A taste of France may be in Chardon’s future after Chardon Planning Commission approved design plans for Crepes in the Country April 22 Forgot password? Click here. To access our complete online news coverage Copyright Geauga County Maple Leaf. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use Website Designed & Developed by Company 119 We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories © 2025 Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center Made with love by funeralOne Phone: 216-696-6525 Toll Free: 1-800-869-6525 Address: 1404 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114   Share this Page St. Mary Parish in Chardon broke ground in December 2024 for a new rectory, positioning St. Mary and St. Patrick, Thompson parishes as vibrant centers of ministry, community and formation in the Diocese of Cleveland The 4,600-square-foot rectory will feature four living suites Father Scott Goodfellow) and parochial vicar (currently while the other two suites will be available for seminarians assistant director of the Catholic Community Foundation “Our parishioners share a common vision with the new rectory to provide a comfortable communal living space for our priests for rest and prayer and to provide an attractive residence for seminarians retired priests and visiting priests,” said Father Goodfellow “We believe this vision translates to a healthy vibrant parish focused on growth in ministry The project has been fully funded through the Heart of a Shepherd Campaign unrestricted funds from past diocesan capital campaigns as well as the future sale of the current rectory Patrick parishes serve more than 2,900 households from Geauga and Lake counties The new rectory is scheduled to be completed in the latter half of this year please contact local law enforcement and: Kathleen McComb Response Services – 216-334-2999 author and producer Brad Walsh’s maximalist home is “perpetual spring,” brightening the East Side landscape In 2020 amid a pandemic escape from New York City, Brad Walsh hit the road toward Cleveland with two friends producer and visual artist — with global notoriety for fashion photography in Vogue and InStyle plus music remixes for Netflix — didn’t expect to stay long But his travel companions fell in love with Cleveland “And the longer you stay near family ‘Look for a home around here.’” and he landed on a 1948 relic a few blocks from Chardon Square in Geauga County with 3,300 square feet of canvas for drawing Walsh immediately recognized potential for plenty of passion projects while other original paintings were created specifically for designated spaces in a region where winter through April is “black white and gray.” There’s nothing subtle about his style He collected posters of favorite music groups like many high schoolers “I would save money and frame everything I put on the walls,” he says “I’ve always been into colors and making things work on a visual level.” his home is a maximalist masterpiece four years in the making I was building my own little paradise,” he says Walsh assigned each room a purpose that speaks to his lifestyle One bedroom is a master suite and another a guest quarter The other three are happy spaces that suit the way he wants to spend time at home: a library lined with hand-built shelves a dressing room with a vanity and his music studio Walsh converted the basement into a nightclub complete with lasers ​“I’m a big homebody,” says Walsh “If I’m going to be home most of the time why not have spaces for my artistic pursuits?” Walsh is naturally inclined to picture a scene, a mood, a moment. He meshed his visual sensibilities with inspiration from the Netflix series Ratched where actress Sharon Stone’s character lives in one of America’s most photographed houses “Dawnridge,” a 1949 estate built by Tony and Elizabeth Duquette “It’s lots of color, textures, malachite, prints, layers of art, furniture and fabrics,” Walsh describes of the jade-chartreuse mint colorway in his sitting room. Though it may look like he spent a fortune, he’s just a thrifty shopper with high-end taste. He nabbed the sitting room’s pair of white spindle chairs for $25 each. They’re by the luxe F. Schumacher and Co. “Those easily should have sold for $600 to $800 a piece,” he says Textures throughout the space create a sensory experience rather than paint or wallcovering for the room’s facade Walsh employed grass-green ceiling-to-floor drapes as a background for artwork One of his originals is positioned above a palm-frond bench RELATED: A Cleveland Realtor Shares Tips on Renter-Friendly, Budget-Conscious Maximalism His Victorian-era dressing room holds space for a vintage vanity and his haul of stand-out garments — not everyday wear. Cue emerald peel-and-stick wallpaper peppered with English ivy and peach notes, plus a mustard sofa by The Novogratz offering function by folding out into a bed for auxiliary guest space.  ​“I’ll sit in front of the vanity and pretend like I’m Gloria Swanson for a half-hour,” quips Walsh of the famed Sunset Boulevard star “I’ve had this kitchen in my mind for a long time,” he says The checkered floor and original cabinets are elements he maintained while trading out hardware He went mint for the walls and tore out some cabinet doors for open shelving to showcase his daintiest dishes ​Classic white subway tile is a clean backdrop for pops of teal by way of a teapot With a four-year project of pouring artistic vision into every corner of his home Walsh had originally planned on keeping it for the long haul He expects to list it for sale in early summer “Hopefully whoever moves here next will appreciate the character and artistic choices,” he says ​“I’m out of projects,” he says relating that he’ll continue the art of expressing himself through interior design wherever he lands next “Home is wherever I make it.”  Get inspired for your next home project by digging in to the 2025 Cleveland Home Issue. For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features helpful guides and beautiful photography and design Multiple parents of sixth-grade girls at Chardon Middle School are sounding the alarm on alleged sexual assault reports involving a male classmate in the choir program and the district’s handling and reporting of those allegations the Geauga County Maple Leaf spoke with a parent of one of the alleged victims who said the incidents involved a sixth-grade male reportedly sexually assaulting multiple sixth-grade females in the middle school choir program between October of 2024 and Feb said two of the female victims had finally had enough more names were given as a result and one of them was her daughter The parent said she filed a police report with the Chardon Police Department in February and spoke with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office a few days later Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus confirmed his department received a report on Feb 24 and referred it to the county’s sex abuse investigator at the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office “This is an active investigation and there is no other information being released at this time,” Niehus said I will not be commenting until the investigation is completed.” County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said he could not comment on the matter because there is a pending grand jury investigation the parent said she believes the school district did not handle the allegations appropriately She also believes the district failed to protect the victims and continued to put them in harm’s way by allowing the male student accused of assaulting them back into the classroom a few days after the incidents were reported the male student is the son of a Chardon Schools Board of Education member there were at least eight female students impacted by the male student’s behavior and she called the district’s handling of the situation unacceptable and asked that administrators take action to remove the student from the classroom and protect the victims Superintendent Michael Hanlon issued the following statement April 5 in response to a request for comment: “The Chardon Local School District places a high priority on the safety of students To the extent your request pertains to the district’s internal investigation into allegations of student misconduct or any related administrative actions or decisions please note that the district is prohibited by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and Section 3319.321 of the Ohio Revised Code from disclosing such information “The Chardon Local School District prioritizes compliance with all legal requirements regarding the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect and conducts regular staff training on this topic The district has no record of any staff member failing to comply with the mandatory reporting requirements set forth in Section 2151.421 of the Ohio Revised Code collaborative relationship with local law enforcement and county agencies and we engage regularly with families to support students Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is a top priority and we remain committed to creating a secure learning environment for all.” Chardon resident Ken Chuha pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas March 11 had been charged with pandering sexually oriented content involving a minor a fourth-degree felony; three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material fifth-degree felonies; and one count of possessing criminal tools He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec the state agreed to dismiss the pandering charge one count of the illegal use of a minor and the possessing criminal tools charge and will recommend a residential community control sanction Items listed in a specification to count five The state and defense do not currently have an agreement on a sentence the consecutive maximum penalty would be a 24-month prison term and a $5,000 fine Chuha will also be classified as a Tier I sex offender requiring in-person registration with the sheriff for a period of 15 years and prohibition from living within 1,000 feet of a school or childcare facility Chuha’s current home on Goodrich Court violates the latter requirement he will no longer be allowed to reside there he will face five years of mandatory post-release control Chuha originally pleaded not guilty at his Dec a search warrant was executed at Chuha’s home following a referral from the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz’s office about suspected accessing of child sexual abuse materials at a Chardon residence a hard drive and SD cards as property subject to criminal forfeiture Chuha is scheduled for sentencing in front of Judge Matt Rambo May 20 and the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary 1 at the Burlington Oval Condominium Development said Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus in a press release a resident of the Burlington Oval Condominium Development called police reporting that a male with a gun had broken into their residence,” Niehus said in the release Monday A vehicle belonging to Scott was reportedly found crashed into a tree a short distance from the residence adding Scott allegedly fled the scene of the crash before entering the victim’s home Police heard a gunshot upon arrival at the scene which Scott reportedly fired from inside an enclosed porch into the backyard adding Scott was observed to be lying in the side yard “Officers determined that Scott … had attempted to leave his residence in the vehicle prior to crashing into the tree striking at least one other nearby dwelling,” Niehus said in the press release “No citizens were injured during this incident.” Scott was transported