Kirtland Chronicle 2-6-2026

‘Selfless’ Service Earns Sams Kiwanis Citizens of the Year Honor

randon Lichtinger editor@karLovecmedia com

On a frigid Jan. 15, Kiwanians and their friends and family braved the snow to honor the Kiwanis Club of Kirtland 2025 Citizen of the Year award recipient at Sausalito Kirt-

A tradition dating back to the club’s founding in 1961, the award recognizes an individual or couple who has made a positive impact on the city.

Recipients are chosen through nominations and are not notified in advance. The announcement is a surprise, with family and friends hidden backstage until the winners are revealed.

This year, Mike and Mary Sams were among the first to arrive. Mary needed to put the finishing touches on the table centerpieces. As guests filtered into the banquet

hall, she moved from table to table placing plates beneath the arrangements, unaware that she and her husband would soon be named the 2025 citizens of the year.

“We sent out a nomination to the whole Kirtland community,” said Tom Dice, a Kiwanis member for 52 years and a member of the Citizen of the Year award selection committee. “It’s (meant to recognize) people in the community who do things in the community.”

The award may be given to Kiwanis or non-Kiwanis members, Dice said, adding that slightly more than half of the recipients over the years have been club members.

Once attendees came in from the cold, greeted one another and took their seats, the Sams were formally announced as this year’s honorees. Family and friends emerged from back rooms where they had

‘TSTLE’ Guiding Philosophy for Girls Basketball

By aLan kornspan sports@karLovecmedia com

What is the purpose of high school sports? That, of course, is an important question to ponder.

Certainly, a main goal for team sports athletes is to try to outscore an opponent or to strive to win, but hopefully not at all costs.

But maybe even more important than striving to win is the fun and life lessons our student-athletes learn on their journey towards autonomy.

For Hornets Girls Basketball Head Coach Paul Force, a sound philosophy of purpose is the building block of which his program is built.

Coach Force calls his philosophy “TSTLE.”

TSTLE is an acronym for the five guiding principles which Coach Force teaches: Trust, Strength, Togetherness, Love and Enthusiasm.

“We talk about being a basketball family,” Coach Force said. “At the end of the day, with high school

with

with Council is Saturday, March 21 10-11 a.m., at Kirtland City Hall. For more information, contact Joe Smolic at 440-487-8984 or JSmolic@ kirtlandohio.com

A Note from the Mayor

On the night of Jan. 15, winter’s oppressive grip on Northeast Ohio was largely ignored by hearty Kirtlanders and friends.

More than 60 people braved the ice and snow to gather at Sausalito and celebrate the Kirtland Kiwanis Citizens of the Year, Mike and Mary Sams.

That evening, I had the distinct honor of reading a city proclamation recognizing Mary and Mike for their incredible work and commitment to patronage and volunteerism in our community. This wonderful couple is beyond deserved of the award and I am proud to call both my dear friends.

As we prepare for our annual city budget appropriation, Kirtland City Council is scheduling and holding committee meetings to establish and best understand the needs of each department. Each year, this utterly important task is met with commitment and diligence by our council, department heads and administration. In these dis cussions, the balance of anticipated revenue is weighed against what it takes to meet our community’s needs.

We have 132 lane miles of roads to maintain, an older fleet of trucks in the Kirtland Service Department, need for reliable police and fire apparatus and aging buildings at the Kirtland Community Center and City Hall, and great scrutiny is applied throughout the process.

man Dave Joyce and his office for the recent commitment of $2 million dollars to make this project a reality. Economic Development Coordinator Eddy Eckart worked hard to stay engaged with the congressman’s office throughout a tumultuous federal budget process and the effort looks to have paid off.

Funding the $8 million dollar sewer project will rely on several partnerships. One of these key partners is our school system. Currently, we are working on a plan to finance a large portion of the project through TIF (tax incentivized financing) funding. The specific TIF we are seeking will need school board approval. A School TIF is designed to support local infrastructure projects in that it captures future property tax revenue for a specified period from new developments on specified land parcels. To be clear, there is no additional tax being levied on existing businesses or homeowners. Nor will the schools be paying for any portion of the project or giving up any existing revenue. TIFs are simply a mechanism of funding projects that otherwise couldn’t happen.

Looking to the future and defining and creating ways to enhance our city’s revenue, we are committed to responsible growth yet ensures we keep the small-town appeal we all know and love. With the future in mind, we have before us a tremendous opportunity to bring sanitary sewers to the routes 6 and 306 intersections. Thank you to Congress-

In addition to Federal and TIF funding, we are working with the developer of the future nursing home that is willing to contribute to the project. Sewer expansion is necessary to create meaningful development at the routes 6 and 306 intersection and will boost future revenue to help fund road repairs.

