Maple Leaf 2-26-26

Leaf Maple Leaf GEAUGA

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Thursday, February 26, 2026 Vol. 32 No. 9 Chardon, Ohio $1.25

Letter Prompts Investigation Into CASA Executive

Amish Taxi Driver ‘Knew His Profession Was Illegal’

By Jamie Ward jamie@karlovecmedia.com

By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com

An investigation has been opened into CASA for Kids Executive Director Mary Ruth Shumway after letters that appear to endorse a candidate for Geauga County juvenile/probate judge were distributed, court officials confirmed Feb. 18.

“We’re in the due process business and the issue has arisen and it is part of a judge’s duty to conduct an investigation,” said retired Judge Robert Berger, who is temporarily filling the position.

He added a public announcement will follow once the investigation is complete.

The letter, dated Feb. 9 and addressed to CASA volunteers, was printed on CASA letterhead and bears Shumway’s signature as executive director.

See Letter • Page 5

Grand Jury Indicts Man In Middlefield Robbery Case Staff Report A Geauga County grand jury recently indicted Manuel Alfred Cisneros II, 63, of St. George, Utah, on multiple charges related to a December incident in which he reportedly entered a Cisneros Dollar Tree store in Middlefield claiming to have explosives and demanding money.

According to the indictment, filed Feb. 24 in Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Cisneros See Robbery • Page 3

JAMIE WARD/KMG

Matthew Claar, of Leavittsburg, receives an 18-month prison sentence Feb. 20.

The Amish taxi driver who had a suspended license when he hit and killed a Middlefield motorcyclist in October received the maximum 18-month prison sentence for vehicular homicide Feb. 20 from Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Matthew Rambo.

Matthew Claar, 48, of Eagle Creek Road in Leavittsburg, had three active license suspensions and 35 total lifetime license sus-

pensions at the time of the crash, said Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Burling. Claar pleaded no contest to the fourth-degree felony charge Dec. 22.

“He was told time and time and time again: you are not allowed to drive, and he disregarded all of that and got behind the wheel and killed someone,” Burling said. “He decided to throw all of his eggs in the basket of being an Amish taxi driver when he knew that profession, for him, was illegal.”

See Claar • Page 6

pages 13-17

INSIDE

Berkshire Schools

ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG

Berkshire Schools’ new girls wrestling club takes off, breaking barriers and building new opportunities for female athletes.

Girls Wrestling Club Blazes a New Trail

By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com Berkshire Schools is opening doors for future generations this year with its first girls wrestling club.

“Getting to be a part of the first girls wrestling club at Berkshire has been one of the best experiences I have ever had,” said sophomore wrestler Bella Chenoweth.

“Getting to work hard and seeing

your hard work pay off has been so rewarding, but on top of all that, having the support of great coaches and amazing teammates has been the best part.”

Superintendent and head coach John Stoddard and a team of volunteers helped create the growing club.

“The team has about 21 girls between middle and high school, and they are doing terrific, even placing fifth at the recent (Chagrin

Valley Conference) tournament as a team with so many individual placers, as well, despite only practicing for about three months,” said volunteer coach Justin Geiss.

The team must operate as a club for two years before it can be recognized as an official team, he said.

Volunteer coach and intervention specialist Kristen Boyd, also a wrestling parent, has advocated See Wrestling • Page 7

BILL FUGATE/KMG

Berkshire sophomore Piper Geiss, top, has excelled in girls wrestling.

Single Edition $1.25

Page 2

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

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 440- 285-2015 or email editor@karlovecmedia. com no later than Monday noon. These meeting notices are NOT legal notices.

Geauga County: March 2, 10 a.m., Geauga County Budget Commission, Auditor’s Office, 215 Main St.; March 3, 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.

Auburn Township: March 2, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Administration Building, 11010 Washington St., unless otherwise indicated.

Burton Township: March 2, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. The meeting will be held at the Burton Township Administration Building, 14821 Rapids Road.

Chardon Township: March 2, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; March 4, 3 p.m. – Board of Trustees, meeting with ADP and other business as needed, 7 p.m.— Board of Trustees, regular meeting. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 9949 Mentor Road, unless otherwise noted.

Chester Township: March 4, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission; March 5, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Hall, 12701 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Claridon Township: March 2, 6 p.m., Board of Trustees, at the Administrative Building, 13932 Mayfield Road.

Hambden Township: March 2, 6 p.m., Zoning Commission; March 4, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Town Hall, 13887 GAR Highway, unless otherwise noted.

Huntsburg Township: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Town

Robbery from page 1

has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; one count of robbery, a second-degree felony; and one count of theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

On Dec. 19, Cisneros reportedly entered the Middlefield store at 15420 W. High Street and claimed he had dynamite strapped to his body while demanding money from a cashier.

Middlefield police said the clerk handed over cash after the threat and the suspect fled in a vehicle, prompting a BOLO — be on the lookout — alert to other agencies.

Police later tracked the vehicle to Hermitage, Penn., where Cisneros was arrested.

Hermitage police said Cisneros allegedly trespassed into an occupied home and resisted arrest. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on police officers during his arrest, criminal trespass of an occupied structure, three counts of terroristic threats, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said.

The Geauga indictment will be served to Cisneros at Mercer County Jail, where he is currently being detained, according to court records.

Geauga County Maple Leaf 440-729-7667

Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road.

Montville Township: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Montville Community Center, 9755 Madison Road, unless noted.

Newbury Township: March 4, 6:30 p.m., Board of Trustees, at the Fire Department, 11111 Kinsman Road.

Parkman Township: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted.

Russell Township: March 2, 7 p.m., Board of Zoning Appeals; March 5, 2:30 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held in the

Community Room, 8501 Kinsman Road, unless otherwise noted.

South Russell Village: March 2, 7 p.m., Village Council; March 3, 5:30 p.m., Architectural Board of Review. All meetings are held at the Village Hall, 5205 Chillicothe Road, unless otherwise noted.

Thompson Township: March 4, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees, at the Geauga County Public Library - Thompson Branch.

Troy Township: March 3, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees; March 5, 7 p.m., Zoning Commission.

All meetings are held at Troy Community Center, 13950 Main Market Road, unless noted.

Middlefield Cheese Co-op Open after Recall in September Middlefield Cheese Co-op did have a recall in September 2025.

A meeting was held in September. The board then determined to continue operations.

The cheese plant was shut down from Sept. 3 until Sept. 21.

A major cleaning was done. Corrections were made. New food safety protocols were put in place.

All cheese is being tested for Listeria before distribution. No Listeria has been found since September 2025.

Middlefield Cheese Co-op and all its employees’ main focus is in supplying safe food for all their loyal customers.

Middlefield Cheese Co-op has been producing (cheese) and satisfying their customers since Sept. 21, 2025.

Please stop in at their retail store located at 16942 Kinsman Road, Middlefield (Township).

Editor’s Note: The above information from Middlefield Cheese Co-op provides additional context and details regarding the September 2025 recall that were not included in last week’s story.

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8389 Mayfield Road, Suite B5 Chesterland, Ohio 44026 Phone 440-729-7667 FAX 440-729-8240 ads@karlovecmedia.com Phone 440-285-2013 FAX 440-285-2015 editor@karlovecmedia.com Jeffrey B. Karlovec, Publisher John D. Karlovec, Editor Cassandra C. Shofar, News Editor Jamie A. Ward, Sports Editor Ann Wishart, Staff Reporter Allison Wilson, Staff Reporter Emma MacNiven, Staff Reporter Clay Karlovec, Sales Representative Clinton Sestak, Sales Representative Amber Ballard, Sales Representative Regina Swinerton, Classifieds Karen S. Kaplan, Graphic Design Pamela J. Molnar, Production Supervisor Emma McGuire, Paginator Submissions and Deadlines • Editorial submissions are printed as space is available, at the publisher’s discretion, and may be edited for length, clarity and grammar. All submissions are due by Monday at noon for consideration for that Thursday’s edition.

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•Geauga County Maple Leaf is a newspaper of general circulation published weekly. Contains general, legal, real estate, insurance and commercial news.

•Copyright © 2026 Geauga County Maple Leaf LLC. All rights reserved. Material published in Geauga County Maple Leaf is prepared at substantial expense and is for the sole and exclusive use of the subscriber. It may not be republished, resold, recorded or reused in any manner, in whole or part, without the publisher’s written consent. Any infringement will be subject to legal redress.

•Geauga County Maple Leaf (USPS 011-535) is published weekly by Geauga County Maple Leaf LLC. 8389 Mayfield Road, Ste. B5, Chesterland, Ohio 44026. Periodicals postage paid at Chardon, Ohio 44024. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Geauga County Maple Leaf, P.O. Box 1166, Chardon, OH 44024-5166. Subscribers should notify the publisher in writing of address changes or unsatisfactory delivery.

•Under no circumstances will any record filed in the county be suppressed at any time for anybody, except by order of court.

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

JAMIE WARD/KMG

Attorney Ian Friedman says during a Feb. 24 arraignment he will request a new bond for his client, Joe Ernst, appearing via video from the Geauga County Safety Center, once his legal team has gathered medical documents. Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo has been assigned to Ernst’s felony drug case.

Ernst Indicted for Making, Selling Crack Cocaine at Bowling Alley

By Jamie Ward jamie@karlovecmedia.com

Joe Ernst, the owner of Ernst Lanes, has been indicted on three felony charges related to his December arrest for making and distributing cocaine.

Ernst, 71, of Rock Creek Road, Hambden Township, remains in jail after his bond was revoked in January.

He appeared Feb. 24 via video before Judge Carolyn Paschke at Geauga County Common Pleas Court. Wearing a striped green jumpsuit and long white undershirt, Ernst pleaded not guilty.

Ernst's lawyer, Ian Friedman, said Ernst would be asking for bond again once all of his medical documents have been acquired. Judge Matthew Rambo was assigned the case.

The grand jury also agreed to add specifications to the charges that could allow the state to seize Ernst's Tesla, the bowling al-

ley at 10651 Grant Street and $8,992 in cash found during the warrant search.

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said Ernst used the bowling alley to manufacture, store and also distribute crack cocaine.

“There are legal hurdles still there,” said Flaiz about the seizures. “It's just the beginvning of the legal process.”

According to the Feb. 20 indictment, Ernst manufactured, stored and distributed cocaine in amounts that exceeded 100 grams, resulting in a first-degree felony trafficking in cocaine charge.

Ernst was also charged with possession of more than 100 grams of cocaine, a first-degree felony, and illegal manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony.

Ernst — the second-generation owner of the once-popular community hang-out that closed in March 2020 and reopened See Ernst • Page 5

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Letter

from page 1 “I want to be clear that this letter is strictly to educate you and not to require or request you to vote for any particular candidate,” Shumway wrote, referring to the upcoming May primary, in which three Republican candidates — Magistrate Abbey King, Stephanie Anderson and Kate Jacob — are running for juvenile/probate judge.

The letter provided background on each candidate and alleged that Anderson, described as “formerly a Democrat and aligned with (Chardon) Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica,” approached CASA volunteers at The Great Geauga County Fair last summer, saying she wanted to “bring in attorneys” because “‘CASAs don’t know their job.’”

Shumway also referenced a 2024 conversation with Anderson in which Anderson reportedly said she wanted to replace CASA with attorney guardians ad-litem.

“Stephanie told me she would get rid of CASA in Geauga County,” Shumway wrote.

Shumway alleged Jacob has not practiced law in eight years.

“Typically, a Republican wins in Geauga County. That means whoever wins the primary will become our new judge in the juvenile court,” she wrote, encouraging volunteers who are registered Republicans to vote in the Republican primary.

“In my opinion, only Magistrate Abbey L. King is qualified for the job of Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Judge,” Shumway wrote.

She did not respond to multiple requests for comment prior to press deadline, which included questions about whether King was aware of the letter, whether it was drafted or mailed during court hours and if use of the letterhead was authorized.

In a Feb. 18 interview, Anderson said she had learned about the letter after a local property owner, whose building she wanted to place signs in front of, said he could not support her if the allegations were true.

Anderson said she understands the letter was distributed via email, though she had heard rumors of a hard copy.

A court employee sent it through the court’s email system Feb. 11, copying Shumway and roughly 60-63 recipients, she said, adding King was not on the initial distribution list.

“My first reaction was as a former prosecutor who prosecuted violations of (Ohio Revised Code Section) 9.03 … how inappropriate and unethical sending the letter was,” Anderson said.

ORC 9.03 prohibits governing bodies from using public funds to support or oppose a candidate for public office. It also forbids using public funds to benefit a candidate, political party or campaign committee.

Anderson said she has never voted as a Democrat in a Geauga County primary and does not understand what it means to be

Ernst

from page 4 only briefly in 2023 — did not have a criminal record. He was arrested at the bowling alley when deputies forced entry Dec. 12 and Ernst had cocaine and crack cocaine on his person as he exited another door, according to law enforcement.

A further search found a safe that contained a large bag of suspected cocaine and an undisclosed amount of cash.

There were also several crack pipes and

Geauga County Maple Leaf

“aligned” with Stupica, whom she has only interacted with a few times.

The conversations cited in the letter were also misrepresented, Anderson said. In reality, she said she discussed wanting to encourage more attorneys to serve as guardians ad-litem in addition to CASA volunteers.

“I have never, ever said I was going to get rid of the CASA program,” Anderson said.

The 2024 conversation with Shumway occurred long before Anderson had announced any plans to run for judge, she said, adding she had been discussing CASA funding as a board member of Hope for Kids Geauga.

Anderson said she filed a complaint with the state auditor’s office regarding the letter.

Jacob condemned the use of public resources for political purposes and called on fellow candidates to do the same.

“Using public resources for political campaigning and making derogatory characterizations undermines the public’s confidence in the judiciary,” she said. “The people of Geauga County deserve better. They deserve a judge with the highest ethical standards who has demonstrated experience in restoring integrity, transparency and fiscal responsibility to Geauga County’s public offices.”

Geauga County Board of Elections records show five protests were filed against Jacob’s campaign Feb. 20, alleging she does not satisfy the qualifications required for judicial office because a candidate must be engaged in the practice of law for at least six years before their term begins. The protests requested her removal from the May ballot.

Board of Elections Director Tyler Plants said Feb. 24 that the petitions were found insufficient to warrant a hearing.

A public records request to the court had not been returned prior to press deadline.

“At this time, the court can confirm that the correspondence of Feb 9, 2026, was drafted by Mary Ruth Shumway and was NOT authorized or approved by the judge, the court administrator, either of the magistrates, or any department head at the probate/juvenile court, nor to the best of his knowledge, did any person listed above receive a copy of the letter from Ms. Shumway,” said Court Administrator Kim Laurie in a Feb. 20 email.

The request will not be returned until the investigation is complete, Laurie said.

The situation advanced Feb. 24 when Geauga County Commissioners approved appointing law firm McDonald Hopkins to serve as Berger’s legal council.

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said the appointment involved issues related to a court employee or employees and a pending criminal investigation, though he would not confirm whether it was connected to the letter.

“Just as a general matter, I will tell you, and make sure you let your employees know that if you’re on the clock and you’re using your public email and public resources and public employees, don’t do campaigning,”

Flaiz said. “Because that is a crime.”

Following the vote, Commissioner Jim Dvorak described the action as “very pathetic and very low of a county employee.”

Anderson similarly decried the letter.

“This is what keeps good candidates from

lab equipment commonly used in manufacturing crack cocaine.

Ernst was originally released on a $300,000 cash or surety bond, but on Christmas Eve, Chardon police and EMS responded to a 911 call at 4:33 a.m.

Two males and one female were present at 116 Grant St., a house directly across the street from the bowling alley, according to Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus.

“The male and female were in the throes of an overdose,” Niehus said. “Both were taken to the hospital. A third person present at the house was the homeowner, Joe Ernst.”

The male who was transported to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center died, Niehus said.

While Ernst was detained, it was discovered he was on pretrial release and at some point, he was subjected to a drug test, Niehus said. The probation department found he was in violation of his bond.

Melissa Bond, of North Hambden Street, Chardon, who was at the bowling alley when Ernst was arrested, was also indicted Feb. 20 for possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony, and possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor.

Page 5

running for public office,” she said. “The mud-slinging and dirty politics are tiresome.

Integrity in public service should be non-negotiable. Even when there is the appearance of impropriety, citizens begin to lose trust in government institutions.”

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Commissioners Spar Over Public Comment Changes

By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com

An amendment to the Geauga County Commissioners’ public comment policy sparked a heated exchange during the Feb. 19 regular meeting.

The disagreement follows several weeks of tension among commissioners on multiple items concerning the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.

The proposed amendment clarified who would manage the board’s two public comment periods and changed time limits for each session.

“I think we have two viable options (for the management of public comment), one being the county administrator continues to manage public comment, the other is the president of the board would manage public comment,” said County Administrator Amy Bevan. “I think in either case, I would continue to manage the logistics of public comment.”

The amendment would limit each public comment period to 15 minutes, instead of the previous 30-minute session, she said.

When commissioners first established a public comment period, it consisted of a single 30 minute session at the end of meetings.

After a second public comment period was later added to the beginning of meetings, the language regarding time limits was never updated, Commissioner Carolyn Brakey said in a Feb. 20 text message.

The amendment also removed the re-

Claar

from page 1 The victim, Joseph “Joey” Plotts, loved camping and traveling with his dog, Sweetie.

He was a graduate of Cardinal High School and served as a firefighter and EMT for the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department.

He is remembered for his ability to create, build things and solve any problem, and his ability to cook anything. And he is remembered for his tie-dye shirts, which were worn by many of the 16 supporters, family and friends, who were sitting inside the courtroom for Claar's sentencing.

“I'm a Christian man; I will not judge you,” said Joseph's father, Harvey “Gene” Plotts, who turned directly to Claar. “God will judge you. And I hope he judges you real soon.”

He continued: “This was not an accident.

You got up that morning and you decided to drive. This was a crime. You killed my son committing a crime.”

Sara McNicholas said being Joseph's little sister had defined so much of her life.