to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center for injuries believed to be from the crash and is currently being held at the Geauga County Safety Center Some residents reported to the Maple Leaf Scott may have been shot in the shoulder according to a police scanner report Niehus said the press release accurately reflects the facts surrounding the incident “The investigation into the incident is ongoing and ultimately the (Geauga) County prosecutor will determine any additional charges based on review of the completed investigation,” he said Narcotics involvement is suspected and a handgun was recovered from the scene Chardon Planning Commission granted final development plan approval and architectural review Nov is for a new Chipotle restaurant at the site of the former Burger King Cardinal Realty had come before this commission several months ago with a plan to renovate the existing Burger King,” Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney said Chipotle has since shifted gears and would prefer a new location on the site was able to shed more light on the decision “Chipotle had changed the CEO and they literally — this was the one that got cut “They had a new CEO that went to Starbucks and the new incoming people didn’t want to remodel Burger Kings anymore The Chipotle will be approximately 2,325 square feet and will have a pickup window for call-ahead and online orders The parking lot will also be greatly reduced from about 50 spaces to about 30 adding the former horseshoe driveway will be modified The driveway closest to the bike path will be removed “Nothing will be happening with the bike path,” Yaney said the parking lot will be getting further away from the bike path with this plan.” A conditional use permit for the drive-through one to reduce the side parking setback from 10 feet to 5 feet for six spaces and one to reduce the setback for parking lots adjacent to buildings from 10 feet to 6 feet their parking stalls went all the way to the property line so even though this is a variance from the code it’s going to be further from the property line than the parking spaces were two weeks ago,” Yaney said Several other commercial buildings have the same 10-foot-to-6-foot variance noting there will still be a 6-foot wide sidewalk The reason for the variances is to maintain the existing driveway in its current location and preserve more green space on the property fire department and arborist recommended the plans for approval “I’m grateful that a significant area of green space will be restored to this site that probably hasn’t been green for 150 years there,” Commission Chair Andrew Blackley said “It used to be the railroad depot once upon a time.” Given the restaurant’s proximity to the bike path Blackley also asked if there is a provision for bike racks “We told the site engineer to have bike racks I’m pretty sure they’re on the plan,” Sabatine replied There are two Olympia bike racks that can fit four bicycles noting most Chipotles don’t have bike racks at all If the manager sees they’re getting big bike traffic … there’s room to add more if they’re needed for the bikes,” he said While Blackley pointed out the bike racks are located behind the building and suggested they be moved to the front Sabatine said Chipotle would likely not want that “They probably want to make them a little bit out of sight but definitely not out of mind and where they’re at now large concrete area there where they got plenty of room to set up the bikes,” he said The upper part of the building will be Chipotle’s classic blue-gray color “This is an upgraded design that was used in North Ridgeville The current goal is to start construction by early March The commission approved the conditional use permit final development plan and architectural review who restored Chardon football to one of the best programs in Ohio during his 14 seasons “Chardon football is special not because of a coach or any one person as I will promptly be replaced as all coaches are,” Hewitt wrote “It’s special because of the community of people and players that have given so much to build and maintain our program parent and member of this great community has laid a brick upon a foundation that will stand for decades to come “The amount of joy that Chardon football has brought me is indescribable but the amount that I have received from Chardon football amounts to some of my life’s fondest memories.” Chardon had endured three straight losing seasons when Hewitt was hired in 2011 unheard of for a program that had earned a state title in 1994 and runner-up in 1998 Hewitt-coached teams went on to go 126-36 and win state titles in 2020 and 2021 Chardon made 10 playoff appearances in the span Hewitt said his coaching style did not lend itself to longevity “One of my greatest strengths is my intensity and investment in things that make things go a certain way,” Hewitt said on the phone just after the announcement Hewitt was a star on the 1998 football team that finished second in the state He went on to play football at Bowling Green State and for one season under championship coach Urban Meyer Hewitt will continue teaching at Chardon High School And will continue to help with the Chardon football program where he can But being the CEO of “so many moving parts” took its toll I’m looking forward to coaching kids Tomorrow I’m going to be in the weight room.” Mary in the first round of the 2014 playoffs Hewitt stayed back as his players and coaches went into the locker room He was unsure if a public program like Chardon could overcome the private school factor Francis DeSales in the 2020 state title game in double overtime; they’d been losing at halftime Hewitt’s postgame speeches could be as intense as the game in Memorial Field’s north endzone in front of the Hilltoppers marching band Most of those speeches ended with a lesson on what Hewitt thought it meant to stand for Chardon and how players needed to act off the field but I am even more proud of the men who I see getting married live on Chardon Avenue with their four kids The couple own the King Kone ice cream shop in Chardon harshest critic and my friend when it seemed extremely lonely,” he said of his wife Hewitt said he “zero idea” who the next Hilltoppers head football coach could be He also said he was not stepping away for another opportunity at this time Hewitt still has two sons in the Chardon football program who will play football in the seventh and fourth grades next school year Among Chardon football’s many traditions is that former players and coaches enter the “Hilltopper graveyard,” they call it the graveyard’s newest member finished with this: “The only thing I ask is that the next time the graveyard all gets together Forever grateful for my time on the hill!” has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges relating to the possession of child porn who is being charged with pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material a fifth-degree felony and possessing criminal tools was arraigned in the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas in front of Judge Carolyn Paschke Dec He was represented by attorney Steven Bradley Chuha faces a possible prison sentence of 6-18 months and a fine of up to $5,000 for the pandering charge The Illegal use of a minor charge carries a possible prison sentence of 6-12 months Both the pandering and illegal use of a minor charges also carry a mandatory five years of post-release control following a prison sentence adding the possession of criminal tools charge carries a possible fine of up to $25,000 and if convicted of both pandering and illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material Chuha would be required to register as a tier one sex offender a hard drive and two SD cards as property subject to criminal forfeiture Judge David Ondrey was assigned to the case incoming Judge Matt Rambo will take over come the new year failures to appear in court or active warrants for his arrest the state recommended he be released on a personal recognizance bond Chuha was also ordered to submit fingerprints A search warrant was executed at Chuha’s home Aug interviews were conducted and a number of items were seized Following the completion of the investigation including a forensic analysis of the seized items the matter was presented to the grand jury for consideration of charges,” he said who is the husband of Chardon City Council member Deborah Chuha had served as cemetery sexton of Chardon Township for 44 years “This has been a long thought out and difficult decision to make and when was the right time to make it,” he wrote in his resignation letter Cryptozoologists and paranormal enthusiasts alike can look forward to Oct after Chardon City Council approved a Cryptidcon event on Chardon Square during their March 13 meeting Cryptozoologists and paranormal enthusiasts alike can look forward to Oct “Cryptids are creatures rumored to exist — fantasy mythological creatures,” event host Jessy Harper explained listing bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster as examples “We actually have some around here … we have the mothman who was seen in West Virginia and southern Ohio,” Harper added who is much like the Loch Ness monster here in Lake Erie.” Other notable Ohio cryptids include the Kirtland melonheads and the Loveland frogman said her goal is to have a “spooky little festival” in October The event will be family friendly and will feature entertainment in the gazebo guest authors and vendors selling “cool weird things,” she said noting she would like to use the Heritage House to give the authors a quiet meeting space and Short Court Street for food vendors “My goal is to not overstep the vendors who are already on the square “We don’t want to take away from their sales and take all their parking spots.” A similar event last year in Medina was a hit with a few thousand visitors in their first year Her viking festival sees between 7,000-10,000 people over three days “It should be something that goes over fairly well and fairly easy at that,” she said Council expressed enthusiasm for the event and unanimously voted to approve it The Geauga County Public Library has found a new site on Park Avenue for its Chardon branch and hopes to close on a purchase agreement for a portion of property owned by Bridle Downs GCPL announced it would no longer be feasible to have a branch on Chardon Square as necessary upgrades would push the building past its property line into land owned by Chardon Schools When Chardon Schools Board of Education rejected a sale of that land — which is used as play space for children at Park Elementary School —  last October GCPL Director Kris Carroll said the branch could move to a new location Carroll said both the GCPL board and the property owners had signed a $1.2 million purchase agreement which she said was a good deal for the library GCPL is working with the seller and the city to split 20 acres off of the existing 26-acre lot The remaining acreage contains one dwelling which the Geauga County Auditor’s Office lists at 5,682 square feet “It became clear we did not want to purchase houses and then become quasi realtors — that’s not our expertise,” Carroll said Although new townhomes are scheduled to go up on a site to the east of their spot on Park Avenue Carroll said the sellers felt strongly they did not want their land developed for homes “That’s one of the reasons they were happy to work with us,” she said We were sort of what they were looking for in a buyer.” which sits across the street from a trailhead and parking lot that accesses the Maple Highlands trail can be used in future partnerships with the city or with local parks no longer having a GCPL branch on the square will be “bittersweet,” Carroll