In closing, I once again want to thank our public works department for the long hours they are working in some extremely tough conditions. We appreciate your efforts!

Mayor Potter

Genealogical Society to Offer Zoom Handwriting Workshop

Lake County Genealogical Society will host a Zoom program on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, focused on strategies for reading and interpreting handwritten historical letters and documents.

The program, “Mastering the Art of Reading Old Handwriting: Strategies for Success,” will be presented by Carla Cegielski following the society’s 10 a.m. business meeting.

Although modern apps and digital tools can assist with transcribing historical handwriting, they are not fully accurate. This program will help family historians develop practical skills needed to accurately decipher handwritten records, an essential part of successful genealogical research.

Cegielski is a full-time family history re-

searcher specializing in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She is also the creator and coordinator of the 2021 Reading, Transcribing, and Abstracting Old Documents course at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh.

Those interested in attending must request a Zoom invitation at least two days prior to the meeting by emailing lcgsohio@lcgsohio.org or by using the contact form at lcgsohio.org/contact.

The Lake County Genealogical Society actively supports the genealogical collection at Morley Library by donating materials, staffing the genealogy room, acquiring and sharing genealogical newsletters, indexing historical items, and responding to research inquiries.

karlovec group

8389 Mayfield Road, Suite B5

Chesterland, Ohio 44026

Phone 440-729-7667 FAX 440-729-8240 ads@karlovecmedia.com editor@karlovecmedia.com

OFFICE HOURS

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday Closed Wednesdays

Jeffrey B. Karlovec, Publisher

John D. Karlovec, Editor

Cassandra C. Shofar, News Editor

Jamie A. Ward, Sports Editor

Ann Wishart, Staff Reporter

Allison WIlson, Staff Reporter

Emma MacNiven, Staff Reporter

Pamela J. Molnar, Production Supervisor

Deadlines

Clay Karlovec, Sales Representative

Clinton Sestak, Sales Representative

Amber Ballard, Sales Representative

Regina Swinerton, Classifieds

Karen S. Kaplan, Graphic Design

Emma McGuire, Paginator

• Editorial submissions are printed as space is available, at the publisher’s discretion, and may be edited for length, clarity and grammar. All submissions are due by noon on the Monday prior to the first Friday of each month for consideration for that month’s edition.

• Email all editorial submissions to editor@karlovecmedia.com.

• The space reservation deadline for paid advertisements in that month’s Kirtland Chronicle is noon on the Monday prior to the first Friday of each month. Late ads may be accepted at the discretion of management.

• Email advertising requests and questions to ads@karlovecmedia.com.

Circulation

• The Kirtland Chronicle is distributed for free each month to homes and businesses in the communities of Kirtland, Kirtland Hills and Waite Hill. It is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.

• Copies are also available at 5 rack locations within Kirtland.

• Circulation in excess of 3,300.

• Produced monthly by the Kirtland Chronicle, LLC.

• In case of error, we will re-print that portion of an advertisement that was in error. Notification of error should be made within three days of published date. The Kirtland Chronicle, LLC assumes no responsibility of error contained in any pre-printed material delivered with the paper as an insertion therein.

• The Kirtland Chronicle, LLC reserves the right to reject or revise any advertisement or news item for publication. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinion of those signing them and not necessarily that of either the Kirtland Chronicle, LLC, its affiliates or its advertisers. All letters submitted are subject to editing, and none will be returned.

• The opinions and representations contained in advertisements are those of the advertiser. They have not been verified by the Kirtland Chronicle, LLC, nor should they be construed to represent the position or viewpoint of this newspaper or its publisher.

• Under no circumstances will any record filed in the county be suppressed at any time for anybody, except by order of court.

Help Support the Kirtland Chronicle & Local Journalism

The Kirtland Chronicle and newspaper journalism are critically important and essential in protecting the vibrant community in which we live.

The Kirtland Chronicle stitches the communities we serve together. From news to in-depth articles on topics that deeply affect the community, the Kirtland Chronicle strives to bring you complete coverage.

The cost of publishing this newspaper — editorial, printing, mailing and other production costs — is accomplished primarily through the support of generous advertisers. These advertisers are community leaders who understand the value of a strong local newspaper. We appreciate

each and every one of them.

To help us continue to invest in the community, we invite readers to show their support through a voluntary newspaper subscription.

