POST Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Vol. 19 No. 10 • FREE
Pocket Park to Get New Walking Paths, Amphitheater
Middlefield Mourns ‘Everybody’s Fire Chief’ Bill Reed, 71, Served 39 Years with Fire Department, 21 as Chief
Staff Report
By John Karlovec editor@karlovecmedia.com
The pocket park at North State Avenue and East High Street is being redesigned with more walking paths, new trees and landscaping, a small amphitheater and evening lighting, according to village officials. The park has gone largely unchanged since the 1990s. Its pergola had reached the end of its useful life and needed to be removed, and several trees had become aged or unhealthy, officials said. Mayor Ben Garlich asked the village’s economic development committee to develop ideas for revitalizing the park after he took office in 2012. The project was put on hold because of the village’s finances at the time. Officials said job creation, infrastructure improvements, budget savings and investment growth since then have put the village in a position to move forward. Village officials were unable to provide details on the cost of the project or sources of funding, as village offices were closed for Columbus Day. However, Garlich did note See Park • Page 2
For nearly four decades, when the call went out in Middlefield, Bill Reed answered it. William G. “Bill” Reed, who served 39 years with the Middlefield Fire Department — 21 of them as chief — died Oct. 9 at his home in Middlefield. He was 71. A lifelong village resident, Reed was known to generations of Middlefield families as more than a title or a uniform. To many, he was simply everybody’s fire chief. “There are leaders, heroes and legends, Chief Reed was all three,” the Middlefield Fire Department wrote in a Facebook tribute. “He was a proud and faithful leader who cared so deeply for the men and women of the Middlefield Fire Department and the people of his community,” the department wrote. “A proud U.S. Navy veteran and a prouder father, grandfather and chief.” Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich called Reed a “true professional.” “He knew how to assemble a
Bill Reed
quality team and very successfully managed a department from volunteer to a paid department,” Garlich said. “Through his leadership, he created an environment where people are proud to be a part of MFD.” “His leadership will be missed, but I am confident he built a qualified team that will carry on his tradition of continuous improvement,” Garlich said. “Our village was fortunate to have Chief Reed as our long-serving fire chief.” The Middlefield Police Depart-
ment called Reed “a pillar in the Geauga County community” and a mentor to many first responders. His path to the firehouse began with a nudge from a friend. Reed applied to what was then the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department in December 1986, he recalled in an interview with the Geauga County Maple Leaf ahead of his retirement. “Russ (Coyle) was a lieutenant in the fire department and urged me to give it a try,” Reed said at the time. His grandfather, Robert Reed, had also served in the department. What began as a volunteer commitment became a life’s work. Reed rose through the ranks to lead the department for more than two decades, and his work reached well beyond the village. He served as director of the Geauga County Fire Investigation Unit and as secretary of the Geauga County Fire Chiefs Association. Fire departments across the county joined in mourning him. “His leadership, dedication, and See Reed • Page 5
Nearly 190-Year-Old North Bloomfield Estate Hits Market By John Karlovec editor@karlovecmedia.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF CC MEDIA LLC
The Brown-Wing House, an 1838 Greek Revival home at 2171 Park West Road in North Bloomfield, is part of the nearly 100-acre Wing Sherman Estate, listed for $1.45 million. The house was commissioned by early Western Reserve settler Ephraim Brown and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.
A nearly 190-year-old Trumbull County estate with connections to an early Western Reserve settler, a Civil War officer, an Ohio legislator and a federal judge is on the market for $1.45 million. The Wing Sherman Estate at 2171 Park West Road includes the historic Brown-Wing House, an 1838 Greek Revival residence listed in 1975 on the National Register of Historic Places. Amy Hissa, of The Hissa Group at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, is listing the property. The approximately 4,752-square-foot farmhouse has 11 fireplaces. The See Estate • Page 6
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Fall Budget Bin
Oct. 15-18 Solon PTA’s annual Budget Bin consignment sale, at 6845 SOM Center Road in Solon, features new and gently used clothing, household items and more. Sale days are Thursday, 3-7 p.m. and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bag day is Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and last chance bag day is Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, email ptabudgetbin@gmail.com.
Creations Unique Boutique
Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Children’s Guild of Cleveland is hosting its annual Creations Unique Boutique featuring holiday items, gifts, household goods, children's items, gourmet treats and more at the Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Road in Bainbridge Township. All proceeds benefit Cleveland area children. For information, visit www.childrensguildcleveland.org.
Master Gardener Programs
Geauga County Master Gardener Volunteers will offer two free programs at the Patterson Center at the Geauga County Extension Office, 14269 Claridon-Troy Road, Burton. “Planting an Edible Garden” will be held Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by “Planning and Creating a Cut Flower Garden” Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is required by calling 440834-4656. For more information, visit geauga.osu.edu.
Cemetery Walking Tours
Oct. 17, 6, 7 and 8 p.m. “Forgotten Memories at Fairview Cemetery” will feature guided walking tours at Fairview Cemetery in Mesopotamia. The tours will share local history and stories of Civil War soldiers and Gold Star soldiers from World War I, World War II and Vietnam. No registration is required. Attendees should arrive before their preferred tour time.
American Legion Open House
Oct. 24, 1-5 p.m. Burton American Legion Post 459 will host an open house at 14052 Goodwin St., Burton, to showcase recent improvements and ADA upgrades to its facility. Visitors can learn about the facility’s rental options for receptions, parties, conferences and other events. Light refreshments will be provided.