said (the library branch has) been a central part of the town square,” she said “We explored every possible avenue to remain there from partnering with different people to buying private homes — I can’t think of anything that we didn’t explore we had to make a decision to move forward.” The new building will include modern amenities expanded early learning spaces and improved local history services Carroll said as the process is just beginning a conservative estimate is the new building could open in 2027 — if everything with the sale design and construction phases goes smoothly voters approved a $24 million bond issue for GCPL to remodel and build facilities Carroll said the library put aside some bond money — which was used for projects in Middlefield Bainbridge and Thompson — to pay for the Chardon branch “We have been saving money since (2017) to do this,” Carroll said we are doing this with the expectation that we will not be asking the taxpayers for more capital funds.” Carroll said the library is excited to be a part of Chardon’s growth “Every time I drive through Chardon — multiple times a week — I see something new,” she said “I think it is a really exciting time in Chardon and it’s great that the library gets to be a part of that.” The Chardon Hilltoppers have named Brian Landies as their next head football coach An assistant coach for the last 13 seasons Landies has been the team’s defensive coordinator including leading the defense during the state championship teams of 2020 and 2021 “Very few have sacrificed more for Chardon Football over the years than Coach Landies,” Hewitt said any coach who has penned a book titled ‘Bleeding Red & Black’ deserves the reins As a father with two sons still in the program I couldn’t be happier with the direction of the program.” have seven children in the Chardon community Two of his sons are in Chardon’s football program Landies played four years of football at Malone University before graduating in 2007 He was a Graduate Assistant for the Malone program in 2008 and 2009 before returning to the Chardon sidelines He has also been connected to the past three Chardon head football coaches throughout the last 45 years “I’m honored and humbled to be able to continue the traditions of Chardon Football,” Landies said “I fell in love with Chardon football when I was 10 years old while watching my brother and his friends win a state championship “I was blessed to be able to play for Coach Doyle and Coach Dipofi and coach alongside Coach Hewitt the past 14 seasons we look to continue to build on the rich history we have inherited and continue to make our community proud to be Hilltoppers.” Chardon Superintendent Michael Hanlon said continuity was an important part of the decision to hire Landies “His experience with our student athletes and the leadership culture established by Mitch Hewitt will enable us to make a smooth transition moving into the future,” Hanlon said Join Chardon High School’s Drama Program and dive into a world of magic music and adventure with “Disney's The Little Mermaid.. music and adventure with “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.” Follow the journey of Ariel as she strikes a dangerous bargain with the sea witch The whimsical and heartwarming production features unforgettable songs colorful costumes and an exciting story that will captivate audiences of all ages Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors Visit https://bit.ly/35y1Qjk for online ticket sales In-person ticket sales will be held in the Park auditorium lobby March 6-7 and March 10-14 from 4:30-5:30 p.m In-person tickets are also available at the door beginning 30 minutes before each show The Chardon High School Drama Program welcomes local seniors and Chardon Local Schools staff members to attend the dress rehearsal free of charge at 7 p.m The Chardon High School Model United Nations Team traveled to Case Western Reserve University on Feb 25 and 26 to compete in the Cleveland Council on World Affairs Spring Conference The 20 hard-working delegates represent nations of the world to negotiate debate and resolve some of the most pressing global issues of the day There were over 500 students from across Northeast Ohio participating “This was our last conference of the year and I am hoping many of these amazing delegates will return for the 2025-26 school year,” Kristen Niedzwiecki CHS students who participated included: Abigail Jonovich Netherlands; Julia Siebert: Poland; Madeline Cresho the senior mentors at Chardon High School are cultivating a culture of collaboration and growth transforming February into a month of meaningful experiences for the eighth-grade students the senior mentors planned activities for the eighth-grade students to promote communication The seniors went above and beyond to build positive relationships with the eighth-graders at CHS Some of February’s top activities included Dress to Impress Spaghetti Tower Building and Cookie Decorating After tabling the topic at their September meeting Chardon Planning Commission approved the final development plan and architectural review for Meijer Oct The new supercenter would be located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Loreto Drive and Water Street and would feature an mExpress gas station planning commission went through a litany of variances and sign deviations at last month’s hearing,” Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney said I think there was one that was removed that was no longer necessary based on discussion at the meeting.” 11 sign deviations and a conditional use permit for a gas station at the previous meeting there were some concerns with the site plan itself and with the look of the building and the review from the city architect and planning commission,” Yaney said Meijer and their architect were instructed to meet with myself and the city architect Meijer met with Yaney and Durante about two weeks ago and made some changes adding both Durante and City Engineer Doug Courtney recommended the plans for approval Engineers Abby Jacobs and Brian Smallwood talked the planning commission through the revised plans “(The site plan is) generally a similar configuration to what we had presented last month,” Jacobs said “The changes that we’ve made are along the west side of the building We have narrowed that drive to make it one way entering and exiting the pharmacy drive-through.” The one-way traffic still allows for truck access to the garden center but will reduce potential vehicle conflicts with two-way traffic “The other thing that that has allowed us to do is to increase the green space along the garden center knee wall to provide some additional plantings that we’ll discuss as part of the building architecture adding the variety of plant species has also been increased across the site Meijer worked with Durante on a compromise for the facade “What we’ve done is added a brick veneer to both the primary facade and the secondary facade — so the main entrances and then the walls along Water Street,” Jacobs said The veneer provides a real brick look and allows for the articulation required by the city later noting there will be some color banding with the brick along the front facade Plans show additional planters and landscaping have been added along the primary facade to provide vertical articulation as well as along the garden center knee wall The mExpress gas station had been modified in similar ways we’ve added that brick veneer along the primary and secondary facades,” Jacobs said the Water-Street-facing and the Loreto-Drive-facing facades (we) added that in-and-out articulation with the brick and some horizontal banding Vice-Chair Mary Jo Stark — chairing the meeting in commission member Andrew Blackley’s absence — said she was glad to see everything worked out for the better the commission approved the final development plan and architectural review unanimously The proposed Chardon Meijer has spurred tumultuous discussion on social media with people expressing anger or questioning the concept “Chardon doesn’t need this,” read a Facebook comment by Kyle Mead on a Geauga Maple Leaf post about the supercenter “What does this bring to Chardon that Giant Eagle Marc’s and Walmart don’t already provide to the community?” asked another Facebook user Many others commented about the impact to traffic in the community “Traffic through and around Chardon is going to get so much worse The current infrastructure can’t even handle the traffic volumes,” said commended Rachel Formica nobody in the audience spoke about Meijer during the public comment portion of the hearing the commission approved the lot split of an existing 26.2656-acre parcel at 367 Park Avenue into two new parcels The location is where the new Chardon branch of the Geauga County Public Library is slated to go The Chardon Early Learning Center is working to build a solid foundation for the district’s youngest learners said CELC Principal Doug Higham and intervention specialist Kristen Sironen March 17 who previously worked at Chardon High School expressed gratitude for his new position during the Chardon Schools Board of Education meeting “After spending many years at the high school I’ve had a unique opportunity now to see both ends of the educational journey in our district — from our youngest learners just beginning their academic path to the graduates who are ready to step into the world,” he said The experience has given Higham a deep appreciation for how each step in a student’s education is connected adding the foundations built in the early years are critical as a student grows older “We are all working together toward the same goal — to develop well-rounded confident young people who are prepared for whatever comes next,” he said It has been an interesting year in their building There are currently 83 pre-kindergarten students spread across three morning classes three afternoon classes and one all day class The school also serves six students in community programs adding there are 141 kindergarteners with six general education classrooms Specials offered to students include world language The pre-school is on a new curriculum this year called Creative Curriculum but it’s a really neat program and it’s all-encompassing for everything “It even includes cooking lessons and things like that.” CELC provides a rich language environment for students to encourage their communication and models effective communication encouraging language experiences through play The school also works to build continuous learners by cultivating a love for learning designing engaging lessons so students will be excited to return to school “We are always encouraging the students to become critical thinkers by explicitly teaching problem-solving skills through the social/emotional lessons and inspiring them to think critically and find solutions to their problems,” she said something Sironen described as necessary when working with young children “There’s no fear of speaking out in public there’s no fear of doing something wrong,” she said “Everyone is welcome and everyone is a little family.” adding the center has also been engaged in community involvement including high school students coming from across the street to perform skits and drama productions and the Chardon Smile Center visiting yearly to talk about dental hygiene the Chardon Fire Department and Chardon branch of the Geauga County Public Library have also visited noting there is extremely high parental involvement “It’s always heartwarming to see how many parents are involved every day and every week,” she said we don’t have busing for most of the students so I get to see the parents almost every day at drop-off and pick-up and it’s really lovely to see how