If you value strong community journalism, please consider helping us with a voluntary subscription. The amount is entirely up to you. Simply complete the subscription form in this edition or call 440-729-7667 ext. 500.

As always, we greatly appreciate the support you give us, whether it’s financially or simply by continuing to be a loyal reader of the Kirtland Chronicle.

Jeff and John Karlovec

Citizens

from page 1

been waiting, and both Mike and Mary were visibly moved by the recognition.

“It was a real surprise,” Mary said shortly after the announcement. “I was very honored. We have a couple here by the name of the Raisharts, they were named one year.”

Mary was referring to Marilyn and Fran Raishart, who were the 2018 Kirtland citizens of the year.

“They are so involved in so many things, and my saying is, ‘When I grow up, I want to be like the Raisharts,’” Mary said. “And now I think, oh my, maybe I’m finally to a level of maybe achieving my goal of serving my community the way they did. And, I've got so much more to do, a lot more to do. Every single person (in Kiwanis) is amazing in their own way, every single person. Everybody has something to bring to the table and that’s what makes this club so fun.”

She added, “We're not just the Kiwanians, we’re all part of our parishes, our own churches and in different clubs within the city, and we bring everybody together.”

Mary’s humility and emphasis on collective service became a refrain echoed throughout the evening.

After dinner, fellow club members, neighbors and family members offered remarks honoring the couple, repeatedly describing their dedication to Kirtland and their tireless work ethic.

Service Director Joe Fornaro opened the tributes, praising Mike’s energy and leadership in building an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant playground behind the Kirtland Community Center, as well as the relationships forged through the project.

Kiwanis member Rich Lowery followed, describing the Sams as “good friends and great people,” before outlining a long list of projects Mike has helped lead.

“The list is long and consists of an awful lot of things,” Lowery said. “The upgrade and maintenance of the Kirtland Community Garden, the annual cleanup and planting of the Kirtland Veterans Memorial garden, the raised handicap gardens at the Kirtland nursing home, refurbishing the Kirtland High School baseball dugouts, the upgrade to the Kirtland High School stadium press box and replacement of the Kirtland gazebo at city hall.”

Lowery credited Mike’s tenacity and organizational skills.

“He’s the guy who pushes the buttons

and makes it happen,” he said. “Others may be behind the scenes, but Mike’s the guy who pushes things along the way to get the job done and I must thank him. All those projects probably would not be here if it wasn’t for Mike.”

He added, “(Mike and Mary) both make a great team, they have great personalities. They lead, they plan, they organize, they work and they never say ‘no.’ In fact, there’s no better couple that deserves this wonder ful award than Mary and Mike.”

Kiwanis member Jeff Bailey echoed those sentiments, praising both Sams for their generosity and passion.

“I just want to say, how blessed are we to have two totally selfless people like Mary and Mike to give us so much of their time and their passion?” He said. “And that’s what I feed off, their passion, to help our causes.”

Bailey highlighted Mary’s work as presi dent of the Kiwanis Foundation, her involvement in the annual May rummage sale and June Kirtland Kiwanis Strawberry Festival and her role in launching the club’s Breakfasts with Santa.

resilient. They’ve overcome obstacles and issues and continue to work for their community,” he said. “They roll up their sleeves and they’re the first to show up, the last to leave.”

Family friend and neighbor of 20 years

“She has been keeping the ship upright and sailing,” Bailey said. “In her own quiet,

Kirtland is a better place because of the

See Sams • Page 5

Bruce Borthwick spoke about how the Sams’ public service extends into their personal lives. Mary come to mind,” he continued. “They seem to always be coming from, going to, something for the community. It’s very selfless. ‘Selfless’ is a word that really represents them.”

from page 4

Sams, he said.

“Their tireless work on the street, in the neighborhood, in the community, it makes it a better region, so thank you for being good folks,” Borthwick concluded.

Kirtland Mayor Kevin Potter also praised the couple’s dedication to the community, citing Mike’s efforts to secure Strawberry Festival sponsors and Mary’s work dipping thousands of strawberries in chocolate for the event.

“One common word we heard over and over again (tonight) is ‘friend,’” Potter said. “I can’t think of better friends or more loyal people.”

Potter said the Sams are involved in nearly every aspect of life in Kirtland.

“It’s always, ‘What do you need? What can we do? How can we raise more money?’ And they figure it out. They always have smiles on their faces,” he said. “Honestly, you’re just happy, good people. Even in times of health problems, whether it's family members or themselves, there’s a smile on their faces and they're out there working for their community on behalf of everybody else.”

Potter added, “You can’t find two better people, two better friends, and I’m so thankful you came into my life, my family’s lives.”