Christmas Sale Donations Needed
The Middlefield Historical Society is seeking donations for its Christmas sale on Nov. 21. For information or to donate items, call Barb at 440-503-6444.
Festival of Trees
Dec. 5 and 12 The Middlefield Historical Society invites businesses, organizations and individuals to decorate and display a Christmas tree for its Festival of Trees at the historic 1818 Century Inn, 14979 S. State Ave., Middlefield. Participation is free, and there is no charge for visitors. For more information, call 440632-1148 or email geauga44@hotmail.com.
SUBMITTED/BILL BLUE
The pocket park at North State Avenue and East High Street in Middlefield is seen from above earlier this month. The village plans to redesign the park with new walking paths, trees, a small amphitheater and evening lighting.
Park
from page 1 a lot of labor and materials were supplied in house. The goal is to create a place that feels surrounded by nature even though it sits at one of the busiest intersections in Geauga County, officials said. The design was built around keeping as many of the healthy mature trees as possible while adding new trees and plantings. Officials said preserving mature trees is important to the village. The new layout will include significantly more walking-path space so visitors can wander through the landscaping rather than simply pass by it. New plantings and gathering areas are intended to make the park feel quieter
and more secluded from surrounding traffic. A small amphitheater toward the rear of the park will serve as a flexible space for small community events, performances and family movie nights. Uplighting will be added throughout the new and existing tree canopy so the landscaping and mature trees are visible after dark. Patty Amentini of Geauga Auto Parts has agreed to let the village use the south-facing side of her building for projecting movies and for lighting. Tommy Yokum of Canopy Design Services and T.C. Hurst Landscaping are working on the project. “The location may be in the middle of a busy intersection, but the goal is that once you step inside the park, it won’t feel that way,” village officials said.
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Faith Matters Divine Providence in the Battles of Life I recently watched a documentary about early on the favorite son of his father Jacob, a George Washington who led men into battle series of difficult, even tragic events followed during the French and Indian War as well as that tested and molded his character. the American Revolutionary War. During one Joseph was mistreated by his brothers, firefight, he sustained four bullet holes in his falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, forgotclothing and had two horses shot ten by Pharaoh’s cupbearer, and underneath him. Nevertheless, lingered in prison for years. Yet, he remained unscathed as musket the Biblical narrative in Genesis balls whizzed all around him. includes a recurring phrase, “the It should not be surprising Lord was with Joseph.” This was that he later wrote concerning his recognized by Joseph. As a result, experience on the battlefield, “By he would say to his brothers much the all-powerful dispensations of later, “It was not you who sent me Providence, I have been protecthere, but God” (Genesis 45:8). ed beyond all human probability By Roger Kruse “You intended it to harm me, but and expectation.” God intended it for good, the saving of many Have you ever considered the providence lives” (Genesis 50:20). of God as it pertained to your own life? Has God has “higher purposes” for your life the Lord spared you from accident, injury and mine (see Isaiah 55:8-9). He can take or bad decision making? Perhaps it became the “bad stuff” we face and work for good. In more evident as you reflected on your experi- fact, He promises to do exactly that for those ence sometime later. who love Him. The key for you and me is to God’s providence can also come to us keep having faith, trusting His goodness and by means of His favor shown in some unde- acknowledging the providential power and faserved fashion. A timely provision of your vor of God. need, an unexpected honor or promotion, or God is always working toward an end even the blessing of a closed door that led with the greatest blessing in mind. He can you to a new and better open one, all reveal use our sufferings to accomplish something His providence. good with eternal implications. Instead of The word “providence” comes from the getting “bitter” about the unfairness of your Latin root word “provideo,” meaning “to see difficult seasons of life, allow God to make beforehand” and “to provide.” It goes be- you a “better” person. He is preparing you yond mere foresight and points to an active for eternity. Your stay on planet Earth is a relprovision and superintendence of events. atively short one. Your faith, which is “more It speaks of God’s foresight, care and gov- precious than gold” must lead you forward ernance of creation. The Lord sees what is and upward each day. Allow the Lord who coming and provides or directs things toward loves you to transform you into the likeness a divine purpose. of His Son who died on the Cross to forgive Often, we hear such words as “good luck,” you. Jesus is God’s greatest Gift: wrapped in a “lucky break,” “fortunate,” or even “fluke” love, shaped by suffering and imparting to us and “fate.” I always prefer the word “bless- a Divine Providence that will safely guide us ing” because I am sure that “every good and and usher us into His glorious presence. perfect gift comes down to us from God our Father” (James 1:17). “From His abundance Roger Kruse has experienced God’s provwe have all received one gracious blessing af- idence in countless ways through his journey ter another” (John 1:16 NLT). of 74 years. Whether in a village in India or Nevertheless, God’s providence does an ordinary day right here in Middlefield, the not mean we will not have to face hardships, loving and powerful hand of God goes before trials or even suffering. The story of Joseph him, working with purpose and showering His is the perfect example. Even though he was blessings along the way.
Geauga Public Library MIDDLEFIELD BRANCH 16167 East High St., Middlefield, 440-6321961. Programs require registration unless otherwise noted. Visit www.geaugalibrary.net.
