Volume 51, No. 5
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Refurbishing Business Opens in Chester By Cassandra Shofar news@chesterlandnews.com A local man is bringing his love of refurbishing old furniture to Chester Township with a new business called Gallery House Décor in the Guido’s Plaza. “I made a lot of custom furniture for my house,” said the man, who performs his work under the name Bruce James. “I received a lot of compliments from family and friends and they started asking me to make them things.” James began refurbishing old furniture five years ago and hopes one day this will be a full-time gig. After selling his refurbished furniture online for awhile, James decided it was time for a physical
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Gallery House Décor recently opened in the Guido’s Plaza in Chester Township.
space, so he found a perfect spot at 12773 Chillicothe Road. “After making custom serving trays and wine racks, along with
the furniture I was refinishing, I started selling them online,” James said. “They were selling fast and so I decided to try a shop. Chesterland
is a great community and home for my family, it seemed logical to open here.” Gallery House Decor sells vintage, antique, handcrafted and rustic furniture and décor as well as take custom orders for customers who want their furniture refinished. “We are also do consignment,” James said. “We are always looking for vintage, antique and handcrafted items to consign.” The Gallery House is open Thursdays from 4-8 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The store’s email address is galleryhousedecor@gmail.com and they can be found on Facebook under Gallery House.
West Geauga Russell Township Hires New AD Three Staff Resign in One Week By Ann Wishart
By Brian Lavrich sports@geaugamapleleaf.com
ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
Tim Skoczen had been working with sports at Independence High School for 28 years. After retiring following the 2015-16 school year, he said he missed it. “I was out one-and-a-half years when (West Geauga Principal) Jay Bishop called,” Skoczen said. He was hired as interim athletic director in January and, this summer, was promoted to full-time AD for the upcoming school year at West G. “I’m definitely Skoczen glad I did (come back),” Skoczen said. “I missed it. Mostly, I missed working with kids and the coaches. The one-and-a-half years out, I definitely missed it. I really, really enjoy being an AD.” Skoczen replaced Joe Leonette, who was in the middle of this third year as AD at West G, which is also his alma mater. Leonette resigned in February. Skoczen, 60, is certainly qualified. He was cross country and track coach at Independence for 14 years before becoming the Blue Devils AD for 13 years. Skoczen, who is also an See Direcctor • Page 6
Russell Township Trustee Justin Madden opened the July 18 trustees meeting announcing the resignations of three township employees. Brittany Milite, assistant to the fiscal officer, Jennell Dahlhausen, zoning commission and board of zoning appeals secretary, and Mary Mobelia, cemetery sexton and cemetery clerk, submitted their letters of resignation last week, Madden said. “We certainly appreciate their service to Russell Township and wish them well,” he said. Madden said there had been no change in township policy in relation to the resignations. “The matter is pretty much closed as far as the township is concerned,” said Madden. However, Trustee Jim Mueller told the Geauga County Maple Leaf on July 19 that Milite and Dahlhausen were forced to resign. Madden and Trustee Gary Gabram had voted in favor of accepting the letters of resignation at a July 13 special meeting. Earlier, Mueller said that Milite had met with Gabram and Melissa Palmer, assistant to the board of trustees, to present a list of complaints she had concerning the
township fiscal office workplace. cisions in Russell Township,” he Mueller was given a copy of the said. “For comments about Russell four-page typewritten document, Township personnel matters, I which the Maple Leaf obtained would defer to the current elected from Mueller through a public re- officials at Russell Township. Emails sent to both Madden cords request. Twelve documents supporting her complaints were and Gabram requesting comment had not been replied to attached to the list. as of the publication deadIncluded at the end line for this week’s newsof the list was Milite’s paper. proposed resolution, that Also included with the she be transferred from documents Mueller prothe fiscal office to the road duced were pages from and fire departments. the township handbook reThe list of complaints garding discipline. Muelincluded charges of favor- K. Walder ler said the township’s itism, nepotism, crude comments by superiors and comp hearing process, which would have time abuse, among others. Many of required a fact-finding hearing, was the complaints dated to former Fis- not followed, to his knowledge. The Maple Leaf has requested cal Officer Chuck Walder’s tenure a copy of any notes Palmer took at the township. Walder resigned from the town- during the meeting she sat in on ship in April, after being appointed with Milite. She was on vacation acting Geauga County Auditor fol- last week and Karen Walder delowing the resignation of former ferred fulfilling the request until Auditor Frank Gliha. Russell trust- Palmer was back in the office. Karen did provide the resignaees later appointed Walder’s wife, tion letters from all three women. Karen, to fill her husband’s elected Milite’s read, in part, “As per the township post. resignation requirements, I am When reached for comment, hereby sending my letter of resigChuck Walder said Monday he left nation as the assistant to the fiscal the township nearly four month officer, effective immediately.” ago and his responsibilities are now Asked for further comment, with the county auditor’s office. Walder said it would not be appro“I am no longer a township ofpriate for her office to comment on ficial and have no input or control over employees or personnel deSee Russell • Page 4
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