“We rode our bikes, we played tag, he would even willingly play Barbies with me,” McNicholas said. “Joey never left me behind.

My brother had the same group of friends since kindergarten. They all included me. Joe never left me out.”

One of those friends from grade school, Robert Miller, talked about a newspaper photo the two had of them making a snowman during fourth grade recess.

“As that small group of friends grew closer and closer, even after graduation had died down, our lives and families continued to blend together,” Miller said. “Each one of us fighting for one another, brothers in the purest form, all formed from one thing: love.”

Plotts was hit from behind and killed on

quirement that speakers state their full address, Brakey said during the Feb. 19 meeting.

Commissioner Jim Dvorak said the board president should oversee public comment if Brakey issues arise, while the county administrator should handle logistics.

Brakey agreed.

Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri, who has previously objected to a formal public comment period, voiced concerns about the proposed changes.

“We haven’t had a policy because if people wanted to speak, they could speak. And, we didn’t give them a time limit, we didn’t give them a restraint of how long they wanted to talk,” Spidalieri said. “I think this is really an injustice to our residents and the taxpayers of restricting these 15 minutes at three minutes a piece to basically limit it to five residents to be able to speak.”

He noted recent meetings have drawn large crowds of residents wishing to address the board.

“The best way I can say it is, the oven is getting hot so you’re turning the freezer to try to cool things down,” he said, adding he believes the policy is unfair to residents.

Brakey and Spidalieri proceeded to argue over the time limit.

Brakey said the total public comment time remains 30 minutes, now divided into Oct. 4, 2025, at 11:11 a.m., on state Route 528, as he was about to turn his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle onto Nauvoo Road, a quarter mile from his Middlefield Township home.

Claar has been in trouble with the law since he was juvenile and spent a prison term from 2019 to 2024. In a court document, Burling detailed Claar’s criminal record dating back to 1996. The charges, most often in Ravenna, Warren and Newton Falls, included disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, aggravated menacing, petty theft, criminal trespassing, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, domestic violence, littering and driving under suspension.

He said Claar had only stayed out of trouble when he was behind bars.

“I want to focus on some of the factual issues that were present in this case,” Burling said. “We will concede we have no evidence of drugs or alcohol in the defendant’s system.

But this rises to a felony if you are under suspension at the time of the offense.”

In a long, winding apology to Plotts' family, Claar, who was often in tears, told the courtroom he had been abused as a child, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had substance abuse issues.

“It haunts me everyday. I have nightmares every night,” Claar said. “I sleep very little. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of your little boy. I would give my life now if I could. I would give you folks that — but I can’t.”

One of Claar’s jailmates, a man named Joe, also spoke on his behalf.

Just before receiving his sentence, Claar asked for a continuance, saying he needed to get money for his disabled mother.

His lawyer, Chief Public Defender Paul J. Mooney, said Claar was “trying to make a living as best he could” as an Amish taxi driv-

Dvorak

Spidalieri

two 15-minute sessions — one before and one after the meeting. She added the board can vote to extend either session if necessary.

Spidalieri said he found the timing of the amendment ironic, noting commissioners have been attempting to schedule NOACA Executive Director Grace Gallucci to speak at a future meeting after weeks of debate about the organization.

“Ralph, I sat through two years of commissioner meetings in the back of the room where you often did not have public comment,” Brakey said.

“If they wanted to talk, they could,” Spidalieri replied.

“No, that’s not true. You would say ‘any questions.’ I sat next to a woman once who had a comment she wanted to make and you asked ‘any questions’ and she didn’t understand it was even public comment because it was never on the agenda,” Brakey said, adding the meeting adjourned without the woman speaking.

Brakey also argued the absence of a formal public comment period could present First Amendment concerns. She referenced

a December 2024 meeting regarding the Geauga County Dog Warden, during which some residents spoke at length while others were asked to shorten their remarks, effectively imposing time limits only on later speakers.

She said residents may also submit comments by email or phone and noted commissioners can extend public comment periods if desired. However, she added meetings are intended to conduct county business and must be run efficiently.

Spidalieri claimed comments left on the commissioners’ YouTube recordings have disappeared. Brakey responded comments made during the live stream are not permanent and no one is going in to delete them.

The discussion grew increasingly contentious, with commissioners speaking over one another.

Spidalieri accused Brakey of refusing to reconsider her position and criticized Dvorak for supporting the amendment.

Brakey repeatedly asked Spidalieri whether he had read the policy. He declined to answer.

“I’m comfortable as long as the commissioners can vote in another two more speakers, or another 10 minutes or whatever,” Dvorak eventually said. “Because if it’s a hot topic, yes, I want to give them the right to speak.”

The amendment passed in a 2-1, with Spidalieri dissenting.

“Sorry residents,” Spidalieri said after the vote.

JAMIE WARD/KMG

Harvey “Gene” Plotts addresses the judge in Geauga County Common Pleas Court as Matthew Claar, far left, looks on.

er, despite the license suspension. He also shook a stack of medications he said Claar takes.

“There’s no denying his record,” Mooney said. “It’s not a good record, and I’m not here to explain any of that or to justify any of it.”

In fact, Rambo said Claar’s pre-sentencing report lists seven pages of prior offenses.

“The reason licenses are suspended are so days like today don’t happen — days like Oct. 4 don’t happen,” Rambo said. “You had 35 different opportunities to avoid what happened. Quite frankly, all the reasons you’re telling me you deserve a lighter sentence, or reasons you should come back at a later date,

are things you should have considered before getting behind the wheel of a car.”

Eighteen months in prison was the maximum sentence allowed for Claar, who received 80 days credited to time served.

Rambo also suspended Claar's license for five years upon his release.

After the sentencing, members of the Plotts family said they wanted to see law changes for Amish taxi drivers.

As the sheriff’s deputy handcuffed Claar and removed the contents of his pockets, including a wad of cash, his friend Joe asked what he wanted him to do with the money.

It was for his commissary, Claar replied.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Page 7

Geauga County Maple Leaf

South Russell Property Sells for $7.8 Million Staff Report An eight-tenant, multiuse building in South Russell Village sold for $7.8 million Feb. 13.

Cooper Commercial Investment Group represented the seller in the transaction, said Bob Havasi, vice president of the group.

The 67,530 square-foot, mixed-use retail, flex and warehouse property is located at 524, 528 and 530 E. Washington St. “It's a good mixed-use property, which, it's retail up front, but also has the warehouse space in the back and there's not really much like it in that immediate vicinity, so close to the Village of Chagrin Falls,” Havasi said.

The owner decided it was an opportune time to sell, he added.

SUBMITTED

A multiuse building at 524, 528 and 530 E. Washington St. in South Russell is sold for $7.8 million Feb. 13.

“(He was) estate planning and he's just — now's a good time to sell with where interest rates are, and we got a good price for it. So, he pulled the trigger,” Havasi said.

All spaces are occupied in the building, including a Snap Fitness, Muvel Restaurant, Chagrin Yoga, ReSet Lounge, BAC Distributing, Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic & Veterinary

Center, Chagrin Valley Music and Healing Family Functional Medicine, Havasi said.

“It's 100% occupied for a reason — because it's well located,” he said.

iSTEM Eyes Auburn Career Center for Relocation

By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com

iSTEM may be returning to its roots at Auburn Career Center, with the two schools opening relocation talks following a recent iSTEM board of directors decision.

“Last night, iSTEM had their board meeting and at that meeting, they voted as a board to begin negotiations with us to potentially come back to Auburn Career Center,” ACC Superintendent Joe Glavan said Feb. 10.

When iSTEM opened its doors in 2015, the science, technology, engineering and math-focused high school was based on ACC’s campus in Concord Township. It later moved to its current location on Mentor Avenue.

“After careful consideration, the iSTEM governing board has selected Auburn Career Center as the preferred option for relocation next year,” iSTEM Superintendent Allen Wilson said in a press release Feb. 11. “This decision followed a thorough review of three options — Lakeland (Community College), (ACC) and iSTEM’s current location — and was guided by key factors including operational costs, enrollment sustainability and

Wrestling from page 1

for expanded opportunities for female athletes.

Her youngest daughter, fifth-grader Abby Boyd, has wrestled for the past five years through the Berkshire Recreation Center.

“I have been pushing for a girls wrestling team at the middle and high school so that the girls from rec have somewhere to go with the sport once they enter the upper grades,” Kristen said.

Her oldest daughter, Maggie Boyd, a freshman, initially surprised family members by joining wrestling but quickly fell in love with the sport.

“Wrestling has been a very unique experience for me,” Maggie said. “It has given me confidence and helped me work on my leadership skills. I have greatly enjoyed this opportunity, getting to learn this intense and technical sport and have some success in it.”

Kristen said she has seen significant growth in the girls’ confidence since the season began.

“Watching them at the beginning of the

overall educational impact. Of the options considered, Auburn Career Center best meets these needs and represents the strongest long-term fit for our school.”

Wilson expressed excitement for the possible opportunities the move could open while emphasizing that the move is not a merger.

“We are excited about the prospects of STEM, Career Technical Education and College Credit Plus opportunities that will be available to our students at one location,” he said. “To reaffirm, while moving to this location will lead to partnership opportunities with Auburn, iSTEM will remain an independent STEM school and our students will have the same choices for their educational pathways as they currently have.”

There are many benefits to the school being back on ACC’s campus, Glavan said.

“Obviously, it’s very beneficial to iSTEM from the standpoint that our facilities are updated, we have access to all of our career-tech programs and our facilities, we talk about STEM and it is also a lower cost than what they’re currently paying at their location, not in terms of rent but in the overall cost,” he said.

There is benefit to ACC, too, Glavan added.

“One is it provides a very clear pathway for us to have an increase of students heading over from iSTEM into our programs,” he said. “They’re right on our campus. I think that makes sense. I do think holistically, for Geauga County, having iSTEM in a centrally-located spot is better for the community in Geauga.”

When the high school moved from ACC’s campus to Mentor Avenue, it lost many of its Geauga County students due to the commute, Glavan said.

The move back to ACC may also aid in the career center’s current quest to expand student opportunity by offering ways for them to take core classes while on the ACC campus, he said.

“Our (member) districts have made it known and the families have made it known that they would like us to offer core academic subjects here, math and English,” Glavan added. “Philosophically, I don’t know if it would make sense for Auburn ourselves to ever hire an algebra teacher, an English teacher — if we’re hiring teachers, it’s going to be in trades.”

Having iSTEM on their campus means students may be able to attend math and English through ACC at no additional cost to their home districts, he said. iSTEM is looking at converting a classroom into a chemistry lab, which also benefits ACC’s current mission of expanding access via Lake Erie College, Glavan said, adding that any renovations will be paid for by iSTEM, not ACC. “Also, from a revenue standpoint, we are potentially looking at adding an additional $195,000 a year annually in additional revenue,” he said.

The money is a combination of rent for iSTEM and cost-sharing, he said.

“Right now at iSTEM, they do not currently have a school resource officer,” Glavan said. “We have a school resource officer. So, we are gonna cost-share with that. So, they’re gonna cover a portion of our SRO salary and right now, we’re covering 100%. They’re also going to cover a portion of our nurse. So, it actually lowers our cost, but we still have the same services being provided.”

Negotiations are expected to continue over the next few weeks, he said.

season, they were timid and unsure of themselves,” she said. “Now, they carry themselves with a confidence that was not there before, not just on the mat, but even in the hallways of school.”

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio High School Athletic Association board voted unanimously to add girls wrestling as an emerging sport beginning in the 2022-23 school year.

According to OHSAA, 63 schools fielded girls wrestling teams last year.

Stoddard said area programs also exist at Cardinal, Kenston and Chagrin Falls high schools.

Girls wrestling is among the fastest-growing high school sports in the nation, according to the Associated Press.

“Part of that is that girls are looking for more physically challenging activities, along with state sanctioning of the sport, which opens up postseason opportunities,” Stoddard said. “Another driver is the increase in access to the sport for girls at the college level, leading to more opportunities for scholarships.”

Women’s wrestling is an official National Collegiate Athletic Association championship

sport and is offered at 150 colleges and universities in North America, including John Carroll University, according to the NCAA. “As the mom of a girl wrestler, for many years, I have been told, ‘That's so cool for your daughter, but it's not my daughter's thing,’ or ‘wrestling is a boys’ sport,’” Kristen said.

However, the team has developed strong bonds among its members, she said.

“After our duel with Painesville Harvey, the number of people in attendance commented about how inspiring it was to see the girls cheering each other on,” Kristen said.

She said the athletes have carried that sportsmanship into competitions and daily interactions.

The team has brought together girls that otherwise would not have met, she said, adding they are not only teammates, but genuinely all care about one another.

“When I decided to join the club, I thought it would be something fun to do in between volleyball and softball to stay in shape,” said 15-year-old Piper Geiss. “I didn’t realize how much I would fall in love with the sport. We have a great team with a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see what we can do next year.”

The club currently receives no funding from the school district. Programs typically must demonstrate sustainability for two seasons before petitioning to become fully supported varsity sports, Geiss said.

“For a first-year program, it would be hard to ask for a better season,” Geiss said.

“The coaches are incredibly proud of these young women and they should be proud of themselves. They earned every bit of their success. Every practice and match reinforces they can handle challenges head-on. Those lessons carry far beyond the mat into academics, careers and personal life. We are already looking forward to November of 2026, when the next season begins.”

During the startup period, the club relies on community support to continue providing opportunities for student-athletes, Geiss said.

The club accepts donations and fundraisers to reduce costs for families: Berkshire Boosters Club Inc., P.O. Box 291, Burton, OH 44024 or Venmo @Berkshire-Boosters (tag: Girls Wrestling).

The girls’ next tournament is on March 1 at Austintown Fitch High School for sectional matches.

Page 8

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Parkman Township

Officials Formally Ask ODOT to Address Dangers on 422

By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com

Parkman Township Trustees voted Feb. 17 to send a letter to the Ohio Department of Transportation requesting a series of safety improvements along U.S. Route 422 The township is asking ODOT to evaluate the busy stretch between West Farmington Road and state Route 528 and consider infrastructure changes to make it safer for Amish horse-drawn buggies and other motorists.

The request for a safety evaluation and modifications, written by Trustee Joyce Peters and dated Feb. 11, outlined dangers that have contributed to 89 accidents in the past five years, including two fatalities.

During the Feb. 17 trustees meeting, Peters said the crash statistics came from ODOT. She noted the figure includes only reported accidents and does not reflect numerous close calls.

Concerns escalated after multiple collisions between motor vehicles and Amish buggies along Route 422. Nearly a dozen Amish residents attended an Oct. 21 trustees meet-

ing to ask for assistance.

Peters attended a January meeting between ODOT representatives and the Amish Safety Committee and reported progress at the Feb. 3 trustees meeting.

Israel Ciptak, of ODOT District 12, visited Parkman earlier this month to observe the roadway conditions. Peters said he personally experienced some of the hazards.

“He was tailgated trying to pull into Dollar General and almost T-boned pulling out of Dollar General,” Peters said. “He said he had no idea how bad it could be.”

Dollar General is located on a blind curve on Route 422, just east of the township center across from West Farmington Road.

In her letter, Peters asked that vegetation west of the store’s driveway be aggressively cut back to improve sightlines for drivers.

She also requested changes to the speed limit.

“In particular, the township is requesting a reduction in the speed limit to 35 mph through this area from the start of the current 35 mph zone to the west of 528 and continuing east to state Route 282. The intersection

of 282 and 422 is also an area where those turning westbound often have difficulty getting across the highway to travel westbound,” Peters wrote. “We are aware of at least one death at that intersection.”

The township also requested signage warning motorists of slow-moving horsedrawn buggies along Route 422 and asked ODOT to consider installing a new traffic light.

“A critical area of concern is the intersection of Farmington Road and 422. Many Amish residents live in the section of Parkman accessed through that road,” Joyce wrote. “The east-bound buggies are extremely vulnerable when waiting for clearance to turn onto Farmington. Buggy and automobile traffic approaching from the west cannot safely make that turn due to oncoming traffic.

Traffic exiting Farmington, motor and buggy, must try to shoot out onto 422 in both directions in order to find a break in the traffic approaching from the east and west. Often, there are near misses between buggies and cars trying to navigate this intersection.”

Longer-term proposals include widening

paved shoulders to create dedicated buggy lanes along portions of Route 422, similar to those in and around Middlefield. Peters also suggested exploring a buggy-lane bypass through privately owned land north of the intersection of Route 422 and Route 528. The bypass would allow buggies to avoid that intersection, where Tavern Road also merges onto Route 528 nearby from Burton.

During the meeting, Peters said buggy lanes or a bypass could take years to complete and would likely be costly. However, she said she believes the Amish community would support the effort. She also requested funding assistance from ODOT. “These modifications can drastically reduce the potential for catastrophic rear-end, T-bone and head-on collisions and improve overall roadway safety for all users, especially the Amish buggy traffic,” she wrote. “The township fully supports the requests of the local Amish Safety Committee in our joint search for the safety of our community members.”

Peters said the Amish Safety Committee was also asked to submit a letter to ODOT.

Parkman Township

Trustees Win Suit; Deed Restriction on Square Upheld

By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com

Parkman Township officials celebrated Feb. 17 after winning a legal battle to prevent a gas station and convenience store from being built near the township square.

Trustee Joyce Peters announced midway through the trustees meeting she had just learned Geauga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo dismissed a lawsuit filed in 2023 by BTE Properties LLC. “We won our lawsuit. The judge decided the deed restriction follows the land, in perpetuity,” she said. “All costs are assessed to the plaintiff, (who) has a month to appeal.”

The square, located at the intersection of Nelson Road and U.S. Route 422, was sold to the township in 1843 by Simon and Nancy Perkins. The deed reads: “...We, Simon Perkins and Nancy Perkins, his wife, of Warren Trumbull County Ohio, in consideration of Ten Cents, received to our full satisfaction of the inhabitants of the township of Parkman, Geauga County, Ohio, and also in consideration of our desire to promote the prosperity of the inhabitants of said township of Parkman, do hereby, remise, release and forever quit claim unto the trustees of the township of Parkman, a tract of land in Parkman…”

Included in the deed signed June 7 was the phrase “… to use as a public square or

commons, unencumbered by any building or structure whatever except the railing of a public walk.”