Library Discussions
Registration is not required. •Oct. 27, 7-8 p.m., “Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse” by Thomas Chatterton Williams
Movin’ with Music
Oct. 21, 10-11 a.m. Children ages 18 months to 3 years and their caregivers are invited to sing and play with Ms. Carol from the Metzenbaum Center. Little ones will try out instruments, toss scarves and pop bubbles.
The Vampire Talk
Oct. 21, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Author and professor Mark Dawidziak
presents a special program all about the vampyre. The Edgar-nominated author explores the history, folklore, literature and pop-culture appeal of Count Dracula and the undead.
New Passport Fair
Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Travelers dreaming of escaping the coming cold can drop by the New Passport Fair to prepare for an upcoming trip. Bring all required documents and apply for a new passport with help from the Geauga County Clerk of Courts. Registration is not required.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Oct. 29, 7-8 p.m. • Virtual Hop on Zoom to delve into Count Dracula’s castle. Learn what inspired Bram Stoker to create Dracula, the historical connection between Count Dracula and Vlad the Impaler, and the elements of the original novel that never make it into modern adaptations.
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Reed
from page 1 commitment to the fire service have left a lasting legacy throughout Geauga County,” the Hambden Fire Department wrote. Hambden Fire Chief Scott Hildenbrand said he knew Reed for more than 30 years as a colleague, peer and confidant, “but mostly he was a friend.” “I am going to miss the many hours spent on the phone with Bill talking about our fire departments, local and federal politics, families and friends,” Hildenbrand said. “Bill leaves a big hole and big shoes to fill.” Windsor Fire Chief Dave Turk described Reed as a “quiet boulder” in the fire service. “He may not say a lot, but when he did, Bill Reed people listened.” His family said he did not build the department’s culture alone. Alongside his wife, Lynn, Reed helped make the department not simply a place of service, but a community of people who cared for one another. Born Sept. 29, 1955, in Chardon to Gerald “Jerry” and Beverly Reed, he graduated from Cardinal High School and served in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 1977. He married Lynn Ann Wright on June 28, 1980. Off duty, Reed was just as invested in his hometown. He coached Little League and served several years as parade chairman of the Middlefield Swiss Cheese Festival, a role that suited a man who enjoyed bringing peo-
Middlefield Post
ple together. Music was another passion. Reed was the lead singer of the Miller Creek Band. He also carried a remarkable store of trivia, enough that his family often joked he should have been a contestant on “Jeopardy!” Among the more than 100 comments on the department’s post, Thomas Skodzinsky recalled a single emergency years ago. His young daughter had dialed 911, and police officers and two fire trucks arrived at the family’s home. The officers told him he would have to talk to the man in charge, a lone firefighter standing silently beside a white pickup truck. It was Reed. Skodzinsky walked over with his daughter, embarrassed and ready to explain. Instead, Reed handed him a business card. “Call me anytime,” Skodzinsky recalled him saying. “It was then I realized Chief Reed was the real deal and a very understanding guy,” Skodzinsky wrote. “And the last of his kind.” For the man who now leads the department, the loss is also personal. Reed’s son, Ben Reed, who succeeded him as chief, said his father was, first and foremost, “a father, husband, grandfather and friend over any other title.” “He was so supportive of all of us,” he said. “And proud is an understatement when he described his family!” Ben Reed said health issues kept his father from the firehouse, emergency scenes and community events during his last eight or nine years as chief, and those years should
not define his legacy. “Although he may not have been physically visible, he was certainly our spiritual leader,” he said. “He was a motivator, a leader and a fierce defender of his people. He let his leaders lead. He never took credit and always gave it to his men and women!” He said Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri summed his father up best: “Bill’s only agenda was to do the right thing.” Ben Reed said Middlefield firefighters showed his father “so much respect and grace,” helping him after falls, taking him to the hospital and checking in on him. “Not once has anyone ever complained,” he said. The family wanted Reed to go out on his own terms, he said. Reed decided in February to step down, and the department made it official at a send-off surrounded by his closest friends and colleagues, where he shared final words of encouragement and gratitude. “I thought I would have a lot more time and his guidance to figure this new role out,” Ben Reed said. “I will never be able to fill his shoes. … Luckily, I’ve been studying this man since the day I was born.” Added Ben Reed, “As his successor, I can’t thank him enough for handing me the greatest fire department in the world. As his son, I can’t thank him enough for being the best role model anyone can ask for.” He closed with a line from “The Sandlot,” a movie the two often watched together when he was a boy: “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” The fire department ended its own tribute with a promise: “Chief Reed, your legacy will live on forever. We will take it from here, boss!” Reed is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lynn; his mother, Beverly Reed; four sons,
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Erik Wright and Brandon, Benjamin and Corey Reed; two sisters, Barb Mason and Connie Korby; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father; his brother, Kevin Lee Reed; and his daughter-in-law, Lindsay Wright. Calling hours will be 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Cardinal High School, 14785 N. Thompson Ave., Middlefield, followed by a 3 p.m. celebration of life officiated by Pastor Karen Cico. Atwood-Mauck Middlefield-Burton American Legion Post 459 will provide military honors. A procession will then travel to the Middlefield Fire Department, where family and friends may gather for light refreshments. Fire departments wishing to participate with fire apparatus are asked to contact Assistant Chief Dan Rhodes at 440-781-7407 or drhodes@middlefieldfire.com. Burial will be at Middlefield Cemetery at a later date. Sly Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements; condolences may be shared at slyffh.com.