Potter concluded by reading a formal proclamation from the city recognizing the Sams “for their dedication to making Kirtland a better place.”

The couple’s daughter, Andrea, delivered the final tribute.

“We’re here to recognize two people who have always been my heroes,” she said, noting her parents were never “too busy” to help others.

“No matter what it was, you both were always first to arrive and last to leave,” she said. “The kindness and goodness in your home is being recognized by the larger community. You did the work because you cared about this town and not because you ever expected this.”

A visibly humbled Mike addressed the audience last.

“The committee got it half right,” he said. “As far as the other half of the equation, I’ll say this — it's very easy to become a citizen of the year with the people that I have surrounding me in Kiwanis. You look around the room and see all the past people who have won this award. It just makes the job easy when you just have those kinds of people surrounding you.”

Mary echoed his remarks.

“Everybody in this room and others who aren't even here are a huge part of the success of Kiwanis,” she said. “I want to thank everyone who helps us, who shows up and does their part for our community because that’s what it’s about. It’s our community.”

As the evening wound down and guests began to depart, Andrea reflected on the moment.

“My parents never ask for recognition, but I was so glad to see that community that they've been a part of for so long got together to show them that they’re appreciated,” she said. “My parents have been here for 20-plus years. My grandparents started a street here. We’ve had our feet in the community for a long time and it’s nice to see now, they’ve found a home.”

Basketball from page 1

sports, where you end up win loss wise isn't as important as the relationships you make along the way and the lessons that you learn. Win or lose, we’re all about family and TLSTE.

Facing the Madison Blue Streaks on Jan. 24, the Hornets demonstrated their commitment to the ‘TSTLE’ philosophy. Although they lost 69-37 to the Blue Streaks, the Hornets demonstrated ‘TSTLE’ as they trusted the process of what their coach was teaching them as they played together with fun and enthusiasm.

Coach Force created a positive motivational atmosphere for his athletes to thrive by continuously helping his athletes stay focused on the process throughout the game.

There was no yelling, screaming, or demeaning of athletes. Only positive words of encouragement and instruction on what to do were provided.

In discussing his team's effort after the contest, Coach Force was proud of how the Hornets played against the Blue Streaks.

“I think our leadership and our energy from the bench to the floor was outstanding,” Coach Force said.

In addition, Coach Force was happy with how the Hornets moved without the ball, moved the ball around the perimeter, and how they got the ball into the low post during the second half.

“I think the girls do a good job on the perimeter of sharing the ball, moving the ball, and getting different shots,” Force said. “I think we could do a better job of getting interior post touches. That's something we've

been working on. In the second half, we were able to get a couple of those and we got some baskets from inside. I was proud of that.”

Against Madison, the Hornets were led by Anna Dumstorff, who had 14 points.

Dumstorff, who set the record for most three pointers in a game (8 against Wickliffe on Jan. 10 - 28 points total), said that regardless of the score, the Hornets are having a lot of fun playing basketball this season.

“Our teamwork together and us getting passes to open shots and three's just gets us excited and the bench energy is really great every time we score, every time we do something good, and it just really helps us support everyone,” Dumstorff said.

Dumstorff helped the Hornets end the month of January with a dominant performance on senior night as they defeated the Andrew Osborne Academy Phoenix, 55-22.

Leading the Hornets over the Phoenix offensively were Lauren Palagyi (14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block), Dumstorff (14 points), Alivia Mason (12 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), Katherine Bradshaw (4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal), Kylie Sayle (4 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal), Josie Burich (3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), Payton Adkins (2 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds) and Gabby D'Amato (2 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals).

The Hornets Boys Basketball Team also had a dominant performance to end the month as they defeated the St. Martin de Porres Lions 83-61 on Jan. 31.

Leading the Hornets offensively over the Lions was Lucas Renfro (26 points), Ben DiFranco (18), Jake LaVerde (15), Dan Shafer (9) and Michael Dumstorff (8).

With the victory over the Lions, the Hornets Boys Basketball Team moved to 12-2 on the season.

Council Honors Hutton, Swears in New Fire Chief

By cassandra shofar cassandra@karLovecmedia com

Kirtland City Council and Mayor Kevin Potter began the new year bidding a bittersweet farewell to longtime Fire Chief Anthony Hutton and warmly welcoming Matthew Killeen to the helm of the fire department.

Before Potter read a proclamation honoring Hutton’s decades of service, the outgoing fire chief shared a few words of gratitude.

