Archive for August, 2013

Russell Maintenance, Road Departments to Merge

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by No Comments

By Ann Wishart
Merging the maintenance and road departments to save money and reorganize the general fund took up part of the Russell Township Trustees special meeting last Tuesday.
In an effort to deal with state funding cuts and elimination of the inheritance tax that would lead to a general fund deficit of $583,000 in 2015, township officials have been making numerous changes.
The combination of the maintenance department with the road department was at the top of the list developed over the last few months.
Maintenance Superintendent Jack Gallagher, who has been using the old fire station for equipment and materials storage, has announced his resignation as of Nov. 15, leading officials to set the merger date for Nov. 16.
At that point, Gallagher’s assistant, Vince Gambino, will begin reporting to Road Superintendent Gene Layne, a move that will place his pay and benefits within the road department budget, Fiscal Officer Chuck Walder said last Thursday.
Trustees agreed not to change the name of the merged department to “service department” but to leave it as the road department.
The road department has been supported by the general fund in the past, but trustees are placing a 1.1-mill road and bridge levy on the November ballot.
If it passes, the levy would provide the department with its own funds.
Keeping its name as the road department avoids confusion, Walder said.
Trustee Jim Dickinson said the old fire station could be cleaned out and trustees should consider what to do with it.
Trustee Jim Mueller recommended a gradual shift.
“I think Gene Layne needs a little bit of a free hand,” he said.
Joining the departments and combining some of the responsibilities may take time to work out and Layne may want to organize the department a little differently, Mueller said.
Trustee Justin Madden said the township may end up outsourcing some of the work done by the maintenance department in the past.
“We want to let Gene do things as he sees fit,” Madden said, adding the trustees can provide guidance when needed.
“(The department) will morph as it goes along. Gene may find ways to streamline (operations),” Mueller said.
Not replacing the maintenance supervisor will save the township about $100,000 per year, Walder said last Thursday.
General building maintenance will be the responsibility of the separate department heads and will come out of their budgets as well.
Walder said the fire and police chief have been taking care of their own buildings for a while.
Other levies on the ballot include a five-year, 0.25-mill cemetery levy and a 1.5-mill replacement continuous police levy.
In other action, trustees accepted a date change for the retirement of Susan Baker, fiscal officer assistant, to allow at least 60 days between her retirement and her return as a part-time employee with the fire department.
Walder said Baker will receive a retirement payout of about $12,000 and Gallagher will receive a $11,500 payout.
Trustees also passed a resolution authorizing Walder to apply for a credit card with the bank that offers the best deal.
Walder said the township will be reimbursed about $400 by making an early payment to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
The bureau recommends taking advantage of the 1 percent payback from the credit card, Walder said.
The card is there specifically for the bureau payments, but there is also a 2 percent payback on office supplies, he said.
Trustees also said the deteriorating, burned-out house on Hemlock Point Road owned by Annette Scott is now part of a bankruptcy filing.
Secretary Melissa Palmer said she asked the township’s legal counsel, Geauga County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sheila Salem, if a township can go ahead with Russell trustees’ intent to have the deserted house demolished and was told probably not.
Trustees recommended Palmer talk to a bankruptcy attorney to find out if a township qualifies as an entity that is exempt from bankruptcy protection and may tear down buildings that constitute a danger to the health and safety of the community.

Sheriff’s Report

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by No Comments

The following is a sampling of the calls handled by the Geauga County Sheriffs Office Aug. 16-22. In total, the sheriffs office handled 341 calls during this seven-day period.

Animal Abuse

Aug. 18

10:16 a.m., Leader Lane, Hambden. Complainant at above got a text that male subject just hit a cat in the head with a baseball bat, plastic one. He has done this in the past; he drowned one and he suffocated one. Report taken; green sheet completed.

Aug. 19

11:03 a.m., Music Street, Newbury. Several cats in the basement of above in cages that are not being taken care of. Also goats in the barn. House was leased out on land contract. Complainant is lawyer for the owner of property. Advice given. Civil matter between caller and renter.

Citizen Assist

Aug. 19

6:21 p.m., Eastwood Drive, Auburn. Teenage children reside at this residence with their father. He is a convicted felon and is in possession of a firearm and has taught children to use it. He also wrote checks in complainants name. Deputy advised.