In 2018, a previous board of trustees sold a quarter-acre parcel on the east side of the square, fronting on Route 422, to BTE for $20,000, according to court documents.

BTE consolidated the parcel with a 2-acre parcel it owned south of the square, creating a 2.6-acre property with frontage on both Route 422 and Nelson Road.

In 2023, BTE and ABC Development LLC sued to remove the deed restriction, arguing the township had violated it by building a gazebo and bandstand on the property and installing utility poles and retaining walls.

The plaintiffs also argued BTE had been using the quarter-acre parcel to access its adjoining property.

A.L.L. Inc., owner of the gas station and convenience store across Route 422, intervened on behalf of the township, urging Parkman officials to defend the deed restriction in court.

Rambo issued his ruling Feb. 17.

“The language contained in the 1843 deed and the 2018 deed is clear and unambiguous, and recorded with the Geauga County recorder. There is no question that both plaintiffs had not only constructive, but actual notice of the restriction when they purchased (or in ABC's case, agreed to purchase) the small parcel,” he wrote. “Accord-

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ingly, unless otherwise rendered impotent, BTE, and subsequently ABC, are bound by the restriction.”

Because A.L.L. does not own property abutting the quarter-acre parcel, Rambo dismissed the intervention and declared the company's motions moot.

The judge also rejected the plaintiffs’ argument regarding the gazebo and other structures. “ … The sole use of the parcel since 1843 has been for a public park and common area.

At no point has the public been prevented from using any or all of the parcel, including the small parcel,” the judge ruled. “The court finds that these minor deviations and modernizations of the parcel are inconsequential to the parcel's intended purposes as a public space and do not render the restriction unen-

forceable or void.”

Rambo granted the township’s motion for summary judgment filed Nov. 14, 2025.

“The court declares that the restriction contained in the 1843 deed and then the 2018 deed is valid, runs with the land and is enforceable against plaintiffs and all subsequent transferees with actual or constructive notice of the restriction. Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, filed Nov. 14, 2025, is denied.”

Peters said Tuesday the plaintiffs must cover legal fees for work performed by the firm Peterson and Peterson.

“BTE still owns that strip of land, whether they want to continue with their plan the way it is, without using that quarter-acre, will be up to them,” she said. “It doesn’t go back to the township.”

Green Flush Restrooms Finally To Flow in Oberland Park Staff Report After nearly two years of discussion — and a few clogs — environmentally-friendly Green Flush restrooms are set to be installed at Oberland Park, with completion expected within the next few weeks.

Newbury Township Trustees voted in January 2024 to contract with Green Flush Technologies, of Washougal, Wash., for the restroom units at Oberland Park, 14639 Auburn Road. The project, however, was temporarily delayed due to requirements from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the company.

“I talked to (Micah Wirhol, Green Flush project manager), and they are thinking two weeks they’ll be finished and tested,” Trustee Dave Lair said at the Feb. 18 trustees meeting.

The environmentally-friendly restrooms will replace existing portable toilets and operate without power, sewer or water utilities,

according to the company’s website.

Newbury Township received a $100,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 2024 to help fund the project.

The total project cost is estimated at approximately $270,000, including delivery and installation, said former Trustee Bill Skomrock in late 2024.

The remaining balance will be paid from the township’s capital improvement fund, with about $52,000 coming from the general fund, Fiscal Officer Lindsay Pollock said in the fall of 2024.

Lair said he hopes the restrooms will be completed in March or April.

Green Flush has requested the township provide “before photos” of the site to prevent any miscommunication regarding the installation location, Lair added.

Green Flush and the Newbury Township Park Board plan to meet virtually for a pre-installation meeting during the board’s regular meeting March 12.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Page 9

Chardon Schools

Heat, Testing and Family Time Fuel Calendar Debate

By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com Several weeks after launching a Change. org petition urging Chardon Schools to delay the start date of the academic year until after Labor Day, Genny Pavlick appeared before the Chardon Schools Board of Education Feb. 17 alongside parents and staff members to share their views.

Chardon Education Association President Shalyn Swick and Vice President Kristen Sironen spoke first, saying the union had surveyed its members about preferred start dates and the impact of the calendar on teaching and learning.

“Approximately 70% of our respondents indicated that they prefer to maintain the earlier start date,” Swick said. “A strong majority emphasized the importance of having sufficient instructional time before state assessments, noting that it is already challenging to cover a full year of curriculum prior to testing.”

Losing additional days would make it more difficult to meet state standards and ef-

fectively serve students, she added.

Those who favor a later start cited concerns about a lack of air conditioning, heat in school buildings and personal or family considerations, Sironen said.

Parent Tara Rykes urged the board to begin the school year later without extending the length of school days.

“I currently teach at Berkshire,” she said.

“There are minimal challenges with starting at that late date with the state testing.”

Rykes said she has considered keeping her children home during the first few weeks of school because of high classroom temperatures.

“It often feels as though test scores have become more important than family time, summer break, overall well-being and the voices of parents and taxpayers,” she said, noting other districts make different calendar decisions.

Pavlick, who attended the meeting with her husband, Eric Pavlick, said she has been discussing the issue with other parents since 2023.

South Russell Village

Officials Tap Former Council Member to Fill Vacant Seat

By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com South Russell Village Council voted 5-1 Feb. 17 to appoint former council member Mark Porter to fill the vacant seat left by Misha Alexander.

Alexander resigned effective Feb. 1 to address personal matters that would take her outside of the village, she said in a Jan. 28 letter to council.

Council received eight applications for the vacancy, said council member Chris Bell.

The motion to appoint Porter passed 5-1, with Porter council member Mary Rensel casting the sole dissenting vote.

Rensel explained her vote in a Feb. 24 follow-up interview.

“Mark Porter brings such long term institutional knowledge of local government and the law, but I still thought maybe it was a good time to think about building and putting some new skills on the team, that's why I voted that way,” she said.

The appointment took effect immediately, and Porter will serve the remainder of the unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2029, council President Chris Berger said Feb. 17.

“The council challenged itself to select the candidate that best met the following criteria, in my opinion, demonstrated ability and willingness in council's work by attending council meetings and committee meetings, engaging in the process through council's agenda, communicating a concrete vision for the village now and for the future and by demonstrating the work history of successful teamwork to meet or exceed goals and expectations,” Berger said.

Porter had lost his bid for reelection last November. Of the six candidates vying for four open seats, Porter and Dennis Galicky — also running for reelection — garnered the least amount of votes with Porter receiving 471 and Galicky, 498.

Bell received 732 votes, Rensel had 664 votes, Ruth Cavanah won 541 votes and Alexander had 525 votes, according to the final results of the Geauga County Board of Elections.

Council member Gerald Canton thanked residents who stepped forward to apply for the position.

“These are some talented, accomplished people. So, we are very, very lucky,” Cavanagh added.

After Alexander’s unexpected resignation, council members found themselves in an awkward position, Bell said.

“I think we all prefer the democratic process that involves the polls, but this is where we are and I'm excited for where we're moving to,” Bell said. “I appreciate all the eight candidates because, as everyone else said, I was really, really impressed by every single one of them. Everyone had different, unique skills and every one of them would have been a wonderful fit. But, at the end of the day, we found the person who we thought was best for us today.”

Berger later added the swiftness in filling the seat was to ensure council could pass upcoming legislation with all five seats filled.

“Having a full complement of council members allows for absences while ensuring that the village business gets done,” he said Feb. 23. “Council knows that some council members will be absent in March and April. Therefore, having Mr. Porter in place as soon as possible would be beneficial for the village.”

Porter did not respond to requests for comment prior to press deadline.

She said a parent who could not attend the meeting told her a child once passed out in class due to high classroom temperatures.

Some classrooms at Park Elementary School can reach temperatures in the 90s in August, and staff and students have gone home feeling ill because of the heat, she added.

In a Feb. 23 email, Chardon Superintendent Mike Hanlon said he could not confirm specific allegations about high temperatures but acknowledged they were possible.

The district’s temperature control system does not retain data that far back, but temperatures at Park could potentially reach the described range if outdoor temperatures were in the upper 80s, he said, adding the principal may have dismissed staff on a particularly warm day if they felt ill.

Hanlon said he was attempting to contact the principal regarding the reported incident of a student fainting, but also noted students have fainted for various reasons throughout the year.

“I’ve heard the argument that we need as much classroom time as possible before state testing, and that other schools in our area who are highly rated start their school calendar in August, so that must be the best way, right?” Pavlick said.

She said she has not seen data proving an earlier start date benefits Chardon students and encouraged the board to think creatively about potential transportation conflicts.

“I’m well aware that there are many moving parts to this and that it’s not as simple as changing the calendar around,” she said. “I do not, however, think that’s any reason to stay in this cycle forever.”

Resident Natasha Humar, who said she previously had children in the district, suggested petitioning the state to move testing dates.

ALLISON WILSON/KMG

Chardon parent Genny Pavlick speaks in favor of pushing back the Chardon Schools start date to after Labor Day during the Chardon Schools Board of Education meeting Feb. 17.

“Why are they in late April?” she asked.

“I think there’s just a lot that could be discussed and brought to a conversation, rather than this you-versus-us.”

In a statement to the press Feb. 20, Hanlon provided data on school start dates across Ohio.

Of the 313 Ohio school districts with 2026-2027 calendars posted online, 90.4% begin before Sept. 1, with start dates ranging from Aug. 7 to Aug. 31, he said.

“Of the 30 districts starting their year after Sept. 1, the average Performance Index Score on State Achievement Testing in (2024-2025) is 89.32. Also keep in mind this is an average, with some districts performing lower than 89.32,” he said. “Two of the 30 districts had a PI score over 100, specifically a 101.35 average. Chardon's PI score was 101.9 for the same year. The maximum attainable PI statewide was 109.8.”

Chester Officials Plan 225th Anniversary Honoring Founders

By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com As the nation prepares to mark America’s 250th anniversary, Chester Township is planning its own milestone celebration — 225 years since its founding.

Plans are underway to honor early settlers Justice and Mabel Miner — who arrived in Chester in 1801 — during a townshipwide event this spring.

Diana Kresnye, of the Grave Hunters, and a historical interpreter at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, appeared before Chester Township Trustees Feb. 19 to ask whether the township would partner in events this year to recognize the Miners.

Kresnye presented a proclamation commemorating the couple’s arrival and said she hopes trustees will approve it and present it during a townshipwide celebration April 23.

Kresnye said her husband, B.J. Kresnye, will conduct a historical reenactment portraying Justice Miner at the event. She added she hopes he can also appear at Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations.

“We think (Chester’s founding) should be recognized. It's 225 years,” she said. “That's

two years before Ohio becomes a state.”

Kresnye has developed educational materials to share with the community and local schools, including coloring sheets, a 90-second educational song and historical background information about the Miners, she said.

“We want our children to know their history. We want the people who live here to know their history,” she said.

She also suggested placing window advertisements in businesses throughout the township promoting the event under the theme, “Our Story Starts With Justice.”

Kresnye proposed creating a dedicated section on the township’s website featuring historical research about the Miners.

“It’s so unique that we have this connection to both America 250 and the founding of Chester,” she said.

Trustees expressed interest in the proposals but said they will wait until their Feb. 25 special meeting to vote on the proclamation because Trustee Craig Richter was absent, Trustee Ken Radtke said.

Kresnye said additional details about the events honoring the Miners will be announced later.

Page 10

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Hambden Township

New Database Modernizes Cemetery Records

By Brandon Lichtinger editor@karlovecmedia.com At the Feb. 18 Hambden Township Trustees meeting, members of Geauga County’s Automatic Data Processing board unveiled a new cemetery database designed to streamline administrative tasks and provide a research tool for residents.

ADP Deputy Chief Administrator Frank Antenucci, county Auditor Chuck Walder and Geographic Information Systems Solutions Architect Sarah Perry introduced the database — the first of its kind in the county — and explained its functions.

Antenucci described the project as a collaboration between township trustees and the ADP department.

“I forget who said it, initially, maybe it was Newbury, who said, ‘Hey do you have any ability to create some kind of application for cemeteries? It’s just kind of a mess out there,’” Antenucci said. “So, I naturally just went to Sarah (Perry) and the GIS team.

They started talking about it back and forth.

We talked with Newbury, then it made it into one of the papers and I think (Hambden Township Trustee Dave Johnson) texted me that night and said, ‘We’re really interested.’

I told Dave, ‘You’re at the top of the heap at that point,’ so we set a course to work with Hambden on the cemetery application.”

The database was completed in about 50 days, a timeline made possible by the township’s organized cemetery records, Antenucci said.

“What we wanted to do is come out here and roll it out, answer any questions for the trustees so you can see it as a full board, instead of just sending it out to the staff and saying, ‘Have at it,’” he said. “We prefer to not only do this thing out front (the presentation) but also at the back end of it, (so) that we provide the township with what they're looking for.”

He added, “This is the first time in Geauga County history that a township cemetery application has been created, homegrown here. You guys will be the first ones to have a custom-built mapped infrastructure application for your cemeteries.”

The database features aerial maps of township cemeteries with plot information such as pricing and availability. Antenucci emphasized the application was designed to meet the needs of government officials and residents.

“The important thing is that it can become inherently customizable for the township, but at the same time, it's still not a uniquely made product that then nobody can maintain, it’s still very user-friendly,” he said.

Antenucci credited Hambden trustees’ cooperation and enthusiasm for helping bring the project to completion.

“We certainly appreciate the partnership.

We thought that Hambden was a really good board to work with,” he said. “You’re very consistent, reliable, copacetic, everybody gets along and that goes a long way when you’re trying to build something new.”

Walder outlined the administrative benefits of the system.

“There are some things I wanted to make sure you’re aware of that make care of cemeteries unique for townships,” Walder said.

“Cemeteries are statutory. You have to maintain cemeteries by law. Cemeteries present an interesting problem. The fiscal responsibility of

BRANDON LICHTINGER/KMG

ADP Deputy Chief Administrator Frank Antenucci and county Auditor Chuck Walder describe the process for creating a new Hambden Township cemetery database.

SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF GEAUGA COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE GIS DEPARTMENT

As shown in this screenshot of the Hamden Township Cemetery Manager database, users will be able to search the status of individual burial sites.

the record is on (Fiscal Officer Mike Roman’s) shoulders. By law, he has to maintain the record (of burial deeds). But, generally speaking, the trustees are responsible for the actual digging of the grave, the burial and the filing of that deed. So, therein lies the problem. We’ve got two effective branches of the same government that have duality of purpose.”

Centralizing information in a database could streamline operations and improve record keeping, Walder said.

“In the old days, there was a sheet of paper and a map (of cemeteries), and the map was kept in the fiscal office. They would write on it and that’s how it was done,” he explained. “The problem is that (the process) had no exposure to the residents. If a resident wanted to know if a plot was available, they had to come in, look at the map, take their pencil, erase somebody’s name, put their name on it. What we envision long term is, the ability to be very interactive with the residents by taking a lot of the legwork out of it, of people having to schedule to come

in and do those kinds of things. You can post things as detailed as the cost of each plot, which plots are open and available, where are military plots versus non-military.”

He added, “We wanted to solve both the fiscal challenge, as well as the trustee challenge of actually getting the job done with the least amount of effort, time and cost.”

Perry then demonstrated the database’s functions, showing how township cemetery records were digitized.

“Everything you have in terms of cemetery information is now digital and ready to look at online,” she said. “It gives the residents the ability to explore any cemeteries in Hambden.”

She demonstrated features that allow users to view aerial maps, topographical overlays and plot information such as numbers and availability.

“You can see where the trees are, so if someone is looking to be buried somewhere, they can get a pretty good idea of what that area looks like, its features,” she said.

The database also allows families to research gravesites and memorialize loved ones, Perry explained.

“Name, date of death, age, whatever information the township had is there, as complete as the team could make it, but the township can update it,” Perry said. “This is some pretty good functionality for the residents.”

Users can submit information about individuals buried in township cemeteries, which the township can review and approve for inclusion, she said.

“If you were looking for someone in your family or someone you loved, you can actually create a memorial for them,” she said.

“There’s a survey you can complete, including what you would like to share about them, that gets sent to the township, they approve it and a memorial can be attached to that plot, so in the future, any other residents or any other person interested in cemeteries can find that information (through the database).”

See Cemetery • Page 11

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Page 11

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Holiday Market Pitch Sees Slight Progress

By Allison Wilson wilson@karlovecmedia.com Plans for a European-style holiday market on Chardon Square inched forward slightly Feb. 12, though members of Chardon City Council expressed continued caution.

Chardon Square Association Treasurer Sylvia McGee and CSA member Abigale Blashinski updated council on research and planning efforts for the proposed market. The pair first presented the concept in November.

Blashinski’s brainchild, the market would be set up on the square over four weekends and tied to the city’s holiday lighting event.

At the February meeting, Blashinski said she had consulted with organizers of the Sandusky Christmas Market, who recommended launching the event Friday through Sunday to start.

She also presented a model of the square featuring miniature wooden huts placed along the sidewalks to illustrate a potential layout.

The huts would be uniform in design and decoration, McGee said, adding she believes they would complement existing holiday decor around the square.

Regarding electricity, McGee said organizers have spoken with the Geauga County Maple Festival board, which was receptive to sharing the power source used for its festival.

Mayor Chris Grau asked how power lines would be installed. McGee said the issue remains under discussion.

“I know my last conversation with (Lands and Buildings Supervisor Mike Butt), we were talking about doing receptacles, putting in receptacles in strategic locations,” she said.

There would be no extension cords running across sidewalks because the huts are expected to be heated and cannot rely on extension cords, Butt said.

The number of huts would depend on the sponsorshipship CSA secures, Blashinski said.

“Being the first year, I think shooting for 15 is very doable,” McGee added.

