SEASON'S TREATINGS
— Henry David Thoreau
PHOTO BY MARIA BIEL
Cousins Stella Liotta and Maverick Biel, trick-or-treating at the French's
Patrick with a framed cover of Walden Life's 2021 veterans' salute issue.
FROM THE EDITOR/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
MIRIAM CONNER
Will you find tricks or treats at this year's Haunted Garage?
It amazes me how quickly each season passes. Summer was surely not long enough, but fall is a fun time with new beginnings.
There is not a more beautiful place in the fall than Walden. I look forward to walking on the path with all of the changing colors as the backdrop and I think everyone in town comes here for family photos.
There are many exciting things happening in Walden and in Aurora this season. Make sure you check out the calendar (just confirm event dates with Walden before heading out) and catch up on All Around Aurora to read about citywide happenings. Many associations hosted gatherings over the summer (see Worth Noting on page 8) and there were big winners in golf (see Tee Time on page 14).
This autumn, get out and enjoy some outdoor festivals. My family always looks forward to these. Read about them on page 18.
Happy fall and happy trick-or-treating! If you dare, stop by the Haunted Garage during trick-or-treating hours at 468-11 Deer Path.
LOVING THE WALDEN LIFE,
Walden Life is a property of Mitchell Media, LLC
P.O. Box 586 Aurora, Ohio 44202 330-822-4011
Publisher
Brad Mitchell
Brad@MyWaldenLife.com 330-714-7712
Editor/Associate
Publisher Miriam Conner
Miriam@MyWaldenLife.com 440-396-0374
Associate Editor
Estelle Rodis-Brown Estelle@MyWaldenLife.com
Art Director
Graphic Design Laura Chadwick
Laura@MyWaldenLife.com
Photography Maria Biel mariabiel@me.com
Office Manager/ Accounting
Kathleen Mitchell
Kathleen@MyWaldenLife.com 440-533-1208
Publisher of
Member of
Sales Consultant Delma Romancak Delma@MyWaldenLife.com 216-346-0663 F acebook: @waldenlifemagazine I nstagram: @waldenlifemagazine
Worth Noting
BY MIRIAM CONNER
WALDEN WINS BIG!
Several decorated golf carts once again represented Walden in the City of Aurora’s 4th of July parade and were rewarded by winning the title of Best Community (something we already knew)!
Fairington Party
Fairington residents get together on the regular, rain or shine! They did not let a little—or in this case, a lot of rain—stop them on August 7!
Hole-In-One
Congratulations to Paul Kondrat on his hole-in-one on Hole 17 on August 16.
Birthday Celebration for Walden Legend, Al O’Neil
Al and Sharon O’Neil
celebrating Al’s 97th birthday at Club Walden on the 4th of July.
A Note of Thanks from Patrick
Thank you, everyone, for the gifts, beautiful cards, well wishes, friendships and wonderful memories. Walden has been a huge part of my life for the past 25 years. I have come to realize Walden has not just been a place of employment… it was a place of building meaningful relationships. From baby and wedding showers, to weddings and celebrations of life, I became a part of many families.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for all the support everyone has offered me over the years. Your support, as always, made my work a wonderful and rewarding experience.
Also, thank you for the recognition at the Triple Crown. I really appreciate all the kind words. A special thank you to Rob for the opportunity! Thank you to Kate, Cecily, Chef Ian and all of the staff who helped me take it to the next level.
Walden will always have a special place in my heart!
— Patrick Cunningham
Walden Dolphins, Then & Now
Take a look at the Walden Dolphins circa 1982 & 1985 (photos provided by Bryn Stock) and your 2024 Walden Dolphins.
WALDEN ASSOCIATION NEWS
SHARING THE ROAD WITH SCHOOL BUSES
As a driver, you can do a lot to safely share the road with school buses and students.
• Understand the lights. When a school bus stops and begins to flash its lights, take action!
• Yellow flashing lights - slow down in order to stop your vehicle in time.