Drugs/Alcohol

Aug. 21

9:56 a.m., Rapids Road, Troy. Found a bag of pot on the shop floor. Need someone to take it.

Extra Patrol

Aug. 22

9:01 a.m., Chardon Windsor Road, Huntsburg. Extra patrol for the tanker trucks that are dumping waste from the fracking. Complainant requesting them to be checked for speed. They sound like they are coming through the house. Deputy advised. No trucks observed.

Fraud

Aug. 21

3:37 p.m., Griswold Road, Chardon. Female was scammed by a company claiming she won a sweepstakes. She provided account numbers, social security number and other pertinent information. Fraud has been reported to the responsible agencies but the FTC wants a police report number. Incident occurred two weeks ago.

Harassment

Aug. 22

9:10 a.m., Madison Road, Montville. Received harassing and threatening texts. Female had been in communication with a male she met on a dating website. They have been texting back and forth at which point the male started making rude comments to the complainant. She requests he be told to stop all communication with her. A message was left on the voicemail for male to call in.

Medical

Aug. 18

2:53 a.m., Kevin Lane, Hambden. Female detoxing from heroin. She is shaking, sweating, feeling hot and cold, her eyes are watering and she is having abnormal bowel movements. Deputy assisted paramedics with subject, who was transported to Geauga hospital.

Suspicious

Aug. 16

2:58 p.m., Mayfield Road, Claridon. Juvenile duct taped to a dolly, south side of road. Mouth is duct taped. No one around him next to the road. Deputy was advised by owner to get the hell off property and find heroin addicts instead of investigating complaints of children playing around. Father would not give name.

Aug. 21

10:30 p.m., Kidd Drive, Newbury. Would like to speak to a deputy to possible drug activity happening with my son. Deputy advised.

Theft

Aug. 19

11:10 a.m., Berkshire Drive, Aquilla. Renter moved out last week sometime. They took the stove and refrigerator. Unknown type. Unable to contact tenant; all numbers not working.

Aug. 20

6:19 p.m., McCall Road, Parkman. At approximately 5:45 p.m. the neighbor witnessed a white unknown type vehicle with a Steelers decal pull up and take our dog. Copper-colored male lab/doberman mix. No description of the driver or occupants. Neighbor witnessed the vehicle and then drove toward the 422/528 area.

Aug. 22

5:07 p.m., Sperry Road, Newbury. Theft of copper from the tower site. Deputy advised. Theft of copper double OTT grounding wire and low pass filter.

5:16 p.m., Bass Lake Road, Newbury. Son has been stealing checks. Complainant wants to confer with his wife before he decided to take any criminal action. Card with IR number given and he was given contact information for responding officer should he wish to pursue this matter.

Vandalism

Aug. 19

8:49 a.m., Clay Street, Huntsburg. At the Huntsburg tower site. Ground bars taken and wires cut. Grounding copper cut from site.

Forever Plaid at GLTG Coming to Geauga Theater in September,…

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by karen No Comments

Forever Plaid at GLTG

Coming to Geauga Theater in September, Forever Plaid is one of the most popular and successful musicals in recent memory. The deliciously goofy revue centers on four young, eager male singers killed in a car crash in the 1950s on the way to their first big concert and now miraculously revived for the posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was.

Singing in the closest of harmony, squabbling boyishly over the smallest intonations and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with over-zealous precision, the Plaids entertain with a program of beloved songs, including Heart and Soul,” “Three Coins in the Fountain” and “Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950s.

Written and originally directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross, arrangements by James Raitt, directed and choreographed by Lisa-Marie French, presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International, performances will run Sept. 13-29. Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $10 for youth 12 and under. For a cost savings on all Geauga Lyric Theater Guild productions, season passes are now available.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.geaugatheater.org or call the box office at 440?286?2255.

The historic Geauga Theater is located at 101 Water St. in Chardon.

Fall Registration For Fairmount

There is still time to register for one of Fairmount Center for the Arts many dance, fitness, art, theatre and music classes and workshops. Fall session is broken into two seven-week sessions: session I is Sept. 3 through Oct. 20 and session II is Oct. 21 through Dec. 8. A make-up week will be held Dec. 9-15.

