested calling it the Chardon Arts Center,” he said.

Council passed the ordinance authorizing Sharpe to enter into a lease with the FAA for 106 Water Street.

Curtain 440 Raises Complaint About Transparency

During the public input portion of the meeting, a staff member of theater group Curtain 440 — based in Burton and Chardon — raised complaints about the city’s transparency regarding the theater.

“I know that back when (the vacancies) were announced in the fall, a lot of arts organizations came forward, including FAA, C440, Fairmount Center for the Arts (of Russell Township) and Rabbit Run Theater (of Madison),” Kelly Fox said. “I know for a fact that C440 and FCA have offered more than once to present business plans and financial statements to the council committee regarding this issue.”

Fox described council “standing up” the organizations until they decided to form a coalition in hopes of a stronger approach.

“Once again, the council neglected to hear them,” she said. “As recently as last week and yesterday, C440 and community members have been sending letters to the council that remain unanswered.”

When the time came to vote, council member Dan Meleski asked for clarity on Fox’s complaint.

“It was presented through a newspaper article … the article contended that two of the organizations that are interested in renting were going to collaborate, and they had approached the city with a plan to show combined revenue and the financial assets,” Grau answered. “That never happened. We never got that notification from anyone.”

inquiring if FCA could view the spaces, and indicating FCA was working with C440 and Rabbit Run Community Arts Association to potentially form partnerships.

“Never was it mentioned that either had formulated any partnership or had anything to present to city council as a combined unit,” he said. “Neither group was told that they could come to make a proposal or that they could not come because they never mentioned the fact that they wanted to come and make a proposal.”

Sharpe said all communication was done via Bolander and he never spoke with C440 founder Angela Miloro-Hansen.

Miloro-Hansen took issue with Sharpe’s remarks and maintained there was a lack of transparency with the theater.

In a followup interview March 17, Miloro-Hansen said both Fairmount and C440 informed the ad hoc committee for the theater of their interest in working together during their interviews, and that they wished to talk further.

Miloro-Hansen said while she attempted multiple times to answer questions from her meeting and to present her financials and business plan, she was repeatedly either told to wait or given a brief ‘thank you’ in response.

Miloro-Hansen provided the Geauga County Maple Leaf with her previous correspondence with the ad-hoc committee and council. These included an email indicating her financials could be provided when the details of the arrangement between the city and tenant became known, as well as a follow-up email asking if anything other information could be provided to council.

When contacted for comment, Bolander said a potential partnership had been noted at FCA’s meeting, as well as in follow-up communications.

While Sharpe did not comment further on the matter, he provided the Maple Leaf with Bolander’s request to view the facilities, as well as his response.

As of March 18, Miloro-Hansen said she had sent a letter to council airing her grievances and asking for an apology.

Chardon Board Approves Clay Target Club

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

The Chardon Schools Board of Education approved the establishment of the Chardon High School Competitive Shooting Club — but not before asking some questions about safety.

Superintendent Michael Hanlon told the board designating a team as a club for the spring 2024 season only allows the club to use the Hilltoppers logo and name, but it otherwise operates independently of the district.

So far, about 35 students expressed interest in the club, which will practice at Weslaco Sportsmen’s Club in Hambden Township.

“Clearly, we all acknowledge the history of our school district and a club is not being brought forth for the board's consideration that would in any way create an unsafe environment for any of our students or staff members,” Hanlon said, referring to the 2012 school shooting that killed three students.

Two other schools in the county have teams, club advisor and Chardon parent Mark Jonovich said.

After playing a video from oh.usaclaytarget.com that emphasized the safety of the sport — reporting zero injuries in the sport since 2005, compared to baseball injuries in the tens of thousands and a half-million football injuries in the same time period — Jonovich said the league is focused on safety.

“Obviously, the primary focus on this club is safety. The league that we shoot through, that is in their mission statement,” he said.

Theater

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ing the theater to showcase their talents, we feel our best option is to create a rental structure similar to what the city uses for spaces such as the Heritage House and Chalet,” Vice-Mayor Heather Means said, adding the theater costs the city approximately $25,000$30,000 per year.

Means listed details of the drafted agreement, including the city taking on utility and maintenance costs.

The minimum rental time would be one week at a rate of $2,000, Means said, adding if a group rents the theater for a month, they would only pay for three weeks and get the fourth week free.

All payments would be due at the time of booking, including a 50% deposit of the total rental fee and a $2 million general liability insurance policy, said administrative assistant Rebecca Repasky.

Concessions would be allowed, including beer and wine, but renters must provide their own alcohol license. Renters may also need to bring in their own equipment, though a list of what the theater has would be provided, she said.

“It’s going to be on a first-come-firstserve basis,” Repasky said of the booking process. “They’re going to meet with me here at city hall. There’ll be no holds over the phone.”

A walkthrough would also be done before and after a group performs. Repasky requested bookings begin April 2.

Council member David Lelko clarified that Repasky wanted people to come in person for bookings, but she was able to answer questions over the phone.

“Everything we do is based on the safety.”

Firearms and ammunition would not be present on school property, Jonovich said, adding students and instructors are insured through the U.S. Clay Target League.

“It will be a spring and fall sport,” he said, adding the spring season lasts 10 weeks and the fall season 12. “That (time) includes their practice, their education, their tournament shooting and then there's state tournaments and national tournaments that they can attend, that they would all be involved in.”

Jonovich added colleges often offer scholarships for shotgun sports.

Howard Guerin, a range safety officer and club coach, said the club in Hambden has been active for over 50 years.

“We've never ever had an accident out there,” he said. “It's a very safe environment. We work very hard to keep it that way.”

Guerin said he is excited to introduce students to a sport he has loved and cherished for 50-some years.

“When Berkshire (Schools) signed up last year with us, and I saw all these great kids out there participating in the safety aspect and how mature they were, that was really exciting,” he said.

Board member Andrea Clark asked Hanlon about the logistics of student participation, including whether there would be enough time between the end of the school day and the start of practice for students to bring firearms or ammunition from home.

“Are we going to have enough time for students to go home, get their gear? They're not going to throw it in their trunk that morn-

The rental agreement would be available online for review prior to the in-person meeting, Rapasky said, adding she hopes to eventually move the entire process online.

Council member Deb Chuha asked how far in advance a party should book.

Repasky advised interested parties to do so sooner rather than later.

“We talked about limiting the applications until the end of June 25,” City Manager Randy Sharpe said. “So that we have a full year under our belts and can make a recommendation moving forward.”

For payment, Repasky recommended checks, otherwise, the city has to charge a 2.8% service fee for credit cards, which does not go to the city.

Council member Dan Meleski asked if provisions for alcohol at the theater would be similar to ones for spaces like the Heritage House, which he recalled requiring officers present.

“Isn’t the Heritage House because people can wander out into the park and you’re not allowed to have alcohol in the park?” Means asked.

Police Chief Scott Niehus confirmed that was a consideration for the Heritage House. Meleski requested a closer look at the allowance of alcohol at the theater.

“There’s a couple of differences,” Niehus said. “The theater, it is an enclosed space while the Heritage House also includes part of the outside, the area around the structure. The other thing is, with the Heritage House … it doesn't necessarily require a liquor license.”

Curtain 440 staff member Kelly Fox asked if there would be a limit in place to prevent one organization from booking large numbers of time slots at once. Repasky said they don’t, but it would be incredibly expen-

approved March 18.

ing so that it's on school grounds?” she asked.

Bringing firearms onto school property, even in the trunk of a car, is still a violation of the student code of conduct, Hanlon said.

“(It) carries a very serious consequence, which is consideration of a one-year expulsion from school, or potentially permanent expulsion from school, depending on the severity of the offense,” he said. “So that will be covered extensively and repeatedly with the students to make sure they understand that.”

Some students will provide their own fire-

sive for a single organization to book enough to edge out others.

Colton Gray, the chief audio engineer for Thrive Performing and Visual Arts, which had occupied the theater most recently, asked about the theater’s technical equipment.

“With the equipment that’s there, is there going to be investment by the city into improving some of the things we previously discussed with the lighting board and the speakers that we took down when we left?” he asked.

Grau said at this time, there is no plan to invest more into the theater, though there are individuals who have offered to assist groups coming into the space.

Angela Miloro-Hansen, the founder of local theater company Curtain 440, asked if the theater would be subject to discounts for nonprofits or Chardon residents, as there is with the Heritage House and Chalet. City officials said they would not be doing that at this time.

She also asked if there would be a lower price on non-performance days, something she often runs into as somebody who rents performance spaces. Grau reiterated renting a month would provide a week free.

In an email March 18, Miloro-Hansen expressed disappointment at council’s decision.

C440 has been vocal about its desire to take over the theater since Thrive Performing and Visual Arts, the previous tenants, announced their dissolution and subsequent vacation.

“I am disappointed by the decision that a resident theater company is untenable. The two previous organizations saw great success and did wonders for the community,” Miloro-Hansen wrote. “The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild occupied the space for over 20 years and dissolved due to poor management decisions. Thrive did beautiful work and had

arms, while the club will provide loaners for others, he said.

Only certified ammunition will be provided at the club, which Hanlon said would give students no reason to have firearms or ammunition in their vehicles.

Currently, practices will tentatively be scheduled for Thursday evenings, although Jonovich said it’s possible that time slot would change, or another may be added, due to the number of students who expressed interest in the club.

no financial issues. Instead, they wanted to focus their time on their love of creating and sharing their passions, and not be tied up being a management company.”

Miloro-Hansen also noted her concerns about the current cost to rent the theater.

“The current cost of renting the Geauga Theater ($9,000 for one month, $3,000 of which will be a refundable deposit, but must be submitted at the time of booking, which could be over a year in advance) is not affordable for any community theater company on any kind of consistent basis,” she said.

Miloro-Hansen continues to hope the theater will one day be taken over by a theater company.

“For decades, the Geauga Theater flourished and was a staple to the community of Chardon. It’s my hope that the community will continue to rally and encourage the City of Chardon to secure a resident theater company that will bring entertainment, community involvement, employment opportunities and outreach for years to come”

Elizabeth Bolander, executive director of Fairmount Center for the Arts in Russell Township, who also interviewed for the theater, said FCA is reviewing the outcome of council’s decision and wished the Fine Arts Association — who will be leasing the annex building at 106 Water Street — all the best in their endeavors.

“ Through this process, it’s been exciting to see the community rally around their local arts organizations,” she said. “Community support is critical to the success of these organizations, which provide meaningful services to our youth, seniors and community members. I encourage everyone to get more involved with their local community arts groups to ensure they remain vibrant for a long time to come.”

Bainbridge Bans Adult-Use Cannabis — For Now

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

Bainbridge Township Trustees Michael Bates, Jeff Markley and Kristina O’Brien made the decision to prohibit adult-use cannabis operators at their regular meeting March 11.

Markley explained in an interview March 18 the decision was made due to the township not having any definitive direction after listening to a webinar on the issue.

Cannabis

from page 1

to also sell recreational marijuana — open by June 7 with licenses granted by Sept. 7.

“On June 7, the adult-use marijuana application window opens for existing operators such as Buckeye Relief to find three additional dispensary locations,” Halloran told council. “So, we are looking around Northeast Ohio into communities that we live in to put retail locations.”

Halloran also provided council with some background on the agency regulating adultuse marijuana in Ohio, noting it is being overseen by the Department of Commerce, with Jim Canepa, the previous superintendent of the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, acting as superintendent.

“We expected, like the Ohio Liquor Program, to be extremely tightly controlled,” Halloran said, adding Buckeye Relief is supportive of this decision.

Halloran provided images of Buckeye Relief’s dispensaries for reference, saying their vision for their locations is high-end retail.

He noted restrictions dispensaries are under already, including not being allowed within 500 feet of a school, church, park, playground, daycare or library. Their packaging must be child resistant and must not be appealing to children, and marijuana must not be consumed on dispensary premises.

