Geauga Maple Leaf 3-16-23

Fire Nearly Guts Moulding Manufacturer

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Flames were not apparent when Middlefield Fire Department Lt. Ben Reed arrived at 13813 Station Road in Middlefield Township at about 8:30 p.m. March 9, but there

was plenty of smoke.

“Smoke was pushing out of the eves of the building,” Reed said Saturday morning.

Mouldings One, a custom wood

wood projects and racks of wooden mouldings, he said. Because of the thick smoke and the building’s location — one side against a hill — the interior was

“Once we found (the fire), it

Pastor Pleads Not Guilty to Five Felony Sexual Battery Charges

Laferty Admitted To Sexual Conduct With Minors, Prosecutor Says

By John kArlovec John@kArlovecmedi

Dennis W. Laferty, a pastor at Thompson United Methodist Church in Thompson Township, pleaded not guilty at his ar raignment in Geauga County Common Pleas Court.

Laferty, 37, who until early last week lived in a home Trustees of Thompson Methodist Church own at 6724 Madison Road, was indicted March 10 on multiple felony counts, including sexual battery against one or more minors.

A warrant was issued for Laferty’s arrest and he turned himself in March 10 in Crawford County.

INSIDE

He waived extradition and was transported to the Geauga County Jail and booked on March 11.

The seven-count indictment against Laferty states a county grand jury found between Nov. 30, 2019, and Jan. 30, 2023, Laferty engaged in various acts of

sexual misconduct with one or more minors. Specifically, Laferty was charged with five counts of third-degree felony sexual battery, one count of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition involving a person less than 13 years of age

As the firefighters worked to save the building, others began to arrive with water tankers from all over Geauga County, as well as from Ashtabula, Portage and Trumbull counties, Reed said.

Part II Dave’s Decade in D.C.

‘We Need to Declare War on Fentanyl’

China, Drugs Areas of Concern

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

Although it’s been a decade since Congressman Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) was first sworn into office in 2013, the nation was fighting the second wave of the opioid epidemic.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the first wave of the epidemic began in the 1990s, but by 2010, the nation saw a rapid increase in overdose deaths involving heroin.

The third wave began in 2013, the CDC said, with significant

in-

Foundation for Geauga Parks Welcomes New President page 10

GPD Answers To Budget Commission, Public Sports pages 14-15

Obituaries pages 15 Opinion pages 16-17

Sheriff’s Sales & Legal Notices start on page 21

Classifieds start on page 23

(PHOTO COURTESY OF MEANWHILE, IN GEAUGA COUNTY)

Firefighters combated a blaze at the Mouldings One building on Station Road all night March 9 and 10.

David Ondrey set his bail at $100,000/10% cash or surety.

Laferty

other year, but that would mean the senior class would miss out on the Disney World experience.

“One of the things that we’ve always proposed is that every high school student should have the opportunity to march in Disney World with their high school band,” Branch said. “Taking the band to Disney World next year would give next year’s seniors an opportunity to go and if we delayed the trip a year, it would take the Disney opportunity away from a class of students.”

According to the proposed itinerary, the band would depart on March 22 and arrive in Orlando, Fla. March 23 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where students would spend the day.

On March 24, students would tour EPCOT and possibly participate in a workshop day at Disney Imagination Campus for soundtrack sessions, and an instrumental workshop and dance workshop for the West Geauga High School Dance Team.

On March 25, students would tour Magic

Kingdom Park and have a possible performance day.

On March 26, students would tour Universal Studios and then depart for home, arriving at West Geauga High School March 27.

Costs for the trip include transportation, three nights of hotel accommodations, meals, as well as admission for the following:

• One Disney three-day Performing Arts Starter Pass, which includes admission to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios;

• One Universal Studios One-Day, Parkto-Park Pass, which includes admission to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Islands of Adventure;

• Disney Imagination Campus Marching Band Performance pending application acceptance.

• Disney Imagination Campus Soundtrack

Sessions: Instrumental Workshop (for students only).

• Disney Imagination Campus Dance Disney Workshop (for students only).

A number of tour package costs are being proposed based on the number of participants and occupancy scenarios, such as two, three, four or five students per room, as well as adult chaperones.

According to the proposal — with 145 to 148 participants — the cost per student in a quad (four persons per room) would be $1,308 per student and $1,271 per adult.

“A parade in Magic Kingdom is the performance that we’re applying for,” Branch said. “We can’t apply until one year prior. We also can’t apply for performance without board approval.”

Board members are expected to vote on a resolution for the trip to Disney by midApril.

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.

Geauga County: March 21, 9:30 a.m., Geauga County Commissioners, regular session including presentations by Geauga 4-H kids and Geauga Farm Bureau; March 28, 9:30 a.m., Geauga County Commissioners. 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.

Auburn Township: March 20, 7:30 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 23, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at the Administration Building, 11010 Washington St., unless otherwise indicated.

Bainbridge Township: March 16, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; March 20, 5:30 p.m., Board of Trustees, special meeting for town hall renovations work session. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Road, unless noted.

Burton Township: March 20, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Township Administration building, 14821 Rapids Road, unless otherwise noted.

Burton Village: March 16, 7 p.m., Public Library Trustees; March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Review, executive session to discuss abatement of penalty and interest on taxes. All

meetings are held at 14588 W. Park St., 2nd Floor, unless otherwise noted.

Chardon City: March 28, 6:30 p.m., Planning Commission, joint meeting with City Council. All meetings are held at Municipal Center, 111 Water St., unless otherwise noted.

Chester Township: March 22, 7 p.m., Park District, at the office of CG Accounting, 7840 Mayfield Road. All meetings are held at the Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Claridon Township: March 20, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees. 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.

Huntsburg Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road.

Montville Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 23, 7:30 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings held at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road, unless noted.

Munson Township: March 13, 6:15 p.m., Park & Recreation Board, special meeting for regular business. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, unless otherwise noted.

Newbury Township: March 22, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 14899 Auburn Road, unless noted.

Parkman Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road,

unless otherwise noted.

Russell Township: March 16, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 22, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission. All meetings are held at Russell Town Hall, 14890 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

South Russell Village: March 16, 7 p.m., Planning Commission. All meetings are held at Village Hall, 5205 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Troy Township: March 21, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Troy Community Center, 13950 Main Market Road, unless noted.

Cardinal BOE: March 22, 6:30 p.m., work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.

Chardon BOE: March 20 6:30 p.m., regular meeting. All meetings held at Ira A. Canfield Building, 428 North St., Chardon, unless otherwise noted.

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West Geauga High School Band Director Jason Branch asks board members for approval to apply for a high school marching band trip to Disney in 2024.

Chardon City Council Weighs Hotel Feasibility

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

The race to build a hotel in Geauga County continues as Chardon City Council asked local businesses to support a feasibility study during its March 9 meeting.

City council member Kyle Martin said he and council member Heather Means, along with Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney, met with Jessica Junker, a partner at Core Distinctions, to discuss the process.

The Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce will send out a survey to both member and non-member businesses.

“The next steps … would be to collect that information to help determine the scale, or what size hotel is recommended and needed, if it’s determined to be feasible,” Martin

said. “We expect to have a draft of the study by the end of this month.”

Means encouraged council members to reach out to businesses in and beyond Chardon, telling council Junker is looking for “demand-generators.”

“We’re trying to … reach out to businesses, local businesses, not just in Chardon but in our county, who might be demand-generators,” Means said.

Large manufacturing or industrial facilities, like KraftMaid Cabinetry in Middlefield, may have visitors at different times of the year.

Middlefield Village Council also recently voted to hire Newmark V&A’s Hospitality, Gaming and Leisure Group to analyze market demand and feasibility for a hotel in its village. The analysis would provide information

Means said Junker timed their trip from University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center to the city.

“(She said) this is nothing, as far as like what she sees and how far people are willing to travel,” Means said.

Means also mentioned the Spire Institute in Geneva, which hosts athletic tournaments, as a possible generator of demand for hotel rooms, especially when hotels along Interstate 90 in Lake County fill up.

“With us being close to the highway, we would also see traffic from — somebody pulls off at Concord, (and) the new Holiday Inn at Concord, it’s booked,” Yaney said. “They’ll say well, you know what, you can keep going on one way or the other or, you know, you can go to Chardon, five miles from here and there’s a hotel right there.”

The survey includes questions on the lodging needs of organizations pre-COVID-19 and what their expected needs would be in 2023 and beyond.

“Please be as specific as possible,” the survey says. “Example 1: My company typically has five rooms a month. The guest usually stays Tuesday or Wednesday night for two nights. Example 2: We have soccer

tournaments three times during the summer months. These tournaments are held Friday and Saturday and have 10 to 25 teams of 10.”

A disclaimer on one question asks those taking it to keep in mind a new hotel may take two or more years to develop and build.

Council heard public comments from Meg Carver and Mary Briggs, who organized last year’s Pride event on Chardon Square.

The pair were seeking feedback on whether and how to provide food for a crowd they expect to be larger than last year’s — including advice on offering space for food vendors.

The event was free last year, but several vendors have since expressed a desire to participate, Carver said.

“We had a lot of requests last year from vendors who would have wanted to participate, selling bracelets and T-shirts and some little snacks for the day,” Carver said. “So, we thought we would open that up to raise some more funds for the church, bring in some more attendees.”

Briggs offered her wholehearted thanks to council for their comments last year after the release of a letter, signed by multiple area clergy, condemning the event.

Council and Law Director Ben

Chojnacki

See Hotel • Page 5

LEGAL NOTICE

SPECIAL ELECTION - MAY 2, 2023

3503.01, 3503.12, 3503.16, 3503.19

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT RESIDENTS OF GEAUGA COUNTY WHO WILL HAVE RESIDED IN OHIO FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION MAY REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 470 Center Street – Bldg. 6 Chardon, Ohio 440-279-2030

REGISTRATION OFFICE HOURS

REGULAR HOURS: Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

AT ANY STATE OR LOCAL OFFICE OF A DESIGNATED AGENCY, AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR A DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AT A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY, AT THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY TREASURER, OR THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023

REQUESTS FOR REGISTRATION FORMS MAY BE MADE BY MAIL, IN PERSON, BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH ANOTHER PERSON. REQUESTS MAY BE SENT TO OR DROPPED OFF TO THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, 470 CENTER ST., BLDG. 6, CHARDON, OH 44024. REGISTRATION CLOSES APRIL 3, 2023 AT 4:30 P.M. PERSONS WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED IN ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF OHIO, BUT HAVE MOVED TO AN ADDRESS IN GEAUGA COUNTY MAY FILE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR A DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES, A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, A PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY TREASURER, THE OHIO SECRETARY OF STATE, OR OTHER DESIGNATED AGENCIES OR COMPLETE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS ON-LINE AT www.MyOhioVote.com BY APRIL 3, 2023. BY ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

MAR16, 2023

MICHELLE LANE, DIRECTOR

Pastor

from page 1 and one count of third-degree misdemeanor sexual imposition involving a person 13 years of age or older but less than 16 years old. The third degree felony counts in the indictment each carry a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison.

Laferty, who appeared on video before Judge David M. Ondrey, answered, “Not guilty, your honor,” when asked how he wished to plead.

Ondrey then was assigned the case for future proceedings.

On the issue of bond, Laferty told Ondrey he has been living in his father’s home in the Village of Tiro since he was removed from his Madison Road home. He said he has been employed by the United Methodist Church for the last 10 years. Laferty also admitted to a prior felony conviction 10 years ago and added it was sealed.

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz asked Ondrey to set bond at $100,000.

“The state (of Ohio) would represent to the court that during an investigation of this matter the defendant did make admissions that he engaged in illegal sexual conduct with minors, so the state’s evidence is strong,” Flaiz said. “Given the nature and circumstances of the crimes charged, the state is requesting a $100,000 cash or surety bond.”

The Geauga County Public Defender’s Office, which represented Laferty for purposes of his arraignment, asked Ondrey to consider a personal recognizance bond, citing Laferty’s “lack of (criminal) history,” service to his country — Laferty served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years and was honorably discharged in 2011 — and work as a pastor for the past decade. If a PR bond was inappropriate, Ondrey was asked to grant reasonable bond with a 10% option.

“I’m going to set the bond at $100,000, 10% cash or surety,” Ondrey said, adding Laferty was required, among other things, to surrender his passport and to have no contact with alleged juvenile victims.

Laferty, a former staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, joined TUMC in July 2018 after serving three years as pastor at The United Methodist Church in Nevada, Ohio. He is married and has three daughters, according to his Facebook page.

On March 8, a former member of TUMC

Hotel

from page 4

pointed out at that time the city could not legally prohibit such an event on public grounds.

“The city of Chardon’s square is a public space that is open to all regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation or any other social or personal beliefs. Groups may gather and openly practice their First Amendment rights and are protected by our Constitution,” Mayor Chris Grau said at the time.

“I want to thank the law director (and) council for speaking up at that meeting and speaking up for the freedoms of Americans and their diversity,” Briggs said. “And the police department did an outstanding job. And it was an absolute wonderful and healing event for many.”

During his report at the start of the meeting, City Manager Randy Sharpe brought up last month’s meeting, during which council voted to close its 911 dispatch center.

contacted the Geauga County Maple Leaf with information that Laferty was removed from his home on or about March 7 and was not allowed to have contact with his family. The person agreed to speak with the Maple Leaf on condition of anonymity.

“The Thompson Methodist Church is trying to cover this up, but the town’s people have a right to know,” the former member said. “The Thompson Police Department along with a few unmarked Chevy Tahoes were at his residence across from Dollar General. They came back later and confiscated some of his belongings.”

The former member was aware of at least one minor victim who is a member of TUMC and said one or more of the church leaders have known about other inappropriate behavior involving Laferty, but have covered it up for years.

“It has torn the church apart,” the former member said. “They don’t want anyone to know, especially the people of Thompson Township or the United Methodist Church District.”

Whether the leaders knew about the sexual battery allegations is unknown, the former member said.

Flaiz said as the investigation is still ongoing, he is unable to comment further on Laferty’s charges at this time.

“An indictment is only a probable cause finding by the grand jury,” his statement said. “A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the State’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

One speaker — who told council he lived in Russell — questioned the efficiency and dedication of the city’s staff compared to the dispatchers they voted to terminate.

“(The speaker) went on to ask how much time is the human resource officer actually productive,” Sharpe said. “He suggested that the city require timesheets for every 10 to 15 minutes of work to find out who is productive and who is not. Then he stated that the human resource officer was in Florida, taking phone calls on the beach.”

Sharpe said anyone who knows Deputy Human Resource Officer and Finance Director Heidi Delaney knows she’s an asset to the city and an extremely hard worker.

“Actually, the opposite of her wasting time is — she would be on vacation fielding phone calls and spending her own personal time helping the city out,” he said. “So, I just wanted to go on record saying that I don’t know where that came from, or if it had anything to do with the position here, but Heidi makes herself available, she does a great job and we really appreciate her work.”

A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation, but not authorized to speak publicly, told the Maple Leaf authorities learned of Laferty’s alleged sexual battery through a current TUMC member who was concerned with how the matter was being handled internally at the church.

In addition, the former member said Laferty has a criminal history and provided the Maple Leaf with a copy of a 2012 sentencing entry filed in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas. According to the entry, Laferty admitted to aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony. He was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine to the City of Mansfield Police Department and hand over a Kimber .45 semiautomatic handgun to the state of Ohio. He also was ordered to complete a mental health evaluation and treatment program.