“I just want to thank everybody. It’s been a great career,” Hutton said. “All the people in this room, I see so many past, present Kirtland firefighters, chiefs, you’ve made this job the best job in Lake County. My job was easy because of the quality and the character of all the guys in this room. I want to thank my wife, again, who put up with all the different challenges of being a chief’s wife. Thank you

very much, to everybody.”

Potter then read the following proclamation:

“Whereas Anthony Hutton joined the Kirtland Fire Department in 1989; and Anthony Hutton became a full-time Kirtland firefighter in April of 1990; and Anthony Hutton was promoted to lieutenant in April of 1995; and Anthony Hutton was promoted to chief of the Kirtland Fire Department on July 1, 2002.

“Anthony Hutton served as chief for the next 23 years. He served over three decades. Chief Hutton led Kirtland Fire Department to become one of the best around here. Chief Hutton was instrumental in the Kirtland community as a fire chief, but also as a baseball coach, father and friend to many.

“Chief Hutton leaves behind a legacy of hard work and dedication to the City of Kirt-

land. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the City of Kirtland recognizes Anthony Hutton for his outstanding contributions to our community and honors him for this dedication, leadership and unwavering commitment to making Kirtland a better place.”

The room erupted in applause as Hutton accepted the proclamation and shook hands with all the council members.

Soon after, council unanimously voted to appoint Matthew Killeen as the city’s new fire chief. Following the vote, Potter adminis-

tered the oath of office and offered remarks about Killeen’s qualifications.

“For those of you that don’t know … 32 years Mr. Killeen has been serving the community,” Potter said. “We’ve had a chance to get to know each other over the past couple of months a little bit differently. I have full faith and confidence that Mat Killeen will be an excellent fire chief for the city of Kirtland.”

“Thank you mayor, appreciate it,” Killeen responded, before shaking hands with all the council members.

Kiwanis Korner

By kathy taLty

This frequent blast of snow hasn’t deterred the Kirtland Kiwanis from their activities.

Congratulations to Mike and Mary Sams for receiving the Citizen of the Year award. This took place in a very well- attended room in Kirtland at the Sausalito Restaurant.

President of the Kirtland Historical Site, Elder David Frischnict, led the Kiwanis members on a tour of the majestic Historic Temple on Chillicothe Road, leaving everyone mesmerized by its history and beauty.

Our Key Club is crazy busy preparing for their upcoming District Leadership Confer-

ence March 13-15. This conference helps the students strengthen leadership skills, team skills and community service project ideas, besides recognizing the students who have shown to excel in these areas.

We are so thrilled to congratulate our recent academic winners, Julian Aldom, Charlie Whittaker and Corbin McGillis. Go Hornets!

The Kiwanis would like to thank Joe Fornaro, our public service director for Kirtland and staff, for doing such a great job of keeping our roads safe and clear of snow.

Queen Bee quote: inspired by Jane Austen – It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.

Kost Named Top High School Gymnast in Northeast Ohio

Kirtland Gymnast Reese Kost was voted the 2026 top high school gymnast in Northeast Ohio in a recent cleveland.com poll.

“I honestly was not expecting that at all,” Kost said. “I am really appreciative to all the people that voted. And honestly it was just a really exciting moment, especially for my senior year. Getting voted (top high school gymnast in Northeast Ohio) that was a really good accomplishment.”

After receiving the award, Kost competed in the Berea Midpark Senior Night Meet on Jan. 17. At the meet, she won the All-Around competition, accumulating 35.5 points. In individual events, Kost took first place in the vault (8.9 points), second on bars (9.0), third on beam (9.2) and fifth on floor (8.35).

After winning the all-around competition, Kost talked about her performance.

Kost said that although there was limited practice time before the event due to inclement weather, she had some of her best scores of the season.

Motivation and positive momentum were key for Kost as she started the meet with an excellent bar routine.

“I hit my bar routine,” Kost said. “So, starting off really solid (on bars) got me really motivated. I think (the performance on bars) just really set me up for the meet.”

She continued: “This meet was a pretty good highlight for the season. Coming in first, the last three meets, I think, have been pretty rewarding. It gives me a lot of motivation to keep working hard for the rest of the season.”

As the season continues, Kost is process focused as she continues to train hard in order to achieve her goals.

“I think my goals are definitely just to keep working hard and getting all 9's on all events and placing good at districts to hopefully make it to states for my senior year.”

Hornets Wrestling

Also looking to return to states in 2026 are Hornets athletes from the Wrestling Team and the Indoor Track Team.