Breaking news and more at: geaugamapleleaf.com
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Estate
from page 1 property also includes a carriage house, gambrel barn, horse barn, greenhouses, gardens, ponds, nearly 100 acres of agricultural land and a second residence, Hissa said.
Brown's 'New House'
The house was commissioned by Ephraim Brown, a prominent Bloomfield Township settler who came from New Hampshire to the Western Reserve in 1815. In 1837, Brown contracted with builders Noble Ferry and Samuel White to construct what surviving records called his "New House," according to the Brown-Wing House National Register nomination. It was completed in 1838. Brown apparently intended to sell Brownwood, his earlier North Bloomfield residence, and move in, but the financial depression of 1837 disrupted those plans. Unable to sell Brownwood, he remained there, and available documentation does not establish that he lived in the Park West Road home. Brown died in 1845. His daughter, Mary, who had married Joseph Knowles Wing in 1842, then took possession of the new house, according to the nomination. Her descendants occupied it until 1927.
Civil War & Political Connections
Joseph Knowles Wing was a merchant who became a Civil War officer, according to the 1882 "History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio." President Abraham Lincoln commissioned Wing as a captain and assistant quartermaster of U.S. Volunteers. He served on the staff of Gen. Grenville M. Dodge and received brevet ranks of major and lieutenant colonel. According to the county history, he served through the taking of Atlanta before becoming acting chief quartermaster of the district at New Bern, North Carolina. After returning to Ohio, Wing was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1869 and re-elected in 1871. He and Mary raised a family in North Bloomfield. Their son Francis Joseph Wing, born Sept. 14, 1850, became a Cleveland law-
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yer, assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge, according to the Federal Judicial Center's Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges. President William McKinley nominated Wing to a newly created seat on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in 1901. The Senate confirmed him Jan. 23, 1901, and he served until resigning in 1905 to return to private practice. National Register documentation establishes the property as the Wing family residence during Francis Wing's childhood, although records do not establish he was born in the house. His brother, George Clary Wing, was a Harvard College and Georgetown University Law School graduate. He held federal positions in Washington, including chief of the State Department's Diplomatic Bureau, according to a historical directory of Ohio members of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. In 1916, he published "Early Years on the Western Reserve, With Extracts from Letters of Ephraim Brown and Family, 1805-1845," drawing on family correspondence.
A Well-Documented House
The Brown-Wing House is notable for how much documentation survives from its construction. According to the nomination, the Western Reserve Historical Society's Ephraim Brown Family Papers include Brown's site plan, plans for both floors, the builders' contract, and bills and correspondence related to the house. One letter records advice from Brown's brother-in-law urging him to build of brick. Brown chose frame construction instead. The original main section of the two-story Greek Revival house measured about 34 by 44 feet, with a large central hall and fireplaces in the principal rooms. The entrance trim was based on a design in Asher Benjamin's 1830 pattern book, "The Practical House Carpenter." The house still has Greek Revival mantelpieces, built-in cupboards and large hearth fireplaces from its early construction. The sources reviewed for this story do not fully establish who owned the property between the end of the Wing family's occupancy in 1927 and the Sherman era.
By the mid-1970s, Robert Sherman owned the estate. When preservationist Eric Johannesen prepared the National Register documentation, the property was identified as both the Brown-Wing House and Robert Sherman House. It was added to the National Register on June 20, 1975, according to the National Park Service.
Another Chapter
Hissa said the combination of historic architecture, farmland and outbuildings creates possibilities for agricultural or equestrian use, conservation, a private estate or a family compound. "This is more than an opportunity to tour a beautiful property," Hissa said in a Sept. 18
press release. "It is a chance to experience the history, agricultural character and entrepreneurial spirit of North Bloomfield." For a house commissioned in 1837 but shaped by the generations who followed, a sale would represent the latest chapter in a history approaching two centuries. Editor's note: Automated technology was used as a research tool to help identify historical records and sources related to the Wing Sherman Estate. Information included in this story was reviewed and verified against the cited source material. The material was reviewed and edited by the Middlefield Post. All photos were provided by Amy Hissa of Howard Hanna and are courtesy of CC Media LLC, https://www.ccmediapro.com/
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Countryside Furnishings 16403 Nauvoo Road, Middlefield, OH 44062
David & Linda Yoder Owners/Operators P 440.632.0248 F 440.632.0247
www.countrysidefurnishings.com Quality Amish Built Hardwood M–F 9:00am–4:30pm Sat 9:00am–3:00pm
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Middlefield Post
Amish Writers Wanted
Mtddleftield
POST
The Middlefield Post is looking for writers from the Amish community to
share their stories and news about the weather, births, deaths, get-togeth ers and other activities of the Amish community in Geauga County. Simply stated, to write about simple things that happen every day. We also are looking for an Amish woman to write a regular cooking column, sharing traditional family recipes, practical gardening tips, cherished family tales and firsthand accounts of traditional Amish events like barn raisings.
If you are interested in writing for us, please call
440-285-2013or440-729-7667 or send us a letter to:
Karlovec Media Group, P.0. Box 1166, Chardon, OH 44024
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SUBMITTED
Middlefield Mini Mart co-owner Dennis Lippian stands behind the counter beside the store’s lottery display. The East High Street store sold a winning Rolling Cash 5 ticket worth $140,000 for the Oct. 3 drawing.