The huts would be 10-by-10-foot foldable structures, approximately 10 ½ to 11-feet, Blashinski said.

City Manager Ben Young said at minimum, a building permit would be required for electrical work and possibly for the huts themselves.

“If building permits are required, council will need to pass some sort of resolution we can give to the building department saying

Cemetery from page 10

Perry said she hopes the project expands in the future.

“What I envision potentially for the future, we could have a cemetery page for Geauga County and all the links to all the townships could be within the page and all look the same, and so anyone looking for a cemetery in Geauga County could potentially search the entire Geauga County database,” Perry said.

Johnson praised the project’s outcome.

“This turned out way better than I thought,” he said.

He said the township will promote the database through newsletters and social media.

Walder explained that while the database is live, ADP wanted to show it to the

that you have granted permission for somebody who isn’t the owner of the property to construct items on the property,” he added.

The CSA would manage the event like other juried events held on the square, using a vendor application process, McGee said.

Law Director Ben Chojnacki noted that while the concept is based on European Christmas markets, constitutional considerations apply in the United States.

The U.S. Constitution’s free exercise and establishment clauses prohibit the government from establishing a religion and protect individuals’ rights to practice religion freely, according to the U.S. Courts. Those considerations were also discussed during the November presentation and would remain part of the planning process.

The proposal has generated positive community interest, with potential sponsors already expressing willingness to participate, Blashinski said.

However, she said planning can only progress so far without formal approval from council.

Vice Mayor Heather Means urged council to give the project a shot.

“They’ve already put a ton of time, clearly, investment and time, into it,” she said.

“There’s a lot of passion behind it, too. So why wouldn’t we try?”

Young suggested handling the event similarly to the Maple Festival by negotiating a specific contract.

“If council likes the idea of the event, but is a little hesitant about the details, council could tonight say yes to the event with the caveat the CSA is going to work with me and Ben (Chojnacki) to, over the course of this spring/summer, negotiate a contract like Maple Festival to bring back to all of you for final approval,” he said.

McGee and Blashinski agreed to that approach.

Council member David Lelko said he opposed the market in its current form, citing concerns about hosting it over multiple weekends.

Means responded that other events could still take place on the square during the market.

Council member Andrew Blackley also expressed concerns about permanent electrical alterations to the square.

Council ultimately voted 5-2 to authorize Young to negotiate an agreement with the holiday market organizers. Lelko and council member Deb Chuha voted no.

Hambden trustees first before publicizing it further.

In a follow-up conversation, Antenucci said public access to the database would be available within 30 days.

Perry emphasized the long-term benefits of the system.

“I think the township will use it to manage their data in a much more efficient way,” she said. “Going from paper maps that are often a couple hundred years old, the pencils rubbed out and replaced, the edges are torn and worn. Old maps are awesome, but functionally, they can get damaged and they can get lost. Having this all in a database online where it can be stored forever and be easily accessed on a map (will help townships). If you have 1,000 plots, you can’t search that.

With the database, you can search for names.

It’s so much more efficient.”

SUBMITTED

A rendering of the combined water treatment plant and maintenance facility, which West Geauga Schools Board of Education approved Feb. 16.

West Geauga Schools

Board OKs Proposal for Water Treatment Plant, Maintenance Facility Claypool initially favored separating the projects but later reconsidered, she said.

“I'm in favor of doing the whole project.

The West Geauga Schools Board of Edu- I think doing part of it now is just going to cation approved a $5.2 million design-build be more difficult later to finish it … and the proposal from Cold Harbor Building Compa- cost will change, no doubt,” she added. ny for a new campus water treatment plant Beers also supported the combined and maintenance facility during its Feb. 16 project. board meeting.

“We've got a stewardship responsibility Higley Construction, of Cleveland, sub- for the equipment that's here and for the mitted a bid totaling $4.8 million, people that are working here, while Cold Harbor, of Chardon, and because of that, we need to proposed $5.2 million, district have a place where the equipTreasurer Karen Pavlat said in a ment can be worked on,” he said.

Feb. 2 follow-up interview.

“After having viewed (the current The board selected Cold garage) last Friday, I would say Harbor, citing its timeline, exthat it is several garages smushed perience and inclusion of contintogether and they look more like gencies. my garage than any kind of main“Cold Harbor has the tech- Beers tenance facility. So, therefore, I nical expertise to do the whole think that we really need to have thing where the other vendor a decent maintenance facility would have to outsource some— not a Taj Mahal — but at least thing,” board President Pam Claysome place where men or women pool said during the discussion. can work on the equipment in a Vice President Bill Beers reasonable way, and that we can agreed and highlighted the comhave equipment stored undercovpany’s use of a 3-D model of the er and collected in one place for entire structure before construc- Claypool all of our campuses.” tion begins, he added.

Board members Kathy Leav“I definitely think that Osenworth and Ellen Naylor also borne has got the experience to expressed support for the comguide us to the right direction and bined project. they're supporting Cold Harbor. It “It's fireproof, there's water looked like, to me, that it was the for them to use if they need that, right move, as well,” he said. there's restrooms available,” Board member Ellen Naylor Naylor added. said Cold Harbor also presented a Board member Mark Vidmar more realistic timeline than Higley. Vidmar questioned whether a new mainAfter choosing the design-build firm, tenance garage is necessary. board members discussed whether to in“I've been in a lot of maintenance faciliclude a maintenance garage in the project ties. My opinion is it's not dissimilar (to) other scope. maintenance facilities I've been in. It's a covOne reason for constructing a new ered area where we're doing some work,” he maintenance garage is to centralize stor- said. “What I struggle with in this scenario is age. Maintenance materials are currently spending $1.2 (million) on our maintenance housed at at least three locations across facility versus something a little bit more the county, West Geauga Facilities Manager student-focused. I understand the intention Mark Richardson said Jan. 27. could be that maintenance is student-focused Claypool outlined three options Feb. and I agree with that, and I appreciate what 16: build a combined water treatment facil- that team does, but their maintenance efforts ity and maintenance garage; construct the are out in the schools, right? They're not like water treatment facility and a partially com- sitting in that garage all day.” pleted garage to be expanded later; or build The board approved the combined waonly the water treatment facility. ter treatment facility project in a 4-1 vote.

By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Newest Sheriff’s Office K9 Joins Littermate Rookie

By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com The relationship between a handler and K9 is often built on loyalty and partnership.

Both are present in the bond between Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tre Richardson and his K9, Dunkan — the newest to serve in the unit alongside littermate K9 Rookie.

“We are very excited to add another trained K9 to our K9 team,” said Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand. “Dunkan will be a great addition to not only Geauga County but also a valuable member of the Ashtabula Geauga and Lake County Bomb Squad. We are very happy to bring on Tre and Dunkan to the sheriff’s office and I am looking forward to them meeting the residents of the county.”

Joining the sheriff’s office first part time in 2025 and now full time is a meaningful milestone for Richardson.

In summer 2020, while completing his undergraduate degree, Richardson interned with the Division of Security at Cedar Point.

Midway through the summer, he requested to work under a third-party canine explosives handler with Excel K9 Services stationed at the park. Richardson assisted by hiding training odors throughout the park and learning about explosive detection operations and the capabilities of working dogs.

The experience sparked a deeper interest in K9 work and planted a seed for his future career.

Professional Career Begins

Richardson began his professional law enforcement career in February 2022 when he was hired by the University of Akron Police Department.

During interviews, the department’s chief expressed interest in creating a new K9 program.

Four months later, the K9 handler position opened, and Richardson applied and was hired.

In fall 2022, he selected Dunkan — a yellow Labrador Retriever born in Colombia, and later trained in Florida — as his partner

ROSE NEMUNAITIS/KMG

Deputy Tre Richardson and K9 Dunkan, left, serve the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, pictured with Sgt. Jacob Smith and K9 Rookie, Dunkan’s brother.

because of the dog’s high drive and work ethic. The pair completed K9 school and began serving together.

Dunkan was purchased by Excel K9 and funded through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant.

For three years, Dunkan and Richardson served the university, patrolling and providing security.

“Throughout his career, Dunkan has been a tremendous asset to campus safety,” Richardson said.

He added that the dog enjoyed interacting with students, staff and community members, serving as both a working K9 and a positive ambassador for the department.

“His friendly demeanor off duty and professional focus on duty make him especially unique,” Richardson said.

Dunkan’s career highlights include assisting with security operations for Vice President J.D. Vance and supporting operations involving professional sports teams in Cleveland.

“Looking back, what started as an internship experience became the foundation for my career,” Richardson said. “It truly came full circle.”

Leaving the university was bittersweet for Richardson, a former student-athlete with deep ties to the campus.

“But my chief was incredibly supportive and genuinely happy for my future,” Richardson said. “He made it clear he would never separate the bond between me and Dunkan, recognizing how strong that partnership is, and he agreed to sign off on the necessary paperwork to complete Dunkan’s transfer so we could continue working together full time at the sheriff’s office.”

When off duty, Dunkan enjoys playing fetch. But when it is time to work, he is focused and professional, Richardson said.

“I believe Dunkan knows that Rookie is his brother,” he said.

The two dogs train together weekly and are certified in explosives detection and tracking.

Critical Assets to Law Enforcement

Sgt. Jacob Smith, who leads the K9 unit, said the addition of Dunkan strengthens the department’s capabilities.

“Locating an explosives canine team is time critical and can be difficult, as there are very few in northeast Ohio,” Smith said.

“With the addition of Deputy Richardson and Dunkan, we will be able to quickly respond to any situation that requires our assistance, with many calls coming from surrounding counties.”

When a law enforcement agency receives a threat, the area must be searched.

“Attempting to complete this with one canine is strenuous on the dog, especially in large facilities,” Smith said. “With two teams, the area to search becomes more reasonable and this assists in the prevention of fatigue.”

Dunkan also excels at tracking suspects and missing persons.

“Some of the tracks that we perform extend long distances,” Smith said. “When this occurs, a second K9 can be deployed from where the primary team shows signs of exhaustion. Rookie and Dunkan have always gotten along well. While they don’t engage in much play during training, they often work side by side on obedience drills and odor detection exercises, maintaining their professionalism while still clearly recognizing one another. This is the first time, in this area, that I have known of two law enforcement K9s from the same litter working at an agency.”

One meaningful moment came when Dunkan and Rookie celebrated their last birthday together at the university alongside other agency canines.

Since joining the sheriff’s office full time, Richardson said the transition has been wonderful.

“Everyone has been welcoming — not only to me, but to Dunkan as well — and that has meant more than I can put into words,” Richardson said. “As I learned more about the sheriff’s office and the opportunities that come with serving this community, I realized this is truly a dream department for me. I am extremely excited not only to work for such a caring and supportive community but great leadership, and I look forward to continuing to sharpen my skills, becoming not only a better K9 handler, but a better law enforcement officer all around.”

The sheriff’s office canine unit includes Smith with K9 Rookie; Deputy Josh Wendl with K9 Argo; Deputy Randy Primer with K9 Justice; and Richardson with K9 Dunkan.

Deputy Michael Wilson recently lost his partner, Ash, and will begin training with a new K9 in April at Excel K9.

“I look forward to the addition of Deputy Richardson and K9 Dunkan to our unit,” Smith said. “They will be well liked throughout the county. We would also like to send our appreciation to the residents of Geauga County who support our office and our unit.

Thank you.”

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Page 13

Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER in Northeast Ohio

Seldom Seen Farm Launches Custom Whiskey

By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Seldom Seen Farm’s annual pancake breakfasts March 7 and 14 will feature the launch of the farm’s newest product – Seldom Seen Whiskey Company Maple Cask Finished Rye Whiskey.

Farm owner Kevin Holy recently began selling the whiskey in a new retail shop at the farm, 10055 Madison Road in Montville Township.

As word spread, customers began stopping in for a taste at the counter — and often left with a purchased bottle, Holy said in a recent interview.

“It’s very sweet — there’s not too much burn to it,” he said, explaining he ages the rye whiskey in bourbon barrels previously used to age his award-winning maple syrup.

“The whiskey picks up the char from inside the barrel,” he said. “A million different flavors come out of the wood.”

Holy and his wife, Morgan, have been tapping maple trees on the 60-acre farm since 2012, gradually converting the property into a sugar bush.

“We started with 10 trees and a turkey fryer,” Holy recalled.

Today, about 4,000 trees are connected by blue tubing and, with recent warmer temperatures, the red maples have begun producing sap.

The race is on to process it using reverse osmosis, then finishing it in traditional evaporators to caramelize the sugar and give maple syrup the color and flavor customers crave, Holy said.

Unlike years past, when sap was collected in buckets and hauled to storage tanks, Holy’s operation is automated. Sap flows from the sugar bush to the sugar house behind the

ANN WISHART/KMG

Seldom Seen Farm owner Kevin Holy displays a gift basket of maple syrup products from the farm, including a bottle of Maple Cask Finished Rye Whiskey, a new addition to Seldom Seen Farm’s business. It will be introduced at the Seldom Seen Farm pancake breakfasts March 7 and 14.

remodeled barn.

Now, the biggest chore is boxing orders of maple syrup and shipping them to customers across the country, he said.

“We ship the syrup nationwide. But most of our sales are here on the farm at all hours, every day,” Holy said. “It’s probably the biggest

revenue for the farm.”

This year, he hopes the custom whiskey will provide an additional revenue boost.

Securing all the paperwork and permits for a liquor license proved challenging, though not unexpected, he said.

“The alcohol industry is the most regulat-

ed industry in the world, next to pharmaceuticals,” he said.

While waiting for the license, Holy proactively worked with local restaurants and businesses interested in carrying the whiskey.

He was unable to deliver the product until February, when he received approval to sell the small-batch spirit, he said.

It is currently served at The Hambone in Hambden Township and Daydream Farm Winery in Trumbull Township.

The liquor license arrived just as sap season began, making for an exciting start to spring, Holy said.

Currently, Holy purchases the rye whiskey, ages it in bourbon barrels and produces a 100-proof product — about 50% alcohol by volume, he said.

The idea for maple-finished whiskey grew from relationships Holy developed in Kentucky and Texas, where he sources bourbon barrels used to age his maple syrup, he said.

Over nearly 10 years, he built connections with distilleries that have since become partners in the whiskey venture.

Friends at Pine Bluffs Distillery in Wyoming have been especially helpful in launching the Montville project, he said.

Holy plans to fully stock the sales room at the back of the barn in the coming weeks and add finishing touches to the shop this summer.

More information about Seldom Seen Farms products is available at seldomseenmaple.com and seldomseenwhiskey.com.

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER in Northeast Ohio

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Burton Log Cabin & Sugar Camp

Open Daily 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Regular Store Hours Address: 14590 East Park St., Burton Phone: (440) 834-4204

2

Butternut Maple Farm

Open March 7 & 8, 14 & 15; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 12911 Butternut Road, Chesterland Phone: (440) 537-6995

3

Geauga Park District’s Swine Creek Sugarhouse

Open Feb 22, March 1 & 8; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 16004 Hayes Rd., Middlefield Phone: (440) 286-9516

4

Hershey Montessori School Sugarhouse

Open March 7; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 11530 Madison Rd., Huntsburg Phone: (440) 636-6290

5

Horizons Christian Assembly

Open Every Saturday in March; 7 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Address: 14920 White Rd., Middlefield Phone: (440) 834-4776

6

IQ Maple Syrup

Open March 7 & 8, March 14 & 15; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Address: 18266 Thorpe Rd., Chagrin Falls Phone: (440) 567-7500

7

Messenger Century Farm

Open March 7 & 8, March 14 & 15; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 17098 Messenger Rd., Auburn Twp. Phone: (440) 785-6877

8

Mother Hen Farm

Open March 7 & 8, March 14; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Address: 8201 Pettibone Rd., Chagrin Falls Phone: (440) 336-2113

9

Pleasant Valley View Farm

Open March 7 & 8, March 14 & 15; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 8810 Madison Rd., Montville Phone: (440) 667-7363

10

Richards Maple Products

Open March 7 & 14; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Address: 545 Water St., Chardon (1/4 mi west of Chardon Square) Phone: (440) 286-4160

11

Salo Maple Products

Open March 7 & 8, March 14 & 15; 10a.m. - 5p.m.

Address: 16434 Leggett Road, Montville (between St Rte 528 and St Rte 86) Phone: (440) 759-9945

12

Seldom Seen Farm

Open March 7 & 8, 14 & 15; Saturdays 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(8 a.m.-11 a.m. Pancakes), Sundays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Address: 10055 Madison Road, Montville Phone: (440) 596-9717

13

Whitehouse Chocolates

Open Mon - Sat, 10a.m. - 5p.m. regular store hours Address: 14609 Kinsman Road, Middlefield (Between Burton and Middlefield on Rt 87, next to Carter Lumber) Phone: (440) 834-3133

14

Bissell Maple Farm

Open March 7 & 8; 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Address: Ashtablua County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 127 N Elm St., Jefferson, Ashtabula County Phone: 440-563-3263

15

Stone Maple Farm at Sap Run Distiller

Open March 6 & 7 March 13 & 14; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Address: 4851 SR 534, Rome, Ashtabula County Phone: 440-336-2707

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER in Northeast Ohio

A Few Thoughts on Tapping

By Les Ober Tapping a maple tree – how hard can it be? Drill a hole, drive in a spout and hook up tubing or hang a bag/bucket. Not rocket science, right? No, it’s not rocket science, but it is also not a task to turn over to a novice. Tapping, of all the activities that lead to a maple season full of sap, is the single most crucial task of the year.

When you put together a tapping crew, that crew must be comprised of trained individuals.

Each step in the tapping procedure needs to be thoroughly explained and rehearsed. Here are 10 steps to successful tapping: 1. Observe the tree. Look for damaged areas in the trunk and the crown. Avoid tapping into areas below the injury. If it snows, I want to see tracks around encircling the tree. This indicates that the person tapping has studied the tree, identified last year’s taphole, and has taken the time to tap into conductive wood.

2. Pay attention to the color of taphole shavings evacuated by the bit. White equals conductive wood and brown is non-conductive dead wood. Know the difference.