Visit www.fairmountcenter.org for a course catalog, registration form, fees for classes and workshops. To register, fill out a registration form and payment and send to Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Novelty, OH 44072. Or stop by or phone in registration and payment at 440-338-3171.

Metzenbaum Center Renovation Starting in September

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by No Comments

By Ann Wishart
The pastoral campus of the Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center is about to undergo some structural changes that should be good for the residents as well as the staff.
When the four buildings that house the center’s developmentally disabled residents are remodeled in the next year or so, the number of individuals living on campus will decrease to 25, said Michelle Hawthorne, intermediate care facility manager.
When the four buildings were first constructed, there were about 40 residents on the campus, she said.
“Each (unit) was designed to be a home with a house manager who cared for eight people,” Hawthorne said.
It was a kind of foster arrangement with higher-functioning folks who were mobile and able to be involved in more activities, such as playing baseball, she said.
Those now remaining at the center spend part of their days either at the school nearby where they can enjoy the pool or art and music, or at the sheltered workshop.
Still, at the end of the day, crowded conditions prevail and cause friction.
In the 1980s, there were usually two people in a bedroom and the homes had community bathrooms, said Don Rice, superintendent of the county’s board of developmental disabilities.
Renovation Vital to Purpose
Walking through the larger of the four units, their age is apparent.
Worn purple carpets and lime-green bath tiles go back decades.
Although proper upkeep of the building is evident, the chopped-up floor-plan is inefficient for supervision of the individuals now in residence and difficult for people with mobility issues, Hawthorne said.
“Today, most are mobility limited,” she said, with many in wheelchairs.
They are also essentially non-verbal, so having two in a bedroom is awkward, Rice said.
The close quarters are fine for mobile, speaking individuals; not so good otherwise.
“Having another adult in your bedroom is not normal for adults,” Rice said, adding it can lead to behavioral problems.
So the remodeling includes six bedrooms per unit, most of which will be suites with shared bathrooms.
The full kitchens in each building will be converted to warming kitchens with the food for all prepared in the larger building.
The kitchen cabinets that block the supervisor’s view of the main room and the dining room will be converted to storage cabinets in other locations, leaving the entire living area open to supervision.
“Someone standing here will be able to monitor everything going on,” said Rice, standing in the warming kitchen of the larger home.
Center Population Decreased
That building, the first scheduled for renovation beginning as early as September, is empty.
The population of campus residents has been gradually decreased as Metzenbaum follows the state’s mandate that many disabled adults be moved to community homes.
These homes, spread around the county, usually have four residents each and 24/7 supervision.
Most of those individuals are able to communicate verbally and have been pleased to move from the crowded quarters at the center, Rice said.
Having their own bedrooms makes the transition fairly easy for the residents.
Overall, the 21 facilities managed by Maple Leaf Homes are home for about 80 residents, he said.
Maple Leaf Homes is looking for more four-bedroom homes to convert, Rice said.
Hawthorne said the staff prepares an individual transition plan for each resident and his or her family.
It includes visits to the new location, meeting housemates and having dinner. Any behavioral problems usually work out in the first few weeks of the move, Rice said.
One Central Kitchen
The new food preparation plans include getting commercial-sized refrig-erators and freezers to replace the residential units that have been in use for many years.
At least one of the refrigerators, currently located in the basement of the larger unit, is avocado green, Hawthorne said.
The central home has more area because there were living quarters added on some years back. That part will be converted into the main kitchen and meals will be taken to the other three homes on campus, she said.
Each home also has a front porch that will be enclosed to give the units more area to maneuver six wheelchairs for meals and daily living, Hawthorne said.
“More space means less behavior (problems),” she said. “That’s a good thing.”
Since the Geauga County Commis-sioners approved Gottschalk Building Company as the contractor for the entire $1.5 million project last week, work could begin in early September and be done by the end of 2014, Rice said.
As each home is completed, residents will be transferred out of the next home on the list to the refurbished one.
The entire cost will be reimbursed through Medicaid over time by depreciation, Rice said.
The downsizing was announced on April 12 and families were informed the center would be moving some residents to community homes, Rice said.
Those who moved did so voluntarily, he said, adding, “Those who are staying here chose to stay here.