Halloran’s presentation added that loitering around the dispensary is also prohibited and their signage does not include flashing marijuana leaves.

“Our goal is to be upstanding members of the community in the adult-use program, just like we are in the medical program,” he said

While there is a marijuana production and growth facility in Middlefield Village, there are currently no dispensaries in Geauga County.

“There are 2,000 people in Geauga County that pay $250 a year for a medical marijuana card. The closest dispensaries to them are in Ashtabula, in Bedford and Willoughby

“Rather than having an applicant come to the township, we don't really have any direction or guidance as to how to guide that applicant through,” he said. “We didn't want to be in the position of being defensive. We'd rather take a proactive stance and say we'll prohibit it right now and with guidance, we can revisit it.”

Ohio became the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis with 57% voting in favor of Issue 2 in the Nov. 7, 2023, election.

The law allows adults 21 and over to buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis to grow plants at home. A 10% tax is also imposed on purchases to be spent on administrative costs, addiction treatment, municipalities with dispensaries and social equity and

Hills,” Halloran said, adding almost 550 Chardon residents have medical marijuana cards.

He projected as the only dispensary in the county, a dispensary in Chardon would generate about $15 million in revenue annually.

“The way the tax structure is set up in the state of Ohio, there’s a 10% tax on adult use,” he said, adding 36% percent of that gets remitted back to the host city.

Halloran also refuted the notion a dispensary would increase crime, referencing a 2019 study published in volume 78 of “Regional Science and Urban Economics.”

“We have 110 security cameras at each one of our dispensaries. We’re actually partners with the police when they’re investigating crimes in the neighborhood,” Halloran said, saying they’ve previously handed over video their cameras caught of crimes, such as muggings or break ins.

Halloran expects to create around 39 jobs at each dispensary. All employees would be background checked, with pay starting at $20 an hour, he said.

Mayor Questions Revenue

When it came time for questions, Mayor Chris Grau brought up an issue with the potential revenue generation.

“After consulting with our county prosecutor and also with one of our state senators, and having them do the research into what I believe is House Bill 86 — that is going back and forth between … the House and the Senate — the provision of this 36% or 3.6% of annual sales is very much in question, speaking with a limited number of people,” Grau said.

He also emphasized the city is still under a moratorium on issuing zoning certificates for marijuana and cannabis production, and asked Law Director Ben Chojnacki to explain their options.

“You can do nothing and your moratorium will lapse in May, at which point you don’t have any regulations on the books that regulate adult-use cannabis. But, you do have business prohibitions on medical marijuana within the community,” Chojnacki said. “The second option is to continue the moratorium.

jobs programs supporting the industry.

A municipal corporation's legislative authority or a board of township trustees can adopt an ordinance or resolution, respectively, by a majority vote to prohibit or limit the number of adult-use cannabis operators within the municipal corporation or the township's unincorporated territory, according to section 3780.25 of the Ohio Revised Code.

“In absence of any additional information that guides us, we will put this prohibition out there through that resolution … and then, when the rules become better defined, we then can open up that discussion again and then look to maybe amend the resolution and change that provision into some-

thing that maybe works for the township,” Markley said.

If there's a revenue stream that will help support township services like police, fire, roads and parks, and it doesn't come at a cost to the taxpayers, then perhaps the township should consider it, Markley added.

“I think the board all shares that opinion and recognizes that we will likely open this back up when the state comes out with more guidance or the county (has somebody who) gives us better guidance,” he said. “We can establish a game plan going forward and then the businesses will just have to wait to do business here until those rules are put in place.”

If you continue the moratorium, you can pick a timeframe. I would probably recommend another six months, during which time the state legislature and the governor may sign some changes to the law to give you some clarity on what might happen.”

A law could also be passed either prohibiting or limiting the number of facilities within the jurisdiction, Chojnacki said.

Though no action was taken, Grau noted his intent to engage more on the issue of recreational marijuana, as well as to keep the public updated.

Public Speaks Out

During the public input portion of the meeting, a large number of people stepped forward with objections to the idea of a dispensary in Chardon.

Resident Dean Carlo asked council to heed previous conversations about drug use in the county.

“In 2012, in this building, there was a meeting called for with the leaders of Geauga County,” Carlo said. “In that meeting, undercover law enforcement officers expressed their concern that there were many Geauga County license plates driving out to their

Cuyahoga County parking lots to buy drugs.”

The officers had said if the dealers in question set up shop in Geauga, they would be impossible to get rid of, Carlo said.

“I can’t tell you how gut wrenching it is to officiate a Chardon-raised young person’s funeral,” Carlo said, recalling the deceased’s friend saying everything started with smoking weed when they were young.

Resident Bob Landies expressed concern about a potential secondary market being created by the presence of a dispensary.

“Depending on how you roll with this, I think you’re going to have to consider the additional law enforcement it’s gonna take for the secondary market, which (Halloran) is going to create” he said.

Another Chardon resident, Bill Hess, said while he can see the use for medical marijuana, he doesn’t see a use or need for non-medical marijuana in the city.

Geauga resident Heather Copper expressed her worries about THC levels, noting they’re higher in marijuana today than they were in the 1960s.

“Whenever you have anybody that’s looking for an altered state, anything can happen,” she said.

ALLISON WILSON/KMG Scott Halloran, of Buckeye Relief, gave a presentation answering frequently asked questions about his marijuana production business at Chardon City Council’s March 14 meeting.

Markley

Hartville Hardware Lot Coverage Variance Approved

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Middlefield Village Council and Planning and Zoning Commission took turns overcom ing legal and community obstacles last week to move the Hartville Hardware project for ward.

Some excavation and demolition is visible on the two parcels on Kinsman Road west of the village in Middlefield Township.

The 25-plus acres are being purchased by Sherpa Development Corporation LLC to develop an 81,000-square-foot hardware store and outbuildings by HRM Enterprises Inc., parent company of Hartville Hardware, of Hartville, Ohio.

On March 12, the planning and zoning commission continued its hearing on the lot coverage variance requested by Sherpa because village council had to formally ap prove the annexation of the property into the village before the application could be approved.

Council agreed informally in December 2023 to annex the acreage.

Council met March 13 and voted unani mously to approve an ordinance accepting the annexation of 25.34 acres from Middle field Township. Township trustees agreed on the annexation in 2023.

Council also voted last Thursday to establish the parcel as a community reinvestment area to give HRM tax incentives to develop the property.

The planning and zoning commission continued its public hearing at 9 a.m. March 14 for Hartville’s area variance request to increase lot coverage from 40%, as permitted by village zoning, to 56% of the 25 acres.

Per the village zoning requirements, lot coverage means all construction, including parking spaces and retention ponds.

The commission discussed the possibility of changing the village ordinance in the future to allow for a higher percentage of coverage.

“I don’t know how long it's been on the books,” said village Mayor Ben Garlich. “The percentage should be inverted to allow 60% coverage. It’s something we need to look into and make sure we are in the ball game. (The ordinance) doesn’t make sense to me in this economic situation.”

During the hearing, William Hickox re-

newed his concerns about the effect of the Hartville development on his neighboring 30acre family farm in the township.

“I have voiced my concerns about privacy and the security issue,” he told the commission, listing loss of green space, traffic and light spill-over.

His house is on the southeast corner of the acreage he owns with his sister, Heather Kochy. Hickox said he and his children use the property every day.

“Our job is to make sure you are protected,” Garlich said.

Hartville can build within five feet of the property line per the zoning regulations, but safeguards can be included in further approvals, such as screening and light direction, he said.

The hearing on the 25 acres was tabled until annexation was formally approved last Thursday.

Friday morning, the planning and zoning commission revisited the lot coverage issue

before voting to approve the area variance for 56% of the two combined lots.

Commission member Dave Dietrich recommended considering a possible amendment to the zoning regulations to allow more of a parcel to be developed.

“We don’t need a one-size-fits-all coverage,” he said.

Dietrich also suggested allowing a business to “bank” parking spaces, i.e. to only pave as much of the property as is likely to be needed for parking and reserving some of the space for future parking use.

Garlich agreed.

“There’s not a parking lot in town that’s full. I just think it's overkill,” he said, adding the main building is planned to sit far back from the entrance off Kinsman Road, leaving space up front for more buildings, possibly a kitchen or restaurant.

The plans for the development include the 81,000-square-foot hardware store, a 36,120 square-foot indoor lumber yard, four

GPD Highlights Agents of Discovery App

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga Park District Executive Director John Oros highlighted how many players embarked on a new learning experience with a free app-based game called Agents of Discovery during the GPD Board of Commissioners March 18 meeting.

Oros said the app debuted in Geauga County last year and played a video from March 7 that featured GPD outdoor recreation specialist Trevor Wearstler giving a tutorial of the app.

“Agents of Discovery was played at The West Woods from April through December an estimated 1,821 times by 203 accounts, which is the equivalent of more than 435 miles traveled in the park and roughly three weeks of engagement with nature,” Oros said.

Agents of Discovery is a digital education

technology platform featuring a web-based dashboard where educators can easily turn their content into augmented reality games using a cloud-based library or their own customized materials.

The platform allows educa tors to deliver their program ming in an affordable, fun and innovative way, according to the Agents of Discovery website.

Wearstler explained how the app lets players explore parks and teaches about nature and the environ ment through quizzes.

“The idea behind Agents is to move around and find different trigger points and it will ask you a question,” Wearstler said, adding the game can be downloaded through the app store or by scanning a QR code.

Agents is easy, free and fun for all ages, Wearstler added.

“Once you have downloaded Agents of Discovery, it’s easy to create a new account. Simply open the app, tap login and then tap sign up at the bottom of the screen,” he said.

GPD staff recognizes young people are on their phones a lot, Oros said.

“This is a creative way to get our young people out in the parks that utilize the app on their phones,” he said. In other business, park commissioners approved the following items: Contract award of $90,420 to Cunningham Paving Company for asphalt improvements to The Rookery Park.

An agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for replacing The West Woods bridge south of Kinsman Road on state Route 87 in Russell Township.

storage structures totaling more than 40,000 square feet, 280 parking spaces, four loading docks and a trash compactor bay. An entrance for delivery trucks will exit onto Tare Creek Parkway.

The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District and the village engineer will review plans for the facility before it’s presented to the commission in April or May.

The two parcels — a 1.25-acre parcel in the middle of the 24.09 parcel — still need to be consolidated.

The small block building on the smaller lot was demolished earlier in March and the Middlefield Fire Department has received permission to burn down the house on the larger parcel for live fire training now the asbestos has been abated.

ment Corporation LLC plans to develop a Hartville Hardware store and outbuildings, possibly beginning this summer. The project is working its way through Middlefield Village and Geauga County agencies.

Cardinal Schools

Intervention Program IDs, Treats Reading Problems

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Students unable to read by the first grade are in a difficult position.

Nearly everything they need to learn in ensuing grades is based on being able to understand the written word, educators said at the March 13 Cardinal Schools Board of Education meeting.

Last year, a team designed a Huskie Time Intervention Program to identify students who need help in reading and the district put it in motion last fall, said Superintendent Jack Cunningham.

Teachers schedule a block of time during the day to provide intervention for students who are at a below grade reading level, with enrichment time for students who are reading at their grade level and above, he said.

Some students need a boost because

they are suffering from a year or more of no classroom instruction partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, said School Improvement Coach Missy Cardinal, noting this year’s fourth-graders were not in the classroom the year of the pandemic.

The Huskie Time Intervention Program is improving the literacy of elementary school students who, to one degree or another, missed out on the keystone of reading comprehension.

Cardinal Elementary School Principal Robert Kujala explained the program to the school board.

“You have to be able to decode printed words and know what those words mean to have comprehension. Word recognition times language comprehension equals reading comprehension,” Kujala said, adding the district uses an assessment tool to measure and mon-

itor the reading ability of each student.

“We identify students struggling with foundational reading skills,” he said.