3. Tap with a sharp drill bit that is designed for drilling trees not steel.

4. Handle the tapping drill properly by holding with both hands to maintain complete control of the drill. Look down to ensure good footing, and do not try to stretch on

your tip toes to gain excessive height as that will cause you to lose control.

5. Find your new mark between 2-4 inches to the side and 6 or so inches above or below an old tap hole. Doing so will drastically increase the chances of hitting conductive wood.

6. Drill straight in. No wobbles. 1.5 inches deep and certainly no more than 2 inches deep.

7. Drive the spout with a proper tool. Ballpeen and framing hammers should be left in the toolbox. Choose a light tapping hammer made of plastic or wood.

8. Seat the spout so that it is snug. Overdrive the spout and you will lose sap production. Under-drive and your taps may leak.

You should hear a tone change in sound coming from the hammer when you have achieved the proper depth.

9. If you have several workers who are new to tapping, purchasing a “Precision Tapper” makes tapping easy for beginners. At the end of a long day, even old pros might be reaching for a Precision tool.

10. Remember when you tap, you only have one opportunity to get it right the first time.

Follow these 10 suggestions and you will be well on your way to making a half gallon of syrup per tap.

Les Ober is an educator at The Ohio State University Extension who specializes in maple syrup production and agronomic crop production.

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

in Northeast Ohio

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER in Northeast Ohio

Abundant Life Ministry

Saturdays in March, 7 a.m. to noon All-you-can-eat buttermilk pancake breakfasts with real maple syrup will be served at Abundant Life Ministry Center, 13724 Carlton St., Burton. Plain, blueberry or banana pancakes and sausage are $10. Eggs may be added for $2. Free delivery is available to local businesses with orders of two or more.

American Legion Breakfasts

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

Burton Middlefield American Legion Atwood-Mauck Post 459 is serving its annual all-you-can-eat pancake, sausage and scrambled eggs breakfasts every Sunday through April 19, excluding Easter, at the post located at 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-13 and free for children under 6.

Berkshire Athletic Boosters

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

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

Burton Fire Station

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

Burton Fire Station will serve all-you-caneat pancake and sausage breakfasts every Sunday in March at the station located at 13828 Spring St. in Burton. call 440-834-4416 for information.

Chardon VFW Breakfasts

Sundays, 8 a.m. to noon Chardon VFW Post 6519 is serving its annual pancake breakfasts every Sunday

through March 29 at the post located at 752 Water St. in Chardon. Breakfast features three flavors of pancakes, French toast, eggs made to order, home fries, sausage, bacon, ham and toast. Call 440-285-3699 for carryout orders.

Gates Mills Community Club

March 1, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gates Mills Community Club will be hosting an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Gates Mills Community House, 1460 Chagrin River Road. Proceeds support scholarships and civic projects.

Tickets may be purchased at the door.

Questions? Email gmpancakes@gmail.com.

Geauga Historical Society

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

The Geauga County Historical Society is hosting all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts in the Lennah Bond Activity Center at the Century Village Museum, 14653 East Park St. in Burton.

For more information, call 440-834-1492.

WG Kiwanis Pancake Breakfasts

March 1, 8, 15 and 22, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kiwanis Club of West Geauga will host its 73rd annual pancake breakfasts in the cafeteria at West Geauga High School, 13401 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township. The menu features all-you-can-eat blueberry, buttermilk, chocolate chip and buckwheat cakes, along with French toast and beverages. Cost is $12 for adults, $7 for children 6-11 and free for children under 6. An early bird special will be offered from 8-9 a.m.

Volunteers are welcome. For more information, call 440-221-0112.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

DISCOVER in Northeast Ohio

DID YOU KNOW?

Courtesy of Maple Producers of NE Ohio

Maple Syrup is Healthy for You!

Pure maple syrup is high in antioxidants!

It’s also full of minerals like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Only 52 calories per tablespoon!

Are the Maple Trees Hurt by Tapping Them?

No, while there is a small hole where spile is inserted; the trees are resilient and heal very quickly. Many producers use the same trees for decades!

Why Does the Sap Flow out of the Tree?

Through the year, maples convert starch into sugar. The sugar mixes with water absorbed by the tree roots. Cold nights make the tree suck the sap upwards. The warmth in the day lets the tree release the sap - the sap flows down and comes out of the tap.

How Much Sap Does It Take?

It takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup! The sap that comes out of the maple tree is made up of water and sugar. The sugar is much lower than the water. When the syrup producers boil, they are boiling the water out of the sap and leaving the sweet maple sugar!

Maple Grades

Maple syrup has 4 different grades. Try them all to see what you like the best!

Golden Maple Syrup with a Delicate Taste Pure maple syrup in this class has a light to more pronounced golden color and a delicate or mild taste. It is the product of choice

if you prefer a lighter colored maple syrup with a delicate or mild taste.

Amber Maple Syrup with a Rich Taste Pure maple syrup in this class has a light amber color and a rich or full-bodied taste.

It is the product of choice for prefer sweet rich flavor.

Dark Maple Syrup with Robust Taste Color Pure maple syrup in this class has a dark color and a more robust or stronger taste than syrup in lighter color classes. Hearty robust flavor.

Very Dark Maple Syrup with a Strong Taste Color Maple syrup in this class has a very strong taste. It is generally recommended for cooking purposes but some may prefer it for table use.

Sweetest of the Trees

There are many different kinds of trees in the forest, but the sweetest tree is the sugar maple. The sap from this tree is used to make pure maple syrup. Sugar maple trees are unique to North America and grow naturally only in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada.

The traditional season to make maple syrup in NE Ohio extends from early February until late March. This is called “the sugaring season”. Freezing nights and warm, sunny days are necessary for the maple tree to yield sap, a colorless liquid with a light, sweet taste (2%-4% sugar). Maple syrup producers, also referred to as sugarmakers, collect this maple sap, and through boiling, the maple taste and amber color are formed 100% pure NE Ohio Maple Syrup is the finest, most wholesome maple syrup there is!

TOUR DATES:

MAR 7 & 8, 14 & 15 10AM-5PM

We have 1200 taps all on tubing with vacuum on a smaller 2 x 8 pan. We have horses, chickens & two dogs on site, with a trail that goes through the woods. We will have maple syrup as well as maple confections available for sale. Tours of the sugarhouse. We also will be open all days we are boiling or by appointment.

16434 Leggett Road Montville, OH 44064

salomapleproducts.com salomaple@live.com (440) 759-9945

S P O RT S

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

WWW.GEAUGAMAPLELEAF.COM/SPORTS

Bombers Quickness Leads to Sectional Title

By Alan Kornspan sports@karlovecmedia.com Going into the 2025-2026 season, Kenston Bombers Head Girls Basketball Coach Kevin Hinkle was deciding on the style of play that would help his team be most successful.

In addition, determining the depth he had coming off the bench would be important in choosing the best style of play for the Bombers.

With a successful regular season which saw the Bombers finish second in the WRC (8-2 in conference, 13-9 overall), the Bombers offense developed into an up tempo style looking to put a lot of points on the board.

After winning three low scoring games early in the season (36-29 over Chagrin Falls; 39-31 over Austintown-Fitch, and 43-23 over Crestwood) while averaging just 39.3 points per game, a turning point occurred in mid December.

Starting the season 3-3 and playing slower paced, low scoring games, the Bombers completed the regular season utilizing a quicker style in which scoring more points led to going 10-6 in their final 16 games. In fact, in their final 10 regular season victories the Bombers averaged 60.3 points per game.

Thus, Coach Hinkle said playing fast in transition and making their opponent work hard to score was a main point of emphasis as the Bombers prepared to take on the Geneva Eagles in an OHSAA Sectional Final matchup

ALAN KORNSPAN/KMG

Kenston Head Coach Kevin Hinkle talks with his Bombers during the team’s 52-30 win over Geneva. Kenston has transitioned into a more up-tempo style at the end of the season and now averaged more than 60 ppg in their final 10 games.

on their home court on Feb. 21.

Executing a game plan which was to play fast and push the ball up the court, the Bombers defeated the Eagles 52-30 to win the OHSAA Sectional Title.

In winning an OHSAA Sectional Title the Bombers completed one of their main goals

for the season.

“I think this year, that was one thing that we wanted to check off and something we have been working for since we have lost in the first round over the last three years,” Morgan Cicek said. “We prepped, we knew we were ready and we just had to execute the game plan.”

After losing to the Howland Tigers in their final regular season game on Feb. 17, Coach Hinkle said that Bombers quickly regrouped as they had two excellent days of practice leading into their sectional final matchup with the Eagles.

A main focus at practice was to stay calm, cool and collected if the Eagles tried to slow

the game down and also to keep the defensive pressure high on the Eagles offense. “(We just told them) if they slow down the tempo a little bit, we want to not panic (and) make them work for everything, and that's what we were trying to do,” Coach Hinkle said.

Certainly, as Cicek alluded to, the excellent preparation at practice helped the Bombers feel confident as they took the court against the Eagles.

From the start of the game onward, the Bombers pushed the pace. “(Playing up tempo) was always the plan going into this,” said Trinity Osterman. “Just See Bombers • Page 22

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

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Dragons Breathe Fire on Wolverines in the 4th

Cooper Paskowski hitting for 12 first-half points, and Mason Pesho owning the paint area to the tune of 13 first-half points, the The last couple seasons have been very Wolverines took a 36-27 edge into the locker tough on Lakeside Dragon basketball teams, room at the intermission. especially the boys. Chances to win as they’ve Sadly, as has happened several other learned to persevere have been minimal at times this season for Wolverines Head Coach best.

Micah Young and his team, after a At the Dragons’ temporary pair of Vince Vecchio free throws home Feb. 19 on the court of St. helped West G gain a 10-point John High School, Lakeside was lead with 15 ticks gone in the getting schooled in solid team basfourth period, those would be the ketball for three quarters and 15 team’s only points of the fourth seconds, as the West Geauga Wolperiod until Pesho hit the second verines whacked them hard. of two free throws with just 54.5 But call it lesson learned, for seconds left to play in the game. both teams, as Lakeside got hot Paskowski Meanwhile, Lakeside — with over a 6-minute-33-second portion only a single senior in uniform, of the fourth period and held the Wolverines but a plethora of sophomores and freshmen scoreless to earn a 62-56 non-conference vic- eager to win after consecutive three-win tory. seasons — got confident behind sophomore The early going saw the game played in Drequan Bradley and junior Jarez Osborne to close quarters, but gradually, the Wolverines score 15 points in a row for a 58-53 lead. established control in both shooting and reThe Wolverines just couldn’t climb the hill bounding, and played tight defense. With against the fire-breathing youngsters in green.

By Rich Kelly sports@karlovecmedia.com

Pesho finished with only 16 points as Lakeside shut down his work in the paint, and Paskowski added only two more points to his total.

It’s happened like that before for the Wolverines (8-14), who haven’t figured out how to avoid collapses in tough times this season.

“It has to be a mental thing for us,” Paskowski said as he exited the locker room after the game. “We have a very good team here this year, but it seems like we just have short periods of time when we lose focus, and it has hurt us every time. We need to control ourselves better in tight spots, to stay in sync within our own skill sets to control games better.”

Coach Young agreed.

“This has been the story of our season to this point,” he said. His team now prepares for tournament play at Orrville. “We’ve just had so many games when we played very well, then something would alter how we were seeing things, and we’d fall apart for short periods, and it hurt us every time.

“Games are just not going our way com-

pletely, and it’s those times that have cost us almost every time we play. These kids are working so hard, so the effort is not hurting us — it’s just mistakes at the wrong time.”

Although thrilled for his team’s win, Lakeside Head Coach Bill Osborne expressed great respect for the Wolverines after the game.

“Let me tell you, that is one great team in West Geauga uniforms,” Coach Osborne said.

“We are also doing much better this year, and playing teams like WG is what is making our kids better, because they’re learning to work harder.”

Jarez Osborne and Drequan Bradley were a two-man wrecking crew for Lakeside (10-12) with 25 and 23 points, respectively, but other kids stepping up to help have been key to building the Dragons this year. Louis Flores added 12 points and six rebounds, many of them in that fourth period rally.

The Wolverines never let up, but the shots just didn’t drop, especially in the fourth period, as Lakeside outscored West Geauga 19-5.

Tigers Hustle Way to Sectional Title with 47-40 Victory ByAlan Kornspan sports@karlovecmedia.com Just a few weeks before the start of the 2025-2026 high school basketball season, Chagrin Falls Head Girls Basketball Coach Brittany Laseak said that how much the Tigers hustled would be a main factor in their success.

In addition, the importance of ‘Hustle’ was evident as this season's returning players chose this word as their main theme for the year.

Because the Tigers had only ten players on this year's varsity roster, Coach Laseak said that everyone on the team would have to be energetic, enthusiastic and give great effort in order for the Tigers to have success.

With a focus on hustling throughout the season, the Tigers performed well, matching last season's regular season victory total of 13 wins.

And like last year's experienced senior led team who focused on staying motivated, this year's team with no seniors and just two upperclassmen hustled their way to an OHSAA Sectional Title, defeating the South Range Pirates, 47-40, on Feb. 21 on their home court.

Coach Laseak said that her team's hustle was paramount in achieving a successful outcome over a senior led Pirates team.

“I feel like we played really tough basketball,” Coach Laseak said. “Bodies were flying on the floor tonight. We were getting on the floor for loose balls. Help defense, (was) collapsing in. We did a phenomenal job getting to the boards. Gabby Byrne was flying across the court to get rebounds. Everybody was putting themselves out there because they knew it was win or go home.”

Coach Laseak continued, “For a young group to take those lessons and take those lumps early and then apply it in postseason, you can't ask for anything more than that.”

In reflecting upon the victory post-game, junior All-Ohioan Avery Russell also highlighted the importance of hustle and effort in winning the OHSAA Sectional Title.

“It was a super hard fought game,” Russell said. “We had to battle through it, we

knew it was going to be a hard one. Every time we came out of a huddle we were like, ‘just give 100 percent’.”

After an intense hard fought first half, the Pirates led 23-19 going into halftime.

Coach Laseak said that the Tigers played well and with great effort in the first half, but the Pirates shot the basketball very well.

“They shot the ball extremely well in the first half and we knew we just had to weather the storm,” Coach Laseak said. “We're playing with a young group, they have five seniors, (and) they came out ready to fight.

We made some adjustments at halftime. I'm really proud of the way our team responded.”

A main adjustment that the Tigers made in the second half was to move Russell to point guard and Kay to the shooting guard position.

Coach Laseak said that she made this second half move since every time Russell got the ball in the first half, the Pirates were double or triple teaming her.

This strategic move allowed Russell to find Kay and Byrne for open looks and drives on the offensive end of the court.

“We were able to get the ball to Abby Kay and she knocked down some huge shots and we got Gabby (Byrne) off of the drive,” Coach Laseak said. “So we had the ability to get everybody to contribute because they can't face guard her (Russell) when she has the ball in her hands.”

In particular, Coach Laseak emphasized how crucial Kay's excellent offensive performance was. “(Abby) does such a good job of getting her teammates open and she's been an outstanding defensive stopper for us all season,” Coach Laseak said. “In the last couple of games she has been really working to get her offense going. She knocked down outside shots, she drove into the lane. She did it all for us tonight. I'm really proud of her effort.”

On defense, Byrne said that the focus in the second half was to continue to play with high intensity pressure and to try to not allow the Pirates to run the floor in transition.

“We were just saying really to break up their transition and their offense and just bring chaos to them so they couldn't get set

ALAN KORNSPAN/KMG

Chagrin Falls sophomore Gabby Byrne had 13 points in the team’s 47-40 win over the South Range Pirates.

or get any good looks or drives,” Byrne said.

With the key second half tactical decision to move Russell to point guard, and by continuing toC play tough high pressure defense, the Tigers outscored the Pirates 17-5 in the third quarter to take a 36-28 lead.

Leading by eight points heading into the final quarter, the Tigers defense led by Olivia Kruse in the low post and Russell icing the game at the free throw line propelled the Tigers to a 47-40 victory.

“We knew they had to foul and so we worked to get the ball into her (Russell's)

hands,” Coach Laseak said. “There were points where they didn't want to foul here and they had to because they had to stop the clock. She had ice in her veins, she knocked down her free throws and we were able to get stops on the defensive end and take care of the basketball in the home stretch.”

For the game, the Tigers were led by Kay (16 points), Byrne (13), Russell (13), Zoe Thompson (3), and Kruse (2).

The Tigers will next host the Southeast Pirates on Feb. 24 in the OHSAA District Semifinals.

Page 22

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Tigers Reset Mindset for Playoffs Chagrin Falls Ends Regular Season on 15th Straight Win

By Cameron Palmer sports@karlovecmedia.com

Way back on Dec. 23, the Chagrin Falls boys basketball team had lost its second consecutive game and dropped to 3-4 on the season, down four players due to injury.

Fast forward about two months, though, and the Tigers have rattled off 15 straight wins, claimed a Co-CVC Valley Division title, and head into the postseason sizzling.

“It’s a remarkable story,” Head Coach Dave Bargar said following the team's 64-55 win over Aurora on Feb. 20. “Even if you're a good team and you're healthy the whole season, it's darn hard to win 15 high school basketball games. So what they have been able to do is remarkable on so many levels. A lot of what I'm most proud of is the fact that, as we started to acclimate guys back in, everybody took it, everybody settled into their role.

“Some of the guys that are normally starters were coming off the bench. Some of the guys who were playing a ton of minutes early now have their minutes cut, but they've all bought into their roles — and when you have a selfless group, it's dangerous, and you can do a lot of damage, and that is what these guys are doing right now.”

Despite all the glam of 15 straight wins, the Tigers still had to find ways to earn them.

They’ve had some comfortable wins, some down-to-the-wire wins, a pair of defensive slugfests, some come-from-behind victories, and a few wins that some may consider miraculous, all in the mix.

“We’ll always fight for wins,” junior guard Jake Vasko said. “We’ll fight to the end; we don’t get down on ourselves, and that’s one thing I like about our squad.”