Leading the way for Hornets Wrestling is Ahnai Welchans (62-8 on the season) who recently won her second CVC conference Title in the 110 pound weight class. To win the CVC Title, Welchans pinned her opponents from Beachwood, Edgewood, Madison, Lu-

Gymnast Reese Kost competing Jan. 17 at

Ohio in a recent cleveland.com poll.

theran West, and Harvey High School in an average time of 36.4 seconds.

In addition to Welchan's winning the CVC Title, two additional wrestlers from the Hornets Boys Wrestling Team made the podium.

Senior Luke Valencic finished fifth in the 150 pound division at the CVC Tournament.

Valencic began the tournament with a first round victory over his opponent from Harvey. Then, in the quarterfinals, Valencic defeated Trent Holland from Berkshire in a 12-7 decision. After dropping the semifinal match to Dan Russell from West Geauga, Valencic defeated Leonel Villalobos from Perry in the fifth place match, 8-3.

Also, finishing on the podium at the CVC Tournament on Jan. 31 at Hawken was senior Preston White. White defeated opponents

from Harvey, Jefferson and Rootstown to secure his spot on the podium.

Indoor Track

Hornets track and field athletes are also competing for spots in this year's indoor state championships at Spire Institute in early March.

Currently, senior Izzie Copeland is ranked second in the state in the 800m and third in the state in the 1600m. Also, the girls 4 x 8 relay team is ranked second in the state.

In addition to Copeland, also ranked in the top 20 in the state are Danika Schaum

(9th in the 3200m and 16th in the 1600m), and Nadija Mrva (14th in the 3200m).

Also, Kirtland Boys Team runner Joey Ciavarelli is currently ranked 26th in the state in the 3200m.

In the Hornets most recent indoor track meet at Spire on Jan. 31, 4 runners got their personal best times.

Copeland, who got pr's in the 1600m and 3200m, finished third in the 1600m (5:12.17) and 6th in the 800m (2:21.26). Also setting pr's at Spire on Jan. 31 were Mrva (12:50 in 3200m), Schaum (5:56.53 in the 1600m), and Ciavarelli (11:15.37 in the 3200m).

Kirtland Community Celebrates Hutton

By kathy taLty

On Jan. 9, Kirtland Fire Chief Tont Hutton enjoyed his retirement celebration that began with the ringing of the Old South Church bells 37 times — once for each year of his service to the Kirtland community, including 23 years as fire chief — on a beautiful, sunny morning.

The Kirtland Fire Department’s next stop was Kirtland City Hall, where festivities began at 11:30 a.m. Frank Ponzani, the chief planner and master of ceremonies, led the program. Ponzani, a former high school classmate of Hutton’s from the Class of 1982, welcomed a meeting room and foyer brimmed with family members, many community leaders, city and hospital workers and Maureen Podigil, the wife of former Mayor Ed Podigil, who gave Hutton the fire chief job.

A heartfelt prayer was offered by Associate Pastor Jim Davis of Friends Church. Davis, who has known Hutton for 40 years, described him as a caring, compassionate man, recalling how Hutton stayed with him at the hospital after Davis’ brother died. He also spoke of Hutton’s leadership as both a firefighter and fire chief, and how he lives out his faith through his actions and serves as a role model for generations to come.

Ponzani spoke in celebration of Hutton as an integral part of this community, how he was always on the job for 45 years in fire service, 37 years served in Kirtland and 23 years as fire chief. Ponzani shared a memorable story from an EMS call in which a woman needed to be transported to the hospital, but her husband stayed behind to take care of their young son. Hutton stepped in, telling the husband to go to the hospital, and stayed

with the boy throughout the night and into the next day.

Hutton then took the podium and reflected on his career, saying, “I’m blessed that I had this job … Kirtland fire chief is the best job in Lake County because of the guys that we have. We are a family. Yes, it’s been a 24/7 (job that included) laughing, joking, I could write a book on it. It’s been a great career. I thank everybody, especially my wife, Wendy, you’ve put up with so much over the years.”

The celebration concluded with a final radio call from the dispatcher: “Hey Captain, this is your final reading and transmission. We appreciated the firefighters and EMS paramedics of 1989. We appreciate the courage, bravery and service.”

Ponzani, a captain with the Kirtland Fire Department, is commended for organizing a fabulous celebration for our retiring chief, right down to the surprise ringing of the church bells. We wish Hutton the best as he begins the next chapter of his life, with hopes for continued happiness and joy.

Letters to the Editor

Exemplary Work

Thank you to the Kirtland Heritage Foundation and all individuals involved for the beautiful Christmas Lights display in front of Kirtland City Hall and Kirtland Public Library on Route 306 this winter season. You did an outstanding job and we, as a community, are proud of and thankful for your exemplary work.