much they care and how we are a team together.” Former Chardon High School Principal Doug Murray was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine in Chardon Municipal Court Oct after being found guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor for tampering with records Murray resigned abruptly in February after an investigation by Chardon Schools showed he made unauthorized changes to two grades involving two students the district said in a statement at the time He was charged last month under a state law which criminalizes tampering with records “with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud.” Sources close to the investigation said the two students’ grades in question belonged to Murray’s daughters In a statement to the Geauga Maple Leaf Oct Murray emphasized his previous service and his faith “My family and I have felt a profound loneliness since my resignation I served the Chardon community with a focus on servant leadership dedication and attention to detail in all I did,” Murray said “I am grateful to (Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri) Stupica and (Geauga County Prosecutor) Jim Flaiz for the respect they extended to me I trust that God will remain my source of strength John 8:7 reminds us to approach life with empathy Flaiz said a minimum 180-day jail sentence was suspended provided Murray follows the terms of his probation Flaiz also put some longstanding rumors to rest the exhaustive investigation performed by the Chardon Police Department did not show that the two instances of grade modification negatively impacted any other students regarding scholarship dollars,” he said Chardon High School students were temporarily ordered to shelter in place Oct 28 after two reports — later found to have originated outside of the U.S — alleged the presence of a weapon in the building “The Chardon Police Department received a message reporting an alleged suicidal student in a restroom at Chardon High School another service received a similar alleged threat targeting our school bathrooms,” CHS Principal Adam Tomco said in an email to parents law enforcement traced the location of the IP address confirming both threats originated from a source outside the United States.” Chardon Schools Superintendent Michael Hanlon said officers arrived at CHS initially to respond to a single claim of a student with suicidal ideation with the potential to act on those thoughts informing the school personnel another agency had received a call with more details alleging someone with a gun in a bathroom “At the time of the second call and the additional information the school went into immediate lockdown so that law enforcement could clear the building,” Hanlon said Tomco said the incident was part of a “swatting” attempt — when false emergency reports are made with the intent to provoke a large police response to a specific location The school took a safety-first approach and moved the building into a “shelter in place,” while School Resource Officer Jasen Elam and additional officers performed a thorough safety sweep of the premises The precautionary measure lasted approximately 10 minutes after which normal school activities were resumed Chardon Middle School Principal Craig Caroff said the situation at CHS led to a decision to bring CMS students in from recess and physical education classes Tomco said swatting incidents are meant to create unnecessary panic and drain local resources “We appreciate our strong relationship with our first responders Their prompt action and professionalism enabled us to handle the situation in a timely manner ensuring the safety of our students,” he said A study by the nonprofit Educator’s School Safety Network shows swatting incidents against schools have dramatically increased in the past five years “In the 2022-2023 school year, 63.8% of all violent incidents were false reports of an active shooter within the school (i.e. swatting) while 7.9% of all violent events were actual shootings at a school,” the ESSN said on their website Hanlon said the safety and security of Chardon students and staff is the district’s highest priority and while the data suggests there are far more swatting scenarios than actual acts of violence in schools every situation must be treated as a threat until first responders are able to evaluate the situation “We are fortunate to have a strong relationship with our first responders as demonstrated by their rapid and professional response to the incident today,” he said staff and administration followed protocols and did an excellent job of responding to the situation We have a safety committee meeting planned with our first responders and will use that opportunity to debrief the incident and evaluate ways that we can continue to enhance our response to scenarios like the one that occurred today.” Despite concerns about Chardon’s growth in recent years Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney said at a government spotlight breakfast March 27 hosted by the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce give area businesses and institutions a chance to directly interact with and ask questions of various government officials noting the recent addition of Redwood with 91 units and the upcoming developments on Water Street and Park Ave with 120 homes and  21 homes there have been between 300-350 new homes in about a five-year period which has brought about commercial development almost no new homes were built in the city between 2005-2015 estimating the number as three to four per year The population has only gone up 200 people since the early 1990s and is aging While Meijer’s construction is not likely to begin soon it will open the corridor along Water Street and Meadowlands Drive to further development adding there is significant interest in the area Developers have also been eyeing the Rite Aid building and other closing businesses will likely not be vacant for long The city made conscious efforts in the 1990s and early 2000s to invest in wastewater treatment plants that should have the capacity to handle further development While some areas may need additional work handling stormwater or extending mains that — along with traffic studies — will fall on the developer The city is in a position where they can absorb the development into their current infrastructure The city has also been working with Retail Strategies a company that markets vacant properties to developers the city wants A member of the audience asked if there is a point when a community decides to stop growing Zoning dictates where businesses can and cannot go Stopping development would mean the city buying up all available property Businesses looking at demographic data would know people were leaving the Chardon area to spend money in places like Mentor The city has been planning for this growth for decades It is not happening in a vacuum and will not be detrimental while there will likely be more traffic on the roads steps are being taken to mitigate problems during the planning process The city can’t stop people from selling commercially-zoned property to developers Sharpe recalled remarks he’s heard about the number of pizza shops and auto retailers The city cannot dictate the last pizza shop Upcoming chamber events include the April 8 coffee connections networking event and Aug More information can be found at www.chardonchamber.com helping to bring to fruition a homeless shelter for women Geauga Faith Rescue Mission — a faith-based transitional housing program for homeless men and women — recently announced it has received more than $95,000 from various donors to purchase and renovate the property at 341 Washington Street for the shelter which allowed GFRM to put a down payment on the mortgage the organization said in a March 25 press release adding it also received $10,000 from a local church and $5,000 from community members The shelter will be able to house up to four women Executive Director Nathan Long previously said at a Chardon Planning Commission meeting GFRM intends to begin housing women in 2026 This is not the mission’s first time handling large donations — an anonymous donor last October gifted the organization $104,000 allowing them to pay off the mortgage for their men’s shelter The private foundation wanted people to know the donation was for the glory of God Long said in a followup interview March 31 The private foundation came to hear about the mission through volunteers at the men’s shelter actively involved in GFRM’s Bible study program “That they heard (the men’s) testimonies of what it meant to them to be a part of the men’s shelter is what inspired them to really wanna make sure that the women’s shelter was able to get up and running,” he said There has been a lot of positive reinforcement from the community and GFRM is excited to continue to provide this service We decided last year to go ahead and move forward with the women’s mission and didn’t know how we were going to do it but we trusted that the resources would be provided if it was what God wanted us to be doing,” GFRM Board President Mary Owen said in a March 31 interview The Chardon mission has been one miracle after another Renovations will include modifications to fit city requirements for an occupancy permit The organization is also looking at expanding the shelter in the form of a second floor which would allow for more bedrooms and give the women more space Summer fundraising will enable the mission to hire necessary staff This will include a June golf-outing and October dinner the mission is looking to hire one part-time staff member for case management and a live-in house monitor The mission has no aspirations to grow beyond Geauga’s needs “We just want to be able to meet the need that’s in Geauga County for single women that are homeless,” Long said we’ll just assess by the need that continues.” The county has a homeless population of around 41 GFRM receives calls once or twice per month from women in Geauga “We anticipate to be full very quickly,” he said “With the men’s shelter — we’re emptying beds people transitioning out — we’ve already got people that are in need of shelter right now.” The men’s shelter has provided over 4,000 nights of food and shelter since December 2022 People arriving at the shelter are often overwhelmed They rest for a week before conversations begin about their needs the shelter works to connect them with partner organizations for assistance they don’t have a lot of connections or relationships “(We) try to help them establish a network that they can then rely on to help them live sustainably.” as the shelter is not meant to be a permanent dwelling it does offer residents a sense of hope and a chance to pray and take part in Bible study “We take off the burden of them having to worry about where they’re going to sleep and what they’re going to eat,” Long said “Then they can start reflecting on the circumstances in their life that led them to be where they’re at and what they need to change or what they need to do to get out of those circumstances.” GFRM provides residents with case management and utilizes existing county services to help them live what Long described as “an abundant life.” “Living life that is one glorifying God by their actions and that they find joy and fulfillment in,” he said As GFRM is partner-based, Owen encouraged anyone who wants to help to reach out. Information about GFRM’s charity events can be found at www.gfrmission.org or by calling GFRM at 440-214-9916 A Geauga County grand jury indicted Chardon resident Jack Scott Jan two counts of improperly discharging a firearm and one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle 1 in which he allegedly crashed his vehicle into a tree fled the scene