• Red flashing lights - this warns you that the bus has stopped and that children are either getting onto the bus or getting off, or that they are preparing to do so. You must:
• Stop if traveling behind the bus or your vehicle is alongside a bus.
• Also stop if you approach an intersection where a school bus has flashing lights.
Keep your distance. While children are instructed to never walk behind a school bus, be cautious about how close you
stop by the bus that has flashing red lights and the stop arm extended. Wait until the children are in a safe location, either on the bus or on the side of the road. Do not move until the bus driver has turned off the flashing lights, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus has started moving.
It is illegal to pass a school bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off children. In Ohio, you must stop when driving from either direction until the children are safely off the street and the school bus lights stop flashing. Yellow flashing lights signal you to slow down and prepare to make a complete stop.
If you accidentally pass a stopped school bus, you may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $500, and the court also can suspend your driver's license or otherwise restrict it.
DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! PLEASE CONFIRM WITH WALDEN BEFORE SCHEDULED EVENTS. heather@yourwalden.com
CALENDAR
MOVIE NIGHT
Every Monday night, the Inn offers a complimentary movie for members. No need to register. The movie begins at 7 p.m. Call 330-562-5508 to check the movie title.
BIER GARTEN IN THE ARBOR
Saturday, October 12, 5-8 p.m. Join us in the Arbor for an Oktoberfest event. Enjoy beer and German food with musical accompaniment to set the mood.
Trick or Treat & Haunted Garage
Stop by the HAUNTED GARAGE at 468-11 Deer Path during trick-or-treat IF YOU DARE!
Send us a photo of your holiday table setting/spread from last year!
LIVE PIANO ENTERTAINMENT AT THE CLUB
Friday, October 18, 7-11 p.m. Stephen Schuch returns from Chicago! Enjoy an evening of great entertainment and dinner at the Clubhouse. For reservations, email heather@yourwalden.com.
For more information about these events, please visit yourwalden.com.
LIVE PIANO ENTERTAINMENT
AT THE BARN
Saturday, October 19, 7-11 p.m. Couples’ events include dinner after golf and plenty of social time to spend with your friends at Walden. For more details on our couples’ events, visit Foretees.com.
FALL FAMILY PARTY
Saturday, October 19, 1:30-4 p.m. Family party in the Arbor with games, treats and pumpkin carving. Children are welcome to wear their costumes.
CLAMBAKE
Saturday, October 19, 5-11 p.m. Our annual Clambake sells out every year. Reserve your table early and purchase your reverse raffle tickets!
Aurora’s On the Grow
By Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin
A lot of activity is happening in Aurora!
On the dining front, a new restaurant has opened at the Aurora Inn, Wrap City is coming to Barrington Town Center, Sand Pebbles is relocating to Aurora Commons, and a new Mexican restaurant is opening at Aurora Premium Outlets where Malley’s used to be located.
Business construction is also going on around the city. Patrick’s Salon is building a new facility on Rt. 43 at Sycamore, Goddard School and Aurora Dental are building on Rt. 306 across from Heinen’s, and Heinen’s is under renovation. This is all good for Aurora!
Coming up soon is the 21st annual Aurora Car Show on September 15 at Sunny Lake from 1-3 p.m. Vehicle registration begins at noon, so come to enjoy food, music, a raffle and classic cars.
Our second Shred Day of the year occurs on Saturday, September 21, 9 a.m. to noon at the Service Center on West Pioneer. And don’t forget our annual Fall Festival and Business Showcase on October 5, noon to 4 p.m. at Sunny Lake Park. Sunny Lake is so beautiful in the fall, and the activities including hayrides at this event are always lots of fun.
On Friday, October 18, city employees will work the concessions at the Aurora High School football game, so look for us there. And of course, Trick or Treat will be on Halloween, October 31, 6-8 p.m. Drive carefully and be alert for neighborhood witches, goblins and other merrymakers!