All our best for the New Year, 2026.

Jeff and Jo Champa Randlett City of Kirtland

Hornets Swim Fast in Dual with Rebels and at

By aLan kornspan sports@karLovecmedia.com

The swimming season has been good for the Hornets swimmers as they have swam fast recently at the CVC Tournament and in a dual meet with the Willoughby South Rebels. On Jan. 18, Hornets swimmers participated in the CVC Tournament at Cleveland State University.

At the CVC Tournament, Keegan Loschert had two second place finishes in the Valley Division. Loschert finished 2nd in the 200 IM (2:30.94), and also got second place in the Girls 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:16.2.

Leading the Hornets Boys Swim Team at the CVC Tournament on Jan. 18 was sophomore Tommy Loncar and senior Elliot Hostelley.

Loncar finished 5th in the Boys 50-Yard Free (25.08), and fourth in the Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke (1:11.05). In addition, Hostelley finished in fourth place in the 200-Yard Free (2:04.22) and third in the 500-Yard Free.

Then, on Jan. 24, in a dual meet with the Willoughby South Rebels, Loschert won the Girls 500-Yard Free and the Girls 100-Yard Breaststroke.

Loschert said that her performance at the CVC Tournament went very well as she dropped three seconds in both the 100-Yard Breaststroke and the 200 IM.

In swimming this season, Loschert said that she has focused on keeping a positive mindset.

“I just try to keep my thoughts very positive because that helps me swim faster,” Loschert said. “If I think negatively I don't swim as well. So, I just try to think positive thoughts.”

Loncar also won two races, the Boys 100Yard Breaststroke and the Boys 200 Yard Free on Jan. 24 in the dual meet with the Rebels.

Loncar was very happy with his performance in the 200-Yard Free against the Rebels.

Loncar attributed the significant drop in time to changing his training methods.

“This season I have been trying to ex pand my training and I am training a lot more than I did last year,” Loncar said. “I have a lot of goals and I'm really trying to be the best I can be by my senior year and hopefully make it to states.”

Another main goal of Loncar's is to break

February Students of the Month

The Kirtland Kiwanis “Students of the Month” for February 2026 are fifth-grader James Ray, of Kirtland Elementary School, sixth-grader Avery Koprowski, of Kirtland Middle School, and 10th-grader Shawn Haines, of Kirtland High School.

The Kiwanis sponsors the “Students of the Month.” The principal and staff chose one student from each school to be recog nized. Each student has their picture tak en, receives a certificate and a T-shirt that says, “Student of the Month.”

Kirtland Schools

MKirtland High School inducted 22 new National Honor Society members on December 11th. Thank you to Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Crockett for leading this group and organizing such a wonderful event! Congratulations to: Julian Aldom, Howard Ayers, Haley Bertovic, Ben Bran dal, Tommy Caimi, Tage Crisci, Karli DiFranco, Adam Domes, Anna Dumstorff, Ethan Amlaw, Bria Golem, Willam Gordon. Ryan Green, Karen Hill, Maggie Kothera, Landon Leavelle, Carter Luzar, Danika Schaum, Gianna Trem, Kevin Urbanick, Alexis Vo sicky and Noah Zielaskiewicz.

At the Kirtland Qualifier with 22 teams present, the Hornets 8120 won the second place “inspire” award and were part of the winning alliance. Congratulations to the team and coaches, Ms. Grunenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Rudder, Mr. Knaus, Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship, and Mr. Morris for all of their commitment and diligence to performing at the highest level, while serving as a source of inspiration to others! Congratulations also to Buzz Buzz Sting Sting who won the innovation award and advanced to the state competition for the First Lego League (FLL).

By Chad VanArnhem, Superintendent

Our students, staff and fami lies continue to give back to our community.

Kirtland High School’s Key recently delivered $570 and essential supplies to Birthright Lake, Inc., a local charity serving women and children in Lake County, following the student organization’s first annual Fall Fest pancake breakfast fundraiser. All three schools gathered food and supplies to donate to our local food shelter. Also, congratulations to Kirtland Middle School on their fundraising efforts to support the Kirtland Area Service Council as $1,495 was donated to the group. Over 300 toys were also donated to the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.

Congratulations to our First Tech Chal-

Congratulations to Julian Aldom, Corbin MacGillis, and Charlie Whittaker who won the Academic Challenge against Streetsboro and Firelands! Thank you to our team, which includes alternates, Ethan Emlaw and Landon Leavelle, and advisor, Mrs. Duncan, for all of their hard work and efforts preparing for this event and representing KHS with excellence while having fun!