on foot and broke into a Burlington Oval home where he discharged a firearm carries a sentence of three to 11 years in prison; improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison; and improperly handling firearms said Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz Jan The gun specifications carry a term of three years mandatory and consecutive to any other prison sentence imposed Scott was also originally charged with driving under the influence and failure to maintain reasonable control a first-degree misdemeanor and a minor misdemeanor to which he pleaded not guilty in December “The investigation by the Chardon Police Department revealed that the defendant discharged his firearm in the victim’s residence and outside his own residence where at least one round struck another home,” Flaiz said “He also shot at least two rounds from his vehicle before he crashed into a tree.” as lab results on suspected methamphetamine have not yet been returned “The responding Chardon police officers exercised outstanding courage professionalism and restraint in quickly apprehending the defendant and ensuring the safety of the victim and surrounding neighbors,” Flaiz added Scott will be arraigned in Geauga County Court of Common Pleas on Feb The Chardon man accused of breaking into a Burlington Oval home Dec 1 has also been charged with improperly discharging a firearm and not maintaining proper control of his vehicle was arraigned before Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica Dec 3 and his bond was set at $100,000 cash or surety He pleaded not guilty to the DUI and reasonable control charges but has not yet entered a plea for the aggravated burglary charge and the improperly discharging a firearm charge 1 before fleeing the scene of the crash and breaking into a Burlington Oval home Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus said in a press release striking at least one other nearby dwelling,” Niehus said A pretrial hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m the matter will be bound over to the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said Dec Louisville Leopards Athletics News & Video: Leopard Nation <<< Vs. Warren JFK | Baseball Schedule | Next At Waynedale >>> Varsity Recap | View Box Score | JV Recap | JV Box Score Louisville Varsity Leopards Loses Despite Out Hitting Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers Even though Louisville Varsity Leopards collected 10 hits to Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers’s four Cody Zahler led Louisville Varsity Leopards with three hits Louisville Varsity Leopards fought back after falling down by seven runs in the fifth inning Louisville Varsity Leopards closed the gap by scoring on a double Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers got on the board in the second inning after Blake Johnson induced Cal Smith to hit into a fielder’s choice Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers extended their early lead with three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to RBI singles by Jayden Buth and Smith John Timko earned the win for Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers The starter allowed 10 hits and five runs (four earned) over six and one-third innings Johnson took the loss for Louisville Varsity Leopards surrendering five runs (two earned) on two hits Louisville Varsity Leopards amassed 10 hits in the game Zander Triplett drove the middle of the lineup leading Louisville Varsity Leopards with two runs batted in and Cooper Rice each collected multiple hits for Louisville Varsity Leopards Smith led Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers with three runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup Buth and Smith each collected two hits for Chardon Varsity Hilltoppers Next up for Louisville Varsity Leopards is a game at Waynedale Varsity Golden Bears on Friday Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution and is subject to the Dick’s Sporting Goods UP NEXT: The Louisville Baseball Team will next travel to take on the Waynedale Golden Bears on Friday Cover Photo By: Rick Everhart Photography Don’t forget to Subscribe to Our Posts for Free Louisville Leopards Athletics News & Video: Leopard Nation © 2025 Powered by  - Designed with the Hueman theme After Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri questioned the City of Chardon’s commitment to completing the renovation and expansion of the historic courthouse on Chardon Square Mayor Chris Grau said Chardon continues to work with the county to ensure its financial contribution is fulfilled Spidalieri’s comments came at the end of an intense meeting between commissioners’ staff and the Geauga County Budget Commission Aug 30 in a conference room at Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder’s office on Chardon Square County Administrator Gerry Morgan said the courthouse project started with a preliminary estimated cost of around $17 million Spidalieri asked at what point the project would be stopped for cost overruns “I’m looking across the street and it looks like basically just framework I can only imagine if we’ve already had this kind of overrun what is it potentially going to be,” he said “We just cannot have this endless supply of cash that’s just going to continue to go to this.” the county and city reached a legal settlement that dictated Chardon’s portion of the cost of rehabbing the courthouse Spidalieri said the county hasn’t “seen a dime” from the city toward the courthouse project “Chardon’s agreement with the county is very clear,” Grau said in a statement Sept “The city agreed to contribute 10% toward the public infrastructure site work and beautification of the square and the city’s contribution is capped at $2 million.” 30 he had been approached by three different people during the Great Geauga County Fair who told him the city of Chardon was “starting to push back” on contributing to the project “I don’t know if it’s 100% true,” he said of the rumor Grau said the city asked at multiple points in the process when and how its contribution would be made As its portion of the cost is capped at a percentage of the total project the city was told its payment would not come until the end of the process Pivoting to the county-owned buildings on the square Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz and Treasurer Chris Hitchcock — all of whom comprise the budget commission — told Spidalieri and commissioners Tim Lennon and Jim Dvorak the county had not been adequately maintaining their offices on the square Flaiz said his windows have not been cleaned in two-and-a-half years Walder recalled a situation in which rodents buried themselves in the walls of his office space which led to a two-week evacuation of his staff until the smell subsided Ceiling tiles in the space have repeatedly fallen in Spidalieri said he never supported keeping county offices on the square in Chardon and maintenance costs for properties in the city are “bleeding wounds that are just going to continue to suck (the county) dry.” “You don’t have to work in these buildings you’re not going to put another nickel in ’em — we’re going to be in these buildings for decades And you guys … have totally abandoned your statutory duties in maintaining these buildings.” Walder said a stairway to his office that county maintenance workers improperly constructed collapsed under an employee who suffered serious injuries and was out of work for nine months “I didn’t sleep for weeks worrying about — this guy’s going to sue us and hold us liable for it Because we’re the ones who — we being the county — constructed that stairway,” Walder said Spidalieri countered with a reminder officeholders on the square were given the opportunity to move into a new space but officials dug their heels in and chose to stay in Chardon we wanted everybody in a brand-new building think about the logistics of what we’re spending there … The responsible thing for taxpayers was not to put $20 million across the street and how many millions of dollars we continue to spend and what we’re going to continue to spend.” During discussions about the county’s new administrative center on Ravenwood Drive — and after an opinion from the Ohio Attorney General which said certain county offices needed to stay within the legal boundaries of Chardon — some proposals included building new offices and a new courthouse on county property at the southern edge of the city state of the art facilities at this point instead of asking for repairs to “dilapidated” buildings on the square It’s hard to sit here and listen to this because we’ve we’ve thrown a lot of good dollars on bad,” he said referring to complaints about the county offices on the square “I just feel like sometimes this comes down on the commissioners because of the fact that we ultimately have to make some of these decisions and I obviously didn’t have the support at the time to get that across to basically hold the line to say … we’re the authority that says you’re moving Spidalieri warned of an increase in traffic problems once the project is completed “I tried to back out of a space over here and almost got blindsided What do you think it’s going to be like when that courthouse opens up with that many more people Grau said the city plans to make payments diligently once arrangements are finalized we have encumbered $2 million to be able to make our contributions,” he said “The city has never wavered on its full commitment to honor its side of the equation and has worked diligently with the county on all aspects including all requisite zoning and architectural approvals.” The city’s expectation is that all parties will act in good faith to fulfill their commitments “This is an exciting project for the county the city of Chardon and the community at large,” he said Kindergarten students in next year’s incoming class will once again attend Park and Munson elementary schools with the Chardon Schools Board of Education voting in favor of the reconfiguration at their Dec Kindergarten students currently attend the Chardon Early Learning Center housed in the former Maple Elementary School Munson and Park currently house grades one through three There are a number of efficiencies to the change and no foreseen downsides “We — based on class size at Munson and Park — at this point we have room and we studied that,” Hanlon said “We can accommodate the kindergarten (students) going back in.” Moving incoming students will have minimal impact on them as they haven’t yet settled into one building About half a tier of transportation would be eliminated and the traffic situation would be enhanced by not putting kindergarten bus traffic in the vicinity of the high school Park music teachers going over for kindergarten just to pick up related arts classes there,” Hanlon said Kindergarten no longer being housed at CELC also means they may not need to operate a full kitchen there Board member Andrea Clark asked if the reconfiguration would result in combining classrooms for special classes Assistant Superintendent Ed Klein replied they didn’t anticipate the need for such a move at present “We have room for four classrooms at each of the buildings any special education programming that (Student Services Director Linda Elegante) is looking at either continuing or expanding at either one of those locations,” he said we may have to go to the backup plan of ‘art on a cart music on a cart,’ but that’s the backup to the backup there.” Clark also noted as a parent with kids at both schools she had previously dealt with the traffic hopping from an elementary school to CELC Major changes continue with the Chardon athletic programs Leadership of the program as a whole will change when