Many of you might not know the history of the Aurora Memorial Library. Residents of Aurora established a memorial to honor nine Aurora young men who lost their lives in World War II. The fund was used to purchase three lots in 1948 that were dedicated to the “Aurora Community” on July 4, 1949, for our city’s sesquicentennial. Mabel Chapman established a special trust in 1964—the “Aurora Library Trust”—to build a library to serve the general public and to maintain and oversee the building. The Trust was funded generously by Mrs. Chapman and many prominent benefactors in the community over the years. Its dedicated board of trustees successfully operated the library building for 60 years, providing funds for its maintenance, upkeep and programs, and developing it into a cultural center for the town. As you may know, this city-owned building houses the Aurora Branch of the Portage County Library, the Aurora Community Theatre, the Aurora Historical Society, and the Friends of the Aurora Memorial Library. Effective July 1, 2024, the Library Trust was dissolved since its funds were dwindling,
and full management of the building was turned over to the City of Aurora. The city now oversees its operations, manages the building’s tenants, and works to update the building in the coming years to continue to serve our community well.
A special note: I want to thank the community for your care and condolences following the unexpected death of my husband, David. My family so appreciated everyone’s concern. We live in a very special town.
Thank you, Aurora!
Ann Womer Benjamin, Mayor of Aurora
From ACSD Superintendent
Mike Roberto & Communications Director
Stacey Deanna
As you travel to the polls this November, you will see a bond issue from the Aurora City School District (ACSD) on the ballot. The 7.57 mill bond issue is for the proposed construction of a new high school, reprogramming and updating the other school buildings in the district, and closing Craddock Elementary School. The goal of the bond issue is to address aging buildings and capacity concerns in the school district.
The district has scheduled multiple community informational nights concerning the bond issue that will contain factual and neutral information to help you understand the bond issue and provide a questionand-answer period after the short presentation. Each of these informational nights will run from 7 to 8 p.m. at the ACSD Conference Center located at 119 W. Pioneer Trail. Bond Issue Community Information Nights will be Tuesday, September 24, 2024; Wednesday, October 2, 2204; Thursday, October 17, 2024; and Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
The Master Facilities Plan for the Bond Issue, which can be found on the ACSD District’s website (auroraschools.org), includes the construction of a new high school in the large field between the current high school and Harmon Middle School that will house grades 9-12.
The current high school will then be used to house the middle school students (grades 6-8) and the Board of Education Offices, which are currently located in Craddock Elementary.
Grades 3-5 will be relocated from the Leighton Intermediate School building to the current Harmon Middle School building which allows the students in grades 1 and 2 to move to Leighton. By moving these students, Craddock Elementary, which is over 100 years old, could then be closed. Miller Elementary will be turned into a kindergarten-only building once the pre-school, currently located at Miller, moves over to the extra space in Leighton.
Each of these moves allows the district to address
current capacity concerns as highlighted by the recent procurement of trailers to house students for Miller and Leighton along with the need to reduce the Craddock Library by 50% of its size to create an extra classroom due to growth.
A 7.57 mill bond issue would generate approximately $136 million and will cost the owner of a $100,000 house an extra $265 a year. A breakdown of the taxes and tax comparisons to local communities can also be found in the Master Facilities Plan located on the ACSD District’s website. Approximately $17 million from the bond issue will be used to renovate and reprogram Miller Elementary, Leighton Intermediate, Harmon Middle School, and the current high school. Details of these renovations can also be found under the Master Facility Plan located on the ACSD Website.
The district’s plan does not include renovating Craddock Elementary. To comply with the Ohio School Design Manual, and the most recent state code regulations, renovations of Craddock School would require $20,890,124.60. The State of Ohio recommends completely replacing a school when its renovation costs exceed 66% of the cost of building a new school of the same size. Currently, Craddock Elementary is over 85% of this percentage.
Funds for the bond issue will also be allocated to repair parking lots and Greenmen Way, the road running through the Aurora Campus. There will also be several new amenities that both the school district and Aurora community as a whole will be able to access, including two new turf fields for fall and spring activities, which can be used for city recreation teams (football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse).