Cardinal said the intervention program is part of Ohio’s plan to raise literacy achievement and is connected to HB 33.

For 30 minutes during a regular school day, teachers will focus on those students who need help learning to read, Kujala said, adding students won’t be “pulled out” of the class for the intervention.

All the students in a class will benefit from enrichment or intervention according to their needs, Cunningham said.

“Are there challenges? Absolutely,” Kujala said.

Five adults work with 32 students to teach them phonics, so they can learn to sound out words and recognize them in the future, he said.

“It’s tougher with older grades,” he add-

ed. “They need more intervention because they are further down the educational path.”

Cunningham said the assessment has provided a wealth of knowledge and the intervention program yielded good results in just a couple of months.

“A few students still need help, but they can get there. I expect 95% of the kids will be at their grade level by the end of the year,” he said.

The sooner a child is assessed with reading problems, the better because intervention is possible, Cunningham said.

“If we get them in kindergarten, we spend less time closing the gap. Fourth grade takes an enormous amount of time to close the gap. It’s vital to have kindergarten and firstgrade students successful,” he said. “The data shows us what we need. The program takes the guessing out of it.”

Cardinal High School to Provide Fertile Field for Ag Program

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Cardinal High School is taking the lead in educating area youth for future careers in farming and ag-related businesses.

Cardinal Schools Board of Education approved a facility lease agreement with the Agriculture Career Education Community Academy March 13, providing an option for students from grades nine through 12 to explore the many facets of farming and the multiple industries and businesses connected to it.

Keith Marsh, ACE executive director and educational consultant of the Indiana-based pro gram, said he plans to start classes for students in September 2024 in the former home economics room at Cardinal High School.

ACE introduces students to career pathways with an agricultural foundation, Marsh said in a phone interview March 14.

“Agriculture is a great platform for them to look at all careers,” he said. “We are try ing to keep the farming tradition alive in the community.”

Core subjects like English, math and science will not be ignored and students have to earn 20 subject credits and do 40 hours of community service over four years in order to graduate with the high school ACE diploma, he said.

Participants may take part in sports and extracurricular activities and schedule electives in their home districts, he added.

Marsh said he is starting to recruit freshmen and understands there are about 15 interested in participating in the program.

Courses are primarily online, but the schedule includes two days a week in the classroom with a teacher who specializes in agriculture and other teachers who can help students with other classwork as needed, he said.

Ace is an Ohio public school with a school board of authority that meets once per month, said Superintendent Jack Cunningham, adding he thinks there may be dozens of students interested in the ACE program, judging from a survey he took at Cardinal, not including other districts.

“According to our survey of parents and kids here, not only were kids interested, parents were interested in having their kids take it,” Cun-

Participants can start earning credentials as freshmen in pest control, aviation, soil and other subjects, making them employable by the time they can drive, but they still have to meet the academic requirements, he said.

“The academic program is the same as other schools. During their junior and senior year, they will intern or have part-time jobs,” Marsh said.

ACE follows the Edgenuity curriculum, a standard-based online learning resource for school districts formerly known as Education 2020, according to the company’s website.

“If they are not interested in going to college, we’ve got to teach them how to find a career. We’ve got to get them in a position to be successful.”

– Keith Marsh

“Edgenuity is a very rigorous curriculum. It allows students to work ahead or at their own pace,” he said.

His program in Indiana, called the Indiana Agriculture and Technology School, is the model for the program Marsh wants to develop in Northeast Ohio.

“I approached Jack about a year and a half ago,” he said.

Cunningham, aware the region lacks an ag program, was receptive provided the logistics could be worked out, Marsh said.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce are funding the program, he said, adding ACE and the district have a shared services agreement, which the Cardinal board of education approved March 13 and the ACE board of authority approved March 14.

An agriculture expert from the area will be hired, Marsh said.

Cardinal teachers interested in monitoring and assisting students with their regular coursework will be offered a stipend and use their preparation hour to attend the in-class sessions twice a week.

They will help students with their assignments and make sure they are keeping up with their work, he said.

The new space at the high school has been renovated with new floors and lighting,

but Marsh said he will have a very small staff for the first few years.

Eventually, he hopes to have 40 students in four grades exploring a variety of possible careers ranging from growing crops and livestock to marketing products and beyond, so students can gain skills they can use immediately out of high school.

The opportunities will take participants even farther afield and include a drone certification through the ACE aviation flight program, Marsh said.

During their junior and senior years, the ACE students will be expected to take paid or unpaid positions in ag-related businesses in the area.

“We have 20 businesses in the area interested in partnering with us. This will get them connected in the community,” Marsh said, adding they will be able to find higher-paying jobs and have a chance to stay and live in the community, helping retain family farms.

Giving high school students the chance to find careers they want without paying for four years of a college education makes ACE very attractive, he said.

“If they are not interested in going to college, we’ve got to teach them how to find a career,” Marsh said. “We’ve got to get them in a position to be successful.”

West G Reaches Settlement with ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ames

The West Geauga Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution March 18 to enter into a settlement agreement with Brian M. Ames and pay him $4,000 to avoid defending against a costly lawsuit. Ames filed a Writ of Mandamus Jan. 9 alleging the school board did not fully comply with Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code about providing requested public records.

y BriAn doering riAn@kArlovecmediA.com

West Geauga Schools Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution March 18 to enter into a settlement agreement with Brian M. Ames, paying him $4,000.

Ames filed a Writ of Mandamus Jan. 9 alleging the school board did not fully comply with Section 149.43 of the Ohio Revised Code about providing requested public records.

“I don’t know that we have ever been violators of that transparency, but obviously, he feels that we have, so we needed to settle. It’s a lot cheaper to settle than to litigate,” Superintendent Richard Markwardt said.

The school board provided Ames with all of the requested records he sought as part of the litigation and Ames has acknowledged receiving them.

“The school board denies Mr. Ames’ claims in the litigation and further denies all allegations of wrongdoing asserted by Mr. Ames,” the agreement said.

Once he receives payment of $4,000, Ames has three days to file a voluntary dismissal with prejudice with the court, rendering the litigation settled.

He also agreed to cease actions against

“Ames shall discontinue all claims regarding, relating to, or arising out the facts and circumstances alleged in the litigation and shall discontinue all public records requests and any other claims arising from the facts and circumstances alleged in the litigation,” the agreement said.

Ames, who lives in Mogadore, is a self-appointed “bounty hunter” for open meetings violations. He has filed lawsuits against a long list of alleged violators of the state’s Sunshine Laws, including government bodies and school districts around the state, as reported in the Feb. 8 issue of the Geauga County Maple Leaf.

“I specifically knew that he was filing similar suits in a lot of districts, so I figured it was just one of many,” Markwardt said. “I knew it was a complaint that was being lodged against a number of districts and I knew the complaint was being lodged against West Geauga.”

The board does what is accountable and is open and honest with the public, Markwardt added.

“I think sometimes objective criticism is always welcomed. I don’t think that accusations that are unfounded are welcomed,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t welcome them if I

Chardon High School Sophomore Braves Out a Luge Injury

By JAdyn tArAntino editor@geAugAmAPleleAf com

Haidyn Bunker, a 16-year-old Chardon High School sophomore, has taken her Olympic luge career to a higher level. In the past six years, she has left her mark on the sport.

Luge is a competitive sport where a person lays on a sled, typically feet first, and goes down an icy track. In many cases, those competing reach speeds up to 80 mph.

In a recent competition at the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games, held in Gangwon, South Korea, Haidyn and her doubles partner, Sadie Martin, of New York, raced for the Junior National Olympic Team.

Unfortunately, during their race Jan. 21, Haidyn not only didn’t place, but wasn’t able to finish the race at all.

“Going up the curve, we kind of skidded a bit,” said Bunker, talking about her most recent race. “We went up the curve, hit the roof of the curve and then came down and hit the walls. At least this is what I was told.”

Haidyn, as well as her partner, suffered a tough accident during their race. Not knowing her exact whereabouts due to being knocked unconscious, Haidyn soon realized she had been concussed.

“The next day, I realized the severity of it, seeing that I didn’t finish the race. I thought to myself, ‘I have a concussion right now.’ I didn’t totally know what was happening and I didn’t really know what the future set out for me,” she said.

Starting at age 10, Haidyn ventured into the winter sport after watching an ad announcing USA luge tryouts.

“There was an ad saying come tryout for luge and get a free T-shirt and my first thoughts were ‘Hey, I want a free T-shirt,” Haidyn said.

She then went down to Columbus to see what it was all about.

Five months passed and one day, the Bunker family received an email inviting Haidyn to go to New York and train on the actual

Olympic luge track for three days. Thrilled, Haidyn went to show off her skills.

Soon after this experience, she was asked to train with the Junior Olympic team for a week and then invited to be on the developmental team.

As of May 2022, Haidyn was placed onto the Junior “C” team. Pat Anderson, JNT head coach and two-time junior world champion, said many of his current athletes, including Haidyn, “will eventually move up to the national team and, ultimately, put themselves in the mix for Olympic selection in 2026 and 2030.”

Fortunately, after her injury in South Korea, Haidyn had a lot of time and support to get her back on her feet. She is now transitioning into her Chardon High School softball season, where she will be competing with high expectations.

The luge injury took a toll on Haidyn both physically and mentally, she said, adding after the accident, she began feeling hesitant while playing for her school.

Haidyn said the injury has led her to become more cautious and aware, and even a little anxious when put on the field.

“I’ll be at practice and be extra cautious now. All I think about is my head and getting hit by the ball. It’s coming to mind more often than you would hope,” she said.

On March 2, Haidyn competed in the 2024 Norton Junior National Championship, held at Lake Placid, NY. Haidyn and her open doubles partner placed third in their race, according to www.usaluge.org.

“I was super excited to get back to it,” Haidyn said when asked about the competition. “I honestly didn’t have much fear because of the confidence I had in myself.”

Jadyn Tarantino is a senior at Chardon High School.

She is not only back and playing softball, but also starting back up competing with her luge team. Managing these two sports keeps her busy, but she takes pride in doing it. Haidyn said she is continuing her journey one day at a time, although not knowing what the future holds for her.

Jan. 21 at the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games held in Gangwon, South Korea when she and her luge partner left the track at a high speed.

luge along with her partner Sadie Martin, of New York, second from right, at the 2024 Norton Junior National Championship, held March 2 at Lake Placid, NY.

Letters to the Editor

Rare Solar Eclipse Event

Protect Geauga Parks is proud to be among the sponsors of the solar eclipse event, presented by the Geauga Park District.

The event will be held April 8 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton.

Park District naturalists have worked diligently to provide the citizens of Geauga County a meaningful experience for this once in a lifetime event. Protect Geauga Parks is proud to be part of it.

Heading up this event is park naturalist Chris Mendrek, who along with the other naturalists is set to help us understand this incredibly rare event in our solar system.

Chris and all the naturalists are the heart and soul of the Park District. They create wonderful programs. We know the eclipse program will be such an event.

Join us in encouraging the Park District administration to provide the resources to continue to offer more of these educational events. We have an incredible facility to do so at Observatory Park (a certified International Dark Sky site) with world-class telescopes and a planetarium. Congratulations naturalists. Protect Geauga Parks is proud to support your efforts. We are impressed.

Dave Partington Communications Secretary Protect Geauga Parks

Tyranny Must End

Tim Snyder’s recent attack on me is based on inadequate knowledge of Geauga GOP history.

Geauga GOP meetings, historically open to the public, were closed when Nancy McArthur became Chair. By unilateral decision and without Committee vote, she ended transparent open meetings.

She gets by with this by recruiting people who apparently, like Tim Snyder, prefer to operate in secret. Indeed, before Mr. Snyder’s arrival on the Executive Committee, she acted on her own when she first shut fellow Republicans out of watching their party in action.

In our recent Executive Committee meeting she unilaterally had police remove Charles Johnston, duly credentialed GOP candidate for the State Central Committee. This properly credentialed candidate was denied his rights simply because she doesn’t like him. It is unacceptable to permit this long series of usurpations and overreach to continue.