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT For more information, contact the park district…

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by karen No Comments

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geauga

parkdistrict.org.

It’s All In The Family

The West Woods Nature Center has gone intergenerational to showcase the diverse, nature-inspired artwork of John, Mark and Rebecca Corrigan – a Russell Township man, his son and his granddaughter.

Three Generations of the Corrigan Family will be on display through Oct. 21 in The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township. Admission is free.

This unique show became a reality after some truly creative give-and-take between Geauga Park District and John Corrigan. Visitors will see numerous styles and techniques throughout the gallery spaces.

Rebecca, 23, is a master still life charcoal drawer and a black and white and color photographer. She is in her final year at Northern Arizona University, majoring in parks, recreation and tourism.

Mark, 52, thinks totally out of the box with his highly complex and imaginative pencil drawings. His shown artwork ranges from his college days at Cleveland State University to a variety of full color subjects he has rendered in the ensuing years for clients and friends. Mark is in creative sales with Downing Enterprises in Copley, Ohio.

Finally, John began his creative life at 10 and continues; he is now 79. He paints outdoor scenes and structures, mainly in watercolor and pen drawing. Like Mark, John was also in creative sales, with several nationally known companies. He and his wife of 56 years, Nikki, live in Russell Township.

Spider Spectacular

Celebrate everyone’s favorite eight-legged, silk-spinning, insect-eating super critters at Spider Spectacular taking place Sept. 7 from 1-4 p.m. at The West Woods Nature Center, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township.

Visitors will enjoy fun crafts, hands-on activities and live animals. Naturalist Nora Sindelar will make a special presentation at 2 p.m. Registration is not required.

Whirling Birdies

Witness the annual phenomenon of hundreds of chimney swifts swirling tornado-like and then plummeting into an old chimney en route to South America an unforgettable spectacle by all accounts.

The Bird Tornado Strikes Again on Sept. 4 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the gazebo on Chardon Square Gazebo and Sept. 11 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the gazebo on Burton Square.

Chimney swifts are neotropical migrants, meaning they winter in the south and summer in the north. Though they once nested in hollow trees, Americas settlement and urbanization quickly introduced them to more convenient shelter chimneys, where they can use their glue-like saliva to adhere stick nests to the inner walls.

After nestlings have fledged into flyers by mid-summer, swifts patrol the skies by day and gather at dusk to room communally in uncapped chimneys of older homes, as well as institutional chimneys with incinerators rendered defunct by the Clean Air Act of 1972. Among popular local spots are Berkshire High School in Burton and Park Elementary School, the church on the square and Chardon High School in Chardon.

Migration always takes place in September and early October. At sundown, local swifts are joined by travelers seeking a migratory motel for the night. All together the birds gradually swell in the sky, swirling in ever-tightening circles and emitting twittering notes until, one by one, they begin to swiftly drop into the chimney.

Chimneys like these often hold hundreds of swifts for the night. Previous programs through Geauga Park District have counted upwards of 500 birds making their way in noisy for a time, then silent as they rest up for the next leg of their journey to Peruvian wintering grounds.

All ages are welcome; registration is not required.

Hometown Hoe-Down Kickin it up a Notch

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by Cassandra Shofar No Comments

The Geauga County Hometown Hoe-Down will mark its fifth anni-versary for this fabulous night in the country.
On Sept. 28, from 6-10 p.m., the Middlefield Market Pavilion (indoors) will transform into the perfect backdrop for a country BBQ buffet dinner featuring the award winning ribs and chicken of Blazin’ Bills and homemade goodies from all the best restaurants in the area.
Dig out your cowboy boots, as Whiskey Courage (country/southern rock) will take the stage and get you moving.
Support the Burton-Middlefield Rotary as you belly up to the ‘Brew Saloon’ for a tall cold one or take your chance at the Wine Pull.
Get great deals in the silent & Chinese auctions or jump into the action in the live pie auction! Of course everyone gets into the excitement of the “Cow Plop Drop.” That’s right, this is one contest nobody can “rig.” It’s all up to the cow.
Geauga County Tourism hosts this event annually as a fundraiser and the money raised goes directly back into marketing Geauga County to visitors.
The Hoe-Down provides a great return on investment to benefit the county while having a fun night out, so please round up your friends and join the fun. Tickets are now on sale $20 per person ($10 for kids 4-11) and can be purchased by phone with a credit card. If space allows ‘walk-in’ tickets may be available at the door for $25. Reser-vations highly recommended.
Those interested in donating an auction item or becoming a sponsor should contact Geauga County Tourism at 440-632-1538.