Middlefield Mini Mart Sells $140,000 Rolling Cash 5 Ticket Staff Report A lottery player who bought a ticket at a Middlefield convenience store is $140,000 richer. The winning Rolling Cash 5 ticket for the Saturday, Oct. 3, drawing was sold at Middlefield Mini Mart on East High Street, according to the Ohio Lottery. The ticket matched all five numbers drawn: 2-4-14-17-25. The prize is $140,000 before taxes. The winner has not been publicly identified. Store owners Dennis and Pam Lippian said the jackpot went to familiar faces. “It was claimed by two regular customers and their son from Huntsburg,” Dennis Lippian said. “We’re happy, of course.” Lippian said the winners are regular lottery players. Big winners are nothing new at the Mini Mart, he said. “We’re a very busy lottery store,” Lippian said. “We don’t even keep track of the $1,000 winners anymore. We used to post them in the store. … Our walls are littered with winning tickets.” This year alone, the store has sold four $10,000 winners, a couple of $5,000 winners and several $1,000 winners, he said. He said the Ohio Lottery provides stores a sheet to advertise a winner, but the Mini Mart has stopped putting them up. “That’s how many we have,” he said.
The store will receive a sales bonus from the Ohio Lottery for selling the winning ticket. Lippian said he has been told to expect about $500, though the amount had not been confirmed. The bonus doesn’t come as a check, Lippian said. It is credited to the store’s lottery account, which retailers settle with the Ohio Lottery each week. Though the bonus isn’t paid out as a check, the Lippians divide lottery bonuses among the store’s 10 employees, all Amish women, as bonus checks. He and Pam are the only non-Amish workers at the store. “I always put the girls number one,” he said. “To me, they’re the ones that are number one in the store here. Because if you don’t like my service, you’re not coming in anyway.” This isn’t the first big winner sold at Middlefield Mini Mart. In 2009, the store sold a $250,000 winning ticket, its biggest to date, Lippian said. The store received a $1,000 bonus for that sale. Rolling Cash 5 is a daily game. Its jackpot starts at $100,000 and grows each time no ticket matches all five numbers. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 575,757. Players who match fewer numbers can win smaller prizes and the overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 9. Drawings are held daily at about 7:05 p.m.
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Cardinal Schools
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Homecoming Court Named: Cardinal High School has announced its 2026 homecoming court. Freshman representatives are Gracyn Kitzmiller and Micah Smith. Sophomore representatives are Nikya Barbee and Bryan Sanders. Junior representatives are Emerald Mena and Dominic Neal. Senior court members are Elli Dubasik, Amber Penn, Adelyn Grant, Naomi Scott, Dominic Harris, Evan Jones, Jensen Yoder and Michael Zajac Jr. Dominic Harris and Adelyn Grant were named homecoming king and queen.
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Band Plays Cedar Point: The Cardinal Huskies Marching Band and Silks Flag Line performed over the weekend at Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends. The group played “Ghostbusters” while marching through the park and stopped for a performance of “Gimme Some Lovin’.” Pictured are members of the Cardinal Huskies Marching Band and Silks Flag Line gathered at the entrance to Cedar Point.
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Sisters Buy Geauga Property Portfolio from Sisters By John Karlovec editor@karlovecmedia.com A Northeast Ohio property management firm owned by two sisters has bought the Siracki Realty portfolio from another pair of sisters, a deal that significantly expands the firm’s residential and association business. Gatto Group Management, owned by Olivia Ohly and Ellie Tuohey, acquired the property management portfolio from Carol Coggins and Debbie Wolff of Siracki Realty. The deal closed Oct. 1. The portfolio includes six commercial properties, 115 residential units and 200 condominium and homeowners’ association units. Most of the properties are in Geauga County, with several in surrounding Northeast Ohio communities, Ohly said. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Before the acquisition, Gatto managed more than 25 commercial buildings with about 160 commercial tenants, two apartment buildings in downtown Willoughby and a small residential portfolio in Chester Township. The Siracki properties add most to the company’s residential and HOA side. The sisters said Siracki’s deep roots in Middlefield made the portfolio a good geographic fit, and that the two firms have more in common than location. Both are local, family-owned businesses and both are run by sisters. “From the beginning, the goal was not simply to acquire a book of business,” Ohly said. She and Tuohey wanted to continue the relationships Siracki built over decades and give owners, tenants and associations a smooth transition, she said.
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This Burton Township retail plaza is one of six commercial properties Gatto Group Management acquired from Siracki Realty. The deal closed Oct. 1.