Roberts Rules of Order (RRO) were established so that disagreeing parties could conduct civil discussion while preserving everyone’s rights so that all can freely participate in productive discussions. RRO requires the Chair to recognize individuals who request recognition to speak. If the Chair refuses to recognize or ignores the

person seeking to speak, after three times, that person has the right to turn and address the body. And so, I have defiantly done so, in complete compliance with RRO.

When being denied rights to speak, a privileged motion can be made, which the Chair is absolutely obligated to recognize. It seems that even attorney Parliamentarians are not necessarily RRO experts. Infractions slide by even when the RRO page covering the infraction is handed to the Chair.

The tyranny must end. In my opinion, McArthur should be kept as far away from power and authority as possible.

James R. MacNeal Troy Township

Childish Bullying Tactics

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, over 3 million Americans stutter. And, while stuttering can affect people of all ages, it occurs most frequently in children between the ages of 2-6-years-old. Boys are more likely to stutter than girls. While some will outgrow stuttering, about 25% will continue to stutter the rest of their lives.

Do you have a friend or loved one who stutters, or who may have stuttered as a child? Think of your own children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and/ or nephews. Now, think about how they feel, or may have felt, when someone made fun of them for the way they spoke. If you asked them, they would most likely say it hurt their feelings, made them feel angry or made them feel like they were “less than.”

Through no fault of their own, and incorrectly, they are often targeted as being less intelligent or not as capable. Is that how you want your loved one to feel? Is that the message you want sent to your child or grandchild? That they are not as smart or won’t succeed?

Other children can be cruel enough, but now consider how you would feel if it was an adult mocking your loved one for how they speak.

Don’t think that these interactions don’t have an impact on behaviors and later life. It can undermine confidence, negatively impact social interactions, relationships, and ultimately, overall success.

Consider all this as we watch the former president mock the current president. Whatever one’s politics may be, there is no excuse for an adult resorting to childish bullying tactics. It is base. It is not leaderlike. It is not the behavior we should expect of someone who wants to be the president of the United States.

We deserve better than this from any person who wants to lead our country.

Valerie S. Clause Chester Township

Viewpoint

The Importance of Township Zoning Authority

By chris Alusheff Zoning insPector chester And clAridon toWnshiPs

In 1926, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that zoning was constitutional after hearing a case that originated in Euclid, Ohio.

In 1947, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation allowing for townships to enact zoning resolutions. There is a long history of zoning in the state of Ohio, and today nearly all political subdivisions in Northeast Ohio have some form of zoning regulations enacted. Locally, only Middlefield Township in Geauga County does not have any zoning regulations.

All initial township zoning resolutions must be voted on and approved by the residents of that township, and changes are implemented through public hearings where the residents have a right to comment in support or opposition of a proposed change.

Zoning has never been unilaterally imposed against the will of the residents and, conversely, the residents have a right to petition and put a referendum on the ballot to add something to the zoning resolution, to remove language from the zoning resolution or to completely repeal a zoning resolution. The fact that the referendum and repeal process is rarely used speaks to the general consensus that township residents are in favor of zoning.

At its core, zoning is the process by which you willfully abdicate some of your personal property rights in exchange for uniform enforcement of regulations that will protect your property values and the character of your community. Zoning is what keeps a rendering plant or factory from being built across the street from single family homes, or an adult entertainment venue from opening next to a day care.

Without zoning, there is an inherent risk in investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a property to serve as your family home, not knowing what type of development is allowed to move in next door. Loud noises, noxious odors and a host of other factors that diminish the character of a neighborhood or harm the general welfare and safety of the area may also significantly lower the value of your property.

The Ohio Senate Select Committee on Housing, with intense lobbying efforts by developers and a host of other private agencies, is currently crafting legislation seeking to address barriers to development in Ohio. One of the recommendations in this legislation is to abolish township zoning, to be replaced by a statewide zoning code that is administered at the county level. Townships that currently do not have zoning, such as Middlefield, would have zoning forced on them by the state. Townships that do have zoning would see their zoning resolutions replaced by

whatever the state sees fit.

Based on the available materials of the Senate Select Committee and the Ohio Builders Association, the minimum lot areas, widths and frontages and single-family zoning districts could be greatly reduced and negatively affect current property restrictions if this legislation were to pass.

The ability of residents to a have a say in local zoning matters, whether by serving on or attending zoning commission or BZA meetings, raising issues to the local zoning inspector, taking advantage of the zoning referendum process, and participating in public hearings could be completely taken away from us with no recourse below the county level.

Within Geauga County we have extremely diverse communities where population and pace of development look very different among individual townships. Each individual township knows what is best for them.

Looking farther out at the state level, it is incomprehensible that uniform zoning regulations could be implemented and enforced with any measure of fairness, consistency, or deference to the will of the residents. This is an unprecedented attempt by the state to usurp planning and zoning power from you, the taxpayer, and your township. It is antithetical to the idea of government of the people, by the people and for the people, which is currently most evident at the township level where your trustees and zoning department are exponentially more accessible than comparable elected and appointed officials at the county and state levels.

Taking zoning authority away from townships is not the answer to the issue of barriers for development in Ohio. Abolishing local zoning is a knee-jerk reaction that will be full of intended and unintended negative consequences. I strongly urge anyone who is concerned about the issue of abolishing local township zoning by the state of Ohio to contact your local township trustees, your county commissioners and your state representatives. If you are unsure of what local zoning is or how it affects you, call your local zoning inspector and ask questions, that is what we are here for.

District 99 Rep Sarah Fowler Arthur 614-466-1405

Rep99@ohiohouse.gov

District 35 Rep Steve Demetriou 614-466-5088

Rep35@ohiohouse.gov

District 32 Sen Sandra O’Brien 614-466-7182

obrien@ohiosenate.gov

District 28 Sen Vernon Sykes 614-466-7041

sykes@ohiosenate.gov

To Educate through Partnership

By rose nemunAitis editor@kArlovecmediA com

Ohio’s deer hunting season may be over for, but through a Western Reserve Whitetails Unlimited donation, hunting education will be on target for next season in Geauga County.

“As a committee, we wanted to help Geauga parks promote youth outdoors programs and with this donation, they will be able to give kids an opportunity to enjoy outdoors activities,” said WRWU member Eric Brindo, referring to his organization’s recent partnership with the Geauga Park District.

Whitetails presented GPD Executive Director John Oros with a check for $3,500 to assist in their hunting programs at their annual WRWU banquet March 9 at EOUV Club in Russell Township.

“We had over 330 conservationists attending, all with the same goals — have fun and raise money for our local conservation programs,” Brindo said.

WRWU is the oldest chapter in Ohio and one of the first chapters in the country.

Founded in 1982, the nonprofit conservation organization’s mission is to raise funds in support of educational programs, wildlife habitat enhancement and acquisition and preservation of the hunting tradition and shooting sports for future generations.

Ohio’s two-day youth season harvested 10,039 deer in Ohio’s final 2023-24 Deer Harvest Report, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, adding whitetail deer make up North America’s most heavily harvested and popular big-game animal.

Millions of hunters take to the field annually in pursuit.

“This is the second year in a row that Ohio’s deer harvest has surpassed 200,000 and the 12th time overall (all since 2002),” the harvest report said.

Geauga County’s total harvested numbers were 2,708 for 2023-2024. Coshocton County leads the state with 7,740 whitetail deer harvested during the last hunting season.

WRWU also presented GPD with two crossbows.

“We will utilize the crossbows to educate hunters in the proper use and safety of this archery equipment,” Oros said.

GPD offers many introductions to archery programs throughout the year for

non-hunters, as well.

“One of the benefits of Whitetails Unlimited is that a portion of the money raised stays right here Northeast Ohio, specifically Lake and Geauga counties,” Brindo said, adding since its inception, WRWU has spent over $135.6 million on projects, including research, wildlife agency assistance, habitat enhancement and acquisition, scholarships, educational materials, hunter safety and education, anti-poaching measures and cooperative projects with other sponsors.

“The funds will be utilized to further our hunting endeavors, particularly in the area of youth hunting for whitetail deer,” Oros said before accepting the donation. “We have a goal of purchasing a large hunting blind for our Staples Meadows property (in Hambden Township) to be utilized for youth hunts.”

Staples Meadows was purchased in 2016 as part of the park district’s mission to preserve, conserve and protect lands for future generations, Oros said, adding controlled

See Whitetails • Page 12

Spidalieri Named President of Geauga-Trumbull Waste District Board

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri was selected Feb. 27 to serve as president of the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste District Board of Directors.

“I am able to get a lot of good stuff done,” Spidalieri said regarding the reason he believes he was chosen for the role.

Spidalieri has worked with both Geauga and Trumbull County commissioners, as well as Director Jenni fer Jones to get long-awaited grants approved for Geauga County townships, villages and the City of Chardon, he said in a statement March 12.

Whitetails from page 11

hunting and trapping has been used to maintain healthy, balanced populations of plants and animals on park properties since 2007.

All hunters and trappers must complete GPD requirements, including qualifications and applications for permits, before conducting these activities on park property, according to GPD.

In addition, GPD park rangers will also utilize the donated funds for targets, hearing protection, and other equipment for the gun and archery, Oros said.

“I have continued to push for Geauga to have services available to dispose of various waste products and have special collection days,” Spidalieri said, adding it’s nice to be able to return some of the revenue back to local communities.

“When we are dealing with these larger counties, sometimes it becomes a really difficult time to be able to get those funds transferred back in,” he said. “They just seem to always have bigger projects. To be able to do that is huge.”

Spidalieri also noted the success of the new solid waste facility located at 12685 Merritt Road in Chardon, adding he hopes to continue working with communities to support their needs and expand the district’s programs.

“We are grateful for the recent generosity and the long-standing commitment that Whitetails Unlimited has shown Geauga Park District,” Oros said “Their commitment to whitetail deer management goes hand-inhand with our goals to manage wildlife populations. Ultimately this management helps the district effectively manage quality habitats across all Geauga Park District properties.”

GPD’s spring turkey hunting opportunity includes a youth hunt April 13 and 14, with applications already past due and an adult hunt April 27–May 26, with applications due April 1. Complete application details are on the GPD website.

Spidalieri

S P O R T S

Hilltopper Boys Volleyball Starts Season Undefeated, 4-0

By AlAn kornsPAn sPorts@kArlovecmediA com

On March 14, Chardon's boys volleyball team hosted the Euclid Panthers.

Looking to continue their winning streak and move to 4-0 on the season, the Hilltoppers won set one 25-7, then followed with a 25-11 victory in set two.

In the third game, the Panthers defeated the Hilltoppers 25-23.

However, the Hilltoppers came back with a 25-16 victory in set four to stay undefeated at 4-0 on the season.

Afterward, senior captain Logan Bryant said the match provided a good opportunity for everyone to get a lot of valuable playing time and experience.

“We were trying to move a few people out (on to the court) different from our starters to get them reps, get them time, because it's just our second year as a team,” he said.

Chardon's main strategic emphasis against the Panthers was to get the volleyball to the outside hitters to try to get kills, Bryant added.

“Strategically we were just trying to push it to the outside,” he said. “We got two great outside (hitters), Ian (Galati) and Stone (Fawcett).”

This strategy worked well, as the Hilltoppers obtained 35 kills for the match.

Leading in kills against the Panthers were Fawcett with 15 and Galati with 11. Leading in assists was Avery Laux, who had 26.

Postgame, Fawcett and Galati gave credit to the excellent setting Laux provided in helping to assist in the offensive attack.

“Avery has been doing a great job just getting us the ball,” Fawcett said.

Added Galati, “Our setter (Laux) got to give a call out to him. He's been a great setter.”

In starting the season undefeated at 4-0,

Laux's setting and assists, and the attacking from outside hitters Galati and Fawcett, have been integral.