The former member claims some church leaders knew of Laferty’s prior conviction but failed to inform the “majority of the hiring committee” before he was hired in July 2018.

In October 2018, Laferty paid to have the 2012 case record sealed so he could get a passport to go to Jerusalem, the former member said, which he did earlier this year, according to his Facebook page.

The Maple Leaf reached out to the lay leader and president of the church, Steve

Roessner, for comment on Laferty’s hiring, current status with the TUMC and the criminal allegations. Roessner, who is a tax map manager in the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, did not respond to a text message requesting comment.

The Maple Leaf also reached out to board member Kirk Fowler for comment. Fowler also did not respond.

On March 13, Geauga County Engineer Joe Cattell told the Maple Leaf that Roessner had been placed on paid administration leave pending an investigation into the matter. Cattell explained his office was investigating whether Roessner’s alleged actions or inactions violated any office policies or procedures.

In a March 11 Facebook post, the Thompson UMC Administrative Council stated Laferty has been suspended as pastor.

“We have recently been made aware of very concerning allegations regarding Pastor Dennis Laferty. Please be aware that we are taking matters very seriously and allowing the appropriate authorities to take action,” the council stated. “At this time, we ask that you pray for our church and community, and that answers may be brought in a just manner. Please know that we at Thompson United Methodist Church do not condone any form of harm to any person and we care for all our members.”

The council also stated that “to ensure the protection of our congregation and community” Laferty has been suspended as pastor.

The Maple Leaf also learned Thompson Township Fire Chief Dorothy Battles had planned to put Laferty on the fire department as a probationary member to be trained as a firefighter. When reached by phone, Battles declined to comment.

Thompson Township Trustee Erwin Leffel said when he and the other trustees were informed of Laferty being removed from his home, they chose not to appoint him.

Law enforcement believes there may be additional victims of Laferty. Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand is asking anyone having information regarding this investigation to call Geauga County Department of Job and Family Services at 440-285-9141

Fire in Auburn Damages Garage

stAff

A garage fire at 10835 Washington Street in Auburn Township was called in at 8:14 a.m. March 12, according to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office dispatch report.

The unattached garage was located about 30 feet to the south of the house the caller said flames were coming out of the roof and explosions were heard, according to the report, which added fireworks may have been stored in the building, which is owned by Robert Zeidler.

Auburn Fire Department firefighters

arrived on the scene and requested Washington Street be closed between Auburn and Munn roads while the fire was being extinguished.

At 8:34 a.m., a call went out for other fire departments to assist and water tankers came from departments in Geauga, Trumbull and Portage counties.

At 9:12 a.m., the report said one firefighter was taken to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center and at 10:27 a.m., a request went out to the sheriff’s office for traffic control at Munn Road where it intersects with Washington Street. The road was reopened by 1 p.m.

VIA FACEBOOK

Screenshots from Dennis Laferty’s Facebook page, which was publicly viewable as of press time. Laferty, 37, was indicted March 10 on multiple felony counts, including sexual battery against one or more minors.

Joyce from page 1

creases in overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, particularly those involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

In a February interview, Joyce said when he first entered Congress, he met with bipartisan legislators who called themselves the “Recovering Prosecutors Group.”

“We went around the room thinking — where can we focus our energy, you know, what are the issues at home? And to a person, it was opioids,” he said. “Everybody had this, no matter where, from sea to shining sea, it was the same problem.”

During a 2020 roundtable with local officials, Joyce said as a prosecutor, he was on the front end of the opioid crisis as heroin and fentanyl use was starting to increase.

The problem has only gotten worse since then, he said, adding legislators need to work toward reforming laws to adjust to the growth in the use of fentanyl, which the CDC said is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.

Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids — a category that includes fentanyl — increased by over 56% from 2019 to 2020, according to the CDC, while the number of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids in 2020 was more than 18 times the number in 2013.

“More than 56,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids in 2020,” the CDC said. “The latest provisional drug overdose death counts through June 2021 suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Joyce said the problem with fentanyl is no longer simply about addiction, as was the case earlier in the opioid epidemic. Now, it’s about the sale and trade of a drug that is killing people.

The CDC said illicitly manufactured fentanyl can be found in combination with heroin, counterfeit pills and cocaine — meaning people don’t always realize they are taking it when they use other, less-dangerous sub stances.

“They're compounding (fentanyl) into things that people think they're taking, such as an opioid or Adderall,” Joyce said. “And these aren't chemists making it. These are drug dealers and these are cartels, and so we need to make sure that we start interdict ing them before they hit our shores and, you know, start maximizing the laws.”

Joyce said higher penalties for importing the drug would send a message to dealers the money they may make from a sale isn’t worth it.

“But you have to make those statements and you have to do it in a profound way, so you set the tone and the message that we're not putting up with this anymore,” he said. “If somebody went into a store and shot 50 people, they'd be eligible for the death penal ty. But if somebody brings in a ton of fentan yl (into the U.S.), they don't deserve a light sentence.”

Responding to China

Joyce said 2023 will be a critical year for the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which he chairs.

Illegal fentanyl enters the country via the border with Mexico, he said, but the precur sors for manufacturing the drug are made in China, where it is compounded into pill form.

Marijuana Legalization a Goal for Some in Congress

Joyce, Ocasio-Cortez Partner on Cannabis Expungement ‘HOPE Act’

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

As a former Geauga County prosecutor, Congressman Dave Joyce witnessed firsthand the scourge of the opioid epidemic and continues to look for ways to strengthen the nation’s response to the growing threat of fentanyl.

But there is one substance Joyce said deserves a second look from lawmakers — cannabis.

As a member of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, Joyce and other legislators are searching for solutions to the nation’s patchwork of laws around use of the drug.

Joyce said he was warned away from supporting cannabis legalization by then-Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) shortly after being sworn in for his first term. Joyce heard testimony in a hear ing from a representative of the U.S. De partment of Veterans Affairs who said while cannabis was legal for medical reasons in his home state of California, he was not allowed to prescribe it to veterans due to federal drug laws.

“I thought, you know, that doesn’t sound right,” Joyce said during a March 3 appearance at the City Club of Cleveland.

Joyce said he voted in favor of a bill proposing to relax rules around cannabis and was “summoned” to Boehner’s office.

“And (Boehner’s) like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’” Joyce said. “(He said) ‘Yeah, don’t vote for it again’ and I said, ‘Well John, it doesn’t make any sense.’”

In his remarks to the City Club, Joyce said 47 states and territories have some level of legal access to cannabis, but federal laws still consider it a schedule one drug – on par with opioids and fentanyl.

That designation prohibits the cannabis industry from working with the banking system or the tax system.

“The cannabis industry is the only (industry) that’s ever come to D.C saying they want to be taxed and regulated,” he added.

the number of people still imprisoned for previous cannabis-related offenses.

Joyce said when the moment comes for full legalization at a federal level, 50 states will have 50 different ways of handling the process of expunging those criminal records, which is why he partnered with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act.

Joyce said he and Ocasio-Cortez plan to reintroduce the HOPE Act, first introduced in late 2021, in the current congressional ses-

“Having been both a public defender and a prosecutor, I have seen first-hand how cannabis law violations can foreclose a lifetime of opportunities ranging from employment to education to housing,” Joyce said when the bill was first introduced. “The collateral damage caused by these missed opportunities is woefully underestimated and has impacted entire families, communities and regional economies. By helping states establish and improve expungement programs for minor cannabis offenses, the HOPE Act will pave the way for expanded economic opportunities to thrive alongside effective investments to redress the consequences of the War on Drugs.”

On March 14, Joyce’s office announced the relaunching of the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus along with Congressman Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York. Joyce and Tonko will serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan which seeks to advance bipartisan solutions to the nation’s addiction crisis.

With 50 members, a statement from Joyce said the caucus work towards expanding access to treatment for addiction, supporting Americans recovering from the illness, and strengthening the nation’s addiction and recovery healthcare system.

“The Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus is the first and longest running Congressional caucus that recognizes addiction as a disease,” the statement said. “At a time when the United States is facing an unprecedented overdose crisis, coupled by a nation-wide shortage of healthcare professionals, Representatives Joyce and Tonko intend to use the Caucus as a forum for bipartisan action to support communities across the United States and drive commonsense solutions to the problems underpinning the crisis.

view Joyce said stiffer penalties are warranted for those who trade in deadly fentanyl. See Dave •

VIA TWITTER

Congressman Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) during a Telephone Town Hall held March 9.

JPMorgan Chase Bank to Build on Fifth Avenue

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA

The last corner at Fifth Avenue and Cen ter Street is slated to be the site of a new JPMorgan Chase Bank building following Chardon Planning Commission approvals Feb. 28.

FMS Architects requested a concept plan and architectural review approval for the 3,810-square-foot bank on the southwest cor ner of the busy intersection.

FMS also applied for a variance to allow 35 parking spaces and another to allow vehi cles to park closer than the 10-foot setback from the building wall.

A lot split has been approved with the parcel at 501 Fifth Avenue to consist of 1.1 acres, leaving a parcel measuring 1.1 acres beside it for future development.

Chardon Community Development Ad ministrator Steve Yaney said the pond on the property will be filled in and stormwater re tention will be underground.

The driveways to both parcels will be on Fifth Avenue, he said, with no direct access onto Center Street.

The request for 35 parking spaces –19 more than allowed in the zoning code – is needed because bank personnel will include

additional parking spaces.

The building is going to be much more than a drive-up window, Yaney said.

“The bank is a financial institution. There’s more going on. What they are requesting is not out of the realm of a normal request. It’s what they need to function as a business. And there is space on the site for

The architectural plan shows a drive-up ATM, a 24-hour vestibule with a secure ATM and a meeting space for transactions, but drawings are still in process, Yaney said.

Commission Chairman Andy Blackley noted the elevations show a building that is very modern, similar to the Starbucks coffee house on Center Street.

The commission approved the construction drawings, concept plan, architectural review and the variances, Yaney said after the

The parcel is owned by Premier Forbes LLC of Cleveland. It was purchased in 2012. Market value for the 2.21 acres is $221,000, according to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office website.

Yaney said groundbreaking for the bank is planned for late spring or early summer

Commissioners Honor 21-Year Employee’s Retirement

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

A Geauga County Department on Aging employee recently closed the book on a long career during the Feb. 28 Geauga County Commissioners meeting.

Commissioners Jim Dvorak and Tim Lennon passed a resolution honoring Peggy Peters’ retirement after 21 years of service and dedication to the county.

“Peggy has been reliable, dependable and such a pleasure to work with,” said GCDOA Director Jessica Boalt. “It’s so sad to see her go.”

Peters began her service for the department Feb. 28, 2002, as a maintenance and food aide, and then moved into her role as food and services aide, where she helped serve Geauga County seniors.

Over the years, Peters responded to seniors in need by assisting with the home-delivered meals program, serving congregate meals at the senior center and with curbside

Dave

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“We need to declare war on fentanyl. There's no doubt about it,” he said. “We can't allow our political differences to interfere with our shared mission of ensuring the safety and security of the United States.”

Joyce said a recent meeting with U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan illustrated the magnitude of the problem. The USCG is tasked with enforcing U.S. drug laws on navigable waters.

“Initially, when you were talking about marijuana, it was tons,” Joyce said, referring to Fagan’s explanation. “Then, they reduced it to cocaine, where you're dealing with kilos. And now, you could have an ordinary fishing boat and they could be bringing in enough (fentanyl) to kill 20 million people.”

During a March 3 appearance at the City

meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Peggy Peters truly has a caring heart and a desire to help every senior in the community,” Boalt said, adding Peters also assisted with the senior services levy and by supporting Alzheimer’s and home-delivered meal fundraisers over the years.

Peters was an advisor for a 4-H group, continues to be an active volunteer on the Junior Fair Board with The Great Geauga County Fair and is involved with the St. Helen Catholic Church in Newbury Township, according to the resolution.

Peters, along with her husband, Mike, of 46 years, have enjoyed raising their family — which includes two daughters, Sandy Peters and Lisa Hostutler — in Geauga County. She is looking forward to spending more time with them, especially with her grandchildren, Christopher, Ella and Emily Hostutler, camping with friends and family along with her hobbies of drawing and painting, according to the resolution.

Club of Cleveland, Joyce said Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have put together a bipartisan group of lawmakers to seriously address issues with China, including their export of deadly fentanyl.

“China is not our friend,” Joyce told the audience. “China is an enemy. China is sending the precursors for fentanyl into Mexico and killing, as we know, hundreds of thousands of kids. We have to declare war on this — I mean, it needs to stop.”

After an audience question, Joyce clarified he was singling out Chinese leadership, not the people of China or Chinese Americans. China’s leaders, which include President Xi Jinping, are “pushing forward” on a process to eventually dominate the world, Joyce said.

He said when he first arrived in Congress, he read a book, “The Hundred Year Marathon,” by Michael Pillsbury, which described

the policy goals of the Chinese government since 1945.

The book helped open his eyes to the economic issues of trade with China since that time, he said.

“It's like — boy, that makes sense. My dad was in the steel business — I understand that, you know, everybody's losing their business to cheaper-made steel in China,” he said. “And what does that do? That closes down our plants. Well, God forbid we're getting (into) a World War and we don't have a production facility … able to create steel, able to create our own ammunition. That'd be quite a problem.”

In his interview with the Maple Leaf, Joyce touted a partnership between the Lordstown Motors Corp. and Taiwan-based Foxconn — a multi-national technology company — on a new electric vehicle program.

“We'd lost (manufacturing jobs) for so many decades, over to China, Japan and

Taiwan,” he said. “And you know, thanks to China and their aggression, Taiwan and Foxconn … they start to realize that hey, we got to get some of the stuff away from this area in case the Chinese government comes (to take over).”

Joyce said the U.S. is viewed around the world as having a stable government and currency, as well as workers.

“We've shipped so many (jobs) overseas,” Joyce said. “We need to bring them back, we need to start transitioning to (teaching) kids not everybody has to go to college to earn a good living.”

Many employers will even subsidize college courses, so employees can end up at the end of four or five years with a college degree, with no debt and a good living, he said.

“Artificial intelligence isn't going to fix your plumbing or your heater on Sunday, so you need people in those jobs,” he added.

resolution for her retirement after 21 years of service to the county.

Budget Commission, Public Question GPD

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

It’s been several weeks of starts and stalls, but Geauga Park District representatives finally appeared before the Geauga County Budget Commission March 13 to field questions.

The special meeting came on the heels of two previously scheduled meetings — one on Feb. 22, at which GPD was a no-show, and the second on March 6, which was rescheduled due to GPD’s legal counsel not being available that day.

GPD Executive Director John Oros emailed the three members of the commission — Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder, County Treasurer Chris Hitchcock and Prosecutor Jim Flaiz — GPD Commissioner Howard Bates and Fiscal Officer Dawn Sweeney the afternoon of March 3 with several questions about the budget process.

“(Oros) quotes some numbers from the (Government Finance Officers Association) best practices documents and asks if we agree, and then he asks for advice regarding appropriating funds over multiple years,” Walder said of the email.

The exchange had taken place as described, Oros confirmed in an email.

“Our intent with providing the commission with our latest round of questions prior to the next meeting (was) to have a starting point for discussion,” he said.

Because the GPD currently has an appeal filed before the tax commission, Walder said he told Oros any conversation should take place in the presence of GPD’s legal counsel.