The new high school will contain two new large gymnasiums for city and district use for teams during the winter and spring. Additionally, a new Performing Arts Center and Theater (the existing auditorium) will allow for more involvement from the community and greater attendance at events. The theater can be used during the summer months for dance programs. The existing weight room is being renovated into a multipurpose room for the school and community use, while outdoor walking paths are being added throughout the campus for easier access for students and daily community use.
This bond issue is a culmination of three years of planning and research completed by the school district. As stated earlier, the goal of the bond issue is to address aging buildings and capacity concerns in the Aurora City School District. For more information concerning the bond issue, please visit our district website at aurora-schools.org or stop in at one of the Bond Issue Community Information Nights listed above.
Golf Recap: Summer 2024 Champions
By Collin McEndree, Director of Golf
We had a busy summer season full of championship winners, which concluded with our Club Champions in late August. Below, check out our full summer recap of champions.
PHOTOS BY COLLIN MCENDREE
Next in July, our Ladies Member-Member 2024 winners were Anne Caja and Connie Eddy.
In June, we crowned our Ladies Run for the Roses Champions, Jackie Carpenter and Ashley Carpenter.
In early August, we crowned our Junior League Champions, the Navy Team.
Later in August, Men's Member-Member '24 champions were Jim Martin and Ryan McPhee.
We kicked it off July with our Men's Triple Crown Invitational winners, Mike Mehallis and Brendan Connolly.
All the Details Prepping Your Car for Cold Weather
Now that the temps and leaves are starting to fall, our thoughts turn toward preparing for the colder, cloudier days coming our way.
Walden resident Mark Frank has offered to share some of his tried-andtrue tips to prep for colder-weather driving. Mark developed a passion for car maintenance during his early college days, when he worked as a detailer and porter at the local Honda dealership. He recommends certain favorite car-care products, so ask Mark for the details next time you see him (or contact him at marktomfrank@gmail.com).
Mark lives on Fairington Oval with his wife Kaori and 5-yearold daughter Liv. Liv is Mark’s enthusiastic detailing assistant, as pictured here. He says, “My daughter loves to help clean the car.”
It’s Fall again, which means winter is coming. Here are a few car-care tips to keep your car happy through the winter:
1
CLEAN THE CAR SEATS.
If you have cloth seats, it’s a simple vacuum, but with leather, it’s good to take a leather cleaner to them to clean out all the body oils, sweat and sunscreen lotion that has likely accumulated on the seats over the summer. Follow up with a leather conditioner to keep the leather feeling supple and help to prevent premature cracking during the dry summer months.
2
PROTECT THE PAINT.
With winter comes snow, and with snow comes salty roads, which means the eternal battle against rust starts again in Ohio. If you don’t wax your car regularly, it’s a good idea to wax before winter to help protect the paint from the assault of road salt. A couple options are out there. It might seem counterintuitive, but it’s best to avoid an undercarriage wash at the local car wash. While it does help to clean off accumulated salt and dirt, the water also helps to move the salt into areas it normally wouldn’t enter, which could lead to rust
By Mark Frank
over time. Waiting until winter is over is a better strategy if you want to do an undercarriage wash.
If you haven’t waxed your car in a while, use a cleaner wax with a clay bar. It will help to remove a majority of contaminants in the paint and give you a clean, smooth surface to apply wax to. It’s a step that should always be done before applying wax, for best results.
Other wax products or polishes I like are are sold only online and work well to protect the car. The most expensive option but longest-lasting is to take your car to a detail shop to get it ceramic-coated.
3
KEEP SALT INSIDE CONTAINED. Install a set of rubber winter floor mats to keep your floors mostly free from the accumulation of salt resulting from getting in and out of the car.
4
KEEP
YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD AND OUT OF TROUBLE.
A good set of winter tires can make a big difference in general safety. All-wheel drive can help but the tires make the biggest impact when it comes time to stop the car. Certain brand products are considered the best winter tire, giving you the shortest stopping distance on ice or snow.
Five-year-old Liv loves to help daddy detail his car. PHOTOS BY MARK FRANK
Serendipity – An Unexpected, Happy Outcome | Meet Robin and Cindy Pirie
By Kaye Lowe
You may have seen a flag representing Canada and the United States on Ridgeway Drive. That is the home of Robin and Cindy Pirie.