Opening the season at home March 8 against the Mentor Cardinals , Laux's 39 assists helped the Hilltoppers win in five games, 3-2.

For that match, the Hilltoppers won set one 25-23. In set two, the Cardinals came back to win 25-16.

After defeating the Cardinals 25-16, Mentor took set four 25-21.

The Hilltoppers then won the match, beating the Cardinals 15-8 in the deciding fifth set.

Leading Chardon against the Cardinals were again Galati and Fawcett, both with 18 kills. In addition, Noah Galati had eight kills and Jackson Houser had four kills.

The next day, Chardon traveled to Mayfield to take on the Wildcats and won in three straight sets, 25-22, 25-18 and 25-14.

Against the Wildcats, Fawcett led the Hilltoppers with 11 kills. Also contributing kills against the Wildcats were Laux (5), Ian Galati (4), Noah Galati (4), Houser (4), Nate Suszynski (2), Bryant (1) and Braden Schmauder (1).

The Hilltoppers then moved to 3-0 on March 12 against the Bard Early College Raptors in four sets, 3-1.

Leading the attack against the Raptors were Ian Galati and Houser, both with 19 kills. The Hilltoppers collected their most aces serving this season, with 16 for the match.

Leading in aces were Braden Schmauder and Nick Derezic, both with four.

Also contributing aces against the Raptors were Houser (3), Laux (3), David Williams (1) and Ian Galati (1).

The Hilltoppers would return to the court March 19 to host the Avon Eagles.

Season Match to Wildcats

By AlAn kornsPAn sPorts@kArlovecmediA com

Berkshire's boys volleyball team couldn't pull out a win hosting the Mayfield Wildcats on March 13, but they came close.

After two extremely close sets, split 1-1, the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead in the match and got out to a quick 15-3 lead in set three.

The Badgers also gained some early momentum in the fourth set as they evened the match at 2-2.

But in the deciding fifth set, the Wildcats claimed a 15-5 victory to defeat the Badgers in a closely contested 3-2 match. Berkshire Head Coach Tim Percic said the Wildcats

have players who played well in key spots on the court and started the match strong.

Early on, both teams were trying to understand how they could be successful, he added.

“It was a back-and-forth as both teams were feeling each other out to see what our strengths were,” Percic said. “We had some adjustments we needed to make.

“They have a setter who knows where to put the ball — not just to set it, but to dump it as well. And that was an adjustment we had to make, because we did not run into that too much last year.

“So credit to Mayfield, they put a lot more together in those first two sets.”

In the third game, Percic said Mayfield was able to get ahead early, which Berkshire did in the fourth set.

Two Badgers that played very well throughout were juniors Tony Masters and Jake Starr. The team has been working hard to set Masters up for kill opportunities, his coach said.

This was certainly evident against the Wildcats, as Masters accrued many kills.

“Tony Masters is a returning middle hitter,” Percic said. “We’ve been working hard in the off-season. One of the more advanced things we're doing is running middles that are somewhat out of system. We saw a lot of that today.

“Number 10 (Jake Starr) has a lot of capability to hit the ball and place the ball on the outside, and we're looking forward to him and some of the other guys kind of really jelling.”

As the season is just beginning, Coach Percic said his Badgers are continuing to develop their on-court cohesion; this year's team will play a different style of volleyball than last year's team.

Last season, the team relied on a strong outside hitter to carry it. This year, it will implement advanced strategic volleyball techniques, which take time to learn.

“As we learn to play together, I think our team is going to blossom,” Percic said. “I think in a couple weeks, you're not going to recognize the team that played today with what's going to happen — and that will be a positive change, so I am looking forward to that.

“Our team has a lot of talent with a handful of returning players, (and) we got a whole fresh crop of freshman and first year players, so I am (also) excited about that.”

The Badgers would return to the court March 19, traveling to Howland High School to take on the Tigers.

Donald Alan Watson

Donald “Don”

Alan Watson, age 59, of Chardon, unex pectedly passed away on March 12, 2024, at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Cen ter.

Obituaries

Cemetery in Chardon Township.

He was born Dec. 19, 1964, to John Matthew and Patricia Watson II, in Cleveland.

Don's career as a machinist for GBGI Inc., and his dedication to being a member of the Electrical Union, were sources of pride for him. But what truly defined him was his love for the feeling of the wind in his face while riding his Harley and the thrill of cruising in his Corvette.

Don also found joy in shooting guns and had a natural talent for cooking.

He was a true hometown Chardon boy who cherished life's simple pleasures.

Known for his infectious laughter and warm heart, Don will always be remembered for his jovial nature and his love for life.

Above all, Don's heart overflowed with love for his family and friends. He took great pride in his role as the Godfather to his niece Janine and shared a special bond with his brothers. Their shared memories and his spirit will continue to live on in their hearts.

Don leaves behind a legacy of being a true friend, and his memory will forever be cherished in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He is survived by his brothers John “Jack” (Lori) Watson, of Leroy Township, Bill Watson, of Middlefield, Bob (Deborah) Watson, of Chardon, and Paul Watson, of Chardon.

Don will be deeply missed by his nieces and nephews, Melissa Watson, Rachel Watson, Janine Watson, Katlyn (Bryan) McNish, Johnny (Evy Lobdell) Watson, Danny Watson, Matthew Watson and Autumn Watson, whose lives were enriched by his presence and guidance.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; and brother Ron Watson.

Family and friends paid respects during visitation hours March 18, 2024, at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon. A time of sharing followed, offering an opportunity for loved ones to reminisce and celebrate Don’s life.

A private burial was held at All Souls

Arrangements have been entrusted to Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Chardon. Condolences, memories, and expressions of sympathy may be shared online at www.burrservice.com.

Roger Brooks Buxton

Roger Brooks Buxton, of Akron, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, March 2, 2024, at Mt Carmel East Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, with family at his bedside.

He was born on April 12, 1948, in Cleveland, to Carroll and Necia (nee Long) Buxton.

Roger married Diane (nee Timmons) Buxton in 1986; they were married 25 years until her passing in 2011.

Roger leaves behind his sons, Adam (Lacie) Buxton, of Austin, Texas, Todd (Kelly) Buxton, of Pataskala, Ohio, and Brian (Kendra) Renner, of Auburn Township; brother, Bruce (Liz) Buxton, of Mattawan, Mich.; grandchildren, Lauren, Tyler, Alistair, Logan and Jamie Buxton; nephews, Patrick (Sandra) Buxton, Peter (Ariel) Buxton; and niece, Pamela (Eric) Bretz.

Also surviving is the mother of Adam and Todd, Frances (nee Grochocki) Buxton.

Roger graduated from Chagrin Falls High School and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Kent State University.

Roger had a lifelong career in commercial real estate lending, starting at Cleveland Trust, then moving to Dollar Bank, Bank One and Huntington National Bank. He retired from the industry as a partner at AmeriCommercial Capital.

Roger was proceeded in death by his parents; wife, Diane; brother-in-law, Mitchell Timmons; and father-in-law, George Timmons.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will take place at Morton Cemetery, 10620 Bell Road, Newbury Township, on May 11, 2024, at 11 a.m.

All are welcome for food and fellowship immediately following ceremony at Newbury United Community Church, 14916 Auburn Road, Newbury.

Memorial contributions are requested to the Newbury United Community Church or any charity of your choice.

Bulletin Board

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, for-profit and nonprofit organizations or groups will need to purchase a paid advertisement for an event anytime tickets are sold, a fee is charged or a freewill donation is taken. If an organization or group does not wish to buy an ad to promote their event and connect with our readers, Karlovec Media Group will print a simple liner-type ad identifying the event, date/time/place and a number to call for more information. E-mail submissions to: cbb@karlovecmedia.com

Outreach Spaghetti Dinner

March 21, 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.

Geauga Home and Garden Show

March 22 and 23

The 17th annual premier home and garden show takes place at Heritage Marketplace, 15848 Nauvoo Road in Middlefield. Showtimes are Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 440-632-0174 for information.

Audubon IBA Surveys

March 24, 8 a.m.

Blackbrook Audubon continues its monthly Important Bird Area (IBA) surveys at Orchard Hills Park, 11340 Caves Road in Chester Township. Participation is free and open to birders of all skill levels; no registration is required. For more information, visit blackbrookaudubon.org.

Geauga Dems Film Showing

March 27, 7 p.m.

Geauga Democratic Women’s Caucus will show the movie “RBG” at the party headquarters, 12420 Kinsman Road in Newbury Township. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. Popcorn will be served. For information, call 440-273-8200.

All About Daylilies

March 27, 7 p.m.

The Perennial Gardeners of Chesterland is hosting a free community presentation with Cynthia Druckenbrod, a degreed horticulturist, who has been growing daylilies at her home for over 20 years. The free presentation will be held at the Metzenbaum Center, 8200 Cedar Road, Chester Township. Enter at the second blue awning.

LCGS Meeting

March 28, 10 a.m.

The Lake County Genealogical Society (LCGS) will meet on Zoom. Following a short business meeting, speaker Bill Eddleman will present "This Indenture Made This... Finding Ancestors in Deeds."

Visit www.lcgsohio.org for more information and the invitation to the Zoom meeting. For more information, call Cynthia at 440-951-0914.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

March 30

Chardon Square Association (CSA) will host a pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Pilgrim Christian Church on Chardon Square from 9-11 a.m. There will be photo opportunities with the bunny. Contact the CSA for more information and pricing. At 11 a.m., Chardon Chamber of Commerce hosts a free Easter egg hunt for children 10 and under in the park. Bring a basket.

Happy Tails Benefit

April 21, 2-5 p.m.

The non-profit, no-kill Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary is holding a “Sunday Dinner with a Purr-pose” benefit at St. Noel Banquet Center, 35200 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. with a family-style dinner at 2:30 p.m. Event includes silent and Chinese auctions and 50-50 raffle. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets by April 14, call or text Doreen at 440-759-0076.

Summer Youth Aviation Camp

The Experimental Aviation Association Chapter 5 is hosting its annual Summer Youth Aviation Camp for middle school students going into grades six through 10. Camp will take place July 8-12 at the Geauga County Airport in Hangar 3 in Middlefield from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. There will be an opportunity for campers to take a Young Eagle flight on July 13. Space is limited to 18 students. Registration is due by May 23.

For more information, contact Sherry Niederkorn at 440-477-1198.

Abundant Life Ministry

March 23 and 30, 7 a.m. to noon

Enjoy all-you-can-eat buttermilk pancake breakfasts with real maple syrup at Abundant Life Ministry Center, 13724 Carlton St. in Burton. There will be three varieties of pancakes along with sausage for $10. Add a side of eggs for $1. Check out the book sale with elementary library books and desks.

American Legion Pancakes

Sundays through April 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

American Legion Post 459 is serving its annual all-you-can-eat pancake, breakfasts every Sunday through April 14, excluding Easter Sunday, at the post located at 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton.

Berkshire Athletic Boosters

March 24, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Berkshire Athletic Boosters are hosting an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast in the Berkshire High School cafeteria, 14155 Claridon Troy Road in Burton.

There will also be a craft and vendor show hosted by the Berkshire Tunebackers in the Berkshire High School gym from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Burton Fire Station

March 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Burton Fire Station will serve an all-youcan-eat pancake and sausage breakfast at the station located at 13828 Spring St. in Burton. call 440-834-4416 for information.

Chardon VFW Pancakes

March 24, 8 a.m. to noon

Chardon VFW Post 6519 will serve its final pancake breakfast of the season at the post located at 752 Water St. in Chardon. Call 440-285-3699 for takeout orders.

Geauga Historical Society

March 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Geauga County Historical Society is hosting an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Century Village Museum, 14653 East Park St. in Burton.

For more information, call 440-834-1492.

Parkman Chamber Pancakes

March 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parkman Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual pancake breakfast at Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Road. Eat-in or drive-through options are available.