However, Oros replied over the weekend that GPD legal counsel would not be available on Monday and asked to have their appearance before the commission once again rescheduled.

Flaiz pointed out Oros’ attempt to open a private dialogue via email with the three members of the commission was inappropriate due to laws regarding open meetings.

“We don’t do business on Saturday, anyway,” Hitchcock said.

Walder said this was another point to bring to GPD’s attention. The park district had previously made similar last-minute requests prior to a Monday meeting.

“And then they act like, ‘Oh, (the budget commission) ambushed us,’” Flaiz said.

The commission must meet as a group to make decisions and could not make decisions — including whether to postpone or change a meeting — via email, Walder said.

“Nor can we, legally, because this meeting is public,” Hitchcock said. “How do we publish an email response?”

Walder said he couldn’t get answers to Oros’ questions between Friday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 10 a.m., which is why he responded to the email.

“Well, and any two of us can’t discuss any of their questions unless we’re in a public meeting. I don’t know why that concept is so hard for them — they’re supposedly supposed to be running a public body,” Flaiz said.

Budgeting

During the March 13 meeting, Deputy Auditor Tammy Most said the GPD’s capital projects fund total is now $2,863,852, and the district’s appropriation certificate now totals $13,185,061.

Walder said a series of four amendments

Alleged Lack of Oversight,Transparency Sparks Concern

By Amy PAtterson Amy@kArlovecmediA com

In a rare occurrence, Geauga Park District fielded on-the-spot questions from the public during the March 13 Geauga County Budget Commission meeting.

County Treasurer Chris Hitchcock, who sits on the commission along with Auditor Chuck Walder and Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, opened the floor for public comment after concluding their discussion with the GPD.

He asked the audience — which was larger than usual for budget commission meetings — if they had any questions for GPD Executive Director John Oros or Fiscal Officer Dawn Sweeney.

Jane Valvoda asked Oros to explain GPD’s reasoning for separating from the oversight of the auditor’s office.

“That’s a good question,” Oros said. “We felt that we could manage our own fiscal operations … and we still believe we can do that.”

The budget commission has been highly critical of the GPD board’s lack of public comment at their meetings, with Flaiz comparing the board to the “Chinese Communist Party” during a Feb. 22 budget commission meeting.

In addition to the above question, the public centered on GPD’s lack of transparence, with Flaiz confirming the district is the only public entity in the county that does not allow public comment as a component of their meetings.

Dave Partington, a member of Protect Geauga Parks, told Oros he greatly appreciates all the work he has done over his career and the positive things he’s done with the GPD.

“But starting in the end of June, in 2021, when you separated (from the county), things began to —problems began to be created,” Partington said, referencing comments earlier in the meeting by Walder, who explained some of the difficult financial processes now being performed by Sweeney were once the job of Deputy Auditor Ron Leyde.

“(Previously), things were taken care of so that you could not get yourself into financial difficulties. I would strongly encourage you to return under the umbrella of the auditor’s office, right this ship this way, get yourself back on track,” Partington said. “The taxpayers have given you three generous levies and we want you to spend those monies in (an) appropriate way.”

Geauga resident Shelley Chernin also spoke, thanking the commission for opening the meeting to the public. Chernin said if the public had been allowed to comment at GPD board meetings, the board may have been made aware of problems with appropriations before they were flagged by the budget commission.

“I first became aware that maybe there was the fiscal problems of some sort in January when some amendments were tabled at a park board meeting with no discussion,” she said. “There was absolutely no discussion at the park board meeting about why these amendments were being tabled.”

Chernin said a public records request for communications regarding the tabled amended certifications only revealed conversations about scheduling meetings with various department heads and GPD board members.

“But there was nothing of substance (in the) public records requests I got. Nothing of substance is put in writing. So, I don’t understand when the work of the park district, of substance, happens,” Chernin said. “It doesn’t happen on paper. It doesn’t happen in the public meetings. When was there a discussion with the commissioners about tabling these budgetary amendments?”

There was no way to know whether decisions were made through serial phone meetings or in executive session, Chernin said — both of which would be a violation of Sunshine Laws.

“It’s very disturbing as a member of the public,” she said. “And quite honestly, when there’s no transparency, when we can’t see the working of a public agency, we start to suspect corruption.”

“Obviously, the business of the park district is not conducted in public because there’s barely any discussion,” Flaiz added, piggybacking off of Chernin’s comments. “It’s a scripted event, most of the board meetings I’ve seen, so I share your frustration as a taxpayer.”

Walder said while there is no law that says GPD must have public comment, when things “start to become mysterious,” it’s his office that gets the phone calls. His staff has records of paper transactions, which puts his staff in the middle between the public and the GPD, he said.

“That’s oftentimes where relationships fall apart. Because we’re brokering, we’re trying to broker your message, but we shouldn’t be doing that,” he said. “You should be giving your message.”

Walder encouraged Oros and the GPD board to field their own questions because his office does not have full knowledge of the situation.

Allowing public comments more than once a year — and at times other than stressful budget meetings — would soften the blow and keep people more aligned, he added.

“Most people just are curious to know why, you know, and they don’t always have to agree,” Walder said. “But they have a right to know. It’s their money.”

Oros said the GPD encourages the public to email park commissioners.

“Then, we can prepare for the upcoming meeting and answer those questions during commissioners’ time,” he said.

“Well, I think that’s good. But I guess the question I would ask is, how’s that working? How’s it working for you,” Walder asked.

“We’ve gotten very few questions but you know, we’ve let people know that they can do that. I just thought I’d reference it,” Oros replied.

Flaiz drove the point further, telling Oros he knows why the GPD separated from county oversight.

“(Separation) made zero financial sense, made zero business sense. Any business person on your board would never do that for their personal business if they were getting those services for free,” Flaiz said. “The only reason you did it was to avoid oversight and avoid transparency, period.”

Flaiz said the GPD’s acts obstruct the public from looking at what’s going on in the district — and obstruction seems to be their intent.

“When you have $12 million of our money and you’re looking to avoid oversight, avoid transparency, you don’t take public comment, and you have very little or no discussion other than a scripted meeting, I think people are frustrated,” he said.

Oros

Troy Township Trustees Adopt New Zoning Fees

By Ann WishArt Ann@kArlovecmediA com

Troy Township Trustees unanimously approved a new, simplified zoning fee schedule Feb. 7 following Zoning Inspector Joe Orlowski’s recommendation.

The previous schedule, adopted in 2017, required a lot of calculating of square footage while the amended schedule is more straightforward, he said.

“Having just one fee is easier for the applicant and for me,” Orlowski told trustees. “The fee schedule allows some things we never did before.”

In the past, fees for larger homes, accessory buildings and additions were set low with five cents a square foot added to the base fee. The same calculation was needed for commercial, industrial or institutional buildings over 2,500 square feet, according to the fee schedule.

For example, the new schedule, first

Fire

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A total of 25 departments contributed to the effort, he said.

“We needed a lot of water,” Reed said, adding when the wind picked up in the morning, conditions for fighting the fire worsened.

A press release from Middlefield Fire Department said crews worked for several hours to bring the fire under control. There were no injuries and no other buildings were damaged.

About one-third of Mouldings One was saved because of a firewall, but the main

Parks

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to their initial appropriation successfully righted their fiscal ship.

The auditor took the opportunity to give tips and feedback to Sweeney and Oros on the financial management of GPD.

His office issues “do exceed” certificates to entities it finds to have over-appropriated funds, although the law only requires the issuance of a certificate stating an entity’s appropriations do not exceed their funds, Walder said.

“We think it’s important because then we tell you at the bottom which funds did exceed,” he said. “So it kind of tells you — these funds you either need to de-appropriate, or certify revenue you’re anticipating in those funds and that rights the ship.”

During the March 6 meeting, Walder said GPD was on the right path, but did not understand they could meet their budget requirements by certifying funds that are expected but have not yet arrived.

“So, let’s say you’re thinking you’re going to get a grant for $2 million and it’s not going to come ‘til June. You can certify that in January,” he told Sweeney March 13. “It’s anticipated or in the process of being collected. Now, you can’t spend it because you don’t have it, right? But you can certify it and you can appropriate against it. You just can’t write the checks because you don’t have the money physically.”

Walder explained how entities can legally

presented in February, has set fees for single family dwellings ($250), house additions ($100) and accessory structures ($75), regardless of size. Commercial structure permits cost $300 and the charge for an additional permit is $225.

New on the schedule are permitted use and conditional use for erection of a telecommunication tower fees at $725 and $1,050, respectively.

The cost of a board of zoning appeals hearing for a residential variance was decreased from $375 to $325. A commercial or industrial variance costs $325 and an application for a zoning amendment costs $800.

A full list of fees is available at the township zoning office.

In other business, trustees discussed the installation of a few more security cameras inside and outside the fire station and upgrading the system.

Fire Chief Eric Mathews said it would be more cost-effective to update the nine-year-

part of the building was charred and smoking come Friday morning, even when the danger from the blaze was extinguished, Reed said.

Firefighters stayed on scene, putting out hot spots and waiting until the state fire marshal arrived Friday, Reed said.

The fire was reported at 8:25 p.m. March 9.

“Somebody called it in. There was a haze of smoke in the area,” he said, noting no fire alarm was activated to alert the department.

Mouldings One is a sister division of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring and Paneling Inc., 15320 Burton Windsor Road, Middlefield Township.

Derek Gingerich, controller for The Hardwood Lumber Co., commented on LinkedIn:

transfer money between funds to cover appropriations, telling Sweeney the process is all about cash management.

He said his concern is the GPD has appropriated over 90% of its resources — an amount he called “huge” for an enterprise with a $12 million budget.

“Because you’re going to need — I think in the last budget hearing, I estimated at least $2 million in carryover. That’s what you need just to survive for the first quarter,” he said.

The GPD did not receive any significant funds until the second quarter of the fiscal year, which he said leaves them to survive on what is carried over from the previous year.

“So (if) people are out buying cars and you’re paying salaries because you have to, but you’re buying a bunch of stuff, you’re gonna get into a cash crunch because you have to have that money to satisfy those obligations or you’re going to be writing checks you don’t have money for, which is not a good thing,” he said.

Walder said before the GPD split from county oversight in 2021, Deputy Auditor Ron Leyde managed appropriations for the district. However, since GPD separated from county oversight in 2021, that responsibility now falls on Sweeney.

Flaiz said the budget commission staff has a good relationship with Sweeney, who has been with the GPD for 10 years.

“I know the last couple fiscal officers, you know, didn’t have as nice as a disposition. … I think that’s a nice way of putting it,” he said. “So I’m optimistic that (the relationship) will improve.”

which will allow us to continue our production of our products with a minor bump in service

“I would like to thank all of the community members who have reached out to help, brought food to those of us working and fight-

tion will cost approximately $5,000 more, gin at the end of March or early April, he

ing the fire and would like to thank the entire sponders and their mutual aid companies who

“Today we look in the future of how we rebuild a bigger and better showroom, office and production area that takes Hardwood Lumber Company and its employees and products to the next level.”

The fire is under investigation by the Middlefield Fire Department, the Geauga County Fire Investigation Unit and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

South Russell Village to Host Farmers’ Market May 6

Council Votes to Place Police Levy Renewal on Fall Ballot

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

South Russell Village Council took the necessary steps March 13 to ensure the village’s longstanding traditional Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market is alive and well come spring.

Village Mayor Bill Koons said the market agreement — which council approved — has been used for most of the 20 years the event has taken place.

“This is the same market that is available every other Saturday during the winter at Lowe’s Greenhouse,” Koons said. “The market is led by a volunteer board of directors and a market manager.”

The farmers’ market sells only items made or raised by the vendors and no wholesale products.

The village has in the past provided space for public service organizations like Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village, the Geauga County Public Library and the Valley Art Center during the event.

Market Manager and Harvest Bel Farm Owner Tiffany Mentzer said in a follow-up interview she is delighted for the 21st season of the market.

“Having a partner like South Russell is crucial for our market’s success,” Mentzer said. “We have numerous returning

vendors, as well as new Geauga County growers, bakers, makers and artisans joining us.”

The event will also include weekly local musicians playing on special days like Blueberry Day, Corn Day and Tomato Day, as well as the returning one-day Kid’s Market, where children are able to showcase their entrepreneurship skills.

The market begins on Mother’s Day weekend, May 6, and continues for 23 Saturdays until Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the corner of Bell and Chillicothe roads.

In other business, village council introduced an ordinance to put a 2-mill police levy renewal on the November 2023 ballot.

“The levy is the police levy we discussed earlier. It will not raise taxes,” Koons said. “It is simply a renewal of a 2.0-mill police levy that began in 1984.

If passed, the levy would generate an estimated $140,231 per year and cost homeowners $21.80 per year per $100,000 property valuation, according to the Geauga County Auditor’s Office.

“When renewed, it will continue to bring in money for our police department, approximately $181,000,” Koons said. “Residents usually support our police levies with a rate of approval over 80%.”

Alvord Insurance Agency Returns to Chardon Square

signed by every person in attendance.

The Kalchers received many compliments on the refurbished interior of the building. Alvords Insurance will occupy the downstairs front office while the basement and second floor will be leased to other businesses.

“The renovations you’ve done here are amazing -- not only for yourselves, but for your additional businesses. The opportunities that you’ve given people are terrific.” Grau said.

Originally founded in 1937, Alvord Insurance Agency was located at 213 Main St. and later moved to South Street. The purchase of 101 Main Street was something of a dream for the Kalchers, who acquired the company in 2020.

Serah spoke emotionally about the work done through the Covid-19 pandemic and the dreams they have for their family and business.

“To my husband who’s done all of this, he brought our vision to life, this was our goal.” Serah told the crowd. She teared up slightly as she continued. “He got to leave his job to grow a family business, and we’re growing our family, and it’s just amazing. So thank you.”

Foundation for Geauga Parks Welcomes New President

an environment where we can work together to further our mission,” Sukalac said.

FGP is an independent, nonprofit orga nization created to fund community engage ment with nature through education, preser vation, conservation and appreciation of the unique natural character of Geauga County.

As president, Sukalac hopes to see the foundation continue to grow in every way.

“We’re looking to further expand our diverse landscapes in Geauga can be. In a single park, people can find a beach, beautiful wooded trails and an enormous sledding hill.

Sukalac lives with his wife and two young boys in Newbury Township and has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is the chief product officer for TPA Stream, Inc., a software service organization helping administer employee benefits.

Sukalac and two friends founded the company in 2014 and he said he is developing the next generation of employee benefit solutions.

In his newest role, Sukalac hopes FGP benefits from his enthusiasm for Geauga County and its many parks, as well as his strong technical and strategic planning background.

Former FGP President Adam Henry said Sukalac’s passion and talents are a great benefit to the organization.

“We are excited to continue the foundation’s momentum with Eric’s leadership,” he said.

“He has been an active volunteer and board member for several years, from participating in

With such a fervent group of people involved in the foundation and a wonderful collection of partner organizations, Sukalac said he wants to maximize the impact their collective efforts can have for the foundation’s mission.

His fascination for the county’s nature bounties dates back to his high school days.

He grew up in Concord Township and first experienced Geauga County while attending high school at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School.

“As soon as I was old enough to drive, I found myself exploring all that Geauga has to offer,” Sukalac said.

His first job was working at the dining room at Punderson Manor and his free time was spent playing music with friends outside Coffee Corners in Burton Village.