Chagrin Falls has also done it with a multitude of different players leading the way on the scoreboard.

“We're an unselfish group, and we preach unselfishness and making the extra pass, and that's one of the reasons why we have multiple guys that can have big games,” Bargar said of his team's offensive versatility. “We don't want to face teams all the time that

BILL FUGATE/KMG

Chagrin Fall Harrison Horvath, left, posted a double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds, in the team’s 64-55 win over Aurora.

have one great scorer, and we actually think it's not very difficult to guard one guy, if that's the offensive focus.

“Now, some of the guys are elite, and that's a different story. But most high school guys that we play, and they're the leading scorers, we've got guys that can guard. When you have a group like us, and we've got a bunch of guys that can do different things, it's hard for the other team to focus on one player.”

With so many games decided by just a few possessions or even a few points, it's crucial to stay focused on the task at hand, and the Tigers did just that in their win over the visiting Greenmen to close out the regular season.

Chagrin Falls led Aurora by as much as 13 before their lead was cut to four entering the

fourth. Then they dug deep and walked away with a nine-point win.

“We were down by nine with three minutes to go against Harvey on our first win in the streak — I mean, it’s just about being resilient,” Bargar said. “They've been through it, so it doesn't faze them, and they don't get rattled.”

This year's underclassmen have even collected a good amount of experience, he added.

“Again, it comes back to the fact that they want to play for each other and do something bigger than themselves, and that's basically the bottom line,” said their coach.

So is confidence, he added: “Now I think they believe that they're gonna win. … And we're hard to prepare for, because in our 10 league games, we had six leading scorers.”

Against Aurora, Chagrin Falls was led by

senior forward Harrison Horvath, who posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Vasko, who added 18 points on eight-ofnine shooting with five boards and assists.

Rounding out the double-digit scoring was Owen Adelman, who posted 14 points on five-of-10 shooting. Quin Bargar chipped in six points, three assists and two steals, and Jack Orazen finished with four points and four boards.

This postseason, the Tigers are the second seed in their Division V Northeast District 2 bracket. They'll host the winner of Mantua Crestwood or Garrettsville Garfield for a district semifinal on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.

“In the locker room, Coach told us the job wasn’t finished,” Horvath said. “One chapter just ended, so now we have to start a new one and work for a strong run.”

Bombers

set up and gets all of us flowing together,” Osterman said.

In pushing the pace throughout the contest the Bombers got out to a 12-7 lead after one quarter. Then, in the second quarter they outscored the Eagles 12-6, to take a 2413 lead into halftime.

The Bombers did not take their foot off the gas pedal in the second half as they continued to play up tempo and push the pace.

“I thought we did a good job, especially early in the fourth quarter of creating tough shots, getting rebounds, getting down the court and stretching that (lead) from 15 to 20 (points),” Coach Hinkle said. “I think that was a big finishing statement that we still had some fresh legs in that fourth quarter.”

For the game, the Bombers were led by Cicek (16 points), Osterman (14), Addison Lowe (5), Kait Paystrup (5), Aurora Young (5), Tay Cable (4), Emily Grubich (2), and Aria Lemons (1).

The Bombers played Bay on Feb. 25 in an OHSAA District Semifinal matchup that finished after deadline.

from page 20

ALAN KORNSPAN/KMG

Aurora Young drives into the lane against Geneva. The senior forward had five points in the paint in the team’s 52-30 win.

keep pushing the ball forward and forward and just get the biggest lead we can.”

Added Cicek, “We want to play at our pace whether they were going to slow us down or speed us up. Over the course of the season we've learned that we have to play at our pace no matter what the other team does. This game, we were able to do that, so that helped us.”

Cicek explained that when Coach Hinkle is instructing the guards to push the pace in transition, they are keeping their eyes up looking to quickly find a teammate open ahead down low in the post or someone open in the corner as they are hoping to get the shot off before the defense can set up.

For Osterman, who had an excellent game in the low post as she dropped in 14 points, playing up tempo and scoring in transition is an enjoyable style of basketball which she prefers to play over a half court set.

“It doesn't give the defense a chance to

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Chardon

St. Mary

SUBMITTED

St. Mary students have fun combining Spanish lessons with Valentine’s Day activities on Feb. 12.

West Geauga SUBMITTED

Chardon High School students perform and compete at the Ohio Music Education Association Solo and Ensemble Concert.

SUBMITTED

West Geauga students Alex Boukis, Anthony Finizia-Boisselle, Michael Franceschini, Andrew McNamara, Lucas Oklander and Ella Branch competed in the district spelling bee.

Students Shine at Spelling Bee

SUBMITTED

Chardon High School musicians participated in the Ohio Music Education Association Solo and Ensemble Concert.

CHS Students Perform at OMEA

Chardon High School Hilltoppers represented the school at last month’s Ohio Music Education Association Solo and Ensemble Concert.

Students earning Superior “1” ratings were Mackenzie Siko, clarinet; Drew Mack, saxophone; Faith Maglionico, snare drum; David Kosir, piano; and Cassie Bright, marimba solo.

Students earning Excellent “2” ratings were Kenan Rogers, trumpet solo; Elaine Lin, saxophone solo; and Isabelle Dean, clarinet solo.

Students from Lindsey Elementary and West Geauga Middle School competed in the district spelling bee, showcasing their spelling skills one word at a time. Michael Franceschini earned the championship title and advanced to represent West Geauga Local Schools at the Geauga County Spelling Bee, where he finished second.

Also competing in the district round were Alex Boukis, Anthony Finizia-Boisselle, Ella Branch, Andrew McNamara and Lucas Oklander.

Space Tool Projects Fifth-grade students at Lindsey Elementary recently showcased their knowledge of space tools at the school’s Space Tool Open House. Each student selected a space tool to

research, build and present, demonstrating both creativity and understanding. Guests were impressed by the students’ inventive projects and engaging presentations. The event provided a fun, hands-on way to bring lessons to life while celebrating the students’ dedication, research and hard work.

New Speech and Debate Club

West Geauga High School has recently introduced a new Speech and Debate Club, which is already making a strong impact.

Club member Ananya Balasubramanian was named tournament champion, earning her fourth bid and prequalifying for the state tournament.

The accomplishment reflects both Balasubramanian’s dedication and the strong start of the program, which continues to attract student interest and build momentum.

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Obituaries

Herbert Weyland Arp Herbert Weyland Arp, 94 of Benton, Tenne Herbert Weyland Arp, 94 of Benton, Tenn. passed away peacefully on Feb. 9, 2026, with his family at his side.

Born Dec. 29, 1931, near Blue Ridge, Ga., he was the middle child of Virgil and Beedie (nee Patterson) Arp and the last of five siblings who preceded him in death. He moved to Ohio in early 1950.

He worked many jobs, including setting plants at a nursery and working at a nursing home.

Herbert married Erdene Harmon with whom he shared 71 years prior to her death in 2022. Five children were born in this union.

One of the many highlights of his life was owning and working at a gas station and garage with his two brothers, BH and James, for five years. During the day he worked at TRW in the automotive testing lab and nights at the gas station. He wasn’t idle for long, hav-

ing worked hard all his life and never met a stranger.

Herbert gave his heart and life to the Lord in his 30s. One remembers meeting Herb and hearing the gospel and his faith.

His humor, laughter, dedication and love for his family will always be remembered.

For 60 years, he served the Lord spreading the gospel with music, his guitar and singing group he helped form. They performed in churches, senior centers and nursing homes in Ohio and Tennessee. Not to mention music and laughter were at family gatherings, picnics and family reunions. If anyone needed help or aid, Herbert was there to lend a hand without question.

In 1992, after retiring in Ohio, he and Erdene moved to Tennessee, where he resided since 1993 in Benton, Tenn. In retirement, he enjoyed big gardens that he shared with whoever needed what he raised.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Beedie; sister, Vivian (Fred) Thomas; brother BH (Arlene); brother James (Joanna) Arp; sister Gail Long.

Herbert is survived by his children, daughter Peggy (Sam) Truitt, of Florida, son Dale (Gloria), of Benton, son Jeffrey (Susan), of Ohio, daughter Brenda (Josh) McNeely, of Charleston, daughter Rebecca Walters (Mark), of Benton; many nieces, nephews and extended family; and 13 cherished grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life and memorial combined will be held at Higgins Funeral Home in Benton, Tenn. Service will be held Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 5-7 p.m.

Rosellen May Rummel

Rosellen “Pinky” May Rummel (nee Phelps), 78, of Middlefield, Ohio, passed away peacefully Monday morning, Feb. 16, 2026, at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 31, 1947, to the late Harry and Virginia (nee Simmonetti) Phelps.

Pinky is once again reunited with her loving husband, Terry D. Rummel, who died Jan. 24, 2008.

Pinky lived her life in joyful service to others and nowhere was that more evident than in her work as an activity director at Town Hall, Grand Valley and Blossom Hill nursing homes. She did far more than organize events; she filled rooms with laughter, music and meaning. Pinky was deeply devoted to the residents and their families, always striving to bring entertainment, joy and dignity into their daily lives. She believed every person deserved to feel valued and celebrated and she made it her mission to enhance the quality of their lives in ways both big and small.

She was truly the life of the party. Pinky had a gift for turning ordinary moments into celebrations and her energy was contagious.

Whether through a perfectly planned event, a shared joke or simply her vibrant presence, she brought people together and made them feel alive.

It is only fitting that she requested not a tearful funeral, but a celebration — a gathering filled with stories, laughter, music and memories that reflect the way she lived.

Her faith was the steady foundation of her life. Pinky attended church regularly, volunteered faithfully and taught children from an early age to love God. She believed faith should be lived out daily through kindness, service and love, and she led by that example.

Above all, Pinky cherished her family. She taught us that family is life’s greatest treasure and nurtured those bonds with intention and joy. She embraced every adventure with her children and grandchildren, creating memories that will last a lifetime. In her daily journal she once wrote her “grandchildren were the boxes that topped her gifts off. They were her inspiration and the secret of why she still felt young.” They were the light of her life and the heartbeat of her happiest days.

Pinky’s legacy is one of faith, celebration, compassion, and unwavering love. Though she will be deeply missed, she would want us to gather, to smile, to share stories and to celebrate a life beautifully and fully lived.

Pinky will be greatly missed by her children, Theresa (Daniel) Weber, Melissa (Roger) Stahl, Terry (Amanda) Rummel II; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Terry; daughter Rhonda Seminatore; and brother, Harry Phelps.

Per Pinky’s wishes, a celebration of life will be held at Corners Catering Event Center, 11845 State Route 44, Mantua Township, Ohio, on Feb. 28, 2026, from 2-6 p.m. Join the family for dancing and sharing fun memories.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Best Funeral Home, 15809 Madison Road, Middlefield, Ohio. Online condolences may be sent at www.bestfunerals.com.

Donald L. Roberts

Donald L. Roberts, age 89, of East Claridon, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2026.

Born on Jan. 12, 1937, in Painesville, Ohio, to Rodney Proctor and Evelyn Lucille (nee Lee) Roberts, he was a lifelong area resident.

Don graduated from Chardon High School in 1955.

He proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1962.

He was a dedicated employee of Lubrizol Wickliffe for 38 years and the founder of the Retirees’ Breakfast Club.

Don’s many pastimes included fishing trips in Canada, canoeing, bird watching (his favorites were bluebirds and purple martins), gardening and his Siamese cats. He also enjoyed golf and playing cards.

He is survived by his loving daughters, Kelli (Bill) Leonetti, of East Claridon, and Terri (Dave) Combs, of Chardon; grandchildren, Nicole (Jon) Koch, Danielle (Joe) DeCaro, Dana (Dan) O’Reilly, Amanda (fiancé Chase) Mitri; and great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Mackenzie, Ethan, Jeremiah, Lucas, Joey, Julian, Reagan, Brady and Emma.

He also leaves his brother, Bill Roberts, of Jefferson, Ohio; brothers-in-law, Lou (Myrna) Sheehe, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Dick VanDevander, of Chardon, Ohio.

Don is preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Barb, of 60 years; sister, Kathy VanDevander; and sister-in-law, Helen Roberts.

Visitation for friends and family was held Feb. 23, 2026, with the memorial service following at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon.

Arrangements are entrusted to The Original Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.burrservice.com.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

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Obituaries William Eugene Tecil

William Eugene “Bill” Tecil (Tisza), of Painesville, Ohio, crossed his final finish line on Feb. 16, 2026, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of service, strength, laughter and deep devotion to his family.

Born July 25, 1937, in Painesville, Ohio, Bill was proud of his roots and the life he built in Northeast Ohio.

He served his country honorably as a Staff Sergeant (E-6) in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

After his military service, he retired from the City of Painesville Water Department, where he was known as the “meter whisperer” for his uncanny ability to repair water meters. His career also included working at Diamond Shamrock Research Center, Fluid Controls, and Uniroyal Chemical Company.

He later served as chairman of the audit committee and treasurer for Chemical & Plastics Credit Union, always believing in responsibility, commitment and doing things the right way.

Bill gave generously of his time and heart.

A 10-gallon blood donor and CPR instructor, he quietly saved countless lives.

He was deeply devoted to the Masonic community through Lakeshore Lodge #307, serving as Worshipful Master twice, District Education Officer and later as District Deputy Grand Master of the 25th Masonic District as well as involved with The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees. His involvement extended to Royal Arch Masons Eagle Commandery, Knights Templar, Caliph Grotto, MOVPER, Scottish Rite (32°), Eastern Star, and as a proud DeMolay “Dad” Advisor. He was also a member of American Legion Post 48 of Painesville, the Veterans Organization of Painesville and a lifetime member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #549.

In his early years, Bill loved building “hot rods” custom and drag racing and was a charter member of the Knightwinder Car Club of Painesville. His prized Caddy powered ’40 Ford Coupe’ was more than a car, it was an extension of his spirit. He had a deep appreciation for history and craftsmanship, collecting Victorian lamps and Victorian clocks that filled his home with character and stories.

Bill cherished fishing trips and family vacations to fish in Campbellford, Ontario, traditions built on laughter and memories that will last for generations.

Alongside his beloved wife, Patricia N. Tecil, whom he married on June 12, 1965, Bill traveled all over the country, Italy and visited the “motherland” in Budapest, Hungry. After her passing in 2012, he continued to carry her love in his heart. Together they built a life centered on family, happiness, and a love for spending time with friends both old and new.

To everyone who met him, Bill was known for the smile that was always on his face.

He never met a stranger and had a gift for making people feel welcome and at ease. His friendly, kind, and loving nature could light up a room—sometimes brighter than one of his treasured antique lamps.

He is survived by his daughters, Michelle Tecil (Jim Sheridan) and Tanya (Tecil) Parsons (Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Mike Parsons); his cherished grandchildren, Ella

Parsons and Jack Parsons; his brother, Wayne (Julia Mae) Tecil; his sister-in-law, Caroline (George) Evans; his nieces, Janeese (Billy) Mackey, Christina (Eric) Fenner, Jennifer (Jack) Hogan and Evie Evans; his nephew, James Evans; and many great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret (Horvath) and William Tecil; his nephew, Timothy Evans; and his niece, Tina Texierra.

More than anything, Bill will be remembered for his steady presence, playful spirit and unwavering love for his family. We will remember his love of Frank Sinatra (“My Way” feels especially fitting) and the way he showed up for his Country, his Community and his Family.

Laughter and legacy will echo in the hearts of those who knew him—like the gentle rumble of a ’40 Ford’ rolling down a long open road.

Friends called Feb. 22, 2026, at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon.

A funeral mass was held Feb. 23, 2026, at The Church of the Resurrection, 32001 Canon Road, Solon, Ohio. After mass, family and friends continued to the burial of both Bill and Pat Tecil at St. Mary’s Cemetery, end of South State Street, Painesville, Ohio.

Arrangements are entrusted to The Original Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.burrservice.com.

Mary Farmwald

Mary (nee Schmucker) Farmwald, age 88, from Burton, Ohio passed away peacefully in her home on Feb. 17, 2026, with her family (and Hospice) taking care of her.

She was born on Oct. 31, 1937, to the late Freeman and Fannie (nee Miller) Schmucker.

She was married to the love of her life, Robert Farmwald, and is together with him in heaven now. She had been married to Bob for 61 years until he passed away on July 21, 2018.

Mary was blessed by God with six children: Patricia (Edward) Marchiny, Sandra (Bryan) Wunsch, Janice (Thomas) Farmer, Marilyn (Kip) Green, Robert Michael Farmwald and Heather (Dave) Fisher.

The Lord also blessed her with eight gifted grandchildren: Anthony Marchiny, Stephanie Green, Aaron Marchiny, Jacob Green, Caleb Green, Fionna Fisher, Hannah Marchiny and Simon Fisher.

She is also survived by her sister, Irene Miller, of West Farmington, Ohio; her sisterin-law, Sally (Ervin) Miller, of Onaway, Mich.; and her brother-in-law, James (Edna) Farmwald, of Huntsburg Township, Ohio. She is also survived by hundreds of nieces, nephews and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Mary (and Bob) were faithful members of Huntsburg Baptist church for over 60 years where she served as sixth-grade Sunday school teacher, AWANA leader and a member of the Ladies Missionary Society.

Mary cherished her time with her family.

She enjoyed having them over for dinner on Sundays, birthdays and holidays. She loved watching her grandchildren grow up and often babysat them. She often attended their sporting events, school events, piano recitals and church events—she was their loudest cheerleader!

Mary enjoyed playing games, doing puzzles and looking at pictures and reminiscing about the past. She faithfully sent birthday cards with lots of pictures to her children and grandchildren. She encouraged them to stay close to Jesus and let them know she was praying for them.

Mary was an avid reader. She loved reading her Bible and other Christian books and magazines. She was a big Indians/Guardians fan. She and Bob had season tickets to many home games.

She and Bob also traveled extensively to Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and many states out west. Her favorite trips were to the Outer Banks with her kids and grandkids.