Robin and Cindy met online and learned each worked just a few buildings apart in downtown Cleveland. After dating for two years, they married in 2002 and lived in Chagrin Falls, then Medina, when Robin’s office moved to Strongsville and Cindy worked for United Airlines at the airport counter.
Cindy was an Eastsider and Robin was nearing retirement, so they decided to move. Walden resident Grace Vitale showed them a number of homes, with the last few in our community. As it happened, the last home they saw in Walden needed attention but had a lot going for it. It’s right alongside the
practice range with a large lot and a small grove of mature trees. Cindy is a gardener and Robin follows her directions reasonably well. They have established lovely gardens; the results have received a steady stream of compliments.
Robin was born and raised in Canada. His father passed away while he was in high school, leaving his mother with five children to care for. Robin, being the eldest, had to work to help support the family. He worked on the docks in Toronto for two years. And here’s an instance where happy chance stepped in. He answered a newspaper ad to find that the company he applied to was where both his grandfather and father had worked, Sunworthy Wallcoverings.
Pure luck took a second step when, after a matter of months, he was asked to travel to Switzerland to represent the company in completing an order, as his boss had suffered a heart attack. (Those were the days without reliable facsimile transmission or anything like Zoom, so an in-person meeting was expected.)
You will see Robin and Cindy walking their fawn-colored greyhound, Maddie, throughout Walden.
He arrived in Zurich, then traveled to Basel and picked up an order that was substantially larger than had been expected. Because of the extended illness of his supervisor, Robin was asked to fill in as the interim Export Manager. Over a span of nine years, he had the good fortune to travel internationally. He said, “I didn’t get to go to college but received a unique education in business from the real world, around the world.”
He acknowledged great support from the Canadian government over those years—identifying prospects, arranging meetings and providing translators when needed. Changes in the structure at Sunworthy left him higher ranked but troubled by the way long-serving employees had been treated by new management.
He left and joined a company majority-owned by ICI Paints in Canada. After a series of positions there over 18 years, he was asked to consider a move to America to join Glidden Paint (acquired by ICI over that time). This was on the eve of Glidden making their own acquisitions to become a North American paint store network focused on the professional market. He retired in 2012 as the Director of Operations for
Robin and Cindy Pirie; a Canadian-U.S. union.
that division.
Cindy had a career of her own. She had always wanted to travel and it was her dream to be a flight attendant. As a youngster, she spent her summers away from home from the age of 12 right up through college. She spent six years attending a months-long summer camp in Ontario, Canada, as camper and counselor. The next two summers, she spent her summers in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, at the Instituto Allende studying Art and Spanish, which were her double majors at Hillsdale College.
In 1991, she found herself a single mother with three children. Of course, her natural inclination was to head into the travel industry. Throughout her career, she worked for several corporate travel companies that serviced many different corporations, including BP America and Eaton Corporation. Finally, she ended her office career as an Account Executive for American Express Corporate Travel, servicing corporations throughout the Midwest. Unfortunately, 9/11 changed the corporate travel climate, and her job was eliminated; 1,500 across the country were laid off.
By this time, she had met Robin and found a position with United Airlines, working their customer service counters and gates at Hopkins Airport. She worked there for a couple of years. She found out that Continental Airlines was hiring flight attendants in Cleveland. She went home and informed Robin, and asked what he thought. He was quick to reply, “You’ve always wanted to be a flight attendant, so if not now, when are you ever going to do it?” She immediately applied online, was flown to Newark for an interview, and was hired at 54 years old, all on the same day! She was one of four chosen out of a room of 40 applicants, and headed to Continental’s Houston Headquarters for five weeks of training within the month.
She worked domestic flights for approximately five years, but as soon as Continental bought United, the opportunity came to transfer to Washington Dulles to fly Europe… she grabbed it! This move took her to London, Paris, Edinburgh, Rome, Geneva, Munich, Israel and more. She then transferred to San Francisco, which gave her the opportunity to travel the Pacific Rim routes of China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Although it took years for Continental & United Airlines to merge operations, when it finally happened, the expanded company now had thousands more flight attendants and Cindy did not have the years of service to win international travel reliably.