He moved to Geauga in 2012 with his wife, Deanna, where they’ve raised their two boys, Jude and Malachi.

“Growing up, my family spent a lot of time exploring parks in Northeast Ohio — Headlands

See Foundation • Page 11

Commissioners Update

Descriptions for Archive Position

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

Geauga County Commissioners gave the senior archives and records clerk job description a complete overhaul March 7.

They approved changes to the position title and job description, a revised description for the role, an update to the organizational chart and permission to advertise for the job opening.

The changes to the job description include the addition of technical duties regarding the management of microfilm and making sure film density is correct.

“These proposed changes are part of the organization of the archives department for which Linda Burhenne was appointed to the position of temporary director a few weeks back,” said County Administrator Gerry Morgan.

Advertisement for the position will be conducted internally for a period of five days,

Foundation

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Beach State Park and the Holden Arboretum,” Sukalac said, adding Geauga Park District’s Veteran’s Legacy Woods in Newbury Township is one of his favorite parks.

The collection of parks and nature preserves between the GPD, individual townships and nature preserves are wonderful for residents to enjoy, he said.

“We’re all very fortunate to live in a place with such a wide variety of natural landscapes and the support of those looking to preserve them,” Sukalac said.

The outdoors has become his home office where he can speak on his phone and take care of the business while enjoying Geauga’s ecosystem.

“The nature of my work requires me to be on the phone quite a bit and the workfrom-home movement has really freed me up to spend time in our parks while working. In good weather, you’ll find me at Veterans Legacy Woods, the Rookery, or Burton Township’s Veterans Memorial Forest and Park, walking and talking,” Sukalac said.

While it’s important to recognize Geauga has so many great parks, he emphasized the need to maintain them.

“It will take the continued shared efforts of all of our partners to make sure that these beautiful resources are conserved and preserved for future generations,” Sukalac said.

He issued a call to residents who admire and use the parks to join FGP and support its mission.

“We love parks. Our board of directors, staff, volunteers and donors stand firmly behind our mission to raise money for all of the parks in Geauga County,” he said. “We team up with other organizations to educate, preserve and support the parks.

“For anyone else who may be interested in parks in Geauga County, I’d encourage them to learn more, donate or simply come say hello at one of our monthly explorer series hikes,” he added. “Please join us this year and every year in our work to protect and preserve our many parks in Geauga for future generations.”

The foundation will be hosting the Caveman Crawl 5k on June 11 at Geauga Park District’s The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Rd., Russell Township.

with applications being accepted from March 13 through 4:30 p.m. on March 17.

“The adjustments are to get the staffing necessary to get the department organized and to catch up on the department’s duties,” Morgan said.

He said updating the descriptions will allow the department to find the right people for the job.

“We would like to get this position filled as quickly as possible,” he said.

Burhenne said the record clerk position has a broad range of responsibilities.

“Doing courier duties is part of that and that involves taking interoffice mail and payins uptown and bringing records back,” she said. “The courts are constantly requesting copies of files and we haul them back and forth for them.”

Crossing Guard Brings Joy to Park Elementary Students

By rose nemunAitis editor@kArlovecmediA com

A temporary icy glaze formed on sidewalks around Chardon Square on a recent late February morning, but pop-up inclement conditions were no match for the cheerful and steady veteran crossing guard affectionately known as “Vi.”

“Rain, sleet, snow, the (Geauga County) Maple Festival, that is what Chardon is about,” said Viola Fierman, grandmother of five, as she held up a stop sign at the intersection of North Hambden and East Park streets to help children cross safely. “Thankfully, I can sit in my car to keep warm and dry until the bell rings. I enjoy being a guard and hearing what excites the children in school and getting hugs from them.”

It’s a symbiotic relationship between Fierman, students and their mothers as they walk back and forth from Park Elementary School.

Fierman doesn’t know how many young students she’s crossed over the years, some are now in high school, others in college, but she loves seeing them around town, she said.

“It’s nice to be in a close-knit community like Chardon where my kids can walk to school safely and have wonderful people in their lives like, Vi, the crossing guard,” said parent Sharon DeLembo.

Walking Fierman’s own grandchildren to school awakened a new calling for her after her retirement from Huntington Bank.

She was walking her grandkids to school on their first day when Chardon Police Chief Scott McKenna, now retired, mentioned they needed a crossing guard.

“A light bulb went off and I said what better way to see my grandchildren every day, and 13 years later, I’m still crossing the little ones and my grandchildren are no longer at Park,” she said.

Lt. Matt DeLisa, of Chardon Police Department, said what makes Fierman special is she is a constant person children see day in and day out, rain or shine, assisting them to and from school.

“I believe this is comforting and reassuring to the children (and parents), seeing that same smiling face,” DeLisa said. “We are very fortunate to have Vi. She provides an

See Crossing • Page 13

Crossing from page 12

important and valuable service, not only to the children of Park Elementary, but to the community, as well.”

Born and raised in Cleveland, Fierman met her husband, Lee, when she worked at women’s apparel store Bobbie Brooks.

Thirty-four years later, and after their son, Michael, finished sixth grade, the family moved to Hambden Township.

Becoming a Chardon crossing guard soon became a family affair.

After Fierman had back surgery in 2017, she needed someone to step in for her, so she suggested Lee, who had gone up to cross the children with her.

“After my recovery, they needed another

guard and asked if Lee would step in and he was thrilled and worked until 2021,” Fierman said, adding sadly, after nearly 50 years of marriage, Lee passed away following a short illness in October, 2021.

Fierman said Chardon has grown over the years from a village to a city, but is still a fun, friendly and close community, and where she enjoys being an active member of St. Mary’s Church.

“She’s really nice,” Park Elementary School student Violet Husek said of Fierman. “On the holidays, she buys us little presents and she really cares about everybody. I look forward to seeing her every day after school and sometimes on the way to school when the weather is good. I miss Vi when she can’t be there.”

Her mom, Angela, said Violet once insisted on buying a coffee mug gift set when they

Infinity Choice for Next Phase Of Courthouse Renovation

By BriAn doering BriAn@kArlovecmediA com

After hearing three presentations for the next phase of renovations to the historic courthouse on Chardon Square, commissioners made their decision on whom to hire March 14.

The Geauga County Commissioners Ralph Spidalieri, Jim Dvorak and Tim Lennon unanimously passed a motion to enter into negotiations with Infinity Construction.

“I think it comes down to who you are comfortable working with. I was impressed that Infinity was one out of the three that was able to provide us with an estimate of what they think this building can come in at,” Lennon said. “They believe they can build this courthouse addition around $14 million.”

On Jan. 31, commissioners invited three construction companies — Panzica Construction, Infinity Construction and Independence Construction — to present proposals for the project.

“They came in and did their interviews about a month ago or so. I think we’re down to Independence or Infinity,” said County Administrator Gerry Morgan. “My personal recommendation and (consultant) NV5’s recommendation is to go with Infinity with regards to what they proposed and looking at some of the projects they have done.”

The county’s contribution to the project was hashed out in a settlement last summer after the city filed a lawsuit in 2020 to keep the courts and the county seat in Chardon.

In that settlement, the county agreed to spend a minimum of $15 million to expand and renovate the courthouse and agreed to ensure Chardon remains the seat of justice in the county.

Representatives of each of the three construction companies made their case as to why they were the best fit for the job. Morgan said one of the issues with Independence was the construction team they proposed.

“The team they are proposing is the group that is their special projects group that’s been working on finalizing all the items in this building and (we’re) realizing there have been some items with this building that they didn’t have control over,” Morgan said. “We have not been very impressed with the work they have done to try and finalize this building.”

Dvorak said he was more comfortable with Independence doing the project after Spidalieri said he was fine with choosing Infinity.

“I think that the (Infinity) presentation was premature because there wasn’t a lot of detail in that,” Dvorak said. “In construction, there’s details. I think Infinity only wanted to throw out a price and I thought it was a little low with today’s prices. That’s why I’m a little uncomfortable with Infinity.”

Lennon said he thought the opposite with Infinity’s proposal and was impressed.

“I thought they were very prepared and organized. Not to say the other two weren’t, as well,” Lennon said. “I think if you can pick one out the three of them, you are going to get a very good end product at the end of the day.”

were out shopping.

“When I asked her who it was for, she said it was for Vi because she had been off for a surgery and was coming back and Violet wanted to have something nice to welcome her back and let her know that she missed her while she was gone,” Angela said.

It comforts parent Jeni Johnston’s heart to know Fierman is there making sure their kids, including her daughter, Abi, are safe.

“And as amazing as it is, she also shows an interest in them, she always asks how they are doing or how their day went,” Jeni said. “My daughter is so happy to see her every day, to tell her something new and to give her a hug. She was unavailable for a time be-

cause of personal reasons, but she made sure I knew and that the police knew she wasn’t going to be able to be there and as soon as she could, she was right back again.”

Abi thought it was cool there was a police officer there, but asked every day if “Ms. Vi” would be back soon.

Jeni can’t say enough about how amazing she thinks Fierman is.

“My daughter will be at the middle school next year and when I asked her if she was excited, she said yes, but she would miss seeing Ms. Vi every day,” she said. “It takes a village to raise kids and Vi shows that even in the world today, people care enough about their community to show up and care.”

S P O R T S

Hilltopper Boys Volleyball Now a Reality

By rich kelly sPorts@kArlovecmediA com

When you walk into the main entrance at Chardon High School, you enter a section of the building that did not yet exist when this reporter roamed those hallways.

You ascend the steps to find photos, plaques and trophies from days gone by, Hilltopper athletic successes and achievements. Just above those steps, a plaque commemorates the dedication of the building back in 1950. On that plaque are names of the school board then, administration and building architects.

Superintendent was C. O. Reef, who lived three doors down from the house my parents built on Park Avenue. At 6-foot-8 or near to it, Mr. Reef was very imposing but kind. I had no idea he was superintendent when he and his wife gave me my first job cutting their lawn, and later had him for math at Park Junior High.

There is a tradition of excellence in Chardon, a school system that has produced state championship teams, and is only the 10th team in Ohio history to win a football and baseball state title in the same school year, as recently as last spring.

Now we see what will happen with the new kid in town: boys volleyball.

Last Friday night, Chardon’s new team took the court for its debut appearance. The atmosphere was electric with a nearly full gymnasium of parents, alumni and Crazies. Athletic Director Doug Snyder was busy the entire event, as pregame ceremonies took place in anticipation of a battle with the Nordonia Knights.

Lights went out, spotlights were one, strobes were flashing, and anybody who said

which plays its first season as a new varsity sport. Chardon won 3-2 against Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin on Monday night.

they were calm in the venue was fooling themselves. Though the Hilltoppers would come out on the short end of a 3-1 decision, the team showed enough promise to stir positive vibes about future successes.

“It’s such a great honor for me to be standing here with these great kids on such a special day,” Head Coach Bryan Sutton said amidst all the hoopla of the evening. “This

is my first job as a head coach in volleyball, but I fell in love with the game back in my days here myself around 2001 or so. I was able to be a varsity assistant at NDCL with Tom Ray for a few years, and I just learned so much about the game itself, so getting to share what I’ve learned is such a big thing for me, and my family, too.”

Chardon dropped the first set by a 25-8

score, not scoring a point from service. No athlete wants to fail in front of friends and peers, and in the Hilltoppers’ recent culture of winning, there may have been a bit more pressure to win than usual. But the student section on the home side overflowed with support from CHS athletes just the same.

See Volleyball • Page 15

Obituaries

Terrence Carlton Grant

Terrence “Ter ry” Carlton Grant, age 60, passed away on March 5, 2023, in Chardon.

Terry was born in Buffalo, N.Y., to Benjamin and Mar jorie (nee Conroy) Grant, on Nov. 15, 1962. He married his high school sweetheart, Shelly VanCuren, in 1985. Together they had three daughters that he loved and adored.

He obtained his M.B.A. at Canisius College and went on to be a successful businessman.

NDCL’s Wheatley Makes Podium at Wrestling State Championships

By AlAn kornsPAn sPorts@kArlovecmediA.com

The OHSAA State wrestling championships were held March 10th-12th at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Bryce Wheatley from NDCL had an excellent state wrestling tournament and made the podium in the 190-pound weight class.

“Very happy with the outcome of the season,” said Wheatley.

“I’ve had the goal since last season to hit the podium and now have achieved it, in spite of some setbacks and health issues.”

“I’m looking forward to making it back down to Columbus next season, where I will be aiming for the top of the podium.”

In making the podium, Wheatley had three pins on the way to finishing sixth in the state.

Wheatley’s three victories included pinning opponents from Hartley and Morgan.

Volleyball

from page 14

Nordonia had a big edge, literally, in the middle of its lineup in 6-foot-7 junior middle hitter Brandon Matteo, and that is where the Toppers could have used the height of Mr. Reef.

That said, after falling behind by a 3-0 score to start the second set, a new energy level came to pass as Chardon got things going as a team for the very first time. Fighting through eight lead changes and 10 ties, a block on Matteo from Chardon AFS foreign exchange student Juan Panella, a senior, tied the score in that set at 26-26.

When sophomore libero David Williams sent a power slam to the floor for the lead, and a dink attempt went wide of the net, the Hilltoppers won their first set in school history.

Then the Knights were stirred back to life, and won the final two sets by scores of 25-14 and 25-8 to take the match for themselves.

These Hilltoppers only started practicing together in late January, and got together just once in the 10 days before their first game. Volleyball is a game of momentum, and simply put, the young and inexperienced Hilltoppers really didn’t get much going. But Chardon’s excitement around the evening ensured that this group of young athletes, a couple who are part of title-winning teams, got off to a superb start in their new sport.

In addition, Wheatley won a 7-2 decision over his opponent from Bloom-Carroll.

Overall, Wheatley had an incredible year as he was the first NDCL wrestler in over 25 years to reach the podium. On his way to the podium, Wheatly amassed a 47-8 season record and also set the NDCL school record for most wins in a season.

In addition to Wheatly, also competing at states were Berkshire’s Josh Brown, Johnny Heiden, and Colin Hering. Highlights for the Badgers included, Hering making the quarterfinals when he won a decision over Joshua Cornell from Port Clinton and Heiden’s victory over Caleb Ryman from Covington.

Also representing Geauga County at the OHSAA state tournament were Kenston wrestlers, Sean Doyle and Ben DiMarco, Brian Denamen from West Geauga and Will Vucetic from Chardon.

Just a freshman, Ian Galati had a super night leading the way for Chardon, and the memories he will take with him are too numerous to describe.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” he said. “This is just amazing to be part of.”

Galati’s evening consisted of seven kills and four blocks against a much taller Nordonia team.

Panella had three blocks while doing superb work setting and keeping cannon shots to the floor alive defensively.

Additionally, senior Joe Evans paced the scoring for Chardon with six points.

Coach Sutton said he is pleased to be part of a new opportunity for kids who may not play football, baseball or other sports.

“I fell in love with the game, and volleyball can also provide some kids with a way to get a good education in college, too,” he said. “The reason we play, though, is to have fun, and this event was just so huge, I’m having problems settling down from everything that went on right now. It was just that great a thing to be part of.”

Chardon’s new boys volleyball team consists of 12 players: seniors Panella, Evans, Nolan Kirsh and Lewin Uhler; juniors Logan Bryant, Nick Derezic, Noah Galati, Jackson Houser and Nate Suszynski; sophomore Williams; and freshmen Ian Galati and Tristan Martinez.