Letters to Editor

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by No Comments

Now is The Time

The HUD as a part of the Sus-tainable Communities initiative is moving to transform rural American; robbing the suburbs to pay for big city initiatives and failures. As a NOACA board member, I am very concerned.

NEOSCC is one of the biggest threats facing residents of Geauga County. Who is NEOSCC and why are they a threat?

Northeast Ohio Sustainable Com-munities Consortium (NEOSCC) or the “VibrantNEO 2040” initiative is federally funded by the HUD Regional-ism Grant Program and the four Northeast Ohio Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) NOACA, AMATS, SCATS and Eastgate.

The MPOs are overseen by unelected unaccountable bureaucrats and they regularly make decisions that impact Geauga County.

There are many concerns about MPOs aside from NEOSCC. But, The MPOs have formed an alliance with HUD to create a regional plan for 12 Northeast Ohio counties. That regional plan, which is due in the fall of 2013, to be implemented beginning in 2014, will put measures in place to control land use, housing, transportation, food production, consumption patterns, water, energy, education, health care and the role of industry.

The outcomes will be a loss of property rights and many of the freedoms we now enjoy. There will be more low income housing in Geauga County, a regional authority that siphons Geauga County tax dollars to larger metropolitan areas for projects that are for the good of the region. Geauga County will experience land use plans that control how people use their property, define general property uses, determine what transportation is appropriate, and much much more.

As it was said to me in a workshop, The goal is densely populated interconnected communities surrounded by green space. All this managed by unaccountable unelected bureaucrats.

Not possible say you. Ask the folks in Westchester County, New York. Westchester has lost control over its own future.

For more information, read Spreading the Wealth by Stanley Kurtz. This effort is a national effort, which is being conducted across the U.S. The effects to be seen in two to three years. Now is the time to stop it.

What are your elected officials doing? Nothing. Most are asleep and not involved. Others are very involved in helping with this initiative, ignorant about the future impacts.

If this concerns you, then you must get involved. Citizens of Geauga County, you should do the following: Attend a forum by Citizens Forum on NEOSCC and regionalism, that is being held Sept. 14, 1 p.m., at Tri-C University. Reach out to your elected officials and ask them what they know. Ask them to fight for Geauga County rural values. Ask them to fight for you and the freedoms we now enjoy.

Skip Claypool

Chester Township

Obits

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by Cassandra Shofar No Comments

Raymond Ianiro

HAMBDEN TWP. Our deeply loved husband, father, grand-father and friend, Raymond Ianiro, passed away pea-cefully at home surrounded by his family on Aug. 21, 2013, following a brief illness.

He was born July 7, 1928, in East Claridon to Maria and Raymond Ianiro. He married his beautiful bride of 60 years, Barbara (Wortman) on May 31, 1953, in Hambden Township.

Ray and his wife raised their family and spent their whole married life at the same home in Hambden. He loved children and while raising his own family, also had many foster children in the house.

He was especially close with his grandchildren and his house was always their favorite place to visit.

Ray was an extremely hard worker, starting his own business, Ianiro Tree and Landscape, in 1954. He was also a veteran who had served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Ray enjoyed golfing, gardening, woodworking and almost anything outdoors.

He had an infectious smile and an amazing sense of humor. He would make everyone who came in contact with him smile. Ray touched so many lives over the years but none greater than those of his family. He will be deeply missed by all.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara; daughter, Patricia (Jeff) Howson; son, Michael (Suzanne); grandchildren, Michelle (Scott) Nelson, Jonathan (Amy), Rachael, Amelia and Tanner; great-grandchildren, Zoe, Gianna, Rylee, Alanna, Quinn and Emily.

Services will be held at a later date.