Although the pandemic was a tragedy for so many, fate smiled on her again because she retired before it struck. She takes satisfaction from being able to say her final review quotes that she was re-hirable, should she want to go back.
Cindy’s love of art and nature fills a fair portion of the time she now has at her disposal. She has her “atelier” in their sunroom. It is filled with her easels, watercolor paints, colorful yarns and fabrics. She loves nature, gardening and animals. Her paintings reflect this with beautiful birds, flowers and nature scenes. She has sewn purses of many colors and designs, and is in the process of learning to knit, to name just a few of the things she enjoys doing in her spare time.
Robin and Cindy have loved living in Walden these past 10 years. Robin played ice hockey (which is, after all, Canada’s national sport) until he was 66. He stays in shape (just in case a league for septuagenarians ever forms).
Robin also keeps busy as president of Concord Downs. Cindy is a member of Christ Church Episcopal Church in Hudson and enjoys singing in their choir. She is also a Red Coat at Playhouse Square Theaters. They both work in their lovely gardens.
You will see Robin and Cindy walking their fawn-colored greyhound, Maddie, throughout Walden. Maddy is a rescue dog. She, too, is enjoying retirement from her brief racing career.
Both Robin and Cindy enjoy dining at Club Walden. Robin plays bridge on Fridays and Cindy plays rummy on Wednesdays. They enjoy reading, attending the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom, dining out, and of course, traveling (most recently, to Holland.)
Cindy’s children Erin, Brendan and Ian, and Robin’s daughter Lauren, as well as their five grandchildren enjoy the ambiance of Walden with them.
The unique setting, with its mature trees, unique properties and sense of community, drew them to Walden. Good fortune appeared again in moving here.
The Piries maintain inspiring gardens.
A-MAZE-ing Autumn Outdoor Festivals to Enjoy
By Estelle R. Brown
Bright, sunny days. Cool, crisp nights. Magical moments. Celebrate the change of the seasons as summer eases into autumn.
Apple picking, hay rides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, kettle corn, sweet music and more help us embrace the abundance of the harvest with these open-air fall festivals in and around Aurora.
SEP 15
Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
CASE-BARLOW FARM FALL FEST
Case-Barlow Farm, 1931 Barlow Rd., Hudson; casebarlow.com
Just a 20-minute drive away in lovely Hudson, this annual Farm Fest invites the community to experience life on the farm and learn more about the history and crafts of The Western Reserve.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will transform the barn into a
model railroad station with working trains and hands-on activities. The sounds of the Eddy Street Geezers band will entertain throughout the day and making a guest appearance will be the Buckeye Square Dancers. Inside the 1800s historic home, artisans will demonstrate loom weaving, 1800s domestic chores, and how to make a quilt, a penny rug and lace.
Activities include:
• Games and crafts, including candle dipping
• Skilled Demonstrations by a woodcarver, blacksmith, Windsor chair maker, stone mason, arborists, etc.
• Civil War Encampment
• Small Farm Animals to Pet
• Hay Wagon Rides
• Folk Songs and Music
• Blacksmith
• Candle Making
• Games for Children
• Pumpkin Bowling
• Duck Races
• Food for Purchase (hot dogs, popcorn, ice cones, root beer and root beer floats)
SEP 21 & 22
Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
APPLE HARVEST WEEKEND
Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd. (Rt. 6), Kirtland; lakemetroparks.com
It’s time for a scenic drive to rural Geauga County! Witness traditional harvest activities including applethemed crafts both days, and discover how apple butter and cider are made. Take a tour of the “Johnny Appleseed Trail” or explore the three-acre corn maze. Farmpark admission fee applies.