Geauga Public Library

Programs require registration unless otherwise noted. Include an email and phone number when registering for programs to receive updates about all programs. Visit www.geaugalibrary.net.

Discussion Groups

No registration is required.

Middlefield, March 26, 7 p.m., “Necessary Trouble” by Drew Gilpin Faust

Virtual, March 28, 7 p.m., “Little Eve” by Catriona Ward

Geauga West, April 3, 7 p.m., “Galileo’s Daughter” by Dava Sobel

Geauga West, April 4, 2 p.m., “Gilda” (1946)

Plant-Based on a Budget

March 21, 7 p.m. • Virtual

Join Brian Hart, M.Ed, and Ann and Jane Esselstyn, R.N., on Zoom as they discuss plant-based diets on a budget.

Get Grumpy with Monkey

March 22, 10:30 a.m. • Geauga West

Bring the family over to read Suzanne Lang's “Grumpy Monkey” and create a grumpy monkey puppet.

Pop-up Book Sale

March 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Middlefield

Prepare for spring by attending a special

Geauga County Library Foundation pop-up book sale exclusively featuring cookbooks and gardening materials. No registration required.

Adult Coloring Club

March 25, 7-8:30 p.m. • Chardon

Relax and unwind by coloring one’s stress away. No registration required.

Star Trek Program

March 26, 6:30-8 p.m. • Chardon

Individuals 12 and older may celebrate Spock's (aka Leonard Nimoy's) birthday by participating in a night of Star Trek fun.

Tie Dye

March 28, 3 p.m. • Geauga West

Bring a t-shirt or any other item and create some tie-dye fun.

Preserving Family History

March 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. • Middlefield

Learn how to preserve one’s family’s history using the Digital Legacy Labs for future generations to enjoy.

The Eclipse of a Lifetime

March 28, 7 p.m. • Chardon

Prepare for the upcoming total solar eclipse (April 8) by learning all about what solar eclipses are, how they occur, how often they happen, their history and more.

The 2024 Emerald Ball: A Night of Celebration

In an evening filled with old Hollywood glamour, camaraderie and generosity, the 2024 Emerald Ball surpassed all expectations.

Held at Landerhaven, this year's event welcomed more than 360 guests, marking another remarkable milestone in the organization's history. The highlight of the evening was the recognition of Lee Imhof as the 2024 Emerald Leader, an honor bestowed upon an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership and commitment to the Geauga County community.

Setting the Stage: A Vibrant Celebration

The Emerald Ball, an annual event organized by Leadership Geauga, has been cherished as a premier event within the community. As attendees arrived at Landerhaven, they were greeted by an air of anticipation and excitement.

This year, a new addition awaited top-level sponsors — a VIP event preceding the main festivities. This exclusive affair provid-

ed guests with an opportunity to make an Oscars-worthy swag bag, which included some of the finest goods from Geauga County businesses. Guests also enjoyed elevated appetizers and specialty cocktails.

Recognizing Excellence: Lee Imhof as the 2024 Emerald Leader

The acknowledgment of Lee Imhof as the 2024 Emerald Leader stood out as a highlight of the evening, recognizing his exceptional dedication to Geauga County.

Imhof's extensive service on the Berkshire Schools Board of Education and the founding of Leadership Geauga County underscore his profound impact on the community.

Additionally, his leadership in economic growth initiatives through the Geauga Growth Partnership and his innovative contributions as a former business owner of Troy Chemical demonstrate his commitment to community well-being.

Imhof's recognition as the Emerald Leader serves as a testament to his outstanding achievements, inspiring others to strive for

excellence in community service.

He selected the Foundation for Geauga Parks to benefit from a portion of the funds raised during Call to the Heart.

A Night of Support: Fundraising Success

In addition to celebrating the achievements of community leaders, the Emerald Ball also serves as a vital fundraising endeavor for Leadership Geauga. This year, the event grossed over $183,000, a testament to the unwavering support and generosity of attendees and sponsors alike. These funds play a crucial role in supporting the operational expenses of the organization, enabling Leadership Geauga to continue its mission of cultivating effective leaders and fostering positive change within the community.

Gratitude and Appreciation: Recognizing Sponsors

The success of the Emerald Ball would not have been possible without the generous support of its sponsors. Leadership Geauga extends its heartfelt gratitude to Kinetico, the title sponsor of the event, whose unwavering

commitment to the community has helped elevate the Emerald Ball to new heights.

Additionally, the organization extends its appreciation to the following sponsors for their invaluable contributions: Great Lakes Cheese, Troy Chemical, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, Beaches and Dreams Travel Company, MJM Industries, Middlefield Banking Company, Arms Trucking, Junction Auto Family, Richard and Christie Frenchie, Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, Waste Management, Company 119, Video Dept., DeJohn Funeral Homes, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring, Keller Williams - Mary Beth O'Neill, and Remax Rising - Ann Blair.

In conclusion, the 2024 Emerald Ball, organized by Leadership Geauga and an amazing team of volunteers, was a resounding success, uniting the community in celebration while also raising vital funds to support the organization. Leadership Geauga wouldn’t be where it is today without the community’s support. Thank you for continued support as the organization enters its 29th year!

Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica placing her winning bid.

suBmitted

(L to R) Robert Hobohm, son-in-law to Lee Imhof; Katie Imhof, daughter of Lee Imhof; and Lee Imhof.

(L to R) John Epprecht, who introduced the Emerald Leader, with Lee Imhof, the Emerald Leader.

(L to R) Becky Klein, 10th year of helping plan the Emerald Ball; Leadership Geauga Executive Director Meredith Ashkettle; and Leadership Geauga Marketing and Outreach

Senior Events

Pedaling For Parkinson’s

The Geauga County Department on Aging and Ohman Family Living are collaborating to offer a Pedaling for Parkinson’s class. Parkinson’s participants will be riding Pelton Bikes indoors at Ohman Family Living at Holly in Newbury Township.

Intense forced exercise therapy suggests that certain types of exercise are neuro-productive and may actually slow disease progression. To get started and for free upcoming class information, contact the Geauga County Department on Aging at 440-2792137.

Geauga Park District

For more information and registration, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Bring In Your Garden Tools

March 27, 1-3 p.m.

Stop by The West Woods Nature Center anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. with garden tools and the park district will help attendees spruce up their hand tools during this prespring maintenance session. Should the gear need more major repairs, the park district may arrange a drop-off and pick-up instead.

Spring Birding

Continuing a Greater Cleveland tradition since 1933, the annual Spring Bird Walk Series returns for six walks – April 14 at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve, April 21 at Frohring Meadows, April 28 at The Rookery, May 5 at Eldon Russell Park, May 12 at Big Creek Park and May 19 at Swine Creek Reservation.

All are Sundays from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and among the naturalist staff’s Nature’s Not to Be Missed opportunities.

Located where there is the best bet for birds at each particular stage in migration, the walks connect experienced bird watchers with novices of all ages for bird observation, identification and interpretation.

Participants are welcome to bring their own bird guide and binoculars. Registration is not required.

Spring At Observatory Park

Observatory Park in Montville Township is open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Memorial Day, then 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. through Labor Day, and naturalists, including “Astro-Nat” Chris Mentrek, are eager to show guests around the International Dark Sky Park.

To kick off the warmer weather, free

outdoor movie nights return beginning with Indiana Jones and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on June 15. Bring a blanket, lawn chair and refreshments. The movie will begin at dusk, moving indoors in case of inclement weather.

Walk-up guided night sky viewing will be held from dark to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, April 5, 6, 26 and 27, May 10, 11, 24 and 25, and June 7, 8, 21 and 22. If cloudy, enjoy a planetarium show instead.

Members of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society will also host walk-up night sky viewing at Nassau Astronomical Station (accessed by a different entrance to the park) April 20, May 18 and June 15 from dark until 11 p.m. Nassau nights are canceled by clouds.

Chardon Rotary Students of the Month

Full moon-themed naturalist-led hikes at Observatory Park are scheduled for April 23 (The Spring Peepers Moon), May 23 (Whippoorwill Moon) and June 21 (The Strawberry Moon). Registration is no longer required. Registration is no longer required for these Friday evening astronomy programs, followed by weather-dependent night sky viewings: Earthquakes in Ohio on May 10 (or virtually via Zoom on May 24) and Post-Eclipse Science on June 7 (or virtually on June 21). Registration is required to attend virtual programs.

To enjoy programs for exploring the moon, young people ages 3 to 5 with an adult can sign up for Astrotots on May 3 or 4, while young people ages 6 to 11 with an adult can sign up for Astrotots XL on May 4.

Those with horses may register to ride with a naturalist during a morning or afternoon Horseback Trail Ride on May 30.

“Astro-Nat” Chris presents his famous Sky Tonight Planetarium Shows inside the Robert McCullough Science Center Sundays, April 28, May 26 and June 23 at both 2 and 3 p.m. Register for a 45-minute time slot in advance.

The Chardon Rotary Club honors two students every month during the school year from the Chardon School District and Notre Dame Cathedral Latin. Students are picked by their guidance counselor for their academic achievements and outstanding leadership in the community. Each student receives a gift card from Beans Bistro on

the square and a letter of recognition. The Chardon Rotary Club Students of the Month for March are Chardon High School senior Evan Kuhl and NDCL senior Luke Skotzke. Kuhl was nominated by his guidance counselor Karin Hillman and Skotzke was nominated by his school counselor Greg Heckel. The Chardon Rotary Student of the Month coordinator is Melanie Scanlon.

Chester Government Update

The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on March 7 began with the approval of minutes, followed by an update by Chester Township Administrator Mark Purchase on the Cedar Road speed study. The Geauga County Engineer’s Office did a study along the entire length of Cedar Road between Sperry and County Line roads. The average speed was 42 mph. The currently posted signs are 45 mph between Sperry Road and state Route 306 and 35 mph between state Route 306 and County Line Road.

In an effort to reduce overall speed and improve safety, the board agreed that the recommendation to align both sections of Cedar Road with a 40-mph limit is the best option versus doing nothing or having the state potentially assign 45 mph to the entire road. An additional traffic study was also requested by the township for Valley View Road.

Two policies were approved and added to the township policy manual dealing with worker’s compensation and on the job injury.

An after-the-fact purchase order in the amount of $25,000 was approved for the purchase of a 2004 International bucket truck, which will enable the road department to improve tree maintenance efficiency along the road right-of-way. Safety training will be scheduled for the crew before it is put into service.

A purchase order of $1,348 was approved for Mighty Ducts, Inc. to clean the air ducts at the police department. Camera images show significant buildup of dust, so the cleaning should help improve indoor air quality. The board also approved the pur-

chase of two AED units for $4,472.64 from Cardio Partners, Inc. for the police department.

The board also accepted the resignations of Kelly Paulic and Robert Rowland. Trustees thank them for their service to the township. The township also approved a motion to advertise in the Maple Leaf, Chesterland News and Geauga Times Courier to fill the administrative assistant position, with applications due at Chester Town Hall by 4 p.m. on April 1. For more information, email Mark Purchase at mpurchaseTA@ chestertwp.org

A motion was approved to accept the NOPEC Energized Community Grant. The township will be receiving $23,039 in 2024 for energy conservation improvements.

Monies were approved to Sean C. Day for the maintenance of garbage cans, picnic tables and restrooms along with general cleanup of Parkside Park for 2024 in the amount not to exceed $8,175. Mr. Day has been performing the service to the township for a number of years.

Trustees also briefly discussed the ongoing IT transition project, Wreaths Across America/Revolutionary War Veterans and West Geauga Unity Day, which is Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At the end of the meeting, an executive session was held and upon returning to the public meeting, a motion to increase the non-bargaining administrative personnel’s contribution to the health insurance premium from 10% to 15% was passed and the meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Chester Township Trustee

student artwork from 20 Northeast Ohio schools.

West Geauga was represented by the following talented art students - Jessica Janes, Eliana Keller, Simon Fisher and Taylor Deets. Fisher was awarded honorable mention for his portrait titled “Kyle.” Their art teachers are Lauren Tokarsky and Andi Jahnke.

