Wednesday, September 3, 2025 • Vol. 18 No. 8 • FREE
Girls Golf Era Begins at Cardinal By Haley Adams sports@karlovecmedia.com
HALEY ADAMS/KMG
Cardinal has a girls golf team for the first time in school history. The team is made up of, from left, Layla Marcum, Cambrya Kitzmiller, Kaitlyn Omlor, Cecilia Kaplan and Hope Hickox.
When head coach Mike Toplian took over the golf responsibilities at Cardinal High School five years ago, he always had high expectations for what his program would look like. He has already captured an undefeated regular season, two conference championships, several district qualifiers, and now began a new journey of creating the first ever girls’ golf team. “The Huskies golf program has developed into one of the most successful and consistent small school programs in NE Ohio,” Toplian said. “While we will not measure success in terms of wins with the girls this year, we will focus on learning the fundamentals of the game, golf swing, and course management.
Toplian said he encourages them to be patient and just get a little better each day. “It can be hard to be patient but that is what it will take as the girls develop,” the coach said. “We will look for opportunities to give them the best chance of success.” The Huskies opened up play on the road on July 30 against Pymatuning Valley. If not opening up your season for the very first time wasn’t tough enough, the Huskies have made the switch from the Chagrin Valley Conference to the Northeastern Athletic Conference. There are a lot of tough, small teams in the NAC, like the Lakers, the Badger Braves and the Bristol Panthers. Another tough task the Huskies face during this short season is a lot of NAC schools lack a girls golf See Golf • Page 6
Body Art Permitted at Middlefield Salon Planning Commission Discusses Kaballos By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
Jennifer’s Hair Obsession beauty salon, at 15622 West High Street, was granted a conditional use permit Aug. 14 to add a body art service to the shop. The salon’s owners, Jennifer and Justin Filla, and Tori Worthen, tattoo specialist, explained to the the Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission their plans to expand their services. “I definitely want to expand here. I grew up here. I like the small town vibe,” Jennifer said, presenting letters supporting her plans. “I have lots of clients who come here. I’d rather bring money from Willoughby than send people there.” She asked if a former tattoo parlor across the street from her venue should have had a permit. “That other one fell through the cracks,” said village Zoning Inspector John Boksansky, who voiced no objection to the commission approving a conditional permit to Jennifer’s operation.
Worthen said she did not know the village had an ordinance requiring tattoo parlors to have permits. “I didn’t mean to overstep at all,” she said, noting two of her top priorities are safety and cleanliness. Jennifer said Worthen doesn’t use an autoclave to ensure her equipment is disinfected, preferring to use disposable tools. “Everything goes in the garbage. Honestly, it’s the better way to do it,” Jennifer said, adding a tattoo operation is inspected by the local health department and the Ohio State Board of Cosmetologists keeps an eye on tattoo parlors, as well. Mayor Ben Garlich confirmed a tattoo parlor is not on the list of approved permits, which refers to a list of businesses that do not have to come before the commission to operate. On the recommendation of commission member Dave Dietrich, the permit was contingent on the salon maintaining licenses from the Ohio State Board of Cosmetologists and the Geauga Public Health.
ANN WISHART/KMG
From left, Jennifer Filla, Tori Worthen and Justin Filla receive the okay from Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission to add a tattoo operation to Jennifer’s Hair Obsession, a salon on West High Street owned by the Fillas. Worthen is the body art specialist.
Kaballos Future Uncertain
In other business, Garlich said the owner of Kaballos Mexican Restaurant and Bar at 15585 West High St. is working with the insurance company to determine whether they want to tear down the building that was heavily damaged in a fire in April. The roof has been covered with blue tarps for months. “We can’t let this go on for two years,” Garlich said, adding the insurance company is recommending demolition. The building, about 20 years
old, would be expensive to rebuild, he noted. “At some point, (Middlefield Village Council) may declare it a nuisance,” said village legal counsel Luke McConville. “I don’t want to do that. I think that restaurant is an asset to this community,” Garlich said, adding if the owner wants to rebuild and beat the winter weather, he would have to decide soon. “We have solid nuisance condition (regulations),” McConville See Planning • Page 3
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Community Meetings Listed are upcoming public meetings and executive sessions in Huntsburg, Middlefield and Parkman townships, the Village of Middlefield and Cardinal Schools. (Please note: These meeting notices are NOT legal notices.) Huntsburg Township: Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings held at the Town Hall, 16534 Mayfield Road. Middlefield Township: Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at Township Office, 15228 Madison Road, unless otherwise noted. Middlefield Village: Sept. 9, 5:15 p.m. – Streets, Sidewalks & Utilities Committee, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission; Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m. – Recreation, 6 p.m. – Finance & Ordinance, 6:30 p.m. – Safety, 7 p.m. – Village Council. All meetings are at the Municipal Center, 14860 N. State Ave. Parkman Township: Sept. 16, 7 p.m., Board of Trustees. All meetings are held at the Parkman Community House, 16295 Main Market Road, unless otherwise noted. Cardinal BOE: Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., regular meeting; Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., meeting/work session. All meetings held at BOE Office, 15982 E. High St., Middlefield, unless otherwise indicated.
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