SEP 21 & 28 + OCT 5 & 12
APPLE HARVEST FESTIVALS AT MONROE’S ORCHARD
6313 Pioneer Trail, Hiram monroesorchard.com
Apples, pumpkins, gourds, wagon rides, warm cider and multi-generation family traditions make autumn magical at Monroe’s Orchard. Their Apple Harvest Festivals are always the last Saturday of September and the first two Saturdays of October, featuring apple picking, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, a food truck, train rides through cherry orchards and more. Enjoy watching the Monroes make their own apple cider from the market. Autumn at the Orchard: Apples are ready from mid-September to midOctober), and pick-your-own pumpkins are ripe for the picking from the patch (or from piles of pre-picked pumpkins in wagons) during the last week of September through October.
OCT 5
Saturday, 12-4 p.m. FALL FESTIVAL
& Business Showcase
Sunny Lake Park, 885 E. Mennonite Road, Aurora; aurorahoh.com
Our hometown’s autumn extravaganza is the best! It’s a wonderful way to gather with friends and neighbors before harsh weather drives us all indoors.
For this year’s fall festival, expect:
• Food Trucks
• Inflatables
• Petting Zoo
• Hayrides
• Balloon Art
• Face Painting
• Animal Show with Jungle Terry @ 12:15 p.m.
• Magic Show @ 2:15 p.m.
Also enjoy a mini-golf fundraiser from the American Legion and explore local businesses with Aurora’s Chamber of Commerce.
OCT 5
Saturday, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.
CITY OF SOLON FALL FESTIVAL
Solon Community Park, 6679 SOM Center Rd., Solon Solon Fall Festival 2024 on Facebook
Celebrate the best that the fall season has to offer. The 7th Annual Solon Fall Festival will feature a day full of fall family fun:
• Food Trucks and Snack Vendors (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
• Barnyard Petting Zoo (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
• Live Music by Prime Acoustic Trio (12-2 p.m.)
• Free Caricatures by Ron Hill (2-4 p.m.)
• Live Music by The Travelin’ Johnsons (2-4 p.m.)
• Keep watching the event’s Facebook page for updates.
DATES TBD
Fall 2024 weekends, coming soon
DERTHICK’S CORN MAZE
5182 Twinsburg Warren Road (State Route 82), Mantua derthickcornmaze.com
Derthick’s Farm is an eighthgeneration, family-owned working farm that has survived by changing with the times. Along with an expansive sunflower field, trail rides, pumpkins, a jump pad, Safe Archery Hover Ball, air cannons, a Bouncing Cow Train, family trike riding, big slides, a Combine Climber, sand piles, a round bale play area, Human Foosball, hamster wheels, duck races, and zip line over the years, the corn maze craze started in 2006. With over seven miles of maze path carved into 17 acres of countryside, lose yourself in the twists and turns of intricate pathways within four different maze designs. The last last ticket is sold 90 minutes before closing. Fridays, 6-11 p.m. Saturdays, 1-11 p.m.; Sundays, 12-6 p.m. The last ticket is sold 90 minutes before closing.
Then, over the weekend of November 2-3, visit Derthick’s Corn Maze for trail riding. Riders of all ages and disciplines can bring their horses to this fun event.
Children 15 and under must be supervised by a parent/adult while on property and in the maze.
Make the most of amazing autumn at one of these fun-filled festivals coming up soon.
Cats of Walden II
The Cat’s Meow
JACK Mary Beth Marsh - S. Equestra
“Now a 7-year-old orange tabby, I adopted Jack when he was 4 years old at Rescue Village in Chagrin Falls. He's very big and long for a cat…19 pounds! He meets me at the door when I come home, follows me everywhere, and jumps in my lap every time I sit down. A great companion.”
BUDDY
Mark & Charlene Loeper - Walden Farms
“We recently rescued Buddy from Valley Save a Pet. He is a Norwegian Forest Cat that was unfortunately abandoned in Bedford. We were able to welcome him to our home in Arrowood, along with his new family, Frankie, Tuna and Chatty, along with his human family. Buddy is a blast! He loves to play but is happiest on a lap, getting a good rubdown.”
SIMBA
Jolene & Mark Slack - The Landings
“The friendliest cat — and we have neighbors that can vouch for that. He’s very sweet, very charming and aggressively affectionate. You really should meet him.”
