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Chesterland CHESTERLAND News NEWS Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
House Unanimously Approves Bill Supporting Maple Syrup Producers By Rose Nemunaitis editor@karlovecmedia.com
SCREENSHOT
Bob Rogish testifies before the Ohio House Agriculture Committee.
Petition Error Sinks Independent Judicial Bid Staff Report The Geauga County Board of Elections voted 2-1 against certifying Robert Farinacci as an independent candidate for Geauga County Juvenile/Probate Court judge for the November ballot during its meeting June 18. Board President Dennis Pavella voted in favor of certification and board member Janet Carson abstained, as her husband helped circulate several of Farinacci’s petitions. While Farinacci had the number of signatures required for certification, he had the wrong type of petition, Pavella said in a phone call June 22. “A sufficient number of registered voters had signed his petition — actually, he had more, almost double what he needed, which is no small achievement for an independent, because you have to get 1% of the last governor’s race,” Pavella said. “But his petition was filed on a petition to represent a county court.” Pavella said he personally felt it was substantially compliant, but the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office advised the petition was incorrect, resulting in the vote against certification. See Petition • Page 6
Maple syrup producers across Ohio could soon receive the same legal recognition and protections afforded to other agricultural operations under legislation unanimously approved by the Ohio House of Representatives.
House Bill 733, sponsored by state Reps. Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula, and David Thomas, R-Jefferson, passed the House June 9 by a 95-0 vote and now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration. The legislation would explicitly include the cultivation of trees for maple syrup and maple product
production within Ohio’s statutory definition of agriculture. Supporters say the measure provides longsought clarity for producers and recognizes an industry that plays a significant role in Northeast Ohio’s economy. Under the bill, land used for See HB 733 • Page 9
'The Face of the District' Diane Martin Retires After 23 Years at West Geauga
By Emma MacNiven macniven@karlovecmedia.com When Diane Martin was hired as a substitute in the West Geauga Schools board office, she never imagined it would become a 23year career. The superintendent at the time, Anthony Podojil, hired her in 2003 on a probationary period. “I still had a young one at home in kindergarten, and I remember saying when I was offered the job, ‘Well, I don't know if this is going to be good for me or not, because I still have kids at home,’” Martin said in a June 17 interview. “(Podojil replied), ‘Well, why don't you do it for your probationary time, and if you don't like it, maybe we can work something different out.’ And here I am.” Now, as she prepares to retire July 7, Martin is looking back on the relationships, changes and memories that defined her time with the district. She was hired as the confidential administrative assistant, district receptionist, events coordinator and facilities scheduler in 2006, she said. “I feel blessed I've been able to work there,” Martin said. “It was not an easy place to walk out of.” Former Superintendent Richard Markwardt referred to Martin as “the face of the district,” while current Superintendent Nancy Benincasa referred to Martin as “the voice of the district,” Martin
SUBMITTED
Diane Martin behind the desk at the West Geauga Schools Board of Education in 2015.
explained. “I always told my kids, ‘When you go to work, like what you do, because you have to go every day,’ and I loved what I did there,” Martin said. What stood out to her the most was working closely with Markwardt and Benincasa over the years. “I was very impressed with Dr. Markwardt and Dr. Benincasa and how well they handled the student body,” Martin said. “That was very impressive to me.” She’s seen a lot of changes to the district in her 23 years there, including the merger with New-
bury Local Schools in 2020, Martin said. In addition, Westwood Elementary and Lindsey Elementary used to operate as two separate kindergarten-through-fifth-grade schools. “Westwood is now K through two, and Lindsey is now three through five,” Martin added. Along with district-wide changes, Martin has also seen many shifts in technology since she first began at West Geauga using an electric typewriter in 2003. “It very quickly went to the computers … but not to the level See Martin • Page 6
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