Seussical Jr. Musical

Students in the West Geauga Musical Theatre did not disappoint their audiences as they recently put on four performances of “Seussical Jr.” Whether behind-the-scenes or performing on stage, the hard work and effort by all of the students involved is to be commended. A special thank you to the di-

nity Action Response Engagement Service (C.A.R.E.S.) project in March is a food drive to support the Claridon Community Helps organization, which helps to feed Geauga County families during the summer months. While the other district buildings are also supporting this organization, Lindsey Elementary found a unique way to combine the food drive with the elementary “Little Mermaid Jr.” musical. Each student was encouraged to bring in a donation as a “ticket” to watch the student-only performance. The generosity was overwhelming.

New Student Registration

New student registration for the 202425 school year is underway. The link to complete online registration can be found on the district website: www.westg.org.

Famous Ohioans

Cardinal St. Anselm

The fourth-grade students at St. Anselm School researched famous Ohioans. They created poster boards and presented information about their chosen Ohioan at a wax museum for family and friends. Each student acted as if he/she was the famous Ohioan and reported facts about the life and history of the person when their "Press Here" button was pressed to start the presentation. It was a great community building experience for everyone.

Juniors and seniors at Cardinal High School recently practiced their interview skills with Ohio Means Jobs. They had a chance to learn proper interviewing etiquette and create relationships with local businesses and programs.

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

23-F-000612 - THE FARMERS NATIONAL BANK OF CANFIELD, successor by merger to GEAUGA SAVINGS BANK, Plaintiff vs. ESTATE OF FRANKLIN LEE SMITH, JR., DECEASED, et al., Defendants

Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, Unknown Executor or Administrator of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, and Unknown Heirs, Devisees and Legatees of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, whose addresses are unknown and who cannot be served within the State of Ohio, will take notice that Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint in Mortgage Foreclosure in the Court of Common Pleas of Geauga County, Ohio, 100 Short Court Street, Suite 300, Chardon, OH 44024 on February 27, 2024 in Case No. 23-F-000612, against Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, et al., Defendants, alleging that on or about March 19, 2019, Plaintiff extended a loan to Franklin Lee Smith, Jr.; that pursuant thereto Franklin Lee Smith, Jr. executed and delivered a certain Note in the amount of $100,300; that Plaintiff is the holder of the Note, upon which there is due and owing $82,072.34, plus interest and other costs and expenses; that to secure payment of the Note, Franklin Lee Smith, Jr. granted a Mortgage, and thereby conditionally conveyed the real property described therein, and known as and located at 12349 Clay Street, Huntsburg, Ohio 44046, Parcel No. 16-042900; that the Mortgage was properly recorded; that the Mortgage is the first and best lien against the subject real estate, after the lien of Defendant Geauga County Treasurer for real estate taxes; that the Note secured by the Mortgage is in default for lack of payment, the conditions of the Mortgage have been broken, Plaintiff is the holder of the Mortgage and is entitled to have the Mortgage foreclosed; that Defendant Geauga County Treasurer holds a claim on the subject real estate for real estate taxes; that

Defendants Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, Unknown Executor or Administrator of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, Unknown Heirs, Devisees and Legatees of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, may have or claim to have interests in the subject real estate. The Complaint demands that the Defendants be required to appear and set forth whatever interests they may have in and to the subject real property or be forever barred from asserting the same; that Plaintiff obtain judgment in foreclosure; that the subject premises be appraised and sold in this action, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction of Plaintiff’s Mortgage in its proper priority; and that the Court grant such other and further relief.

Defendants Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, Unknown Executor or Administrator of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased, and Unknown Heirs, Devisees and Legatees of the Estate of Franklin Lee Smith, Jr., Deceased are further notified that they are required to answer said Complaint within twenty-eight (28) days of the last publication of this notice and set forth whatever interest they may have in and to the above-described real estate or be forever barred from asserting the same.

By Jerry M. Bryan (0055266), Joseph N. Spano (0098381), Henderson, Covington, Messenger, Newman, & Thomas Co., L.P.A., 6 Federal Plaza Central, Suite

1300 Youngstown, Ohio 44503-1473; Telephone: (330) 744-1148; Facsimile: (330) 744-3807; jbryan@hendersoncovington.com; jspano@hendersoncovington.com; Attorneys for Plaintiff Mar7-14-21, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE ISABELLA COUNTY

76TH DISTRICT COURT STATE OF MICHIGAN

300 N. Main Street Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858

SERVICE BY PUBLICATION/ POSTING

AND NOTICE OF ACTION

Case No. 2023-2245-GC – Landmark Machinery, LLC, a Michigan Limited Liability Company vs. DC Tree & Landscape Design LLC, an Ohio Limited Liability Company; Chuck’s Garage, et al.

To Daniel Cochran, whose last known address is 10787 Auburn Road, Chardon, OH 44024, otherwise whose address is unknown; DC Tree & Landscape Design LLC, an Ohio Limited Liability Company, Attention Daniel Cochran, resident agent, 10787 Auburn Road, Chardon, OH 44024, otherwise whose address is unknown. You are being sued in this court by the plaintiff for the monies due to Landmark Machinery, LLC for no less than $5,734.99. You must file your answer or take other action permitted by law in this court at the court address above on or before 28 days from the last date of publication. If you fail to do so, a default judgment may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint filed in this case. If you require special accommodations to use the court because of a disability or if you require a foreign language interpreter to help you fully participate in court proceedings, please contact the court immediately to make arrangements.

By Sara K. MacWilliams (P67805); Paige Serra (P84568); Doerr MacWilliams Howard, PLLC, 838 West Long Lake Road, Suite 211, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302; (248) 432-1586. sara@dmhlawyers.com; paige@dmhlawyers.com. Attorneys for Plaintiff. Mar7-14-21, 2024

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS SINGLE-STREAM RECYCLING DROP-OFF SERVICES

The Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) will be accepting sealed bids until:

TIME FOR RECEIVING BIDS: Until 2:00 PM, Monday, April 22, 2024

TIME FOR OPENING BIDS: 2:10 pm, Monday, April 22, 2024

Location: Geauga-Trumbull SWMD Offices, 5138 Enterprise Dr., Warren, OH 44481

Work: HAULING AND PROCESSING SERVICES FOR SINGLE-STREAM AND INSTITUTIONAL PAPER RECYCLING SITES WITHIN GEAUGA AND TRUMBULL COUNTIES IN 8 CUBIC YARD FRONT-LOAD CONTAINER(S)

PROVIDED BY THE BIDDER. A copy of the specifications along with proposal pages may be obtained at the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District offices at 5138 Enterprise Dr., Warren, OH 44481 or on the district website at www.gottagogreen.org. There shall be a Pre-bid meeting at the Geauga-Trumbull SWMD offices on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 10:00 AM.

FAILURE TO OBTAIN PROPOSAL FROM THE GEAUGA-TRUMBULL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT MAY RESULT IN BID REJECTION/S DUE TO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FEE REQUIREMENTS AND OFFICIAL ADDENDUM NOTIFICATION/S.

For all bids in excess of $50,000.00, a certified check or cashier’s check representing FIVE percent (5%) of the proposal, drawn on a solvent bank, and payable to the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District, or a bid bond in the sum of FIVE percent (5%) of the proposal in lieu thereof must accompany each and every proposal as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into with the Geauga-Trumbull SWMD Board of Directors, in the manner provided by law. A performance bond in the amount of 100% of the contract price will be required at the time the bidder enters into the contract. However, if the item bid is available for immediate delivery and specified as such in the bid, a performance bond will not then be required.

Bids of Corporations not chartered in Ohio MUST be accompanied by proper certifications that such Corporation is authorized to do business in Ohio. Attention of the Bidder is directed to the requirements that each proposal must be accompanied by a non collusion affidavit, properly executed by the Bidder. Further, the successful Bidder will be required to execute an affidavit required by Sec. 5719.042 of the Ohio Revised Code. No payment shall be made on any Contract for which no such affidavit has been submitted.

The Geauga-Trumbull SWMD Board of Directors reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities. In addition, the Geauga-Trumbull SWMD Board of Directors reserves the right to participate in state contracts which the Department of Administrative Services, Office of State Purchasing has entered into for the purchase of supplies, services, equipment and certain materials pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 125.04. No bids may be withdrawn for at least sixty (60) days after the opening thereof.

Each bidder must ensure that all employees and applicants for employment are not discriminated against because of race, color, sex or national origin.

GEAUGA-TRUMBULL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Jennifer Jones, Director

Mar14-21, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

23-F-000634 – Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County, Ohio, Plaintiff vs. Scott Stewart, et al., Defendants. Unknown Occupants, if any, of 14874 Standish Ave., Middlefield, OH 44062 whose last known address is 14874 Standish Ave., Middlefield, OH 44062 address is unknown, and cannot, with reasonable diligence, be ascertained shall take notice; and, if deceased, their unknown heirs, devises, legatees, administrators, executors, and assigns will take notice that on the 23rd day of October 2023, the Treasurer Of Geauga County, filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, 100 Short Court Street, Chardon, Ohio 44024, entitled Christopher P. Hitchcock, Treasurer of Geauga County vs. Scott Stewart, et al., Case No: 23-F-000634, against the above-named parties, praying that the premises hereinafter described be sold for the collection of delinquent real estate taxes, owed and unpaid, is $15,355.51 together with accruing taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, and charges; as well as court costs. Said premises is described as permanent parcel number(s) 19-060800. A complete legal description of the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Recorder’s Office. The volume and page number for the parcel(s) can be obtained from the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

The object of the action is to obtain from the Court a judgment foreclosing the tax liens against such real estate and ordering the sale of such real estate for the satisfaction of delinquent taxes.

Such action is brought against the real property only and no personal judgment shall be entered in it. However, if pursuant to the action, the property is sold for an amount that is less than the amount of the delinquent taxes, assessments, charges, penalties and interest against it, the Court, in a separate order, may enter a deficiency judgment against the owner of record of a parcel for the amount of the difference; if that owner of record is a corporation, the Court may enter the deficiency judgment against the stockholder holding a majority of the corporation’s stock. The above-named parties are required to answer on or before 28 days after the last date of publication. Such answer must be filed with the Clerk of Courts, and a copy must be served on the Prosecuting Attorney.

By Kristen Rine, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Attorney for Plaintiff. Mar21-28 Apr4, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

TROY TOWNSHIP

ZONING COMMISSION

Notice is hereby given that the Troy Township Zoning Commission regular meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2024 is rescheduled to Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Troy Community Center, 13950 Main Market Road. Lisa Murphy, Secretary Mar21, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VARIANCE TO THE CHARDON TOWNSHIP

ZONING RESOLUTION

Notice is hereby given that the Chardon Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing for a variance to the Chardon Township Zoning Resolution on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 7:00 o’clock p.m. at the Town Hall, 9949 Mentor Road, Chardon, Ohio.

CASE 2024-3 – Vincent and Teresa Tromba, 480 Locklie Drive, Highland Heights, OH 44143 request to construct a single-family residence on Parcel #06-078600, Forest Oaks Drive, Chardon, Ohio. The proposed single-family residence would be located forty-seven (47’) feet from the front setback line and twenty-five (25’) feet from the rear setback line. Section 500.03 Minimum Yards of the Chardon Township Zoning Resolution requires a minimum of seventy-five (75’) feet from the front setback line and thirty (30’) feet from the rear setback line in the R-2 Residential District.

Linda Kerry, Secretary Mar21, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

The Asphalt Resurfacing of Sections F-G of Fairmount Road Geauga County, Ohio Bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00AM local time on April 5, 2024 and read publicly at 10:05 AM local time at the above address.

The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $800,000.00. Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital Bidders must register with Bid Express® (allow time for processing). Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid documents are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153, the bid must be accompanied by an original sealed document (uploaded for digital bids) in the form of a bond for the full amount of the bid (100%). Otherwise, each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or letter of credit in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1305. All digital Bidders must submit original documents within three (3) business days of the bid opening.