Kirtland High School has been named a Gold school on the 2025 Advanced Placement® (AP®) School Honor Roll, an honor that recognizes the school’s commitment to expanding access to rigorous coursework while ensuring strong student outcomes. Congratulations to our teachers, counselors, administrators, students, and families on the

Thank you for your continued support,

The Kirtland Public Library is located at 9267 Chillicothe Road. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about any of these programs or to register, please call the library at 440-256-7323 or visit www.kirtland.lib.oh.us.

February Programs

Used Book Sale

Feb. 7 • 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Friends of the Kirtland Public Library are hosting their quarterly book sale at the library. Small bags are $5 and large bags are $8. Cash and credit cards are accepted. Head to the back door to find some treasures.

Tech Trainer Appointments

Beginning in January, Tech Trainer days, with Sophia, will move from Wednesdays to Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can call the reference desk to make a half hour to one-hour appointment for help with your laptop or smart phone questions.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the State Library of Ohio.

Special Events

Jewelry Paper Quilling Craft

Feb. 13 • 1:30 p.m.

Do you love unique crafts? Come on in and learn paper quilling with us. A fun and relaxing craft that can be transformed into any number of items, possibly including jewelry. If you love it, we even have a kit that can be checked out from our Library of Things. Registration is required.

Knit & Crochet

Feb. 17 • 6 p.m.

March 2 • 6 p.m.

Drop in and get hooked with our knit and crochet club. Bring your own supplies and enjoy an evening of creating and chatting with fellow crafters.

No Pressure Book Discussion

Feb. 23 • 1:30 p.m.

Ready for some new book suggestions?

Bring any recommendations for good books you have read and get some new

Kirtland Public Library

ideas too. Bring a bag lunch if you like. Just drop in; no registration required.

Cookbook

Club

Feb. 24 • 6 p.m.

Do you want to expand your kitchen skills? Every month, we cook up a new dish from a different theme. Bring your own place setting and beverage and the dish you prepare. Please sign up for more information. The theme for February is any Rachael Ray cookbook, your choice. Make one dish for the group to share and enjoy an evening of food and fun.

What’s The Deal With AI?

March 3 • 6 p.m.

In this presentation, the Tech Trainer will explain the basics of AI, its pros and cons and how to use various AI programs. Registration required.

Red Cross Blood Drive

March 3 • 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To register for the blood drive at the library, go to RedCrossBlood.org and search for the drive using the sponsor code: Kirtlandlibrary

Youth Programs

Lapsit

Tuesdays • 10 a.m.

Bounces, rhymes, one book, scarves and shakers, geared for families with children under the age of 3. No need to register.

Storytime

Wednesdays • 10 a.m.

Enjoy great books, rhymes, songs, and surprises with your child. This storytime is geared for families with children aged 5 and under. No need to register.

Special Events

Register for events at www.kirtland.lib.oh.us

LEGO Club

Feb. 7 • 10:30 a.m.

Families, spend an hour building with the library's LEGO bricks. Once you have completed your creation, you will place it on display until the next LEGO Club.

How

to Mend a Heart Story & Craft

Feb. 9 • 10:30 a.m.

Children up through age 5 will hear “How to Mend a Heart” by Sara Gillingham and create a craft based on the story. Please register for this event.

Valentine-Making Smorgasbord

Feb. 9 • 2 p.m.

This valentine-making session is for kids of all ages. Attendees will create valentines of their own design. The library provides the supplies; attendees provide artistic inspiration. This is a good place to bring friends for an unstructured, artsy hour of valentine-making fun. Please register for this event.

3D Printed Jewelry Boxes

Feb. 10 • 4 p.m.

Attendees who are in grades 6-12 will create a 3D printed jewelry box using Tinkercad. This class is designed for beginners; no previous experience with Tinkercad is necessary. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the State Library of Ohio.

Artisan Bread

Feb. 21 • 10:30 a.m.

Kids in grades K-5th, bring your favorite adult with you to be your assistant as you create artisan bread dough. You will take the dough home and let it rise on your counter for 24-48 hours before baking it. Please register for this event.

Coding Club

Feb. 24 • 4 p.m.

Students from grades 3-5 are invited to join us for coding club. Using Code.org, we will learn the basics of how to code. No prior coding knowledge is required and laptops will be provided. Please register to attend. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the State Library of Ohio.

Meet Me at the Library

Feb. 27 • 10:30 a.m.

Families with children ages 5 and under come make friends as you play. We will bring out toys that are not always out in the department. What will you find this month? Please register for this event.