Even if they don’t win a match, they will have made school history — but stay tuned for a fun season ahead.

Terry loved rooting for the Buffalo Bills (Go BILLS!), Corvette rides with his family and was a Harley enthusiast.

He held many titles in his life, from fixing cars to entrepreneur, but his favorite role was being a Father and Papa. He loved nothing more than spending time with his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He was always there for them, whether he was helping them fix something they broke or helping them with important life choices. He cheered them on every step of the way and wanted nothing but the best for them.

Throughout his entire journey, he cracked jokes with his grown children, and made silly faces with his grandchildren. Family was the most important thing to him. Terry would always make sure his family was put first and taken care of.

Terry is survived by his loving wife, Shelly; three daughters, Kellie (Jeff) Hinderschied, Alexandra and Haley (William); grandchildren, Jacob and Sophia Hinderschied; and silblings, Linda (James) Morrissey, Sharon (Steven) Ockler, Michael (Robin) Grant, Patrick Grant, Daniel Grant. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Terry is preceded by his parents.

Terry left a lasting impression on so many and his legacy will forever live on.

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

Terry was an organ donor and the family has requested that all donations be made to LifeBanc at www.info@lifebanc.or or 4775 Richmond Road, Cleveland, OH 44128-5919.

Cremation provided by Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chardon. Information and condolences online at www. burrservice.com.

Joseph Jacob Brichacek Jr.

Joseph Jacob Brichacek Jr., age 68, of Rincon, Ga., unexpectedly passed away on March 13, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Jacob Brichacek Sr., of Chardon (born in Cleveland) and mother, Julia Frances Brichacek (nee Mocarski), of Chardon (born in Cleveland).

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Kathy (Busby) Brichacek; daughters, Chastity Lawson (Tony), Brandi Huskins (Grayson) and Lindsey Brichacek (Shannon); beloved grandchildren, Brianna Lawson, Brandon Lawson, Finn Huskins and Hutson Huskins; sister, Dorrin Marie Birch, M.D. (aka Doreen Marie Brichacek), of Bowling Green, Ohio; half-sister, Jo Carol Reno, of Alta Loma, Calif.; sister-in-law, Sandy Werts (Michael); brothers-in-law, John Busby (Emma Jo), Bobby Busby (Lisa); and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Joe was born in Cleveland and graduated from Berkshire High School, class of 1972, where he was an avid and accomplished wrestler.

After graduating high school, he moved down to Savannah, Ga., and began working for Gulfstream Aerospace, where he worked for many years. He continued his illustrious aviation career working as contractor on Hunter Army Airfield, and was currently working at Edwards Interiors Aerospace as a Quality Engineer.

He was a member of Landrum Masonic Lodge #48.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and riding his Harley-Davidsons.

He dearly loved his family and friends. Joe was the life the party and truly enjoyed planning trips and get togethers in Ohio with his loved ones. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation is 12-1 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2023, in the funeral home. Memorial Service at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023 in the funeral home chapel.

Remembrances: Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel, (912) 754-6421, is handling arrangements.

Notices should be sent in writing to: Geauga County Maple Leaf, P.O. Box 1166, Chardon, OH, 44024-5166 or emailed to editor@karlovecmedia.com.

County Board of Mental Health

Anyone serving on a board must be willing to question. It is fundamental to the health of the board and to the mission of the enterprise. Board members serve exclusively to benefit the constituents. Financial interests, personalities, and business or political motives must be set aside.

Every dollar spent, every contract issued, every employee and every objective. Avoidance is inherently malfeasance. All board members must be clear of purpose and disallow undue outside influence, to the best of their ability. All available facts must be used, all the time, without exception.

Many of the issues now battering America can be traced back to weak, “rubber-stamping” boards. From trouble with school boards and their lurch-to-the-Left to corrupted non-profits and corporations that are adopting policies that run counter to their own interests and those of their customers, board negligence is, I argue, at the very heart of most of today’s biggest issues.

I could write a book about failed boards. In fact, many have been written. The failures of derelict boards are storied and universally awful.

Questioning status-quo or new considerations on a board can be nerve-wracking and even treacherous; however, it is critical. In fact, I will go so far as to assert that anyone unwilling to question is not well suited to the role of board member.

Strong boards challenge and are more likely to get more things right. That is a universal truth, difficult conversations included.

We worked through issues with County Board of Health, are grappling with difficult questions with Board of Elections and face real difficulties on school boards. Regional “NOACA” is comprised of a board that seeks to override local governments in five counties, including Geauga, potentially robbing us of our elected/representative government. Yet, the county board of mental health suffers badly, publicly from an unwillingness to question. It’s difficult to determine how much of it comes from the board itself and how much comes from knee-jerk public opinion, but it is counter to the interests of the people of Geauga.

Recently, programs of the County Board of Mental Health have been called into question, as is the fundamental role of the board. It is with grave dismay that we see a strange outcry at every turn. This is harmful, counterproductive nonsense. If a member of the Board of Mental Health at any point expresses a desire to not consider any and all elements of any program, vendor or employee, I call for their immediate resignation.

All over Ohio thinking/non-conforming board members are under attack for not being “woke”/Left. On the County Board of Mental Health it appears this role is filled by Skip Claypool. He seems to honor his role, questioning, yet is met with loud public outcry at each turn. He is doing his job. Anyone not questioning or avoiding answers should not be on their respective board.

To those trying to silence him, I suggest addressing the issues and arguing your point rather than promoting un-questioning rubber-stamping.

Jonathan Broadbent Newbury Township

NOACA Response

I would like to comment on the letter to the editor on March 2, 2023: NOACA Disrupters.

My husband and I attended the meeting in Middlefield. This meeting was touted as an interactive meeting. Instead, it was a Zoom presentation and the only interaction was texting answers or questions.

Many people were interested in this because they don’t want or need “a program on climate change” or “equity” in our county, others just wanted to know what was going on. There was some laughter and comments to what was being said, however, no one was unruly or got out of control.

There was a comment about the “ex-county commissioner” “egging” us on. I am insulted by that. I have my own mind and so do the others. Anyone was allowed to attend this meeting. There seems to be negative comments regarding this “ex-county commissioner” all over the paper. Get your facts straight before you make accusations.

There was a comment about “safety officers were there as room decorations.” There were three police officers in the room. I spoke to them. They informed me that only one was there for the meeting. The others showed up because they were in the area and dropped in to see what was going on. The reason they did not do anything about the “disrupters,” as you call it, is because there was no need to do anything. Nothing harmful was happening.

It is important that everyone reads up on what NOACA is trying to do to our county. There are groups from all counties that have gone down to the NOACA board meetings in downtown Cleveland to protest this “climate change” “equity” initiative. The public is invited, so they say, and yet no one is allowed to talk or present once they get there.

NOACA is poised to do great harm to our county if allowed to continue. For more information go to NOACA…in Lake and Geauga Counties – Lobbyists for Citizens.

Sharon Madger Hambden Township

Chardon High School: A Saddam Spider Hole?

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz and Auditor Charles Walder voiced concerns over the surplus of general funds held by Chardon Local Schools ($24 million).

Mr. Flaiz continued his concerns about the lack of attention to school repairs and updates. “I’ve been to the high school. It’s absolutely terrible. The design, the safety and security of it is absolutely unacceptable. The condition of a lot of (it) is not great. But you have the money to fix a lot of those problems, so that’s where I’m confused.”

What does BOE member Todd Albright think about this? Is Chardon HS a “Saddam Spider Hole?” Is CHS becoming an orphanage?

Charles Silberman, in “Crisis in the Classroom” (1970), had the answer: “It Is not possible to spend any prolonged period visiting public school classrooms without being appalled by the mutilation visible everywhere — mutilation of spontaneity, of joy in learning, of pleasure in creating, a sense of self. The public schools . . . are the kind of institution one cannot really dislike until

one gets to know them well. Because adults take the schools so much for granted, they fail to appreciate what grim, joyless places most American schools are, how oppressive and petty are the rules by which they are governed, how intellectually and esthetically barren the atmosphere.”

Does this represent child trauma, terror and torture? John Taylor Gatto, the 1991 New York State Teacher of the Year (Author of: “Dumbing US Down and Weapons of Mass Instruction”) states: “It is absurd and anti-life to move from cell to cell to the sound of a gong for every day of your natural youth in an institution that allows you no privacy and even follows you to the sanctuary of your home demanding that you do its ‘homework.’”

In 1901, homework was legally banned in parts of the U.S. “The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning,” by Etta Kralovec and John Buell, provides the evidence. Homework should be: clean your room, assist with home chores and repairs, etc.

David Hancock Chester Township

Secretive Logging, Collusion

Thank you for your articles on 3/9/2023, “Parkman Twp. Resident Raises Questions over Logging Activity,” by Brian Doering, and “Why Upstream Matters,” by Tami Masuoka. Two of the most secretive public entities in NE Ohio — the City of Akron and Geauga Park District — have withheld information from Geauga citizens about logging in our headwaters.

The director of the Geauga Park District, John Oros, has the gall to say the observant individual who sounded the alarm about this affront is all alone in his concern. I am thankful for people like John Augustine who have the courage to speak up to protect our vital watershed.

Logging in Headwaters Park may not grossly affect the recreation that seems to be Director Oros’ only focus. Logging does have the potential to cause long-term damage to the delicate ecosystem of one of the last relatively intact watersheds in Ohio. These are the headwaters of rivers that drain to Lake Erie.

The City of Akron bought up thousands of acres of land in Geauga and Portage counties back in the 1960s for the purpose of protecting water in reservoirs for the city’s (primarily industrial) use. They no longer need the extra water. Now, evidently, Akron feels free to use that tax-free land as a cash-cow.

Akron politicians are unrestricted by any potential protest from Akron citizens because this watershed is not in their city or even in their county. A few years ago, when Akron started logging around LaDue Reservoir, there was protest from a number of Geauga citizens who were stymied by Akron’s political machine from stopping the logging, but the attention did keep the worst of the bad logging practices at bay. This time around Akron was even more secretive about the logging plans and it seems they have had collusion in this from Director Oros and the Geauga Park District board of directors.

Is this what we want from our park district?

Kathryn Hanratty Chardon Township

Mercy is Greater Than Judgment

The latest battle in this nation’s culture wars — the fight over how to decide issues involving transgender youth — has come to the Chardon school system. That struggle has arisen in Chardon over the question of whether the district ought to discontinue its membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association because of that association’s policy on transgender participation in high school sports.

Before making sense of this question, it seems to me that certain basic facts about transgender experience ought to be settled. A good deal of confusion surrounds these facts, and until that confusion is dispelled, little progress in resolving this question can be made.

At the last school board meeting, an audience member in favor of discontinuing membership asserted that there are “biological males” and “biological females,” and that the former are “much stronger than” the latter. She continued, “That’s the fact, that’s the way it is, that’s the way God made it and that is not going to change.”

What struck me about this statement was its complete erasure of any mention of transgender persons. If it’s a fact that biological males tend to be physically stronger than biological females, it’s also a fact that sex, a biological category, is different from gender, a social category. It’s also a fact that gender doesn’t necessarily align with sex. In the vast majority of the world’s population, these two categories do align, but in a small percentage of persons, they do not.

This absence of alignment is not a matter of perversity. Such persons are not trans on a whim. Nor is it a matter of social fashion or susceptibility to media buzz or submission to parental or medical coercion. Often youth who understand themselves as trans do so from a very early age. Whether they are younger or older, they come to identify themselves as trans not as a choice but as a necessity. They feel it in their bones that they are trans; being trans feels as natural to them as breathing. I say this not as someone who is himself trans, but who has listened closely to the moving stories of those who are.

The danger of erasing any mention of trans experience from discussion of social issues — whether it be the designation of bathrooms or participation in high school sports — is that you eliminate an entire category of individuals from consideration as human. Moreover, when you deny their being, when you dehumanize them, you leave them open to attack, verbal and, in some cases, physical. You also leave them susceptible, in the face of such attack, to depression, self-harm, substance abuse and suicide.

I’ve always been taught that mercy is greater than judgment. We should feel compassion, not disdain or hatred, for the vulnerable and marginalized. We should also offer them support rather than neglect or rejection. Until we respect the worth and dignity of trans individuals, we won’t be able to resolve the issues confronting us that involve transgender persons.

John McBratney Munson Township

Letters to the Editor Viewpoint

Chardon Schools Fiscally Responsible

During the February 2023 meeting of the Geauga County Budget Commission, the budget commission deemed Chardon Schools’ general fund “too large.” Mr. Walder said his message to the board is “we don’t know what the plan is, so unless we’re given it, we assume there isn’t one.”

Why would the budget commission not know what the plan is? The treasurer for the Chardon Schools Board of Education submitted the five-year forecast before this meeting, as part of her report to the budget commission. This five-year forecast explains exactly what the plan is. It would be reasonable to expect the members of the budget commission had reviewed this information before the meeting and before calling out the district. It seems evident they did not read this information, which would have answered their questions.

Then Mr. Flaiz added, “Your revenue exceeded your expenses by $5 million, so you added ($5 million) in cash to this fund. . . I’m not going to be as nice as Chuck . . . The rising balance is alarming.”

Mr. Flaiz is obviously unaware — even though the five-year forecast included with the school’s report to the commission explained it — that this revenue will be reduced every year beginning in 2026-27, possibly sooner depending on what happens with state funding or if another huge expense is necessary to fix our aging buildings.

My experience with Chardon Schools financing goes back to 1981. There is a clear history of levies being turned down by voters. Yes, it’s true the schools are in better financial shape now. What in the world is wrong with that? Would it be better if they were cutting classes and teachers, freezing salaries and not buying buses and books as they were just 10 years ago?

In fact, they are replacing roofs, installing new windows, updating restrooms, upgrading the elevator at the high school, encapsulating the tunnel at Park Elementary and so much more, all while stretching the tax dollar and avoiding a future levy for as long as possible.

It would seem Mr. Flaiz does not remember it took Chardon Schools six tries to pass an operating levy between 2008 and 2013. The district was actually afraid it wouldn’t make payroll for the month of December 2013. Under the leadership of Supt. Hanlon, and the teamwork of staff, the schools are in good financial shape — the best in 45 years! And now they are being called out because they have too much money. It boggles the mind.

Here are a few facts about school finance that are important to understand here.

Every two years the state of Ohio votes a new budget that directly affects schools. The state’s allotment for the cost of educating a child for a year is currently $7,299. Of that amount, Chardon gets about $1,600 per student because we are considered a “wealthy” district. The actual cost to educate a student in Chardon is $11,700. Local property taxes pay the difference.

The Chardon school district has repeatedly been told by voters to live within its budget. This “carryover” allows Chardon Schools to avoid asking for a levy for within the life of the current five-year forecast. With the history of lack of support for levies, it seems prudent to do this.

That gets us back to the budget from the state of Ohio. Every two years a new budget is set by the legislature and the governor. Schools are at the mercy of this budget cycle, because it is never sure they will continue getting the same amount as the last cycle. The legislature (in HB 1) is currently talking about cutting taxes — and guess who will be directly affected? Our public schools.

I hope Mr. Walder and Mr. Flaiz will consider the huge implications of their words before they make statements that create even more distrust than public schools are currently dealing with. Their misguided accusations are ill-considered and unfair.

