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Volume 52, No. 17
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
GCPL Foundation and Partners Takes Shape By Kathy McClure editor@geaugamapleleaf.com As 2021 approaches, the Geauga County Public Library Foundation prepares to launch its new Foundation and Partners group. The organization — serving primarily as a fundraising arm for the foundation — will represent all of the library branches and do work on behalf of them collectively, versus the former Friends of the Library groups, which all worked for several years on behalf of their individual branches. As the GCPL has grown and developed over the years — particularly with the addition of new branch-
es in Thompson and Bainbridge townships, and vast investment into renovations of the Middlefield branch — the library foundation advised a broader approach to book sales, fundraising and association. Executive Director Rebecca Gierman, in association with the GCPL Board of Trustees and Director Ed Worso, had a vision that was system-wide. “We are looking for great people with great ideas. We are excited about how this is coming together, although our timetable is loose,” Gierman said. While some people have been eagerly anticipating the new Foundation and Partners organization,
Gantous Earns Eagle Award
others have been dismayed — particularly several members of the former Friends of the Library groups. “The temperament among our members has changed,” said Trudy Gordin, of the Geauga West Friends of the Library, in a recent phone interview. “The atmosphere is negative now, but I wish them (the foun-
dation) well and hope they get the membership they hope for.” In contrast, the former vice chair of the Geauga West group, Cathy Leary, has been helping to spearhead the new Foundation and Partners organization. A creation committee made up of former Friends of the Library See Library • Page 7
Wolverines Receive Postseason Awards Staff Report
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Joseph “Michael” Gantous, 18, of Chester Township, recently earned the BSA Scouts highest honor by earning his Eagle Scout Award after completing a baseball field renovation project at the West Geauga Recreation Board grounds in Chester Township. Gantous, a lifelong Scout with BSA Troop 193 in Russell Township, aimed to exemplify service above self during his years in scouting and hopes to continue doing so as he begins a new chapter as a soldier in the United States Army. On June 30, Gantous gave the thumbs up to his fellow Troop 193 Scouts who held a socially distanced impromptu Court of Honor for him on the eve of his departure for Army basic training.
the year for the Wolverines. “Pretty spectacular first year as Post season awards continued starter,” Sopkovich said of his juto mount for the Wolverines after nior quarterback. a successful football season which In addition to Stewart, senior included the school’s third defensive tackle Luke ever playoff win. Reed received 3rd team The Wolverines garAll-Ohio for the Wolvernered a school record four ines after playing last year All-Ohio selections in Div. at Newbury high school. III. “Luke came in here Head coach Adam Sopday one and provided kovich looked back in the toughness and much school archives to see where Musser needed depth for us his team stacked up. all along the defensive “We went back as far front,” beamed Wolverine as the late 1960s, but nevdefensive line coach Roder saw more than two Allney Leonard, “He was a State selections in any one pleasure to coach.” year,” said Sopkovich. “I Reed had three sacks was happy to see quarterand 10 tackles-for-loss. He back Danny Stewart receive Stewart also played offensive line 2nd team All-Ohio considand special teams. eration, but to then get three more Also receiving 3rd team Allplayers recognized was awesome.” Ohio was junior offensive tackle Stewart had accounted for over Luca Gasbarrino. 1,600 yards of offense in eight games and is co-offensive player of
See Football • Page 1
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