Sallie Jane McCloud

BURTON Sallie Jane (nee Kennedy) McCloud, of Burton, a homemaker, died Aug. 19, 2013, at Chardon Healthcare in Chardon. She was 95.

Born March 25, 1918, in Cleveland to Fred and Julia (nee Fitzgerald) Kennedy, she had been a lifelong area resident.

Sallie is survived by her sons, Robert (Jane) of Burton, Ronald (Carolyn) of Mentor and Frank of Fairport Harbor; daughter, Sally (Creighton) Louis of Kirtland; grandchildren, Wendy (Chris) Carlson of Fairport Harbor, Stacy (Todd) Davidson of Kirtland, Frank (Lacey) McCloud of Madison and Angela McCloud of Fairport Harbor; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert McCloud; brother, Fred Kennedy; sister, Nancy Vilsack; and daughter-in-law, Cathy McCloud.

Over the years, Sallie enjoyed the company of her many cats and dogs.

Private family services were held.

Arrangements by the Burr Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Chardon. Information and condolences online at www.burrservice.com.

Leslie Craemer

MIDDLEFIELD Leslie Jo Craemer, 52, of Middlefield passed away on Aug. 7, 2013, at the Cleveland Clinic after a long illness.

Services were held on Aug. 10 at Newcomers Funeral Home in Ellet, Ohio, and on Aug. 17 she was laid to rest in the family cemetery in Claypool, Va.

Leslie was born on Nov, 22, 1961, in Grundy, Va., the daughter of George and Hannah Owens Strunk.

Mrs. Craemer is survived by her husband, James M. Craemer; children, Andrew and Christopher Hay, Jimmy, Brian and Lindley Craemer; and siblings, George (Buddy), Lyndel (peak), Robert, Susie Keene and Russell Layne Strunk.

Mrs. Craemer lived in Middlefield for several years and loved to travel in this country and in Europe.

She served as a volunteer for Lake Metroparks, had a special love for animals and treasured her many friends and family.

Bainbridge/Chagrin AARP The Bainbridge/Chagrin AARP 4527 meets the first Tuesday…

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by karen No Comments

Bainbridge/Chagrin AARP

The Bainbridge/Chagrin AARP 4527 meets the first Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. at the Bainbridge Town Hall, 17826 Chillicothe Road. The next meeting is Sept. 3.

Septembers meeting will be a hot dog and chips luncheon. Cost is $3. Call Betty Scholz at 440-338-8321 for reservations.

A brief meeting will include a discussion of upcoming programs and trips followed by desserts and coffee.

The group is still collecting food, school supplies and paper products for the Food For Friends food pantry, plastic bottle caps for cancer, box tops for education for the schools, pillowcases to make dresses for the little girls in Africa and items for the USO.

For trip information, call Skip and Marge at 440-338-3607. For meeting information, call Betty Franek at 440-543-4767.

Senior Center Weekly Events

Chardon Senior Center, 12555 Raven-wood Drive, Chardon, 440-279-2130.

On Gossamer Wings: Sept. 3, 12:45 p.m. Geauga Park District will present a fascinating program about butterflies and moths.

German Class: Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m. Newcomers are always welcome.

Low Vision Support Group: Sept. 9, 10 a.m. Annual potluck picnic will be held in the center’s pavilion.

Mixing it Up: Sept. 9, 12:30 p.m. Beth and Sandy from the Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services will discuss the side effects of alcohol and prescription drugs.

Middlefield Senior Center, 15820 Ridgewood Drive, Middlefield, 440-632-0611.

Site Meeting: Sept. 4, 12:30 p.m. Seniors have an opportunity to go over current events and plan upcoming activities. Open to any senior.

Chair Exercises: Mondays, Wed-nesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Arthritis based exercises open to anyone.

West Geauga Senior Center, 11414 Caves Road, Chester, 440-729-2782.

Arthritis Exercise Class: Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. Class accommodates all skill levels and is recommended for anyone with arthritis. It is a great exercise class for someone just getting back into exercise.

Podiatrist Jacquelyn Querciolla: Sept. 4, 9:30 a.m. Call for an appointment time.

Blood Pressure Screening: Sept. 4, 11 a.m. Free screenings by nurse Judy. Clinic and speaker is sponsored by Senior Independence.