Athletic Director Doug Snyder retires at the end of the school year Chardon will compete in the Chagrin Valley Conference again with the slow disbandment of the Western Reserve Conference And the community received a jolt when Mitch Hewitt stepped down as the longtime leader of the Hilltoppers’ football program Now the varsity boys basketball program and varsity girls volleyball program will have new faces during the 2025-26 school year a 2017 Chardon graduate and current assistant coach has been named the varsity boys basketball coach stewarding a program he once led as a senior in 2016 “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead my alma mater here at Chardon,” Quin said in a prepared statement “I look forward to building on the foundation Coach Murawski has established.” Murawski stepped down in February after taking another teaching job at Orange High School Murawski coached nine seasons as Chardon’s head basketball coach a social studies teacher at the high school recently bought a home in Chardon off of the Square “As a coaching staff we plan to instill values “Our goal is to develop a team that plays with passion represents this great community with pride and strives for success both on and off the court.” After playing football with the Hilltoppers where he graduated in 2022 with an education degree Chardon High School Principal Adam Tomco welcomed Quin to the new position “Shane possesses the essential qualities of a successful coach,” Chardon High School Principal Adam Tomco said in a statement “He has a remarkable ability to connect with student-athletes fostering a positive and supportive environment.” Tomco said Quin will set high expectations pushing athletes to reach their full potential “Shane was the ultimate competitor and ultimate teammate as a player and will embody those same qualities as a head coach,” said Athletic Director Doug Snyder student of both excellence in coaching and the game of basketball the new head girls varsity volleyball coach With a strong background in both indoor and beach volleyball a passion for the sport and a commitment to excellence Kalingo coached five years of club volleyball in the Pacific Northwest at Washington Volleyball Academy and spent three seasons at Bellevue High School in Washington he led Bellevue to back-to-back conference championships completing their best finish in school history clinching a 2nd state tournament bid and placing 6th overall at the state tournament Tomco said Kalingo brings a wealth of volleyball experience to the Chardon program “He has quickly become an integral part of our Chardon community volunteer assistant coach for both our boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams fostering an environment where athletes can thrive.” Vance said Ohio is one of the toughest volleyball states in the nation and said it was an honor to be given the chance to restore Chardon to a perennially strong program “I look forward to getting to know the team and the parents working together to build a legacy and instill new winning traditions,” Kalingo said “Vance is a great fit as our head girls volleyball coach,” said Athletic Director Doug Snyder his knowledge of and passion for the game of volleyball and his ability to create relationships will provide the Hilltoppers Girls Volleyball program with the stability we need.” Kalingo is also the Chardon Boys Head Volleyball coach and will lead the Hilltoppers during the spring 2025 season Even after spending millions of dollars on significant improvements to its facilities Chardon Schools’ buildings still fall far below state standards before potentially pursuing a bond issue to address the needs the district plans to engage the community in conversation over the general state of its structures voters rejected a 5.3-mill bond issue to generate $76 million toward a new high school campus $7.2 million bond to repair district facilities also failed the district produced a five-year capital improvement plan the Chardon Schools Board of Education approved in late 2023 which includes construction and renovation projects to bring the district’s buildings up to standards Capital improvement costs have grown from about $5.4 million in 2022 to close to $9 million in 2025 Necessary projects not yet done will cost around $14 million Superintendent Michael Hanlon said despite all the upgrades every school building in the district needs repairs that total over two-thirds of the cost to instead build a new facility Hanlon said the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission recommends replacement He outlined an additional challenge in asking the public to invest in the district’s buildings right now in the environment that we’re in construction costs are dramatically increasing,” he said And the longer we kick this can down the road the more those costs are likely to increase.” Hanlon said the district and the board are not currently planning to place a bond issue on the ballot they plan to engage the community in order to build understanding of the critical issues facing the district’s infrastructure “The board has not contemplated a bond issue or anything to put before the community at this point so the focus here is on determining what the vision of the community is for its physical school buildings in the near term and long term and what does the road look like to get to that destination?” he said “We need to take that time to gather that feedback and to gather that input and determine what approach is in the best interests of our students and something that our community can support in the future.” Hanlon said there is no intention to “dust off” the plan presented to the public in 2019 which envisioned a single campus near the existing high school and middle school “If there is a different configuration or different way to look at this that meets all of these competing needs and is kind of the best line through all the competing needs then it may look differently than the plan that was presented to the community in 2019,” he said Hanlon said the district spent significantly to bring the buildings closer to the state’s standards as the buildings must be up to standard safety codes The district was faced with conditions that required action to be taken including roofs and windows at the end of their life cycles getting at the quality of the instructional setting and the long-term needs for the type of learning environment that would be beneficial to the students of our community those investments that we’re making are taking care of short-term but the long-term need of rethinking educational spaces and how those spaces serve the community “We need to engage the community around that discussion.” Hanlon and Treasurer Deb Armbruster said the district is projecting the need for an operational levy in 2027 Much of the cost of recent renovations has been paid out of the district’s operating fund or through a loan leveraged against its permanent improvement fund the board heard from representatives of ThenDesign Architecture including $3 million in immediate needs at Park Elementary School When added together with longer-term projects the total spending needed to keep district buildings up to code in the next decade is projected at almost $98 million In response to board member Todd Albright’s question whether new buildings would lower the district’s maintenance costs Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs Steve Kofol said even with some higher-cost maintenance items new buildings would mean the district could stop spending on abatements and replacement materials Albright also emphasized the need to bring the community into the process and highlight the potential for better academic outcomes for students in modern school buildings Board member Andrea Clark said as a parent she doesn’t need to see outcomes to know her children will be better off in new buildings “I know new school buildings are going to help my children Hanlon said it’s important for the community to understand that in the context of the five-year financial forecast and projected need for a levy the district does not have the capacity to take on more capital improvement spending After the recent spending on buildings and with other financial priorities the district must address in the next five years there is not an “endless pot of money” for building and repair projects “We can’t continue to dip into the general fund to do capital projects and further accelerate an operating levy ask we’re going to be constrained to maintenance and highest-of-the-highest priority improvements to continue to maintain ‘warm safe and dry.’ New projects are probably going to be very few and far between at this point,” he said Even with the challenges facing the district Hanlon said the people who work in the district — Chardon’s teachers food service personnel and bus drivers — go above and beyond to achieve an outstanding educational experience for students on a daily basis “Our vision for the school district is to be a model school district for other districts in the state of Ohio,” he said “The results that we’ve generated and the quality of education that our staff members create for our students every day is indicative of the effort that they put in to work with the facilities and settings that they have available to them today knowing that we could accomplish yet so much more with our students in the types of facilities that are available to students today in other school districts.” Two Chardon residents were injured in a two-vehicle crash early Feb 20 at the intersection of Mayfield and Auburn roads in Munson Township according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol report was westbound on Mayfield Road when it ran a red light and was struck by a northbound 2025 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck Emergency personnel from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and Munson and Chester townships responded The impact forced the vehicles into a yard on the northwest corner of the intersection who was transported to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital with serious injuries Elmer was taken to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries adding Goodge was not injured in the accident We can now share the schedule for the 2000 and 2001 Division III state champion Chardon Hilltoppers the Hilltoppers went 8-3 and fell to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in the second round of the Division III playoffs Chardon will begin this season on the road against a pair of Division I opponents as the Hilltoppers travel to Perry to take on Division IV regional finalist Perry Below is the Hilltoppers' schedule for 2025 pic.twitter.com/mL9WzSaq2n 2025 CHARDON HILLTOPPERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App RYAN ISLEY, SBLIVE SPORTSRyan Isley is a Regional Editor for SBLive Sports © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Christmas came early for Geauga Faith Rescue Mission which recently received an anonymous donation of $104,000 that helped pay off the mortgage for its men’s homeless shelter “The donor went in anonymously to the bank and just paid the mortgage off,” said GFRM Executive Director Nathan Long adding there was about $102,800 left on the mortgage “Having this paid off really opened up the opportunities for us to move forward with opening the women’s shelter,” Long said faith-based transitional housing program for the homeless — has been working on opening up a women’s shelter next to the men’s shelter at 339 Washington Street adding they had applied for a Cleveland Foundation grant for the women’s shelter and were denied Now that the mortgage to the men’s shelter is paid off they can take out another loan for the women’s shelter they have to complete some city renovation requirements such as sidewalk work adding they hope to get those done within the next six months and are currently leasing the facility GFRM started in 2014 with a focus to rescue the homeless The men’s shelter has only been open for two years but the facility stays full “almost all of the time,” he said they are keeping people warm in their emergency warming center in light of the recent winter storms that rolled through Northeast Ohio “We focus on helping someone rebuild their life to overcome whatever life issues that have led them to become homeless and … help them to live what we call an abundant life,” Long said any addictions or things or behavior patterns that have caused them to not be able to thrive.”  