She wrote recently her greatest joy lay in the warmth of family and friends gathered together around her. Mary was friendly and kind and quickly became friends with everyone she met. She was loved by so many and will be missed by so many.

Mary often said (especially as her disease progressed) she was ready to go home to heaven to be with Jesus. Her life was marked by her commitment to serving Jesus, loving her family and by moments of joy and laughter with those she held dear.

She will be remembered fondly by all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Her greatest desire was that all her family and friends would join her in heaven some day.

A private burial for family took place Feb. 24, 2026, at Slitor Cemetery and a Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Huntsburg Baptist Church, with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Mary requested donations be made to Huntsburg Baptist Church.

Her family requests that donations also be made to Hospice of Western Reserve and Rescue Village in Russell Township, Ohio.

Sly Family Funeral Home assisted her family with arrangements. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.slyffh.com.

Virginia Lee Tromp Vitanza

Virginia “Ginny” Lee Tromp Vitanza, age 87, of Mentor, Ohio, peacefully passed away at Hillcrest Hospital.

Born on March 11, 1938, to James Lee and Vernatine (nee Sauders) Ransford in Wyandotte, Mich., Ginny lived a life full of warmth, laughter and unwavering love for her family.

She married Ralph Tromp Sr. in 1958.

Ginny later married Pasquale “Pat” Vitanza in 1988, beginning a beautiful chapter filled with devotion and companionship.

She dedicated many years of her career as a Packaging Creator for PCA, where her creativity and strong work ethic were evident

to all who knew her.

Her greatest joy was her home and family.

Ginny loved cooking and hosting gatherings where no one ever left hungry and everyone felt welcome. She took pride in keeping a beautiful home and had a special talent for décor.

She loved to read and was a wonderful storyteller, often captivating everyone with her memories and humor. She took pride in how she dressed and had a style all her own.

She enjoyed playing cards, especially euchre, family games and bocce. She famously hated the phone, preferring face-to-face conversations around the kitchen table.

Ginny shared countless laughs and cherished memories with her best friends, Clair and Gerry, and found constant companionship in her beloved fur baby, “Yankee.”

Adventurous and spirited, she even went skydiving on her 70th birthday, a true reflection of her bold and fearless nature.

Ginny leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion. She is survived by her loving husband, Pasquale “Pat” Vitanza, of Mentor; her son, Ralph (Lucy) Tromp, of Chardon Township, Ohio; her daughters Mary (Scott) Bereslon, of Tennessee, and Gerri Conlon, of California; her grandchildren, Tanya Tromp, Hannah Red Hill, Rebecca (Chaitanya) Hiremath, Samantha (Bryant Harrold) Conlon, Shane Conlon and Ashton (Olivia) Leigh; and her great-grandchildren, Navya and Lincoln.

She is also survived by her stepchildren, Joe (Janet) Vitanza and Natalie (Randy) Minadeo; her step-grandchildren, Amanda (Dante) Rini, Brittany Cieslik and Lexi Vitanza; and her step-great-grandchildren, Giovanni and Nico.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Jill Mierau; and her sister, Vivian Joyce.

Family and friends are invited for a gathering on Feb. 26, 2026, from 4-7 p.m., at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon, Ohio.

Ginny will be remembered for her generous heart, her adventurous spirit, her welcoming home and the love she poured into her family and friends.

Arrangements are entrusted to The Original Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.burrservice.com.

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Chester Government Update The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 5 began with a presentation by a local Eagle Scout candidate regarding a potential project in Chester. The project related to adding fish habitats to a town pond and possibly adding some signage. The trustees shared support for the project, which allows the young man to seek approval and then begin fundraising for his project.

Trustees heard from community members regarding a potential unsafe property and discussed options for addressing the matter. Township Administrator Mark Purchase was tasked with moving forward several action items related to the matter.

There was a discussion about mailbox reimbursement related to plow damage. The

township’s practice has been to offer to provide and install a standard mailbox to replace mailboxes damaged by a township plow, but some residents have requested payment instead. These residents may prefer to install custom mailboxes or posts rather than the standard mailbox provided. The board agreed $150 is a reasonable allowance in these circumstances if a resident elects reimbursement instead of having a standard mailbox installed by the road department. The board then approved two such reimbursements.

At the request of the road department and Mark Purchase, the board considered and approved changing the job title for job description 12.32 from administrative assistant/cemetery sexton to administrative assis-

Health & Wellness Bloodmobile

The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage, and individuals are urged to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care.

Donation appointments may be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-733-2767.

March 2, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 11900 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, 12-6 p.m.

March 2, Chardon Library, 110 E. Park St., Chardon, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

March 10, Cardinal High School, 14785 Thompson Ave., Middlefield, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 10, Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, Munson Township, 12-6 p.m.

March 15, St. Helen’s Church, 12060 Kinsman Road, Newbury Township, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 16, Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road, Chester Township, 12-6 p.m.

March 18, Middlefield Library, 16167 East High St., Middlefield, 12-6 p.m.

March 18, Mayfield Church, 7747 Mayfield Road, Chester Township, 12-5 p.m.

March 25, Lord of Life Church, 17989 Chillicothe Road, Bainbridge Township, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March 26, Chardon United Methodist Church, 515 North St., Chardon, 12–6 p.m.

Help for Mental Illness

NAMI Geauga offers mental health support groups and classes for families and persons affected by mental illness. There is no charge to participants. All offerings are 100% peer led and meet in person or on Zoom. Check out NAMI’s calendar online for the latest listings: www.namigeauga.org.

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

Watch The Moon Go Dark

Mark the calendar for the morning of March 3 to view a total lunar eclipse. The rare event only happens when the moon passes through Earth's shadow, making the moon go dark for a few hours. The eclipse will begin at 4:30 a.m., with maximum eclipse occurring around 6 a.m. The moon will set at approximately 6:30 a.m., ending the local viewing opportunity.

Northeast Ohio last experienced a total lunar eclipse overnight March 13-14, 2025, when peak viewing occurred around midnight into the early morning hours.

Weather permitting, the eclipse may be visible from any location with a clear view of the western sky at that time.

The Geauga Park District will host walk-

up public viewing with telescopes from 4:30-6:30 a.m. at Observatory Park. Registration is not required.

Visit the park district website to see photos from a previous occurrence.

Be On Amphibian Alert Register to be placed on the park district’s list to witness the natural phenomenon of spring breeding behavior of wood frogs, spring peepers and possible large salamanders as they move into The West Woods’ woodland pools on a warm, rainy night.

The notification should come sometime between early March through early April, a call sharing that the program will occur that very evening from 8-9:15 p.m. or from 9:3010:45 p.m., depending on one’s registration time slot. Participants should dress for the weather and bring flashlights.

tant/cemetery coordinator. The rest of the job description remains the same.

Trustees approved the extension of a condition offer of employment to Timothy Staley Jr. for the position of full-time police officer, which is a replacement for a departing officer. They then conducted other administrative activities, including approval of payments and purchase orders.

Trustee Ken Radtke provided an update on Geauga County Planning Commission efforts related to the county farmland preservation efforts. Trustees approved the creation of a letter of support to the Geauga County Planning Commission for its application to the Ohio Department of Agriculture Land Use Planning Grant, which seeks to update the Geauga County Farmland Preservation Plan.

Trustee Brandon Davis presented status of several activities he has been actively leading, including America250 planning, an open for business campaign and formalizing township outside counsel engagement. Trustee Craig Richter provided an update on the trustees’ request for a joint meeting with the Geauga Park Board and the current planning and status of that effort.

There was discussion regarding the current road department funding and budget and the need to continue to investigate long-term funding options for the road department.

The board entered executive session to discuss public employee(s) matters.

Submitted by Brandon Davis, Chester Township Trustee

Burton Public Library Burton Library is located at 14588 W. Park St. Programs require registration unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 440-8344466 or visit burtonlibrary.org.

March Book Sale

Sundays in March and March 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The book sale entrance is at the back of the library.

Kids Quest 3-8

March 19, 4-4:30 p.m. or 5-5:30 p.m.

Youth in grades 3-8 will solve tricky Leprechaun’s magical puzzles to find their own pot of gold in “Escape Room: Leprechaun's Lair.” Sign up for a time slot.

Vote for Your Movie Night

Thursdays in March, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Receive free gardening advice from Master Gardeners every Thursday in March in the Merritt Room. Registration is not required.

March 24, 5-7:45 p.m.

In celebration of the USA’s 250th anniversary and movies connected to Ohio, attendees may vote to select a PG or G-rated film for the event. The program will also highlight movies filmed in or about Ohio.

Popcorn will be provided. Registration is not required.

Kids Quest K-2

Plants at War

Free Gardening Advice

March 5, 4-5 p.m.

Kids in grades K-2 will adopt their own pet rock and share stories and songs together during “Pet Rock Adoption Agency.”

Teen D&D One Shot

March 9, 3:45-5 p.m.

Teens in grades 8-12 will experience a fun D&D one-shot adventure during “Masquerade Jewel Heist.”

I Wish I Knew How

March 9, 5-7 p.m.

Learn how to make the trendy Kandi bead bracelets; materials provided. Registration is not required.

Drawing 101

March 11, 18 and 25, 3:30-5 p.m.

Participants ages 7 and older must attend all three sessions to complete the projects.

Beginner-level drawing lessons will be offered.

South Newbury Union Chapel

March 12, 6-7 p.m.

Learn about the history of Geauga County’s South Newbury Union Chapel during a presentation titled “A Bold Past, A Bright Future,” hosted by the South Newbury Union Chapel.

March 26, 6-7 p.m.

The presentation by Holden Arboretum will examine how plants have helped mobilize for victory, heal the sick and spread a message of peace.

At the Hot Gates

March 27, 3-4 p.m.

For almost fifty years the Greeks and Persians clashed against one another on land and sea. Trace back the steps that led the Greeks to stand at the Hot Gates against almost 300,000 Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Ohio's National Parks

March 28, 11-11:45 a.m.

Park rangers from James A. Garfield National Historic Site will be sharing information about Ohio’s national parks. All fourth-graders will receive the free Every Kid Outdoors pass, which allows free entry into national parks for them and their families through the summer.

Peeps Taste Test and Crafts

March 30, 5-6 p.m.

Help crown the best tasting Peeps with a taste test and complete a fun spring craft.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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

Email submissions to: cbb@karlovecmedia.com

All About Tomatoes

Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to noon Join Geauga County Master Gardener Volunteer Laura Vargo for a deep dive into tomatoes, focusing on varieties, capturing the seeds to plant again and best practices for a successful harvest. The free workshop will be held in the Patterson Center at the Geauga County Extension Office, 14269 Claridon-Troy Road, Burton. Registration is required; call 440-834-4656. For more information, visit geauga.osu.edu.

Ida’s Cupboard Pantry

Pilgrim Christian Church’s food pantry, Ida’s Cupboard, provides groceries to families in need. The pantry is the second-largest in Geauga County, serving neighbors with dignity and compassion.

Hours are 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Friday. The pantry is located at the rear entrance of the church, 202 S. Hambden St., Chardon. For more information, visit pcc-chardon.org.

Christmas in July Craft Show

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 11519 Wilson Mills Road in Chardon, will host a Christmas in July Craft Show and is seeking crafters for the indoor event.

For more information, call 440-2854641.

Christianity & LGBTQIA Forum

March 1, 1-4 p.m.

The intersection of Christianity and LGBTQIA issues will be explored at the Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Road, Bainbridge Township.

The documentary film “1946” will be shown, highlighting biblical research that questions whether the word “homosexual” was originally intended to appear in the Bible. Three Christian presenters also will share additional insight and perspectives.

The program is sponsored by Geauga SOGI Support Network, Federated Church SJAM and the Community Life Collaborative.

The event is free, but registration is required at www.geaugasogi.org. Water and snacks will be provided.

Beethoven’s Fifth

March 1, 4 p.m.

Snowbelt Symphony Orchestra presents “Beethoven’s Fifth,” featuring conductor Greg Hillis, at North High School in Eastlake. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. For information, call 440296-9610 or visit snowbeltmusical.org.

Career Exploration Open House

March 3, 5-7 p.m.

Students and job seekers are invited to attend a free Career Exploration Open House at KSU Geauga, 14111 Claridon-Troy Road in Burton. The free event will connect attendees with local employers and organizations offering information on careers, summer jobs and workforce opportunities in Geauga County and North-

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

east Ohio. Participants may network with industry professionals, explore career paths, share resumes and learn about current hiring trends. Complimentary food and raffle prizes will be available.

Attendees are encouraged to bring resumes and may submit materials in advance to pbarker@geaugagrowth.com for priority employer review. The event is co-sponsored by Kent State Geauga and Geauga Growth Partnership.

Call 440-564-1060 with questions and registration.

Young of Heart

March 6, 11:30 a.m.

Geauga Young of Heart will meet at St. Anselm Church in Chester Township. Refreshments will be provided. Guest speaker Dennis Sutcliffe will talk about growing up in Cleveland with Captain Penny, Ghoulardi and others.

Upcoming outings include Seneca Allegany Casino on March 13, Silver Skillet at 3 p.m. March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and Playhouse Square’s Palace Theatre for “The Great Gatsby” on June 17.

For trip information, call Kimber at 440-668-3293.

Have A Heart Spay/Neuter

Valley Save-A-Pet will open its 2026 Have A Heart low cost spay/neuter program on March 2. The program offers cat and dog sterilizations at a discounted rate to pet owners.

Call 440-232-2287 any Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for information and to apply for a spay/neuter certificate. Calls will also be answered on the first Saturday of the month beginning in April. Feral cat caregivers are also encouraged to call.To learn more about the organization’s programs and events, visit www.valleysaveapet.org.

FGP Explorer Series

March 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

Join Foundation for Geauga Parks for a mile-long wellness walk on the new UH Geauga Community Wellness Trail with naturalist Vicki Solomon. Experience the physical, mental and social benefits of the European tradition on volksmarching.

For information or to register, visit foundationforgeaugaparks.org or call 440564-1048.

Meet Us in the Garden

March 7, 10 a.m.

The OSU Lake County Master Gardener Volunteers host their first Meet Us in the Garden talk of 2026 at the Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave. Join for “Seed Starting” and learn how to start vegetables and flowers from seed, caring and nurturing them to have ready to plant come spring.

The session is free, but registration is required. Visit mentorpl.org or call 440255-8811. Call the helpline at 440-8532625 with any gardening questions.

Geauga Sheriff ’s Report The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Feb. 13 to Feb. 19, 2026.

ASSAULT Feb. 15 5:33 p.m., Main Market Road, Dollar General, Parkman. While at Dollar General earlier today the manager slapped the caller's child in the head with a chocolate bar and told him: “I am going to knock your teeth out.” Caller is no longer at the Dollar General. Explained while checking out her 7-year-old son was mouthing off and the female working the counter reached over with a candy bar and struck her child on the head. The female then stated if the child continued to talk that way she would smack him across the face. Explained she only wanted the incident documented at this time.

SUSPICIOUS Feb. 13 3:43 p.m., Sidley Road, Thompson. Someone keeps leaving a piece of corn on the caller's sign. (Post with brick around it.) Corn on the cob is what is being left on the sign.

Second incident where someone has put a piece of corn on the caller's sign. Resident was concerned that his residence was being cased due to a second corn on the cob being left on a sign in a month. Advice was given, extra patrols to be conducted.

Feb . 14 5:24 p.m., Scanton Woods Trail, Newbury. Flowers were delivered to this address unexpectedly. After the delivery person left, a black car came in the driveway and took the flowers from where they were dropped off. Caller has the video. Caller called back and advised she has to leave, deputy can disregard.

Real Estate Transfers Following is a list of real estate transfers for the period of Feb. 17-19, 2026, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. Transfers may involve the sale of land only.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP Yuan Min Shing and Jenny Tsen Lan, 17072 Ravenna Road, to Jenna and Lawrence Pol, $475,000. (2.64 acres) BAINBRIDGE TOWNSHIP Daniel A. and Christine R. Luketic (cotrustees), 18190 Rolling Brook Drive, to Ryan Michael and Shannon E. Paul, $540,000.

(0.60 acres) BURTON TOWNSHIP Sean M. Burke, 16231 Snow Road, to Makenzie D. Healy, $159,000. (0.29 acres) James R. and Penny E. Timmons (TOD), Hale Road, to Paul D. and Ruth J. Kurtz, $126,500. (6.32 acres) James R. and Penny E. Timmons (TOD), Hale Road, to James D. Kurtz, $160,300.

(8.01 acres) Andrew J. and Maurine A. Miller, 14995 Durkee Road, to Michael M. and Arlene D. Miller, $410,000. (5.44 acres) CHARDON CITY FLG Chardon LLC, 470 Hidden Feather Drive, to NVR Inc., $93,000. (0.18 acres) FLG Chardon LLC, 250 Emerald Drive, to NVR Inc., $93,000. (0.17 acres) FLG Chardon LLC, 350 Hidden Feather Drive, to NVR Inc., $93,000. (0.18 acres) NVR Inc., 201 Emerald Drive, to Floyd Roger and Nicole Marie Lewis, $418,900.

(0.27 acres) CHARDON TOWNSHIP Kenneth C. and Helen T. Seufer, 10560 Auburn Road, to Hannah Lynn Kulesza, $230,000. (1.31 acres)

CHESTER TOWNSHIP Flyod A. Trouten III (trustee), 12487 Harold Drive, to TT East LLC, $300,000. (1.00 acres) MUNSON TOWNSHIP Tony, James, and Mark Santell, 10504 Mulberry Road, to Michael A. Cavallaro, $210,000. (2.00 acres) Donald W. and Michelle A. Burwell, 12865 Rockhaven Road, to Timothy and Candyce Hess, $443,000. (2.42 acres) PARKMAN TOWNSHIP Nancy M. Miller and Vernon A. and Ada M. Yoder, 15527 Patch Road, to Vernon A. and Ada M. Yoder, $57,000. (3.95 acres) RUSSELL TOWNSHIP Jeremy Kler, 7952 Thornapple Drive, to Jacqueline T. Malak and Scott W. Oglesby, $400,000. (1.54 acres) SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE Colton Kaufman and Victoria Bias, 1412 Bell Road, to Colton Kaufman, $237,500.