Chagrin Falls Senior Center, 7060 Woodland Ave., Bainbridge, 440-247-8510.

On Gossamer Wings: Sept. 5, 11 a.m. Geauga Park District will present a free program about butterflies and moths.

Breakfast and Chair Volleyball: Sept.6. Call for reservations. Cost is $3 for breakfast.

Shopping with Kathy:?Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m. Cost is $5 plus lunch on your own.

Veterans Program: Sept. 10. Free program by Kaab Law Firm.

Thompson Senior Center, 8091 Plank Road, Thompson, 440-298-3822.

Chair Exercises: Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Arthritis based exercise class led by a certified instructor.

Geauga Fair Porky, Pink Racing Pigs New This Year

Posted on: August 29th, 2013 by No Comments

By Jamie Ward
What’s more reliable than a county fair?
Livestock unmatched. An entire midway scented by sugar and sausage. Games for prizes.
“We didn’t change it up too awful much,” said Bob Rogish, in his second year as president of The Great Geauga County Fair. “We just keep doing what’s good.”
But a few new things do appear every year.
Most noticeably added to this weekend’s schedule are Hendrick’s Racing Pigs.
It is what it sounds like: four small, pink pigs decked in numbered silks racing for an Oreo cookie prize.
“We found it in a convention down in Columbus trying to spruce up the free entertainment to bring people out,” Rogish said. “It’s a really good, entertaining show; they work with the crowd, so crowd interaction is what it is.”
Spectators can enjoy the races for free in the midway next to Merchant Hall 2 Thursday through Sunday every two hours from 1-7 p.m. and Monday every two hours from noon to 6 p.m.
More free entertainment will come from the magical sleeves of B&B Magic Show, next to the antique tractors three times a day.
Since the Caplingers retired, magic has been missing from the fair — but now the family’s taking it up again, said Rogish, who couldn’t remember how long they’d been gone.
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” he said. “It all blends together.”
If you’re looking to buy livestock from the 4H kids, don’t be late.
This year’s Junior Fair livestock sale times are earlier this year to keep from going so late on Saturday.
Small animal sale starts at 3:30 p.m. in the auction tent; large animal sale starts at 5 p.m. in the big arena.
Another adjustment — just so things don’t go so late — the truck and tractor pull in the grandstands will now be two days, Sunday and Monday. It used to be just Sunday.
“It’s very popular and we have a lot of local people that want to pull in it, but in the past it’s gone till 1 or 2 in the morning and we don’t want to make the neighbors mad, so we stop it earlier,” Rogish said. “With this change, we hope to draw the local kids Monday to let them show off and do what they do at a local level. There will still be big trucks to draw the crowds both days.”
After a brief two-year hiatus, the 5-Mile Race will return to Burton on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
The race, previously sponsored by the Geauga YMCA, was revived by Mark Mendeszoon.
With about 200 people expected, the course will head north on Claridon-Troy Road, head right onto Butternut Road, all the way down Hale Road and finish on Burton-Windsor Road.
Awards will be given out to overall winners and 12 different age groups.
All 5-mile racers will receive free admission into the fair with their $22 pre-registration fee and $27 day-of regis-tration.
Mendeszoon said any net proceeds earned by the race will be applied to scholarships to Kent State Geauga and another portion will go to 4-H partici-pants.
Also this year, the fairgrounds will host one of the first interurban signs going up in conjunction with Geauga Park District to designate locations of interurban railroad landmarks across the county.
This one will be at the secretary’s office.
“Three buildings on the grounds used to be part of the interurban,” Rogish said. “That one was the depot, then the band building was the luggage building, then the sheriff’s hut (which used to be near the band building) was the ticket booth.”
Rogish, who has been on the fair board since 2005, has one more year before his three-year term is over. Last year’s fair drew 196,875 people with more than 13,000 exhibits.
“Really, the day after this fair, I’ll start planning for next fair,” he said. “We book things right away because if it’s a good show, a good event, people are going to be wanting it again and we’re not the only fair that happens Labor Day weekend. You try to book as many entertainment acts as you can before everyone else starts booking them.
He added, “I just enjoy giving back to the community and making the fair a great success.”