SNICKER & DOODLE
Janet & Butch Bartlett - Ravine Drive
VITO & LULU
Nadine Hoffman & Peter MuellerMeadowview Drive
“LuLu found us at the Summit Animal Shelter in 2022, and Vito found us in 2019 at Rescue Village. They love playing and sleeping together. Vito eats his food with his paw and LuLu tips over her food bowl to eat.”
PATCHES
Ken & Kaye Lowe - Meadows
Patches is a friendly 12-year-old. Every morning when we arise, he greets us with his meowing and demands. We sit in his favorite chair so he can jump on our laps and cuddle. If he wants a treat, he gets on his haunches and begs!
MOOGIE, MOLLY, CARLY & BELLA (LEFT TO RIGHT}
Tricia Ansley & Hugh Drake - Russet Woods
“They are all rescue kitties! Moogie, our 18-lb. Siamese, is 10 years old (thinks he’s a dog); followed by the other three, who are all 17 years old: Molly on the box, Carly with the red throw (our Alpha kitty), and tiny Bella, who can be found inside any bag or box available.”
Karen & Rich Wanders
“This is our cat Oreo!! We rescued her and she was a tiny, sickly little girl back then. She is now healthy and happy and even makes the trek to Florida with us in the winter.”
OREO
Sky water. It needs no fence. Nations come and go without defiling it. It is a mirror which no stone can crack, whose quicksilver will never wear off, whose gilding Nature continually repairs.
— Henry David Thoreau
Photo by Coby Conner - Deer Island
FLASHBACKS
WALDEN WORD EXCERPTS (1994 - 2003)
Here’s a slice of life from Walden published decades ago in Walden Word, a former newsletter by Walden Golf and Tennis Club. Enjoy these tidbits from yesteryear!
SEPTEMBER 1999
FROM THE GREENS: It’s hard to believe that the summer is almost over. Hopefully, everyone has enjoyed the warmer weather and was able to enjoy the golf course. We took advantage of the dry conditions and hired a placer truck to come in and distribute 500 tons of sand into the bunkers. It will take a couple of rains and rakings for the bunkers to lose their fluffiness and to firm up. Hopefully, after this has happened, everyone will notice a more consistent playability of the bunkers.
OCTOBER
1999 A SPECIAL
SATURDAY NIGHT: SUSAN ERICKSEN is somebody very special! Her beauty and grace are only surpassed by her strong and enchanting voice. We are presenting an opportunity to hear Susan and her pianist, MARGE ADLER,on November
13th as she performs a cabaret of “A Little City Music,” which she created in Cain Park. She has appeared in New York City at the Theatre for a New City, The Signature Theatre and Dramatists Guild. She has done repertory in Cincinnati, St. Louis, Baltimore, Dallas and North Carolina.
OCTOBER 2001 (IN THE AFTERMATH OF 9/11)
LOOKING OUTSIDE MY OFFICE, I see Mitch giving a lesson and Mr. Turner taking his grandson for a stroll. Overhead, our flag is flying at half mast and yet the colors of red, white and blue give me an indescribable feeling of honor to be an American and a deep appreciation for the families I have at home and at Walden.
— Patrick Cunningham, Manager
If
summer, you're in great company.
But more homes on the market also means more competition, so it's absolutely essential that your home is looking its best ... and that's where I come in.
I can help you prepare your home for sale so it gets noticed. I will help you create the best marketing images and will deliver a selling campaign designed to help you achieve the highest possible price.
Michael Knows REAL ESTATE
More homes on the market means more competition, so it’s absolutely essential that your home is looking
... and that’s where I come in.
I can help you prepare your home for sale so it gets noticed. I will help you create the best marketing images and will deliver a
Photo by Maria Biel
summer, you're in great company.
But more homes on the market also means more competition, so it's absolutely essential that your home is looking its best ... and that's where I come in.
I can help you prepare your home for sale so it gets noticed. I will help you create the best marketing images and will deliver a selling campaign designed to help you achieve the highest possible price.