(1.03 acres) THOMPSON TOWNSHIP Charles O. Waugaman Jr. and Charlene A. Meter, 16500 Burrows Road, to Nicholas and Angel Lising, $379,000. (10.00 acres)

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Legal Notices LEGAL NOTICE 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT CLARIDON TOWNSHIP GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO Notice is hereby given that the 2025 Annual Financial Report for Claridon Township is complete and available for public inspection at the Claridon Township Administrative Building, 13932 Mayfield Road. Please contact the administrative office for an appointment at 440-635-0648.

Clint Hardman, Fiscal Officer Feb26, 2026 IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO Case No: 25-D-000405 - Gregory K. Hrastar, Plaintiff v. Jennifer Lynn Hrastar, Defendant To: Jennifer Lynn Hrastar, whose last known address was 3154 Winesap Court, Dayton, OH 45449; and whose current address in unknown, will take notice that on September 13, 2025, Gregory K. Hrastar filed his Complaint for Divorce in the Court of Common Pleas, Geauga County, Ohio 100 Short Court, Chardon, Ohio 44024, Case Number 25-D-000405, whereby Plaintiff seeks a divorce, an award of his separate property, an equitable division of the marital property, and other equitable relief on the grounds that the parties are incompatible and Defendant has acted, or failed to act, in a manner that entitles Plaintiff to a divorce under Ohio law.

Said above Defendant will further take notice that she is required to answer the Complaint on or before April 23, 2026, or judgment by default shall be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

By Jon D. Axelrod, Attorney for Plaintiff, Axelrod & Hellier, LLP, 7976 Tyler Blvd., Mentor, OH 44060. (440) 944-7300.

Feb19-26 Mar5-12-19-26, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL UNNEEDED, OBSOLETE, OR UNFIT TOWNSHIP PERSONAL PROPERTY VIA INTERNET AUCTION Thompson Township Trustees are giving notice of its intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use township personal property on GovDeals auction site (www.govdeals.com) beginning March 2, 2026, and ending March 16, 2026. Fourteen (14) MSA Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) with masks and twenty-eight (28) 4500 psi cylinders. Full description on the listing.

Cindy Lausin, Fiscal Officer Feb19-26, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF INTENT TO SELL UNNEEDED, OBSOLETE, OR UNFIT TOWNSHIP PERSONAL PROPERTY VIA INTERNET AUCTION Thompson Township Trustees are giving notice of its intent to sell unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use township personal property on shopgarage.com. A 2005 Pierce Contender Pumper, in good condition, ready for service is for sale until sold, “as is, where is”. Full description on the listing.

Cindy Lausin, Fiscal Officer Feb19-26, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE The Asphalt Resurfacing of Sections E-F of Mumford Road, CH-0024 Troy Township, Geauga County, Ohio Bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00 AM local time on March 13, 2026 and read publicly at 10:05 am local time at the above address. The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $560,000.00.

Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital bidders must register with Bid Express ® (allow time for processing).

Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid documents are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 153, the bid must be accompanied by an original sealed document (uploaded for digital bids) in the form of a bond for the full amount of the bid (100%). Otherwise, each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or

letter of credit in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1305. All digital bidders must submit original documents within three (3) business days of the bid opening.

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

BY ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Christine Blair, Clerk Feb26, 2026 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING APPEAL FOR AN AREA VARIANCE CHESTER TOWNSHIP ZONING RESOLUTION Notice is hereby given that the Chester Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application identified as ZA-2026-2, on the 9th day of March 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at Chester Town Hall.

The applicant, Scott and Latasha Sharp are requesting an area variance for their property located at 13475 Sperry Road. They propose allowing an existing accessory building to remain when the existing house is demolished and a proposed new home built. The proposed home would be located to the rear of the existing accessory building. This proposal is in violation of Section 501.3 (C) of the Chester Township Zoning Resolution.

Kathleen McCarthy Administrative Assistant Feb26, 2026

uments are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

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

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

BY ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Christine Blair, Clerk Feb26 Mar5, 2026 PUBLIC NOTICE Village of Middlefield Notice is hereby given that during the Council Meeting Public Hearing held on FEBRUARY 12, 2026. The Village of Middlefield passed the following legislation: RESOLUTION 26-02 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE’S US BANK MASTERCARD AGGREGATE MAXIMUM CREDIT LIMIT TO BE $25,000, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. ORDINANCE 26-107 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES AND WAGE RATES FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE VILLAGE RETROACTIVELY EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

LEGAL NOTICE 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT GEAUGA COUNTY PARK DISTRICT The 2025 Annual Financial Report of Geauga County Park District has been completed and is available for public inspection. Contact Christine Cycyk at Geauga Park District, 440286-9516, 9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, OH 44024.

Christine Cycyk, Interim Fiscal Officer Feb26, 2026

ORDINANCE 26-108 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES AND WAGE RATES FOR THE NON-POLICE EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE RETROACTIVELY EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Process: Public Participation TowerKing proposes the construction of a guyed style telecommunications tower within a 100’ x 100’ lease area approximately 0.55 miles west-northwest of Valentine Rd. & Clay St., Thompson, Geauga County, OH. The height of the tower will be 181.3-meters above ground level (595-feet above ground level) and 182.6-meters above ground level including appurtenances (599-feet above ground level with appurtenances). Proposed project will include ground disturbance. Members of the public interested in submitting comments on the possible effects on historic properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places may send their comments to Andrew Smith, RESCOM Environmental Corp., PO Box 361 Petoskey, MI 49770 or call 260385-6999.

Feb26, 2026

ORDINANCE 26-111 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A FORD F-600 TRUCK WITH PLOW AND SALT SPREADER, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

LEGAL NOTICE PID 119138 – BR-0607-C-01.250-2026 The Replacement of the Pettibone Road Bridge Bainbridge Township, Geauga County, Ohio Bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00 AM local time on March 20, 2026 and read publicly at 10:05 AM local time at the above address. The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $1,300,000.00.

Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital bidders must register with Bid Express ® (allow time for processing).

Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid doc-

ORDINANCE 26-109 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE 2026 WAGE RATES FOR POLICE OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE RETROACTIVELY EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND DECLARING AND EMERGENCY.

ORDINANCE 26-112 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ACCEPT NORTHEAST OHIO PUBLIC ENERGY COUNCIL (NOPEC) 2026 ENERGIZED COMMUNITY GRANT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. ORDINANCE 26-113 AN ORDINANCE HIRING BRANDON PESKA AS A FULL TIME POLICE OFFICER, CONTINGENT UPON HIS COMPLETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 139.01 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES, AT THE PAY RATE OF $35.39 PER HOUR, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 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 Naftzger, Administrative Asst. /Billing Clerk Feb26, 2026 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Burton Township Notice is hereby given that the Burton Township Board of Zoning Appeals will conduct a public hearing on an application for an appeal for an area variance to the Burton Township Zoning Resolution on the 10th day of March, 2026 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. at: Burton Township Administration Building, 14821 Rapids Road, Burton, Ohio 44021 This application #1713-26, submitted by Ken Ashba requests an area variance to change property lines to separate a shared driveway which would be nonconforming once separated. He seeks relief from Article IV, Section 607.0, Paragraph A, Driveways, of the Burton Township Zoning Resolution as amended Au-

Thursday, February 26, 2026 gust 14, 2019. He asks that this be granted for the lot located at: 14405 Aquilla Road in Burton Township Ohio, Parcel #04-150953.

Additional details are included in the application, a copy of which may be requested by contacting the Burton Township BZA Secretary at Elana.BurtonTownship@gmail.com.

Following the public hearing, any other business as it relates to the responsibility of the Board, will be discussed and action taken as needed.

Elana Koh, Secretary Feb26, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT GEAUGA SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT The 2025 Annual Financial Report of the Geauga Soil & Water Conservation District is available for viewing at the District Office, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Suite 240, Chardon, Ohio 44024 and was filed through the Auditor of State Hinkle System.

Colleen Lair, Administrative Assistant Feb26, 2026 BID NOTICE CRUSHED LIMESTONE CHARDON TOWSHIP Sealed bids will be received by the Board of Chardon Township Trustees at the regular township meeting on March 18, 2026, at the Chardon Township Town Hall, 9949 Mentor Road, Chardon, OH 44024 until 7:00 PM at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud.

Bids shall be submitted on blank forms provided for the purpose by calling the road superintendent, Jason Bosma, at 440.286.3711 Bids shall be accompanied by a bid bond, certified check, or cashier’s check in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100), guaranteeing that a contract will be entered into if accepted. The envelope shall be clearly marked “CRUSHED LIMESTONE BID” and mailed to Edward Slusarski, Fiscal Officer, 9949 Mentor Road, Chardon OH 44024.

The Board of Chardon Township Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject all bids or any part thereof or waive any informalities.

CHARDON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES Edward Slusarski, Fiscal Officer Feb26, 2026 LEGAL NOTICE The Asphalt Resurfacing of Sections B-C of Messenger Road, CH-0031 Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio Bids will be received by the Geauga County Board of Commissioners digitally via Bid Express® or in a sealed envelope at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024 by 10:00 AM local time on March 13, 2026 and read publicly at 10:05 am local time at the above address. The bid shall be let upon a unit price basis. The estimated cost for this project is $640,000.00.

Proposal, plans, and specifications may be obtained from the following website: https:// www.bidexpress.com/. Bidders and subcontractors can view and download information free of charge. All digital bidders must register with Bid Express ® (allow time for processing).

Submission of a digital bid requires a fee paid directly to Bid Express®. This fee is charged on a per bid or monthly basis. Paper bid documents are also available free of charge at the Geauga County Engineer’s Office, 12665 Merritt Road, Chardon, Ohio 44024.

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

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

BY ORDER OF THE GEAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Christine Blair, Clerk Feb26, 2026

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

A Powerful, Affordable Solution for Homes and Businesses – Automatic Standby Generators “If you’re the only business open during an outage then an obvious conclusion is that you may double or even triple your usual revenue per hour,”

– Craig, Owner of Shepp Electric Company, Inc., the area’s ONLY Family Owned and Operated Generac Dealer!

The focus on standby generators and their ability to keep homes and businesses operating is an understandable development since each year hundreds of thousands go without power and the numbers are climbing.

Backup power is now surprisingly affordable and is a wise business decision. Compared to the expense of lost revenue and inventory spoilage, an automatic standby genset is a bargain that will provide years of reliable service. Many homeowners want the same protection, too: “It’s easy to see how quickly this investment will pay for itself. An average store may recoup the cost of a backup system during its first outage. Having standby power is the best way to stay in business. It is also one of the smartest investments for homes in northeastern Ohio and western PA. Compared to the cost of a flooded basement without the sump pump, no heat, frozen water pipes, no stove and no well water an automatic standby system can be a lifesaver.”

In order to assist you with making the right standby power investment we strongly advise you to consult with the area’s Leading Generac® “Premier” and Industrial Warranty Service Dealer and Installer for 30 years, Shepp Electric Company, Inc., who will conduct a free site survey and electrical load analysis in order to recommend the best size and placement of the system.

Whether for home or business, please feel free to call Christina, Michelle or Rachel at the office Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 877-423-9010, or visit their website at www.generatorpros.com to view

information about all their services and automatic standby generator systems by Generac Power Systems.

In addition, at www.generatorpros.com, you will find a wealth of information that is extremely helpful for your family and business about disaster preparedness, proper

use of portable generators and the immediate link to current power outages along the entire North coast.

Contact the Leading Generac Automatic Standby Generator professionals as seen on Fox 8 and keep your family and business safe and secure 24/7.

Never Be Without Power YOU CAN HAVE PEACE OF MIND WITH A GENERAC AUTOMATIC STANDBY GENERATOR

HOME or BUSINESS Automatic Standby Protection 24/7.

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877-423-9010

Before You Sign Anything, Call Us! Over 6,000 Installed. Powering You With Comfort and Security For Over 33 Years!

MOST 5 STAR REVIEWS IN THE STATE OF OHIO

Area’s LEADING

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Geauga County Maple Leaf

Classifieds FOR RENT Chagrin Falls: 1BR with garage, heat, water, pool. In a nice area. $1,100/mo. Available April 1. 234-3803491.

FOR SALE Weak/dead internet areas in your home? Solve your problem. Motorola 3.1 Cable Modem. TP-Link X55 Deco 3-piece satellite router. Easy install. $130. 440-6692763.

RECORD ALBUMS, Old Cameras, HO Train items, large granite counter-top pieces, fresh/salt water aquariums, old clocks, kerosene lamps. Inquire. 440-338-3563.

Russell.

Anchor Brand Folding Bench Wringer Floor Stand: 48” tall, Patent 1896, $240. 440-554-5731.

Whiskey Barrels, Wine Barrels, Jack Daniel’s Barrels: starting at $125. Great for decorations. 440-3215788. Middlefiled area.

Tanning bed for sale: $525. Wolff System, Sunvision Pro 24 SF. Newer bulbs. Working fine. 440-313-1411.

Fine China, plates, bowls, cups, dessert plates, demitasse, gravy, creamer, platters, and more, place setting for 12+, English Garden pattern of blue flowers with silver rim, only $120, call/text for pictures 440-668-8768 Newbury.

200 feet planed & straight edged Walnut. 200 feet planed Butternut. $6/foot. 1800’s standup grain fanning mill $200. 440-336-2027.

Family Burial Plot for sale. All Souls Cemetery. Serene location in prime section. Section 16. 216-440-8743.

Two double-hung Provia replacement windows: combined dimensions 75 7/8 X 53 5/8. Perfect for a front window $500. 440-336-5044 George. Custom sizes & shapes available.

Nursery Infant Scale-$6. Honda CRV floor mats-$8. Vintage metal tricycle-$15. George Foreman Grilling Machine-$10. 440-346-7708, leave msg.

Vintage Baby Buggy: $65. 440-487-2955.

Jenny Lind Bed: needs re-homed, some repairs, not free but reasonably priced, photos available. Also, vintage and antique rockers. 3rd-7th generation. 440-6362853.

Have you had a sad death in your family? I mourn with you in a book I wrote “Bitter Grief of Parting” $5 each.

330-889-2089.

REDUCED: Lithograph Prints, signed personally by the artist: Robert Bateman “Midnight Black Wolf” $1,600.

Carl Brenders “Monarch Eagle” $400 and “Full House Boxes” $400. 440-729-0070.

Majacraft Rose spinning wheel. 2 Lazy Kates, 1 extra drive band, 9 bobbins, jumbo flyer, fiber. $1,200.

440-564-1239.

PETS & ANIMALS Pasture-Raised Cornish Cross broiler chickens: dressed & frozen. Whole bird at $3.50 lb. Average weight 8 lbs.

440-387-9857.

F1b Aussiedoodle pups! Ready and partially trained $1000/female, $800/male. Super Cute! Hypoallergenic, smart, sweet, loyal, 10-13lbs full grown. Text 440-796-9682 for website/application info.

“Johnny,” gray 10 month old tuxedo cat needs indoor home. Neutered, vaxxed, sweet, playful, but shy. Great with other cats. Rebecca 440-321-2485.

One Year Old CKC registered Male Beagle. $40. AlsoWanted: Mallard Ducks. 440-321-8152.

Shih-Tzu/Bichon/Poodle Puppies: wormed, vaccinated, vet checked. Ready to go on April 4. $500 each. Pick out yours today with $50 deposit. 440-883-9059.

MISCELLANEOUS Jesse Jackson: “Put hope in your brains, not dope in your veins.”

REAL ESTATE Private Investor paying cash for homes/land in any condition. Call or text Brian today at 440-346-0161 for a No-obligation offer. No repairs needed. Fast closings.

.34-acre Bainbridge lot on 306, part of Lake Lucerne community with amenities. Tap into utilities: gas, electric, sewer, private community well. SAVE BIG! 75k .

440-574-1599.

SERVICES Independent Provider will come to you home and do Caregiving. Certified with references. 440-313-1804.

Buckeye Landscaping looking for new clients for upcoming season. Services including mowing, mulching, pruning, spring/fall clean-ups, also snow plowing. Call 440 883 9124.

AM Rides LLC: Reliable transportation for Amish crew hauling, cleaning crews, hunting trips, auctions, and towing. Safe, insured and on time. Airport trips also available. Call Craig: 330-431-8282.

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

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.

Also, scrap cleanup and removal.

Thursday, February 26, 2026

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Help Wanted Now Hiring Maintenance Associates! Full and part-time positions available at Legacy Village and Oakwood Commons. Apply: hiring@first-interstate.com Wanted: need someone to reupholster two recliners.

Also need ride to work, from about Burton Square to Madison Road in Middlefield, 6am-3pm, flexible. 440834-8104.

KMG Prints Business Cards Prices start at $35.62 for 500 Black & White, 1-Sided, No Bleed

440-729-7667

karlovec

group

8389 Mayfield Road, B-5 Chesterland, OH 44026 Fax: 440-729-8240

To advertise in the Classifieds, contact the advertising department at 440-729-7667 ext. 500 or email your ad directly to ads@karlovecmedia.com

CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT NOON PRIOR TO PUBLICATION DATE All classified line ads run in The Geauga County Maple Leaf on Thursdays, and in the Chesterland News and Middlefield Post on the weeks each newspaper is published. The Chesterland News and Middlefield Post are published every other week on opposing weeks.

☐ Here is my ad. The per week cost is $15 for the first 25 words, plus 50¢ for each additional word. ☐ I am a PAID MAPLE LEAF SUBSCRIBER entitled to 25 WORDS or less FREE each week. (Words over 25 will be billed at 50¢ per word.) NO BUSINESS ADS. Please include subscriber number ___________ (found on mailing label)

☐ I would like to be a MAPLE LEAF SUBSCRIBER and advertise for FREE. Enclosed is $60 for an in-county 12-month subscription (subscription rate valid through 12/31/26).

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Geauga County Maple Leaf

Thursday, February 26, 2026