Long said it helps that the community recognizes a need for the shelter in Geauga County “It took years of building that grassroots support system in place for that and then finding a facility and going through the zoning process and then the renovation and opening it and getting volunteers we’re in a place where we’re getting to see the impact that it’s making in individuals lives that truly is inspiring and appreciated and needed for those individuals,” Long said “Our goal is to see that those individuals that we help are here in our county — they’re working jobs they’re paying taxes … they’re contributing to the community at large as well and that can make a generational impact for those individuals that we serve and their families and their children.”  2025Dylan HefflingerPrep Baseball Ohio Editor in Chief/Advanced Scout Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOHFollow on Twitter- @PrepBaseOHScoutFollow on Instagram- @prepbaseballohio Prep Baseball Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2025 we began releasing team previews for squads across the state we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way To view the full list of 2025 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2025 Team Preview, click here Interested in attending a Prep Baseball Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here Team Name: Chardon HilltoppersHead Coach: Bob FrancisDivision: III2024 Record: 15-132024 Tourney Finish: Sectional Finals loss to DoverReturning Starters/Pitchers: 5/2 Coach Outlook: "One of the reasons that we are excited about 2025 is because the roster is full of baseball players who love to play the game and who will bring a 'dirtbag' mentality to the team culture We expect a great deal of competition for varsity spots both in the position spots and in the pitching rotation." To view the 2024 Team Previews, click here To view the 2024 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To View the 2024 PBR All-State Teams, click here To view the 2024 Preseason All-State Teams, click here To view the 2024 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2023 Team Previews, click here To view the 2023 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To View the 2023 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2023 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2023 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2022 Team Previews, click here To view the 2022 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To View the 2022 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2022 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2022 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here To view the 2021 Team Previews, click here To view the 2021 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To View the 2021 PBR All-State Teams click below: To view the 2021 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2021 Ohio Spring Scout Blog To view each of the parts to the No 'Last Dance' Series To view the 2020 Team Previews, click here To view the 2020 Preseason All-State Teams, click here To view the 2020 Virtual Ohio High School State Tournament/Preseason Team Rankings, click here To view the Ohio High School All-Decade Team 2010-2019, click here To view the 2019 Team Previews, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To view the 2019 All-State Teams To view the 2019 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2018 Team Previews, click here To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup To view the 2018 All-State Teams To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Teams To view the 2017 Team Previews, click here To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams           Plans for a Chardon Chipotle took a step forward at the June 25 Chardon Planning Commission meeting with the board approving concept plans to renovate the former Burger King at 414 Water Street Applicant Cardinal Realty is looking to fully gut and remodel the inside of the 3,998-square foot building Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney explained adding the playground would be removed and turned into part of the dining space and exterior renovations would include the removal of several parking spaces to make room for a patio There will also be a drive-through window called the “chipotlane,” Yaney said so there is no loud speaker or menu board,” he said explaining it would be used for call-ahead and online orders Residents can also expect to see a change in the building’s color going from its current sandy shade to Chipotle’s classic grays and whites there is a bump-out for the bike path area,” commission Chair Andrew Blackley said “Is that contained in an easement already?” City Engineer Doug Courtney confirmed it is adding he does not foresee an increase in stormwater runoff from the proposed plans The commission voted to approve the concept plans the commission finally approved concept plans for a Washington Street bus garage for Chardon Schools This marked applicant ThenDesign Architecture’s third time appearing before the commission The commission had tabled concept plan approval twice with the lack of a comprehensive traffic impact study a key factor in both cases While the city had been provided the study as of a special meeting June 11 it lacked the background data required for an outside source to verify its findings “We did get the traffic impact study last week the full traffic impact study rather than the summary,” Courtney said our traffic engineer Kevin Westbrooks has reviewed it and our conclusions from that report are that a traffic signal is warranted at 5th Avenue today The added bus traffic from Washington Street would increase its necessity Westbrooks added turn lanes and an all-way stop were considered but wouldn’t work as well in solving the problems with congestion Along with a stop light at the intersection you don’t even have a crossing going across North Street,” Westbrooks said it would be a much safer crossing location.” The intersection is greatly impacted by traffic heading to the school campus “Those are the peak times when there’s the most traffic going through I don’t know exactly which cars are going to the school and which are not just from the data,” he said Vice Chair Mary Jo Stark found the idea of a light at that intersection problematic traffic is bad and that probably does perform on the level of service F two hours a day The other 22 hours a day it performs very well,” she said I can’t justify a traffic light at that intersection for two hours a day While the light may slow someone down a little bit outside of peak hours people should not be held up at the intersection “I guess that’s a judgment call each of you will probably have to make Is the traffic bad enough during those peak times to need it or do you suffer through the current operations plus a little bit more traffic and not put a signal in,” he said The study also did not take traffic on Chardon Avenue into account “Traffic on Chardon Avenue backs up and the majority of those people are turning left from Chardon going south onto North (Street),” she said “How is that street going to be affected by a traffic light especially one that’s right on North Street?” it shouldn’t reach the point Stark was concerned about “It shouldn’t really change the operation of that intersection,” he told her Stark said she would like to see more study before committing to something like a light which indicated traffic control devices must be installed by Aug Flooding on multiple floors of the Geauga Theater last week caused significant damage to the historic building which had to close its doors temporarily for repairs Chardon officials announced in a press release Jan a second-floor heat exchange unit line froze and split second and basement floors of the Geauga Theater,” the release said a company that provides emergency restoration services was on scene by that evening and began dewatering and drying the building adding as the building’s heat source has been compromised supplemental heating units have also been provided “It is anticipated that restoration and replacement of equipment could take up to two months,” city officials said in the release The news comes in the wake of Chardon-based arts organization Curtain 440 announcing their entire upcoming season would be played on the Geauga stage A production of “Murder on the Orient Express” was set to open at the theater Feb “The cast of ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ continues rehearsing but we are currently pausing ticket sales until we have a better idea of when the Geauga Theater will be reopened We remain intent on this show moving forward even if the dates have to be pushed back a bit,” Curtain 440 wrote in a Facebook post Jan The theater company would be reaching out to anyone who has already purchased tickets with more information Teen repertory productions “As You Like It” and “The Triangle Factory Fire Project” may also be delayed in opening or performed at a different location “Thank you to the City of Chardon for quickly addressing this situation,” the company concluded “We are excited to continue our 2025 season when we are able.” Russel-based arts organization Fairmount Center for the Arts had a faculty showcase slated for the stage March 8 “While we remain optimistic that the Fairmount Faculty Showcase will go on as planned on March 8 we are in the process of securing an alternative location to use if needed We are committed to bringing Fairmount programs to the Geauga Theater in 2025 and 2026 even if it means doing so later than originally planned,” Executive Director Elizabeth Bolander said in an email Jan Bolander was saddened to hear the news about the theater and expressed sympathy for C440 “(The theater) is such an important asset to Chardon Square and the timing is truly unfortunate given the recent announcement about C440 bringing their amazing theatre productions to the space this coming year,” she said “We are hopeful that the repairs can be done swiftly and have expressed to the city that we stand ready to support them if there’s anything we can do to help.”  