Madelon Horvath, former Chardon teacher, BOE member

Sheldon and Pat Firem (Mr. Firem is a former school psychologist, BOE member)

Richard Bair

Judson and Beverly Elliott

Kim and Martin Greene

Anne Ondrey

Shirley and Joe Schellentrager

Diane Stocker

John McBratney and Elizabeth Cline

Kris Firth and Jay Taylor

Rosalind Kvet, former teacher

Patrick Cataldo, former Newbury teacher, president of GCRTA of Geauga County

Bonnie and Glenn Pisching

Catherine and Elbert Whitright

Barbara and John Hanson

Cheryl Sekura, former Cleveland school teacher, member of GCRTA

Jean Paine, former teacher, member of GCRTA

Letters to the Editor

The Maple Leaf welcomes readers’ letters on matters of public interest.They should be original and not exceed 500 words, although longer letters occasionally will be printed. Letters should include the writer’s name, street address, and daytime phone number. Due to space limitations, not all letters can be printed or acknowledged. Email your letters to editor@karlovecmedia.com

Shining a Light on Good Government

By shelly leWis, President leAgue of Women voters of geAugA

Happy Sunshine Week! The League of Women Voters of Geauga (LWVG) joins the News Leaders Association and The Society of Professional Journalists in the annual observance celebrating open, accountable and transparent government.

For more than 100 years, the League of Women Voters has advocated for the public’s right to know about its government and for broad citizen participation at all levels of government. These ideals were first formalized as positions during the 1972 and 1974 National League Conventions, and were the basis for the League supporting the “Government in the Sunshine Act.” Passed by Congress in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, this legislation sought to restore public confidence in government by “shining a light” on the decision-making processes of federal public bodies. The Open Meetings Act and the Public Records Act, collectively referred to as the “Ohio Sunshine Laws,” perform the same function for Ohio public bodies.

The League’s “Position on the Citizen’s Right to Know/Citizen Participation” states: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.

In support of the national position, in early 2021, LWVG launched its Observer Corps to study and observe government bodies in Geauga County. In late 2021, we began publishing reports on our website and, to-date, have shared over 250 reports documenting county and school board meetings.

League Observers are trained to monitor for compliance with the Ohio Sunshine Laws, and we routinely review meeting notices, track meeting minutes, document actions taken in open session and scrutinize the use of executive sessions. Beyond these minimum public meeting standards, we communicate directly with public bodies to encourage more expansive, citizen-friendly policies.

One area we advocate for is expanding access to meetings. Recommended strategies include varying meeting times, as is the practice of the Russell Township Trustees; providing livestream options where the public may comment, as is the practice

of the Board of Elections, ADP Board and Budget Commission; and recording meetings for later viewing, as is the practice of Geauga’s school boards, the Geauga County Public Library and the Geauga Public Health District, courtesy of ADP staff.

Another area of advocacy promotes citizen participation by permitting public comment during meetings. While we acknowledge this practice is not a right granted by the Ohio Sunshine Laws, we believe citizen input enhances public policy decisions and we advocate for public comment. We commend the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, the Geauga County Public Library and Geauga’s school boards for having formal written policies and for sharing them online.

We also recognize that while the rules may be unclear to the public, many county bodies and most township, city and council bodies permit public comment during their meetings.

We are concerned by the County Commissioners’ practice of allowing public comment at the prerogative of the current president. As the role rotates among the Commissioners annually, the public is left to figure out from year to year what the current policy is. That uncertainty should be remedied.

We are perplexed by the Geauga Park District assertion that the “Ways to Reach Us” page from their website acts as their public comment policy. Permitting emailed feedback is hardly a magnanimous gesture and it certainly is not a substitute for accepting questions and comments, on the record, during a public meeting. At the very least, GPD should clearly communicate its policy.

To support every citizen’s right to understand and participate in their government processes, we call on public bodies to create a written public comment policy, to communicate that policy to the public, to designate a public comment area on agendas and to enforce the policy provisions consistently.

The League of Women Voters of Geauga is committed to serving the people of this county and will continue to advocate for open, transparent and accessible government. We encourage Geauga voters to seek reliable information about their government and to actively monitor local issues so that they are well-equipped to participate in their democracy.

Subscribe to your local newspapers and visit www.lwvgeauga.org to check for upcoming public meetings and to read the latest LWVG Observer Corps reports.

Help for Mental Illness

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Basics is a free, six-session program designed for parents and other family caregivers of children and

adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. The program meets Thursdays, beginning April 13, from 6-8:30 p.m. in person at NAMI Geauga, 8389 Mayfield Road, Suite A2, Chester Township, or via Zoom.

To register, call Kevin Liptrap at 440-2866264.

Bloodmobile

American Red Cross urges people to make and keep appointments to help avoid a blood shortage.

Donation appointments may be made by downloading the free Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-7332767. Power Reds are available.

March 16, Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, Munson Township, 12-6 p.m. March 20, Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, 12-6 p.m.

March 26, St. Helen’s Church, 12060 Kinsman Road, Newbury Township, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 30, Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North St., Chardon, 12–6 p.m.

Health & Wellness

Family First Council

March 20, 1:30 p.m.

Geauga Family First Council meets the third Monday of the month at the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services building located on 13244 Ravenna Road in Chardon. Meetings are open to the public.

For more information, please contact Tim Kehres, Geauga Family First Council coordinator, at 440-285-1201.

FA Twelve Step Meetings

Wednesdays, 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Obsessed with food, weight, dieting or body image? Join every Wednesday for a Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous meeting at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 11519 Wilson Mills Road, Chardon. Meetings are open all. There are no dues, fees or weigh-ins.

For more information, visit www.foodaddicts.org.

Grief Support Group

The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office LOSS Team will be offering weekly bereavement companionship and grief support Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m., beginning April 4, for 10 weeks in Middlefield. The free group meetings will be peer supported social gatherings designed to offer companionship and support.

4-H News

Geauga Beef and Swine

Geauga Beef and Swine 4-H Club held its March meeting on March 5 at the School Exhibit building. Twenty-seven members and four advisers were in attendance as well as two new members. Members discussed community service ideas, potential buyer’s gifts and the club’s window display at GAR Horizons.

Reports were given and members learned about internal parasites, beef cuts and swine

Young of Heart

March 17, 11:30 a.m.

selection. Poultry members completed their poultry orders. They also reviewed first year requirements for poultry projects as a group. They broke up into groups and practiced parts of the animals for each species. They also worked on understanding the feed label and did an activity on it. The meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

The next meeting will be held April 16 at 4 p.m. at the school building. (Submitted by Faith Adams, news reporter)

Seniors

Diabetes Self-Management Class

For more information, contact Tracy Jordan at 440-279-2062 or email tjordan@ co.geauga.oh.us.

Life Recovery 12 Step Meeting

Thursdays, 6:30-8 p.m.

The open group for men and women meets weekly at Horizons Christian Assem-

bly, 14920 White Road in Middlefield and welcomes anyone struggling with grief, alcoholism, addiction, depression, co-dependency or any other habit that lessens the quality of life. The group offers support, encouragement, fellowship and discipleship.

Learn more at www.Horizons4you.com/ LifeRecovery.

Bulletin Board

The Maple Leaf Community Bulletin Board is a public service of the Geauga County Maple Leaf. Notices of nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches will be published without charge. The Maple Leaf cannot guarantee publication, and reserves the right to edit, condense, cancel, or refuse any notice at any time. E-mail submissions to: cbb@karlovecmedia.com

Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner

March 17, 5-7 p.m.

Parkman Congregational Church is hosting a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner at the church located at 18265 Madison Road. Cost is $15, dine-in or carry out.

Grange Chili Cook-Off

March 18, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Huntsburg Grange’s 20th annual chili cookoff and brown bag raffle will be held in the Huntsburg Community Center. Buy a chili sampler for $3 and vote for the winner. Play bingo for raffle tickets and learn to play bunco. Event also features 50/50, door prizes, live music and cake walk. Sponsor is Ohman Family Living at Blossom.

For more information, call 440-2864992.

Beer and Hymns

March 19, 3-5:30 p.m.

Celebration Lutheran Church, 10621 Auburn Road, Chardon, is hosting the Chardon Polka Band for Beer and Hymns to benefit SubZero Mission Organization. Food and soft drinks will be provided. Attendees 21 and older may bring a beverage of their choice.

For more information, call Paul Gochnour at 440-897-0121.

Blackbrook Audubon Meets

March 21, 7 p.m.

Native Plants for Birds

March 22, 7 p.m.

The Perennial Gardeners of Chesterland is hosting an open community presentation by Geauga County Master Gardener Volunteer and active Audubon Society member Matt Valencic. He will share his photos and tips for creating a year-round habitat for birds. The free presentation will be held at The Metzenbaum Center, 8200 Cedar Road, Chester Township.

Leadership Learning Breakfast

March 23, 8-10 a.m.

Join Leadership Geauga for a continental breakfast, networking and hear from a panel of area leaders about how they use emotional intelligence in their everyday lives and its impact on relationships with those around them at the Bainbridge Library. To register, visit leadershipgeauga.org.

Munson Indoor Flea Market

April 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Munson Township’s indoor flea market will be held at the Munson Town Hall and Fire Station Bay, 12210 Auburn Road. The $1 entrance fee for shoppers will go toward the Munson Township Scholarship Fund. Youth 12 and under are free.

Contact the township office at 440286-9255 for more information or to rent a space.

GCRTA To Meet

April 4, 11:15 a.m.

Geauga Young of Heart will meet at St. Anselm Church in Chester Township. Bring a brown bag lunch. Snacks and beverage are provided. Entertainment will be provided by Dan Maloney with his vocal, keyboard, trombone and Hirsch music.

A trip has been planned to Thousand Islands, N.Y., for May 8-11. Trip includes tours of Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, the Antique Boat Museum, a winery and more.

Cost is $785 per person, or $797 for nonmembers. For information, call Nancy at 440729-9684

A six-week self-management class that focuses on diabetes will be held Fridays, April 14 through May 19, from 12:30-3 p.m. at the Geauga County Office Building, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Chardon. During each class, seniors 60 years of age and older will get support, find practical ways to deal with pain, fatigue and sugar control, understand new treatment choices and learn better ways to communicate with doctors and family about one’s health.

To register for the free class, call Geauga County Department on Aging’s Sandy McLeod at 440-279-2137. Space is limited.

Blackbrook Audubon will reveal which species of birds are in decline and what’s being done locally during “On the Edge: Grassland and Early Successional Birds and the Conservation Efforts to Save Them.” Guest speaker is Megan Hart, Lake Metroparks park biologist.

The free program is open to all at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland. The talk will also be livestreamed on YouTube.

Bring a mug for coffee and tea. For more information, email blackbrookaud@ aol.com.

The Geauga County Retired Teachers Association will meet at the St. Denis Golf Course, 10660 Chardon Road, Chardon. The business meeting will be followed by a pork medallions lunch at noon. Judge Terri Stupica will speak about the most serious legal issues she faces in her court.

For reservations, send a check for $21 made out to GCRTA to Judy Miller, 17130 Kinsman Road, Middlefield, OH 44062 to arrive no later than March 25.

Bring paper products or canned goods for Geauga County Job and Family Services. All retired school employees are welcome to join.

Geauga Public Library

Programs require registration unless otherwise noted. Visit www.geaugalibrary.net.

GCPL Mini-Golf

March 18 and 19

Join the 11th annual Family Mini-Golf event for a round of family-friendly mini-golf in between the tables, chairs and shelves of the Bainbridge branch March 19 at 10 a.m.

The Geauga County Library Foundation and the Geauga County Public Library has expanded the annual family mini-golf event to include an adult-only mini-golf night, complete with adult beverages and mini-golfbased contests on March 18 at 6 p.m. Purchase tickets online.

Storytimes

Join for a storytime that is sure to engage, connect and inspire children. A variety of dates, branch locations and times to choose from are located on the website’s programs calendar.

Third Thursday Business Social

March 16, 8 a.m. • Geauga West

Connect with the West Geauga community.

Puzzle Exchange

March 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Chardon Exchange jigsaw puzzles for new ones.

Craft Supply Swap

March 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Middlefield

Celebrate global recycling day by joining fellow crafters for a craft supply swap.

Energy Choice:

Electric & Natural Gas Options

March 20, 6 p.m. • Chardon

Ohio offers its customers the choice of buying the state’s natural gas or purchasing electricity from an alternative supplier. Learn all about the options available.

How Legal

Aid

Can Help You

March 21, 6:30 p.m. • Middlefield

Join a legal aid representative and learn how their wide array of services may help one in need of legal advice or guidance.

Microsoft Word Basics

March 23, 2 p.m. • Middlefield

Learn the basics of Microsoft Word.

Elementary Yoga

March 23, 7 p.m. • Bainbridge

Youth in grades K-3 will learn a variety of different yoga poses, postures and practices through fun activities and relaxation.

Scrapbook Crop

March 25, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Chardon

Bring photos, scrapbooking supplies and lunch to scrapbook among other like-minded scrapbookers. No registration required.

Book Groups

No registration required.

• Virtual, March 23, 7 p.m., “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave.

• Thompson, March 26, 2 p.m., “The Measure” by Nikki Erlick.

• Middlefield, March 28, 7 p.m., “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez.

Growing Up Wild

March 25, 10 a.m. • Geauga West

GCPL has joined forces with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife to host an early childhood educator workshop, teaching about the countless benefits that children gain when “growing up wild.”

Spring Break Movie Marathon

March 27-31, 1-5 p.m. • Geauga West

Kick back and relax during spring break by joining the movie marathon.

I Wish I Would Have Asked

March 29, 6:30 p.m. • Chardon

Join the genealogy staff to learn how to interview loved ones in order to keep memories safe and preserved.

Preserving Your Family’s History

March 30, 7 p.m.

• Geauga West

Learn how to preserve one’s family’s history and family heirlooms using the Digital Legacy Lab for future generations to cherish and enjoy.

American Legion Post 459

Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Atwood-Mauck American Legion Post 459 is serving its annual all-you-can-eat pancake, sausage and scrambled eggs breakfasts every Sunday through April 16, except for Easter, at the post located at 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton. Eat in or take out. For information, call Skip at 440313-2095.

Bainbridge Civic Club

March 19, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Bainbridge Civic Club hosts its 71st annual pancake breakfast for the public in the Kenston High School cafeteria. A delivery option is also available.

Orders for delivery must be completed online by noon on March 18. Visit TheCivicClub.org for menu options, prices and to place orders.

For more information, contact Mark George at 440-591-1819 or email BainbridgeCivic@gmail.com.

Berkshire Athletic Boosters

Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Berkshire Athletic Boosters are hosting all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts every Sunday in March in the new 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 on the same dates from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Burton Fire Station

Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Burton Fire Station will serve all-youcan-eat pancake and sausage breakfasts every Sunday in March at the station located at 13828 Spring St. in Burton. call 440-8344416 for information.

Chardon VFW Breakfasts

Sundays, 8 a.m. to noon

Chardon VFW Post 6519 is serving its annual pancake breakfasts every Sunday through April 2 at the post located at 752 Water St. in Chardon. Breakfast features three flavors of pancakes, French toast, eggs made to order, bacon, sausage, ham, home fries, toast and beverages. Call 440285-3699 for takeout orders.

Geauga Historical Society

Sundays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Geauga County Historical Society is hosting all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts every Sunday in March, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Century Village Museum, 14653 East Park St. in Burton. Cost is $10 for adults; $5 for children 5-12 years and free to children 4 and under. Takeout is also available. For more information, call 440-834-1492.

