Wednesday, July 10, 2024 • Vol. 17 No. 4 • FREE
Marketplace Mall Moves to New Location Former Rite Aid Houses Expanded Store, Grand Opening July 12-13 Submitted The Marketplace Mall in Middlefield recently announced it is moving to a new location. A grand opening is scheduled for Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13, with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. July 12. Everyone is welcome. “We are so excited about this new beginning,” said MM manager Maureen Foldesi, adding she and her husband, Frank Foldesi, have been working non-stop on the transition. During the month of June, MM moved to 15596 W. High St., two
miles away from their previous location on Nauvoo Road. The new building used to house the former Rite Aid store. “The new store has even more space for shopping and it’s all on one level – no more stairs,” Foldesi said. Many of the current vendors moved with The Marketplace Mall to its new location and MM will continue to offer U-Haul rentals and service. The store will feature a constantly-changing array of new, used, vintage and antique merchandise, Foldesi said. “You never know what you will
Moody’s OKs Cardinal Schools Bond Rating By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Cardinal Schools has gained a rung on Moody’s Rating ladder, district Treasurer Terry Armstrong told the board of education June 26. “I was hoping for two rungs, but that’s not typical. They did consider it,” he said. “They upgraded it because our balance has stayed pretty consistent.” Armstrong provided a summary of Moody’s findings and the district’s actions, as well as an explanation of why the ratings are important. “Bond rating is used to measure the creditworthiness of a bond issuance, which can directly impact the cost of borrowing for a school district,” he said. “We were upgraded to Baa2 from Baa3. Our goal, of course, is to continue moving upward and get in the good quality area (A1-A3) in the next two years.” Cardinal, which draws students from Middlefield Village and Township, Huntsburg Township and Parkman Township, has seen its
enrollment fall, affecting its revenue and Moody’s Rating. The 20232024 enrollment was 702. The previous year, it was 754 and the year before that, it was 784, he said in a follow-up interview. However, Armstrong told the board because of federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief funding following the COVID-19 pandemic, the district is on safer fiscal ground with a general fund surplus of about $1.3 million for the 2024-2025 school year. In his summary, Armstrong noted he discussed the district’s work to right-size its facilities by closing Jordak Elementary School and lowering the number of staff, primarily through attrition. Moody’s saw Cardinal’s low debt as a positive point, he said. “We currently hold three debts. One is backed by the bond issue approved for the building at the time the middle school (now a K-6 building) which will be paid off completely in December, 2025,” he said See Rating • Page 3
find at The Marketplace Mall,” she added. More than 45 vendors will have space for what Foldesi calls their own “micro businesses.” Each booth is curated by a different individual, according to their interests. For example, Dave Davis, aka Dave the Doorman, has one-of-akind pieces, such as repurposed antiques and functional items, by combining modern and industrial in his creations. “You aren’t going to find unusual items like this in a big box store,” Foldesi said. “Dave is just one of the reasons it pays to shop small.” Another vendor, Camille Walsh,
specializes in antique and vintage jewelry, and loves to share her many years of experience with customers while they search for the perfect ring or necklace, Foldesi said. “All of our vendors bring something unique to the store,” she added. “We have a little bit of everything for everyone.” The Marketplace Mall will expand its offerings with the addition of refrigerated units that can be leased to individual vendors. “We’re hoping to attract some of the great local farmers to share their wares with us,” Foldesi said. The store has also launched a new website, www.shopmiddlefield. com, as part of its expansion.
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Students Represent Cardinal At State Honor Choir
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Cardinal Elementary School students Vanessa S., Addison C., Emberlyn L., Olivia F., Andi F. and Harper T. represented the school at the 2024 Ohio Choral Directors Association Treble Honor Choir in June. They rehearsed with other nominated singers from all over Ohio at Capital University in Bexley. The group was led by guest conductor Elizabeth Hainrihar, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Wittenberg University.
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