Siracki Realty was founded in April 1966 by Stephen “Steve” Siracki. Coggins and Wolff started out in the office when their father, Duane Siracki, was running it, and three generations of the family have worked in the business. After nearly six decades in real estate, Duane Siracki decided it was time to take it easy, Coggins said. Once his retirement was announced in the newspaper, several real estate companies reached out to the office. “Of the companies we vetted, we felt that Gatto Group Management was the best fit,” Coggins said. She called the family parallel “a unique coincidence.” She and Wolff were running the Siracki office their father had run when they started, while Ohly and Tuohey run the property management department at Gat-
to Group Management, where their father, Michael Gatto, is the broker. Their brother, Donny Gatto, works with their father in commercial leasing. Three Siracki employees are joining Gatto Group Management. Ohly said keeping them was important because they know the properties and have established relationships with owners, tenants and HOA communities, which has helped the transition. For now, the sisters said, their focus is making that transition as smooth as possible. They have no single renovation timeline for the portfolio and will evaluate each property individually, working with owners and HOA boards to decide which improvements make sense. The biggest change for tenants and HOA boards will be a move to Gatto’s management software, which handles rent payments and
collections, maintenance requests and communication. Ohly said HOA boards will also get a clearer view of their associations’ management matters. The sisters said they do not want the technology to replace personal service, and that their staff will remain directly accessible to tenants, property owners and board members. Willoughby Hills-based Gatto Group Management handles commercial and residential property management, condominium and homeowners’ association management, brokerage and real estate investment. It grew out of a family business with roots going back more than 40 years in Northeast Ohio, where the sisters’ father, Michael Gatto, built a commercial real estate investment and brokerage business. See Property • Page 13
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Middlefield Post
Cardinal Schools
Real Estate Transfers Following is a list of area real estate transfers for the week ending Oct. 2 and period Oct. 5-8, 2026, provided as a public service by the Geauga County Auditor’s Office. HUNTSBURG TOWNSHIP Barbara E. Warren (TOD), 16226 Mayfield Road, to John P. Gingerich and Carolyn L. Detweiler, $40,000. (3.60 acres) Carl L. Matthews, 11513 Kile Road, to Frank W. Taylor and Todd L. Taylor, $715,000. (20.43 acres) Jake J. K. Byler Jr., 17045 Burton Windsor Road, to Rudy C. and Rachel L. Byler, $180,000. (2.00 acres) MIDDLEFIELD TOWNSHIP Allen M. and Marie A. Miller, 17877 Pe-
SUBMITTED
Mr. Kruse’s CCP history class visits Chagrin Little Theatre.
CCP Class Visits Chagrin
Students in Mr. Kruse’s College Credit Plus history class took a field trip Wednesday to Chagrin Little Theatre. The trip gave students a chance to take what they are learning outside the classroom while exploring and making memories along the way.
Property from page 12
Ohly and Tuohey grew up around real estate, and both have accounting backgrounds. They began building the management company when Ohly returned home after five years in Kansas, where her husband served in the Army and she worked for a small, family-owned residential property management company. She brought that experience back and joined Tuohey and their father in the business. The sisters plan to keep growing the company, both on its own and through more acquisitions, while staying selective. They are focused on Northeast Ohio, particularly Geauga, Lake and Cuyahoga counties, and want to grow without losing the company’s hands-on approach, Ohly said. The sisters, who each have two children ages 2½ and younger, said the business lets them balance work and family. “One of the things we value most about
the business we’ve built is the flexibility it gives us to be present in both parts of our lives,” Ohly said. The sisters described the Siracki deal as especially meaningful because it has the next generation of one family business carrying on the relationships built by another. Siracki Realty will not continue as its own brokerage, but its former owners are staying in real estate. Coggins and Wolff will keep listing and selling homes in Geauga County and the surrounding area under Cheryl Wood Legacy Home Group at Pathway Real Estate. Wood, their cousin, has been a top producer for years and recently started her own team, Coggins said. Coggins and Wolff also plan to expand into Lake, Ashtabula and Trumbull counties. Duane Siracki, Coggins and Wolff all plan to continue their volunteer work. Looking back, Coggins said she is proudest that three generations of the family helped “many clients over the years” list, sell or lease homes, land, farms, and commercial and industrial buildings.
ters Road, to Andrew A. and Kathryn Miller, $280,000. (3.00 acres) Allen D. and Laura D. Yoder, 15080 Bundysburg Road, to Allen M. and Marie A. Miller, $300,000. (1.88 acres) Nicholas E. Trudick and Joanne Douglass Trudick (TOD), 17130 Peters Road, to John D. Miller and Dorothy S. Mast, $200,000. (2.00 acres) Paul B. Gochnour, 15655 Cloverdale Drive, to Cyrus Lux Estates & Services LLC, $123,000. (1.25 acres) PARKMAN TOWNSHIP Joshua T. and Stephanie R. Hall, 16320 Farley Road, to Owen S. and Sam E. Miller, $310,000. (3.04 acres)
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Middlefield Post
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Middlefield Post
Classifieds AUTOS & PARTS 2014 Lincoln MKT: third row, 7 passenger, leather interior, sunroof, heated and AC seats, CD player, Bluetooth, E-check passed. $8,000. 216-387-2999. 1986 Oldsmobile 98 Regency Brougham: all original, well maintained. Great classic car or everyday vehicle. Good running condition. Need to sell. $4,000. Call 440-622-9201.
FOR RENT Claridon Twp: Efficiency Apartment Rental, $450/mo. Singles only. No pets. Please call 440-479-4961 after 5pm.