The Geauga Theater was built in 1939 and operated as a movie theater until its original closure in 1996 It has undergone major renovations previously first by the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild in 2001 and 2019 and then by Thrive Performing and Visual Arts after the city granted them management of the building in 2020 While Chardon’s Independence Day fireworks display has had a home at Chardon High School for decades a few wrinkles — and a lot of yard litter — put a wrench in plans to keep them there this July Organizers Ed Babcock and Dave Jevnikar suggested to Chardon City Council June 13 the show move to a new location at the end of Loreto Way The fireworks display is scheduled for July 6 Babcock and Jevnikar said the higher elevation will give everyone a better view of what could be the last Chardon fireworks show They reminded the public the show is run by volunteers “We’re running a zero budget this year … I usually have a carryover (fund),” Jevnikar said “It’s not the goal this year and we’re done.” Parking will be prohibited along Water Street and Meadowlands Drive during the fireworks show and Loreto Way will be closed to the public the show was moved to the student parking lot east of CHS who lives near the school on Chardon Avenue said he was told that move happened because launching from the old spot could void the warranty of the school’s new roof the student lot location led to some serious problems for the neighborhood my entire yard was inundated with pieces of fireworks,” Gahr said “I brought some of them to (Chardon City Manager Randy) Sharpe Gahr said one firework landed on the son of a neighbor Mayor Chris Grau said the city listened to Gahr after the event last year and after extensive planning and research found an area east of the CHS tennis courts in which fireworks could be set off without causing similar problems for surrounding residents Babcock and Jevnikar pointed out a major problem with the new location — it sits at a lower elevation than the show’s previous location “You’re saying (it’s) a little bit of a difference but the shell goes to 210 (feet),” Babcock said “At over 100 feet lower than where we shot it in the past Jevnikar said the new location will be visible by the whole city whereas the proposed CHS location might make the fireworks difficult to see Some members of council were reluctant to lose the traditional CHS location where boosters sold concessions before the fireworks began but Jevnikar said attendance has waned in recent years Council members also expressed concern about public confusion as the area is slated for a new housing development if the fireworks show continues under new volunteers it will likely not be held in the same location next year Council member Heather Means asked whether organizers had connected with management or residents of Chardon Place Apartments or the Chardon Healthcare Center which both have frontage along Water Street across from Loreto Way Police Chief Scott Niehus said if either property wants to discourage members of the public from setting up on their lawns to watch the shows With the new site at a significantly higher elevation than previous years Jevnikar and Babcock were confident the show would be visible from across the city Closer viewing could be possible in the nearby Walmart parking lot we can use all the traffic we can get.’ So she was happy with it,” Babcock said Grau addressed public feedback about the proposed Meijer store after Law Director Ben Chojnacki said the city can regulate the use of property through zoning laws it cannot limit what an owner does within those laws outside of potential risks to health or safety but does employ an economic development consultant firm “As long as they fall into place on all the regulations that we have and the correct use then you don’t really have the ability to deny them,” he explained Fireworks will be set off on Loreto Way (Meadowlands Ext.) The Chardon Schools Foundation has received a $15,000 donation from Preston Chevrolet and The Chevy Network as part of a 10-year commitment to support the foundation’s mission: Excellence in Education The Chardon Schools Foundation has received a $15,000 donation from Preston Chevrolet and The Chevy Network as part of a 10-year commitment to support the foundation’s mission: Excellence in Education “Support from our community is vital and the continued investment Preston and Chevy make in the foundation provides the capability to fund a variety of needs in Chardon Schools,” according to a December press release An example of the programs funded is Chardon High School’s STEM program “The Chardon Schools Foundation grant is an exciting catalyst for innovation powering the creation of dragsters and a new dragster track that fuel our STEM curriculum,” said Amber Yeager in the release “This hands-on experience teaches students the principles of engineering they learn the critical skills of problem-solving preparing them for a future of limitless possibilities in science Chardon Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Hanlon Jr. said, “The Chardon Local School District is fortunate to have community-minded partners like Preston Superstore Their ongoing commitment to support the Chardon Schools Foundation with a significant financial contribution enables the organization to support innovative programs in our classrooms that contribute meaningfully to the exceptional educational program offered to our students The district is appreciative of this continued support.” Chardon School Foundation Program Grants throughout the years have ranged from Artists in Residence to Chromebooks support for the CHS Academic Decathlon Team technology upgrades and many other worthwhile ideas presented to CSF by Chardon teachers Donations to the Chardon Schools Foundation may be sent to P.O. Box 838, Chardon, OH 44024 or online at chardonschoolsfoundation.org Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCHARDON Ohio (WOIO) -The cold is only going to intensify next week a specialist advises how pet owners can best take care of their furry friends “They can get frostbite and hypothermia just like we can,” said Animal Clinic of Chardon veterinarian Stephanie Secic “We’re talking extreme colds with this polar vortex we don’t want to be out there more than five minutes max She reminds people to bring in outdoor pets and suggests investing in some gear for pets with short fur But even pets with a thick winter coat shouldn’t be out long She explains the most exposed areas on your pet are the nose “It’s honestly really hard to tell because their skin is really pigmented if you have any concern that your pet has been left outside too long if their paws or nose are really cold to the touch or they seem uncomfortable when you touch them I would bring them into your vet right away,” said Secic If your pet is acting strange or maybe shows discomfort Your veterinarian can slowly bring up a pet’s temp with warm liquid injections or a specialized heated blanket and tend to frostbite call anyway to make sure your pet is staying healthy through the diving temperatures The lights are once again on at the Geauga Theater with Curtain 440 set to perform their full six-show season on the historic stage “Curtain 440 is so happy to announce that our entire 2025 season will be at the Geauga Theater in Chardon,” the company wrote in a recent newsletter announcing the season lineup In addition to the six mainstage productions C440 will also be performing their summer workshops classes and Rep 440 productions at the theater Workshops this year will be “101 Dalmatians KIDS” for children aged 6-13 and “Into the Woods Jr.” for youth aged 12-17 “We cannot wait to bring light and life to the theater that means so very much to many of us,” the company wrote The announcement comes on the tail of C440’s return to the Geauga stage with a wildly successful production of “Beauty and the Beast.” for being such a magical last show in (the Geauga Theater) and then thank you for making this very emotional return so triumphant and meaningful,” director and owner Angela Miloro-Hansen wrote on Facebook following the production’s opening weekend “Beauty and the Beast” sold out every show with an additional Thursday performance added to keep up with demand C440’s upcoming season will open February with “Murder on the Orient Express,” directed by Mark Cipra Auditions took place at the end of December and requested actors brush up on their European accents The official cast list was announced in early January and will star Jason Monsman as leading man and Belgian detective Hercule Poirot Accompanying him on board the train will be Lace Williamson as Samuel Ratchett Ashley Cunningham as Countess Elena Andrenyi Tina Burgett-Krause as Princess Dragomiroff Joseph Pucella as Hector MacQueen and Kelly Tapager Fox as Greta Ohlsson The ill-fated train’s journey will be followed by “Godspell” April 4-13 Teen production “Beetlejuice Jr.” will stage a takeover June 6-15 with “Seussical the Musical” succeeding it July 25-Aug A final December musical has yet to be announced we’ve been able to announce a full season year in one go and know where we will be We are so excited to bring life back into our beloved theater on the square and continue to provide entertainment for the community,” Miloro-Hansen said Jan noting that being a travelling company can make scheduling difficult “We are grateful to the Chardon community and city council for their support as we enter this year!” she added C440 will not be alone on the stage this season either Russell Township-based arts organization Fairmount Center for the Arts will make an appearance March 8 in their first ever multi-discipline faculty showcase theatre and visual arts teams will perform “The faculty showcase was born from our annual Music Faculty Recitals which sold out in our current space; hence The new version invites faculty of all disciplines to perform and it includes eight separate acts representing music Fairmount’s art faculty will be represented in a gallery viewing,” Executive Director Elizabeth Bolander said Jan The organization has also planned teen movie nights at the theater hosted by the new Fairmount Teen Arts Council “Our goal is to foster community between our teen students and community members,” Bolander said The Chardon Arts Center is a newcomer to the scene having taken over the building following the departure of Thrive Performing and Visual Arts from both the theater and annex 14 to lower rent prices from a weekly rate of $2,000 to $1,000 and implementing a daily rate of $500 and trying to get into the rhythm of the community Art therapy is unique to FAA as an organization as is some of their early childhood programming and adult dance programming “It just takes some time to cut through and people to find you and you to find people and really best understand what they need and what they’re looking for,” he said Offerings have been tweaked based on feedback around timing FAA wants to be more in touch with other local arts organizations “I think if we’re a little bit more in tune we can figure out ways that we can support each other or recognize each other’s strengths and go accordingly from there,” he said FAA has also been in meetings with the local elementary schools “We’re just taking it a step at a time,” he said While there has been less of a response to the opening of the CAC than he would like Holm noted this could be for a variety of reasons the organization is still working out ranging from what’s being offered and the time it’s available to the same events being offered from other organizations people are already comfortable with Building up in Willoughby took a number of years and CAC has only been around for six months “I don’t know when we’ll know what the final answer is it may take us a few years to really settle in and for people to really find us and decide where they want to go,” he said While the organization had previously discussed the possibility of using the theater post Easter 2025 Holm said that option is still up in the air “We haven’t necessarily decided not to do anything with the theater at this point but what we’re waiting to see is how it goes with C440,” he said adding FAA hasn’t yet had a chance to get a solid look at the theater’s calendar “The good news is that the theater is scheduled and it sounds like a lot of good things are happening in the theater again so we’re excited about that and excited that C440’s in a place that they’re able to do that and the city is supportive of that,” he said