Parkman Chamber Pancakes

Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parkman Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual pancake breakfasts every Sunday in March at the Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Road. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-10. Eat in or drive-thru/carry out.

WG Kiwanis Pancakes

Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kiwanis Club of West Geauga is hosting its 70th annual all-you-can-eat pancake, sausage and French toast breakfasts every Sunday in March in the cafeteria at West Geauga High School, 13401 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children 6-11. Children under 6 are free. Early bird special is from 8-9 a.m. Curbside pickup is available. For more information, visit wgkiwanis.org.

Finalists Advance

Chardon Middle School seventh-graders

NDCL

Senior Achieves Eagle Scout

Senior Sofia Thornhill will be advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout by the Boys Scouts of America during a court of honor ceremony this weekend.

Sofia joins an extraordinary group of men and women who have earned the Eagle Scout rank, including acclaimed film director Steven Spielberg, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Walmart founder Sam Walton. Only about 6 percent of all Boy Scouts become Eagle Scouts.

Girls have been accepted into the Boys Scouts since 2019. In 2021, the first 1,000 girls became Eagle Scouts.

Natasha’s Cultivating with Compost science project examined whether compost affects seed germination.

Musical Tickets on Sale

The community is invited to join the Chardon High School drama program for the students’ talented production of “The Addams Family: School Edition” at Park Au ditorium, 111 Goodrich Court on Chardon Square.

Show dates are March 16-18 at 7 p.m. and March 19 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for students and senior citizens and $15 for adults and may be pur chased online at www.chardonschools.org. Same-day, in-person ticket sales are avail able in the two hours prior to each show’s start time.

Speech and Debate State Champ

Trailblazer Charlotte Jons, a junior and Ohio Speech and Debate Association threetime high school state qualifier and 2023 National Speech and Debate Association na tional tournament qualifier, has etched yet another victory in Chardon speech and de bate history — this time as the 2023 OSDA state champion in the program oral interpre tation event.

Charlotte emerged as OSDA POI state champ on March 4 following seven rounds of competition over the course of the two-day state tournament held at Austintown Fitch High School. The Hilltopper “Hilltalker” was among 1,000 Ohio high school students competing at the state level — and one of 53 competing specifically in POI.

A true Hilltopper pioneer in OSDA competition, Charlotte has paved the way for Chardon as the sole member of the district’s speech and debate teams, participating at

the middle school and high school levels with steadfast high achievement each year.

This school year marked Charlotte’s fourth year in all as an OSDA state qualifier. She placed sixth in the state tournament in 2022 and earned a Special Distinction mark in 2023 — an award that only 18-percent of speech and debate competitors nationwide earn in their high school years. Just last

month, Charlotte earned first place in POI in the NSDA’s North Coast District Tournament, securing her a spot on the national tournament stage this June in Arizona.

The Chardon Board of Education will formally recognize Charlotte’s 2023 OSDA POI state title win and 2023 NSDA qualification at the March 20 regular board meeting.

To learn more about CHS speech and debate, including opportunities for the 202324 school year, contact CHS principal Doug Murray.

Vocalists Shine

Chardon High School choir student sopranos Carley Gutka and Lailah Pugh, altos Paige Nells and Selah Rogers, tenors Aidan Croyle, Brendan Croyle and Colin Snider and bassists Cole Hess and Noah Gerlica attended the prestigious All-Star Choir event held at the University of Akron School of Music on Feb. 15.

The event provided Hilltoppers with an opportunity to combine efforts with choir students from nine other high schools and a selection of UA singers, creating a 130-member ensemble for the day and ultimately performing rehearsed pieces at UA’s EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall.

Chardon choir director Fritz Streiff stated, “The students were selected for their advanced musical skills and leadership in our program. Our students were outstanding as they prepared with focus, attention to detail and integrity. Chardon was well represented by our choir members.”

Sofia’s Eagle Scout project involved the construction of collapsible instrument stands for American Zagreb Junior Tamburitza (AZJT). These stands will be easier for the group to transport and store. Sofia and her team of volunteers devoted more than 75 hours to the project.

Auburn CC

Nathan Suszynski, a first-year welding student at Auburn from Chardon, is already taking advantage of the numerous opportunities that career and technical education has to offer to jumpstart his future. He has earned three certifications including the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 6G pipe certification.

Thornhill

and junior Selah Rogers attended the All-Star Choir event at the University of Akron School of Music on Feb. 15.

Sutter

Legal Notices

Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661

Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26

Case No. 21-F-000230

The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss:

CHRISTOPHER P. HITCHCOCK, TREASURER OF GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO, Plaintiff vs. UNDER THE HOOD, LLC, ET AL., Defendants

In pursuance of an Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 13th day of April, 2023, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the City of Chardon to wit:

Situated in the City of Chardon, County of Geauga and State of Ohio being part of Original Lot 129 of said Village and part of land in Lot 147 annexed to said Village by Ordinance Number 503 and recorded in Volume 9, Page 74 of Geauga County Records of Plats and further described as follows:

Beginning in the centerline of Mentor Rd (Center Street) at a point which is North 46 degrees 24 minutes 30 seconds West along said centerline a distance of 375.00 feet from the most Westerly corner of land conveyed to the Sabin Development Co, by deed recorded in Volume 496, Page 720 of the Geauga County Records of Deeds. Said point being the principle place of beginning. Thence continuing North 46 degrees 24 minutes 30 seconds West along the centerline of said Center Street, a distance of 269.09 feet to a point; Thence North 31 degrees 44 minutes 37 seconds East and passing through an iron pipe set 30.64 feet therefrom, a distance of 839.13 feet to an iron pipe set in the South line of land in the name of H. Cooley, as recorded in Volume 423, Page 911 of the Geauga County Records of Deeds; Thence South 86 degrees 49 minutes 19 seconds, East along the Southerly margin of said Cooley lands a distance of 579.60 feet to an iron pin found at the Northwest corner of lands in the name of Dauntless Leasing Co., as recorded in Volume 537, Page 1197 of the Geauga County Records of Deeds; Thence South 43 degrees 35 minutes 20 seconds West along the Westerly margin of said Dauntless Leasing Co. lands, a distance of 1197.00 feet to the principle place of beginning and passing through an iron pin found 30.00 feet therefrom, containing 8.6000 acres of land, be the same more or less, but subject to all legal highways.

Said Premises Located at: 500 CENTER STREET, CITY OF CHARDON, OH.

INSIDE APPRAISAL COMPLETED

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Permanent Parcel Number: 10-087295

DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $10,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.

The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover. Said Premises appraised at ($1,000,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($666,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.

TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.

SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio Kirk W. Roessler, attorney Mar16-23-30, 2023

Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate

General Code, Sec. 11661

Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26

Case No. 21-F-000586

The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: TANGLEWOOD GREENE CONDOMINIUM UNIT OWNERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNS AND CREDITORS OF MICHAEL RAND FORBES, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendants

In pursuance of an Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 13th day of April, 2023, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 27th day of April, 2023 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and

Legal Notices are also posted to www.geaugamapleleaf.com and www.publicnoticesohio.com

State of Ohio, and in the Township of Bainbridge to wit:

Situated in the Township of Bainbridge, County of Geauga and State of Ohio: And known as being Unit No. A-4 of the Tanglewood Greene Condominium, as shown by the Declaration and By-Laws recorded in Volume 532, Pages 1268 thru 1292 of Geauga County Deed Records, and Drawing recorded in Volume 9, Pages 114 thru 137 of Geauga County Condominium Map Records, with Amendments, if any, be the same more of less, but subject to all legal highways.

The improvements thereon being known as 17507 Fairlawn Drive, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023.

Said Premises Located at: 17507 FAIRLAWN DRIVE, (UNIT NO. A-4 OF THE TANGLEWOOD GREENE CONDOMINIUM), BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, OH.

Permanent Parcel Number: 02-261400

DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $5,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov.

The purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

Said Premises appraised at ($160,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($106,667.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.

TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.

SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio Ellen L. Fornasch, attorney Mar16-23-30, 2023

Sheriff’s Sale of Real Estate General Code, Sec. 11661

Revised Code, Sec. 2329.26

Case No. 22-F-000202

The State of Ohio, County of Geauga, ss: DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-D01, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-D1, Plaintiff vs. MICHAEL J. FECKANIN, ET AL., Defendants

In pursuance of an Order of Sale in the above entitled action, I will offer for sale at public auction, at https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction.ohio.gov/, on Thursday, the 13th day of April, 2023, at 10:00 o’clock A.M., and if the parcel does not receive a sufficient bid, it shall be offered for sale, without regard to the minimum bid requirement, at the same time of day and at the same place of the first sale, on Thursday, the 27th day of April, 2023 the following described real estate, situated in the County of Geauga and State of Ohio, and in the Township of Montville to wit:

Situated in the Township of Montville, County of Geauga, and State of Ohio:

And known as being part of Section No. 12 in said Township and further described as follows; Beginning at a point in the centerline of east and west Center Road, known as GAR Highway at the southeasterly corner of a parcel of land deeded to H.W. Bacon as recorded in Volume 205, Page 294 of Geauga County Records of Deeds. Thence Westerly along the centerline of said east and west road, 194.00 feet to the principal place of beginning.

Course No. 1: Thence Northerly at right angles to said East and West Road, 363.00 feet to an iron pipe.

Course No. 2: Thence Westerly and parallel to said centerline of East and West Road, 120.0 feet to an iron pipe.

Course No. 3: Thence Southerly along a line parallel to Course No. 1, 363.00 feet to the centerline of East and West Road.

Course No. 4: Thence Easterly along the centerline of East and West Road, 120.00 feet to the principal place of beginning. Containing 1.00 acre of land according to the survey of W.E. Holland Engineering Co., Chagrin Falls, Ohio, March 1964, be the same more or less, but subject to all legal highways.

Said Premises Located at: 15794 GAR HIGHWAY, MONTVILLE TOWNSHIP, OH.

Permanent Parcel Number: 20-009600

DEPOSIT: Pursuant to O.R.C. 2329.211, the required deposit for this offering shall be $5,000.00. Said deposit shall be paid by WIRE TRANSFER of ACH DEBIT TRANSFER with https://geauga.sheriffsaleauction. ohio.gov. The purchaser shall be responsible for

those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

Said Premises appraised at ($75,000.00) and cannot be sold for less than two-thirds of that amount ($50,000.00). Please note: The appraisals are based on an exterior appraisal of property only, unless otherwise noted.

TERMS OF SALE: The FULL purchase price shall be paid to the Sheriff within thirty (30) days from the date of confirmation of sale, and on failure to do so, the purchaser may be held in contempt of court, the court may forfeit the sale and/or deposit, or the court may issue any other order it sees fit.

SCOTT A. HILDENBRAND, Sheriff Geauga County, Ohio Peter L. Mehler, attorney Mar16-23-30, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Russell Township Park District Russell Township Park District, will hold a regular scheduled meeting on Monday March 20, 2023 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Geauga West Public Library, 13455 Chillicothe Rd., Chesterland, Ohio 44026.

Dennis J. Suhay, Chair Mar16, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

2022 FINANCIAL REPORT

PARKMAN TOWNSHIP

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Financial Report for Parkman Township is completed and available for public inspection at the Fiscal Office at 16295 Main Market Road. Please call (440) 897-8761 for an appointment.

Denise Villers, Fiscal Officer Mar16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

The following matters are the subject of this public notice by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The complete public notice, including any additional instructions for submitting comments, requesting information, a public hearing, filing an appeal, or ADA accommodations may be obtained at: https://epa.ohio.gov/actions or Hearing Clerk, Ohio EPA, 50 W. Town St. P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Ph: 614-644-3037 email: HClerk@epa.ohio.gov

Draft NPDES Permit Renewal - Subject to

Revision Chardon United Methodist Church 515 North St, Chardon, OH 44024

Facility Description: Individual

Receiving Water: UT to Big Creek ID #: 3PR00179*GD

Date of Action: 03/10/2023

Draft NPDES Permit Renewal - Subject to

Revision Bridge Lake Farm WWTP 16770 Bridge Rd, Middlefield, OH 44062

Facility Description: Subdivisions and Apartment Complexes

Receiving Water: Spangler Creek, Swine Creek ID #: 3PW00029*CD

Date of Action: 03/13/2023

Final Approval of Plans and Specifications

Metzenbaum School

8200 Cedar Rd, Chesterland, OH 44026

Facility Description: Non-Transient

Non-Community Water System

ID #: 1479188, 1519573

Date of Action: 03/03/2023

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Detail Plans for PWSID:OH2844912 Regarding Removal of Phosphate Feed System(Plan:1479188) and Removal of Sodium Hypochlorite Disinfection(Plan:1519573).

Final Approval of Plans and Specifications

Metzenbaum Residence

8200 Cedar Rd, Chesterland, OH 44026

Facility Description: Non-Transient

Non-Community Water System ID #: 1479187, 1519348

Date of Action: 03/03/2023

This final action not preceded by proposed action and is appealable to ERAC.

Detail Plans for PWSID:OH2803812 Regarding Removal of Phosphate Feed System(Plan:1479187) & Removal of Sodium Hypochlorite Disinfection(Plan:1519348). Mar16, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

Sale of Real Estate

Geauga County

Foreclosure Auction

Case# 20-F-000086. LoanDepot.com, LLC vs Kenneth Mcelroy, Chunyan Mcelroy, et al.

The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 9970 CHARDON ROAD, CHARDON, GEAUGA, Ohio, 44024;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 06-017800

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 4/4/2023 at 10:00 AM for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 4/18/2023 at 10:00 AM. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5,000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover.

To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 20F000086 into the search bar.

Mar9-16-23, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

Sale of Real Estate Geauga County Foreclosure Auction

Case# 22-F-000261. U.S. Bank National Association vs BRIGHAM L. LAYMAN AKA BRIGHAM LEE LAYMAN AKA BRIGHAM LAYMAN, et al.

The description of the property to be sold is as follows:

Property Address: 15462 TRASK ROAD, THOMPSON, GEAUGA, Ohio, 44086;

Legal Description: Full Legal Listed on Public Website; Parcel Number: 30-035900 and 30-036000

Bidding will be available only on www.Auction.com opening on 4/4/2023 at 10:00 AM for a minimum of 7 days.

Property may be sold on a provisional sale date should the third party purchaser fail to provide their deposit within the allotted time.

Provisional Sale date: 4/18/2023 at 10:00 AM. Sales subject to cancellation. The deposit required is $5,000.00 to be paid by wire transfer within 2 hours of the sale ending. No cash is permitted.

Purchaser shall be responsible for those costs, allowances, and taxes that the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover. To view all sale details and terms for this property visit www.Auction.com and enter the Search Code 22F000261 into the search bar.

Mar9-16-23, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE Village of Middlefield Notice is hereby given that during the Council Meeting held on March 9, 2023, The Village of Middlefield passed the following legislation:

RESOLUTION 23-04 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 23-115 AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURE OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEFIELD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2023, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 23-117 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF JERRY ROSE III, AS A FULL TIME PLANT OPERATOR/ LABORER IN THE WATER & WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

RESOLUTION 23-02 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ARCHIVIST TO ACT AS THE DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLEFIELD COUNCIL FOR PURPOSE OF REQUIRED PUBLIC RECORDS TRAINING.