EVENTS
LATHEM TIME RECORDER CLOCK, RECORD ALBUMS, Old Cameras, large granite counter-top pieces, fresh/ salt water aquariums, old clocks, kerosene lamps. Inquire. 440-338-3563. Russell. Myers Craft 12-ft flat bottom boat w/oars; asking $400. Mac Tools and S+S motorcycle toolbox, complete with tools; asking $1,000. 440-635-1901. Scaffold: Safeway/Waco, w/frames, platforms, leveling jacks; Inquire. Wood Loft Ladder, VGC $50. New Idea Manure Spreader No.14, VGC $1,500. Sears X-Cargo Car Topper $35. 440-773-7970. Old Cub Cadets, and parts. 440-487-2955. Kubota bx23s with front end loader, backhoe, 60” mower deck, and 3 point hitch. 235 hours. $19,500. 440317-0452. Trac-vac Leaf Vacuum: 6.5 Briggs and Stratton engine, clean and solid, $650. Brand new, in the box, Glacier Bay Toilet, $60. 440-479-3583. 2019 Polaris diesel ranger 4x4 $7,600. 2017 Genie gr 15 personal lift $4,900. 2015 jlg mod. 1932 scissor lift $5,600. Call Tim 216-299-3590, leave message!
GARAGE/ESTATE SALES UNIQUE WEEKLY SALES: Something for everyone! All items priced low. Monthly drawings too. Thurs-Sat 9am5pm. 9098 Old State Rd, (Rt 608, Chardon). More info 440-940-4020.
MISCELLANEOUS
SERVICES
Community members can drop off their hand-written submissions to the Middlefield Post at Erb’s Variety Store, 13924 Bundysburg Road, Middlefield Township. Submissions will be picked up every Thursday at noon. Call our office at 440-729-7667 with any questions.
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. *2K Land Solutions*: We do-Gravel Driveway Refurbishing, Dirt Work, Brush Hogging, Landscaping, Hardscaping, Fall Leaf Pickup, Flatbed/Dump Trailer Hauling, Snow Plowing. Call Kourtney today: 440-7497672. Do you need a care giver? Will come to your home. Light housework included. Certified. 440-313-1804. Call or text for snowplowing and junk removal. 440883-9124.
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. Wanted: property to bow hunt. 10 acres or more. Will do odd jobs. 440-321-3553. .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. 4194 Helsley Fusselman Rd, Southington. $765,000. Horse farm, 12 acres w/additional land available, barns, lg indoor arena, 3800-sqft house w/7 bedrooms. Kathie Lutz 330-687-5900 or Ryan Neal 330-687-0622. Newbury: 5 1/2 acres on Butternut Rd. $200,000, plus transfer. Has 3-car garage and well. 440-655-9999. Also, generator, 16-horse Honda engine, like new $425. Family looking to purchase well-loved home to put down roots, grow memories. If you’re thinking of selling we would love to hear from you! 440-708-8654.
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. FOUND OLD SPORTS CARDS? I buy baseball, football & basketball collections for cash. Attics, basements, inherited collections. Local buyer. Call/text Seth 216276-1626.
karlovecmediagroup HELP WANTED FOR SALE Solid oak hardwood flooring. Approx. 135 sq ft/board ft. 3-inch planks, various/random lengths. Unfinished. $525. Cash only. 440-729-1490. Lendrum Double-treadle spinning wheel, Strauch Fiber Manual Carder, Squirrel, Cage Winder. $500/all. 440567-6873. Small pet water fountain $5. Indoor cat cube 13”x17”x11” $8. Set of 14 “At Home with Georgia Lap Quilting” VHS, Free. 440-346-7708, leave message. 2 Premium Burial Lots: Western Reserve Memorial Garden, Old Rugged Cross area. $3,200/OBO. Will pay transfer fee. 440-477-2809. Troy-bilt TB120C Mower: new, in box, not self propelled. Paid $350+, selling $275. Call 440-725-5895. If you need a hospital bed, call 440-564-5011. WOODWORKERS: Free! 200+ board feet, Walnut, Oak, Hickory, Cherry and Maple Hardwood. 3/4”, 1/5”, 2” long and short pieces. 440-338-3039. Vintage Magnavox Radio. 220-volt light bulbs. Wheelchair lift for van. All best offer. 440-338-5201. Champion Dual Fuel Generator 6250 Gas 5600 Propane, 125 hours. Includes Propane Hose 4-Prong Electric Cord and 2 full Propane Bottles; $400 OBO 602538-7799. Pumpkins and dried gourds $3-$10. 440-352-6953. Chardon area.
MIDDLEFIELD POST
440-729-7667
25 words for $15
Deadline: Friday at Noon
Looking for crew of quality roofers to install new roof on my house. Small, 2-story home w/small leak. 600 sq.ft, 20 years old. Jim 216-466-5772. Geauga County Public Library is looking for a FT Maintenance Worker. If interested, please apply through our website: GeaugaLibrary.net/about/careers Need quality craftsmen to install ceramic border around bathroom vanity and baseboard. Also, baseboard trim in small kitchen. Call Jim 216-466-5772.
PETS & ANIMALS Need to Get Your Dog to Listen? Gain peace of mind and train your dog the positive way. Four Legged Scholars 440-548-7312. Ohio4LeggedScholars.com 2 Nigerian dwarf does, $550/pair. Flock of 35 silkie chickens, text for more info. 440-321-9527. Puppies for sale. Mom: white Australian shepherd Dad: Boxer mix. $50 each. 330-442-4171, Farmington area. “KitKat”: handsome black/white male cat. Neutered & vaxxed. Needs indoor home. Could be your next best friend! Affectionate but doesn’t like other cats. Pam 440-321-2050.