Bids may be held by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days from the date of opening, for the purpose of reviewing the bids and investigating the qualifications of Bidders, prior to awarding the contract. The Geauga County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids received, and to accept any bid or bids which are deemed most favorable to the Board at the time and under conditions stipulated, all in accord with the applicable provisions of laws of the State of Ohio governing the conduct of the Geauga County Board of Commissioners. This legal notice is posted at the following website: https://www.geaugacountyengineer. org/projects-bids/legal-notices/. BY THE ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Christine Blair, Clerk Mar21, 2024

Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week of March 11, 2024, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP

Ann N. Winterich, 30 Windward Way (Unit W9A), to Dale and Gwenn Klose, $489,000. (0.00 acres)

Kenneth Dicker and Tessa Kiraly Dicker, 133 Williamsburg Court (Unit 24), to Ryan Evans and Caitlin Wood, $382,500. (0.00 acres)

Maikoh Holdings LLC, Washington Street, to Mitchel Evan and Madison Lynn Bear, $225,000. (8.87 acres)

Real Estate Transfers

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

Tammie Lynn Moreau and Earl Charles Clossin, 17920 Geauga Lake Road, to Earl Charles Clossin, $90,500. (2.34 acres)

John R. and Bethany Cordi, 8250 Stoney Brook Drive, to Thomas and Stephanie Shuss, $459,000. (0.50 acres)

Heidi J. O’Neill, 16544 Snyder Road, to Kitchen and Bath Etc. Inc., $515,000. (10.21 acres)

BURTON VILLAGE

Tiffany S. DiFranco (trustee), 14741 Shannon Court Unit 5B), to Steven B. and Rebecca L. Tompkins, $260,000. (0.00 acres)

CHARDON CITY

Heather Sonewald, 438 North St. (Unit 10B), to MTD Homes LLC, $101,000. (0.00 acres)

David J. and Robin S. Marshall, 120 North St., to Christine M. and Michael Beaudoin, $257,500. (0.43 acres)

CHARDON TOWNSHIP

Linda J. Little and Ruth A. Peluso, 9797 Thwing Road, to Arnulfo Rodriguez and Alicia Soto, $365,000. (12.77 acres)

CHESTER TOWNSHIP

Tali Santiago (trustee), 11801 Heath

Road, to Tameika A. Anderson and Martin L. Yorke, $390,000. (5.09 acres)

CLARIDON TOWNSHIP

Mikayla R. and Taylor Ashba, 11977 Old State Road, to Taylor Ashba, $162,800. (6.58 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP

Andrew R. and Ruth M. Miller, 16411 Nauvoo Road, to Mark Alan Detweiler, $230,000. (2.32 acres)

UPR Realty LLC, 15730 Madison Road, to 15730 Madison LLC, $6,200,800. (5.32 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE

PBP Ltd., 16460 Cottonwood Place (Bldg. 2, Unit 16), to Hannah Mary O’Reilly, $152,500. (0.00 acres)

Middlefield Parkway, 15231 Timber Ridge, to NVR Inc., $64,600. (0.21 acres)

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

Amy Lynn and Alan B. Kirsh (trustees), 12095 Burlington Glen Drive, to Terry B. and David F. Skomrock, $400,000. (1.50 acres)

PARKMAN TOWNSHIP

Christine J. Kerr, James A. Curry and Jennifer Curry Hoard, 16970 Hosmer Road, to

Ronald J. Ellis, $190,000. (1.50 acres)

Enos H. and Mary Ellen Frey, Hosmer Road, to Adam L. and Lorena C. Miller, $33,600. (5.59 acres)

Enos H. and Mary Ellen Frey, Hosmer Road, to The Haven Amish Community Youth Center, $190,000. (30.36 acres)

RUSSELL TOWNSHIP

John E. Simsic and Beatriz Fernandes, 8810 Lanes End Drive, to Richard Benjamin and Shelly Rene Kaman, $864,000. (3.56 acres)

Adam M. and Courtney B. Cramer, 9085 Fairmount Road, to Walter E. and Andrea L. York, $305,000. (10.19 acres)

SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE

Peter P. and Jean G. P. Spangenberg, 144 Holly Lane, to Dominic and Tina Frisina, $659,000. (0.18 acres)

Timothy Daniel Reynolds (TOD), 119 Waverly Lane, to Craig E. and Lauren Thomas, $510,000. (0.55 acres)

TROY TOWNSHIP

James G. Toothman, 15025 Main Market Road, to Jack Miller, $60,000. (4.27 acres)

Michael J. Zenisek, Linda Mann and Linda Schreckengost, 18725 Shaw Road, to Michael J. Zenisek, $240,500. (28.57 acres)

Geauga County Sheriff’s Report

The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office March 8 to March 14, 2024.

EXPLOSIVES

March 9

6:02 p.m., Brakeman Road, Hambden. North of address caller advising ongoing issue of explosives being set off. Today her stuff is actually falling off the walls. Advised this has been going on all day today and is happening more and more often. Caller reported hearing explosives. Deputy patrolled, unable to locate.

HARASSMENT

March 12

11:24 a.m., Plank Road, Monville. Caller's 14 year old daughter is being harassed on her phone, ongoing issue. The harass-

ment is from four kids that she used to go to school with at Berkshire School is not doing much about it because it is happening on the weekends. They are trying to tell her to kill herself. Students from Berkshire High School. Deputy Ray from Berkshire is going to talk to the students and their parents of the incident and advise them to no longer contact the callers daughter.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

March 12

9:44 a.m., Madison and Main Market Road, Parkman. Caller says there is a male in fluorescent green vest and safety glasses, may have had on a hat. Standing in a driveway exposing himself to traffic. Caller is no longer there. Suspect is on 528. Checked the area and did not locate anything suspicious.

LITTERING

March 11

11:38 a.m., Mayfield Road, Huntsburg. Needs to report people dumping a table and chairs at the park. She has camera footage. Red Hummer left a chair in front of the recycle bin. A truck and trailer left a fold up table. Andover Police Department is going to relay to the Hummer owner to pick up the chair. Deputy Sebor asked the trailer owner to pick up their table.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

March 11

6:29 p.m., Burton Windsor Road, Burton. Someone tried to break into their vehicle sometime today. Damge by someone attempting to break into it. The vehicle had damage to the roof from about the middle to the driver side from the front windshield to back window. There were marks on the driver's door where someone would attempt to pry it open. Blood was also observed by the driver's door.

RV PROBLEM

March 8

3:46 p.m., Dewey Road, Thompson. Four wheelers and trucks in the middle of the road doing doughnuts called in by the road department. Caller advised the four wheelers and trucks came out of this address. Caller advised they just redid the road this morning. Road crew called due to seeing marks at the end of driveway. Did not witness anything.

SUSPICIOUS

March 10

7:12 a.m., Clay Street, Thompson. People going form house to house stealing Catalytic converters. Can't see people because it's dark, but he can hear people cutting things cars. Across the street all going

into the woods. Said there were a lot of people. As he was getting off the phone he said: "Let me go outside so I can shoot these people. Was advised to stay inside, he stated someone cut his gas line. Still at the house, advising he does have a firearm on his person. Stated he could "not protect himself while he was on the phone" and then disconnected.

March 10

8:31 a.m., Clay Street, Thompson. Caller believes someone is in the house. He can not see the person but they have something poked out around the corner of the hallway. “I don't know if it is a gun.” Caller can see one person by the barn and another person near the back edge of the property line. Caller states a friend of his showed up and is in a vehicle in the driveway. No evidence in yard on video. Male taken to hospital where a pink slip was completed.

WELFARE CHECK

March 8

3:53 p.m., Nauvoo Road, Middlefield. Caller's sons are fighting. One son has a sword the other son has a baseball bat. No adult is home. 15 year old has sword and 12 year old has baseball bat. 12 year old advising he is not injured from the sword, however, 15 year old elbowed him in the ribs and legs. Argument over the WiFi hotspot. One brother claimed the other brother was going to damage a gaming console with a bat. The other claims the other brother pointed a sword at him. Both deny even possessing either a bat or a sword. Grandfather on scene babysitting and didn't hear anything. Mom arrived, took the hotspot, and took the younger child to meet his father for the night.

FOR RENT

Warehouse or storage building, Washington St, Auburn. 32X56 with 12X12 overhead door, concrete floor, electric, parking. $790 per month. 12 month lease. 440552-0228.

Office Space in Chardon: second floor, Main Street, approx. 535 square feet. $600/month, includes HVAC and water. Call 440-285-2247.

FOR SALE

Ruger Mark IV stainless steel 10” barrel target model and 5.5” suppressed target model available; $700 each. 440-321-8152.

Firewood: Seasoned Hardwood. Average length 17”. Free delivery within 10 miles of Chardon. 4’x8’x17” $120. Fresh cut firewood discounted now. 440-6875404.

Bicycle: Classic English Racer 25.5” frame by famed English frame builder Colin Laing, Campy equipped, 1970 vintage, like-new condition, really!!! $800. 440548-2414.

2017 Kubota Riding Mower: T2080 20-HP 42” deck, well maintained, maintenance by Kubota every year, immaculate condition; $1,8000/OBO. 440-668-4773.

Lesco Commercial Lawn Aerator, self propelled, 24” wide, 42 tines, roller, Honda engine; $1,500. 440376-8733.

Taking orders for fresh brown eggs. 440-313-1804.

Meyers Snow Plow: with lights and wire harness, $700.

Snow Tires: Four(4), like new, with heavy duty aluminum Chevy rims, P245/75R16, $400. 440-622-9201.

Solid Cherry Corner Desk: like new, 78” tall, 48” depth, 64” wide, paid $2,250, asking $1,480/OBO. Antique French round marble table w/4 chairs, $1,600/OBO. 440-338-3563.

John Deere Lawn Tractor: Model 314, 14-HP, hydraulic 3-blade 46” cutting deck, w/snow plow and trailer; $1,200. 440-564-1172.

HELP WANTED

Housekeeper: 16 hrs per week for bachelor in a large house on a 40-acre estate, Chardon area, flexible days and hours, must have own transportation, call Roger at 216-798-2633.

Normandy Products in Middlefield has immediate openings on all shifts for Press Operators, Material Handlers, Mold Setters, and Process Technicians. Our highly competitive pay rates start at $17/hour for Press Operators with and additional $1/hour for 2nd and 3rd shift. We offer a complete benefits package including paid vacation and sick time in your first year. We are safety focused, and provide on the job training. Apply now at jobs.crh.com.

Caregiver Needed for bed ridden senior citizen in Chesterland. Part time hours, flexible, days or nights. May become full time. Work references required. 440-3390519.

Classifieds

PETS & ANIMALS

Sammy needs an indoor home! Large, handsome, black & white 6-yr old cat. Very sweet. Loves being petted & brushed. Neutered, vaccinated. Rebecca 440321-2485.

Black and White Bunnies for sale. 440-632-9651.

For Sale: Miniature Poodle Puppies: a variety of colors, had shots and dewormer, 1-year health guarantee; $400/each. 440-313-3542.

Wanted to purchase: Twelve(12) 4-H Feeder Pigs. Please call 440-636-5747.

MISCELLANEOUS

FREE fact: lots of kids are buying marijuana at licensed marijuana dispensaries across the U.S. It’s illegal! Want one near you?

REAL ESTATE

$79.9k .34 acre lot, a part of sought-after Lake Lucerne. Gas, Electric, Sanitary Sewer, Well Water all available. Listed on Zillow. 440-596-2608.

SERVICES

Retired man looking for a few lawns to mow. References and insured. 440-635-1901.

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.

Joe Eicher doing roofing, siding, remodeling, cleanout houses, we do most anything. Call between 8a-4p, 440-813-4272. No answer, leave message.

Albert’s 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.