The Complete Text Of These Resolutions And Ordinances May Be Viewed Or Obtained At The Office Of The Fiscal Officer, 14860 N. State Ave., Middlefield, Ohio During Regular Business Hours. Cindy Detweiler, Administrative Asst. /Billing Clerk Mar16, 2023

Legal Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

2022 FINANCIAL REPORT

HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Financial Report for Huntsburg Township is complete and available for public inspection at the office of the Fiscal Officer, Huntsburg Township 16534 Mayfield Road, Huntsburg Ohio by appointment only. Please call 440636-5486 Ext 2 to schedule an appointment.

Michele A. Saunders, Fiscal Officer Mar16, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

2022 FINANCIAL REPORT

VILLAGE OF AQUILLA GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Financial Report for the Village of Aquilla is complete and available for review at the office of the Fiscal Officer at Aquilla Village Town Hall, 65 Turner Drive. If you have any questions, please contact the fiscal officer at 440-286-5511.

Cheryl McNulty, Fiscal Officer Mar16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Passage of Ordinances & Resolutions

City of Chardon

Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Chardon, duly passed and/or adopted the following legislation:

RESOLUTION NO. 6-23

A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE INTENT TO APPROPRIATE PROPERTY INTERESTS FOR THE SEVENTH AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9th day of March, 2023.

RESOLUTION NO. 7-23

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CLOSING AGREEMENT WITH THE OHIO PATROLMEN’S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION (DISPATCHERS) AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9th day of March, 2023.

ORDINANCE NO. 3233

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT/

AGREEMENT WITH COLE BURTON CONTRACTORS, LLC FOR 2023 STREET MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9th day of March, 2023.

The complete text of these ordinances and resolutions may be viewed or obtained at the office of the Clerk of Council, 111 Water Street, Chardon, Ohio, during regular business hours. By order of the Council of the City of Chardon, Ohio.

AMY DAY, CLERK OF COUNCIL Mar16, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Newbury Township

Notice is hereby given that the Newbury Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application, identified as number AV 23-002, for an area variance on the 4th of April, 2023. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, at the Newbury Township Town Hall, 14899 Auburn Road, Newbury, OH.

The application, submitted by Charles S. and Shelly L. Milvet III, requests an area vari-

ance be granted for an accessory structure. The property is located at 14719 Munnberry Oval in Newbury, OH 44065, in an R-1 residential district.

Lorraine Sevich, Secretary Mar16, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Newbury Township

Notice is hereby given that the Newbury Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application, identified as number CU 23-001, for a Conditional Zoning Certificate on the 4th of April, 2023. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm, at the Newbury Township Town Hall, 14899 Auburn Road, Newbury, OH.

The application, submitted by Mirenda MJM, LLC, D.B.A. Lake County Concrete, LLC, is requesting that an addition, and the renewal of a conditional use, be granted for the property located at 10076 Kinsman Road in Novelty, OH 44072.

This hearing was originally scheduled for March 7, 2023.

Lorraine Sevich, Secretary Mar16, 2023

Geauga County Sheriff’s Report

The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office March 3-9, 2023.

AGENCY ASSIST

March 6

1:41 p.m., Maine Avenue, Perry. Bomb squad call out. Lake County Prosecutor had a suspicious package delivered to his home. Prosecutor advised his wife had ordered some things from Amazon, but they already were delivered. The suspect package came from Amazon but it was delivered U.S. Mail from an unknown sender. K-9 Blue was deployed to check package and did not alert. Package was x-rayed and opened by bomb tech. No explosives in box.

CITIZEN ASSIST

March 4

9:25 p.m., Hambden. Caller does not want parents to know. He had taken some inappropriate photos and sent them to a female on social media. Female now advising him she will post them if he does not send her the money she is requesting. Caller is 21 years old and just wants advice at this time. Caller advised he added the female on Snapchat. He did not give her money. Caller advised it was a scam. Advice given.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE

March 9

6:51 p.m., Clark Road, Chardon. Caller states his sister is trying to attack him with pitchfork. Caller states the pit bull came after him. Male advised to sit in his car with doors locked. Male is scared of dog and his sister coming after him with pitchfork. Caller states he was trying to feed

the goats and went inside to talk to his mom. Sister says male was antagonizing the dog. Sister said male had metal pipe in his hands and hit her side and swung at the dog. Sister states she had pitchfork to protect herself and dog. One female arrested. Report to follow.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

March 7

10:17 p.m., Aquilla Road, Claridon. Caller and girlfriend were involved in a domestic. Female hit caller several times and broke the mirror off his car. She has since left. Several people on scene witnessed the incident. Rescue denied for caller. No weapons, no drugs or alcohol. She is far long her pregnancy. TCSO will meet at the OSHP 422 post for the warrant.

11:19 p.m., Rock Creek Road, Thompson. Caller assaulted by his wife. Threw stuff at male and punched him in the head. Bloody nose and lip. No weapons or alcohol. Female arrested for DV.

March 9

8:30 p.m., Auburn Road, Munson. Caller stating a sister left to go home from NDCL and she noticed a car sitting by the Statue of Mary without any lights on. She witnessed a woman screaming unsure of what and a male pulling her back into the car. Female called advised of domestic at Diana Drive. Male arrested for disorderly and DV. Transported without incident.

HARASSMENT

March 7

2:22 p.m., Claridon Troy Road, Burton. KSU student received a phone call from a male. While speaking to him he asked

sexual questions. Student worker hung up on him and they did not receive any more calls from the male. Advice given.

SUSPICIOUS

March 6

4:48 p.m., Arbor Glen Drive, Chardon. Contact was made with complainants who advised they received a note from the mail delivery person stating there was a dead rabbit in the mailbox and its ears were cut off. Complainants advised they do not have any enemies or people they could think would do something of this nature. It is believed neighborhood kids may have put the rabbit in the mailbox as a prank. Extra patrols requested.

March 7

8:25 p.m., Clay Street, Huntsburg. Caller states there are approximately 30 drones surrounding her house. Area was checked and a green laser beam was observed in area. Contact made with family who was hostile toward deputy and accused GCSO of flying drones over their home. Family stated they read of GCSO’s drone program and stated they wanted GCSO to stop harassing them. Family was advised GCSO is not flying drones over their home and that GCSO drones are used for search and rescue situations such as a lost child or adult. Complainant’s son was observed with a green laser in his hand and he said he shines the laser at an object in the sky which he reported was a drone but was an airplane flying at normal cruising altitude. Son advised he should not shine laser at airplanes. Became very hostile toward deputy and stated he was lying and that you can hear airplanes flying. Son attempted to show deputy another drone that was observed to be a star in the sky from what appeared to be part of Big Dipper formation. Family reassured GCSO was not flying drones and to contact the FAA about the issue. Family provided report number as they requested the incident documented per their lawyer’s advice.

March 9

9:12 a.m., Aspen Hills Lane, Burton. Caller has video of people covering her cameras

and coming out of her garage. Unknown if anything taken. Deputy reviewed footage in question . . . turned out to be a bird! Complainant advised of same and advised to contact GCSO if further help needed.

THEFT

March 4

12:08 p.m., Chardon Windsor Road, Hambden. Theft report in lobby. Male reported his firearm possibly stolen from his vehicle on Feb. 27. He noticed firearm was missing and suspects it was stolen while working on Chardon Windsor Road. Incident under investigation.

March 5

1:12 p.m., Mayfield Road, Huntsburg. Stolen blue air compressor this morning. White van with a black hood and two occupants. Value $1,200 to $1,500. Unknown direction of travel.

TRAFFIC OFFENSE

March 8

4:30 p.m., GAR Highway, Hambden. Cream-colored Kia, Ashtabula plates, eastbound on GAR. Passed on a double yellow, vehicle almost struck school bus. License plate provided. Vehicle towed, driver issued citation for driving under suspension.

TRESPASSING

March 7

3:08 p.m., GAR Highway, Hambden. Male was on caller’s porch last night around 12:30 a.m. and was caught on her ring camera. Male was looking in her windows. Ring camera footage is not clear enough to show facial details of the male. Complainant requested extra patrols in the evening hours.

WARRANT SERVICE

March 3

1:42 a.m., Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. Meet University Heights PD. Picking up Perry Cameron Jr. Cautions for felonious assault, resisting arrest, aggravated robbery, illegal conveyance of weapons. Perry Cameron Jr. on active arrest warrant from University Heights PD. Transported to jail without issue.

Real Estate Transfers

Following is a list of real estate transfers for the week ending Mar. 3, 2023, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP

William Collins, Lorain Street (s/l 13091312), to MB3 Group LLC, $35,000. (0.24 acres)

Vitaliy Sizov, 7138 Jackson Road, to Eric S. and Keirstan K. Derstine, $325,000. (2.00 acres)

Sandra K. Smith (trustee), 17799 Geauga Lake Road, to Thomas G. Snavely, $275,000. (3.01 acres)

Marie T. Bortz, 17645 Northampton Court, to Michael and Donna Ambrose and Okeyleen B. Comer, $222,000. (0.00 acres)

16903 Chillicothe LLC, 16903 Chillicothe Road, to Kitchen & Bath Etc. Inc. and Savage Homes Inc., $125,000. (4.21 acres)

Peter and Julianne Kaldis (TOD), 8145 Silica Ridge, to Mark F. and Jennifer Mills (trustees), $1,325,000. (0.95 acres)

CHARDON CITY

Thistlecreek Development LLC, 221 Windflower Drive, to Robert S. Manley Jr. and Kim S. Boyd, $76,500. (0.23 acres)

CHARDON TOWNSHIP

Sean G. Heineman, 8881 Ravenna Road, to Huntington National Bank, $1,100,000. (19.76 acres)

Anthony L. and Eileen R. Vitantonio, 11148 Chardon Road, to Domenic S. Manfredi, $430,000. (4.06 acres)

Heartwise Holdings LLC, 12035 Clark Road, to Laramie C. and Brittany A. Hedrick, $330,000. (1.55 acres)

CHESTER TOWNSHIP

William A. Madan, 8850 Camelot Drive, to Joshua M. and Katherine R. Mattulat, $449,000. (1.69 acres)

Sarah R. Thrasher, 13232 Sperry Road, to Artem Yesinovskiy, $244,900. (1.10 acres)

CLARIDON TOWNSHIP

James and Sylvia McGee, Essex Court (s/l 25), to Kyle Joseph and Madeline McKenzie, $70,000. (3.05 acres)

HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP

Martin R. and Emma J. Mullet, 15810 Durkee Road, to Paul E. Byler and Miriam L. Shrock, $400,000. (9.70 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP

John M. and Sarah A. Miller, 17109 Bridge Road, to Joseph J. Jr. and Clara A. Yoder, $185,000. (2.99 acres)

Jake S. and Lavina W. Byler, 14240 Bundysburg Road, to Matthew M. and Katie F. Miller, $200,000. (7.00 acres)

MIDDLEFIELD VILLAGE

Elaine W. Naylor, 15910 Grove St., to Ryan, Caitlin, and Andrew Naylor, $98,500. (0.46 acres)

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

Thompson Real Estate Holdings LLC, 11040 Mayfield Road, to Jeremy Konst, $189,000. (0.65 acres)

NEWBURY TOWNSHIP

Rachel A. Burke (TOD), 12221 Kinsman Road, to J. Chapman Investments LLC, $400,000. (3.27 acres)

Erik Hoenigman, 13569 Auburn Road, to Stuart M. and Karly T. Eitzman, $300,000. (1.64 acres)

RUSSELL TOWNSHIP

Leslie A. Richardson (TOD), 8676 Sugar Tree Drive, to Pamela K. Radel, $260,000. (1.50 acres)

Reinhardt L. Golz (trustee), 9584 Kinsman Road, to Andreas Sekic, $274,000. (1.50 acres)

Anderson C. Ohman Jr., 15301 Hemlock Point Road, to Jeffrey R. and Grazia Thornberry, $360,000. (4.02 acres)

Help Wanted

Help Wanted: afternoon & weekends $15.00 an hour. Dependable, 18+, licensed preferred. Chagrin Oil & Gas, Middlefield OH. Apply in store or call 440-632-1501.

Full-time and part-time positions available for infant/ toddler preschool and school-age teacher. Experience preferred, but not required. Call Audrey 440-729-8255. Suburban Driving School-Chesterland, looking for individuals to teach driver’s education. Paid training. Call 440-729-4360 or 216-536-6708 or email resume: contact@suburbandriveohio.com.

Wanted: Retired person to drive one man painter to work and possibly work with me 2-3 days a week. 440-636-5348.

FOR RENT

Room for Let, $600, Russell. Call for details 440-3385201.

Auburn Twp: Studio Apt. No Smoking. No Pets. Heat, trash, lawn, snow-removal included. Quiet Country Setting, Kenston Schools. $750/Month. 440-336-3537.

Rental Home: Berkshire Schools, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, laundry, family and living rooms, basement, large garage. No pets, non-smoking. 440-636-5747.

COMMERCIAL RENTALS

FOR LEASE: 120x60 arena barn with pastures for agricultural use or storage and grounds for nursery/landscape operation. Newbury. 440-564-7363.

FOR SALE

Antique clocks, many. Oak crank wall-phone $369. Humpback chest $79. Wooden rocking horse $79. Kids spring rocking horse $49. 440-338-3563.

Infinity-Qb speakers, $150. /Sony VHS player-recorder SLVN750, new $75. /Harmon Kardon430 stereo receiver VGC $100. /Teeter traction machine $150. 440-431-6944.

Windsor road-bike $500. Horse-drawn sleigh $500. Western saddle $500. Honda push-mower $300. (8) Fishing poles $200/for all. 845-987-0079

FREE: old stamp collection, US and international stamps. 440-564-9221.

Elliptical Exercise Machine: with books, tools, and pulse monitor; $20. 440-313-1178.

NEW Panasonic cordless phone, still in box, 2 additional handsets, can expand. White w/blue trim. 440-2239471. Also Wanted: Level/Transit.

Inogen G5 portable oxygen concentrator w/extra battery and carrying case, like new; $1,700. 440-477-6095.

Jack Posts: one pair 93” inch, $200; two pair 100” inch, $500. 440-834-8943.

8-foot wide agricultural disc for 3-point hitch tractor. No beauty, but built like a battleship. $200. 440-548-2414.

PETS & ANIMALS

Mini Male Poodle: born 11-22-22, all white, mostly house-trained, very playful. UTD on shots and wormer. $600. 440-635-6607.

Two year old black house dog: teacup poodle/jack russel/miniature doberman mix; $250. Good watch dog. Middlefield. 440-632-5981.

REAL ESTATE

We buy Houses and Land. Any condition or situation. Fast, friendly, local. Westwind Property Solutions. Text/ call Wayne today at 330-269-9595.

SERVICES

Offering special discounts for interior and exterior painting and staining. 20+ years experience. Professional and insured. Call Dan 440-342-4552.

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

WANTED TO BUY

Old fishing tackle wanted: fishing lures (wood or plastic), mouse to bear traps, wooden duck decoys. Call Lee 440-313-8331.

Will pay cash for sports cards & collectibles. Entire collections or individual cards. Organized or unorganized. Call or text Rich at 440-552-0691.

4-wheelers, 3-wheelers, dirt bikes, mini-bikes, go-carts, golf carts, gators, farm tractors/equipment, trailers, riding mowers, snowplows. Paying cash. 440-413-3119. Buying all Stanley Bailey planes and machinist tools. Call Karl at 440-812-3392.