Seeking Sales Rep Karlovec Media Group is hiring account representatives to sell print and online advertising in and around Geauga County, specifically in the Chesterland and Kirtland areas. Candidates must be able to manage time wisely, meet deadlines and have reliable transportation. All of our staff must be willing to work in a team environment to help grow our newspapers. The ability to understand and live with a deadline-driven business is a must. The ideal candidate would have at least two years of sales experience.
Submit resumes to editor@karlovecmedia.com
Middlef ield Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
POST
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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Middlefield Post
NEWSPAPER DROP LOCATIONS LOCATIONS MARKED IN GREEN ALSO SELL THE GEAUGA COUNTY MAPLE LEAF
Middlefield Township + Middlefield Village
Burton Township + Burton Village
ALDI 15611 W. High St
The Barn 18125 Madison Road
Burton Laundry and Car Wash 13800 W. Center St
O’Reilly Auto Parts 15664 W. High St
Walmart Supercenter 15050 Harrington Way
Nash Road Saw Shop 14460 Nash Road
Middlefield Café & Diner 14895 N. State Ave
Valley View 15900 Nauvoo Road
Mesopotamia Township
Middlefield Seed LLC 14605 Madison Road
Marketplace Mall 15596 W. High St
Watson’s 87 Furniture 15520 W. High St
The Family Shoe 15962 Nauvoo Road
Yoder Bargains 15864 Nauvoo Road Pineview Bulk Foods & Salvage Groceries 8253 State Route 534 Middlefield Public Library 16167 E. High St Townline Fabrics 9906 Bundysburg Road Kempf’s Custom Butchering 5161 Parks W. Road Bolt & Bloom Mercantile 4929 Kinsman Road Erb’s Variety Store 13924 Bundysburg Road Shady Maple Salvage 17440 Nauvoo Road Southside Salvage Groceries 15740 Newcomb Road Circle K 14960 S. State Ave Cinda’s Restaurant 14964 S. State Ave MAPCO 15560 W. High St Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen 14743 Old State Road Subway (INSIDE WALMART) 15050 Harrington Way Discount Salvage 16582 Kinsman Road D&S Produce 16936 Old State Road Bows & Reels 18225 Madison Road Emon’s Jon 16140 Shedd Road
Byler’s Seed & Hardware 16496 Nash Road Middlefield Tack & Farm Supply LLC 15845 Georgia Road ACE Hardware 15651 W. High St Triple M Bulk Foods LLC 9310 Laird Road Hartville Hardware 15260 Kinsman Road Miller’s Country Hardware & More 4339 Donley Road C&L Salvage 5515 Kinsman Road Bargain Bin 13400 Bundysburg Road Nauvoo Family Market 15979 Nauvoo Road CVS 15925 W. High St Marathon (BT OIL) 15525 W. High St Giant Eagle 15400 W. High St
Dollar General 4290 Kinsman Road
Gas USA (BURTON QUICK STOP) 13819 W. Center St
End of the Commons 8719 State Route 534
North Bloomfield Windy Acres Merchandise 351 York St
North Bloomfield Market Corner 2017 Kinsman Road NW
Quinn’s North Bloomfield Market 8845 State Route 45
Orwell Circle K 40 E. Main St
Valley Variety 535 E. Main St
Dollar General 125 E. Main St
Southside Salvage Groceries 4610 Mayfield Road
JD’s Pit Stop 2635 Mayfield Road
Kauffman’s Treasures 2428 Hague Road
True Value Hardware 279 E. Main St
Family Dollar 63 S. Maple St
Grand Valley Farm Supply 8141 Parker Road
Grand Valley Footwear & Outdoor 4061 Mayfield Road
Save A Lot 23 S. Maple St
Shell 15 E. Main St
Dutch Heritage Furniture 9680 OH-45
The Red Brick Country Store 7794 OH-46
Grand Valley Country Store Restaurant 2632 US-322
Buckeye Quality Meats 2635 U.S. Route 322
Kurtz Discount Groceries 15561 W. High St
Parkman
Middlefield Mini Mart 15965 E. High St
Market Xpress - Parkman 16220 Main Market Road
Auntie’s Antique Mall 15567 Main Market Road
Tractor Supply 15424 W. High St
Parkman Pantry Bulk Foods & Variety 17585 Newcomb Road
Parkman Pathway Bulk Foods 16141 Nash Road
Heritage Naturals 15005 S. Springdale Ave Fig Tree 15970 E. High St
West Farmington Small Town Goods 192 2nd St
Farmington Hardware 172 2nd St
Dollar General 6254 State Route 534
The Green Leaf Market 4492 Larson West Road
West Farmington Fabrics 5843 Curtis Middlefield Road
Dollar General 16515 Main Market Road
State Road Battery & Fabrics 15789 Old State Road
Amish Country Market 15711 W. High St
Sugar Grounds Café 14991 Madison Road
Old School Fabric 18225 Madison Road
Premier Meats 16796 Madison Road
Hilltop Variety 15661 W. High St
Country Crossroads Meats 8123 Parkman Mespo Road
Byler’s Harness Shop 16404 Nauvoo Road
Windsor
Marathon Mini Mart (CHAGRIN OIL & GAS) 15385 S. State Ave
Countryside Furnishings 16403 Nauvoo Road
Caliber Feed & Supply 8550 State Route 534
Windsor Greenhouse (SEASONAL) 7945 State Route 534