POST Wednesday, October 30, 2024 • Vol. 17 No. 12 • FREE
PreSort Std U.S. Postage PAID Middlefield, OH 44062 Permit No. 77
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Middlef ield Geauga Transit Launches Wheels to Work Program By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Geauga County residents who have been depending on Geauga Transit buses for rides to work every day won’t have to schedule daily pickup anymore. Through the new Wheels to Work program, daily bus routes connecting Middlefield and Chardon, and one along U.S. Route 422 will link non-driving residents to their jobs. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for W2W at the county transit yard on Merritt Road in Claridon Township launched the program Oct. 10 with a number of Geauga Transit employees, elected officials, balloons and the newest bus in attendance. JoAnna Santilli, Geauga Transit director, told the audience the program is creating a stir among her customers. “I have one gentleman who has been riding with us for approximately 30 years,” she said. He has been making that phone call every day to ensure he has a way into work and he is only one of many who is delighted with the new system, Santilli said. Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak said soon after he became a commissioner six years ago, he met with Lake County representatives “over a cup of coffee” to discuss various ways the two counties could collaborate. W2W is an example of the counties working together. “Everything grows with collaboration,” he said. The W2W program is receiving funding from the recently-created Ohio Department of Transportation Workforce Mobility program, according to a press release from Geauga Transit, which is partnering with Laketran through a fiveyear contract, said Ben Capelle, Laketran CEO. “We’re going to focus on the Amish,” Capelle said during the
ANN WISHART/KMG
Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak cuts the ribbon at the celebration of the new program, Wheels to Work, at Geauga County Transit on Merritt Road in Claridon Township. The program to provide transportation to industrial and commercial workplaces for Geauga residents who don’t drive was launched Oct. 10.
ceremony, adding the collaboration leading to the grant between the agencies and county commissioners started in 2021. The W2W program will “get Geauga Transit to the next level and meet their customers’ needs,” he said. Capelle said the $1.78 million infrastructure investment grant was created by a special set of funds from the governor’s office to operate the service and help buy up to nine new propane-fueled buses for the program. Geauga Transit purchased the propane-fueled Terra Transit buses from TESCO Bus of Oregon, Ohio. The agency anticipates the buses will provide 35% fuel savings, according to the press release. The W2W program has only been in operation a few weeks, but the number of people using the buses on the new collection routes has increased with an average of seven or eight riders in each of the buses, Capelle said. Geauga Transit expects to hire four new employees as word gets around and demand for the service rises, he said. The cost for a ride has not gone up and a regular rider can buy a pass to his or her workplace to
Geauga Transit Providing Free Rides to Vote The Geauga Transit Vote & Ride program is giving Geauga County residents free public transportation to vote early or at polls on Election Day, Nov. 5. “Transportation should never hinder anyone from exercising their right to vote,” said Laketran CEO Ben Capelle in a statement. “We are committed to ensuring that Geauga residents have the necessary access to participate in the election, whether that means getting to the polls on Nov. 5 or voting early.” County residents can take the local regional transit service for free to their polling location on Nov. 5, or to the Geauga County Board of Elections, 470 Center St., building 6, in Chardon for early voting, GT said in a press release. Early voting started Oct. 8 and continues until Nov. 3. Polling locations in Geauga County are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. There is no in-person voting at the board of elections. Geauga Transit provides door-to-door transit service throughout county and requires a reservation, which can be made as early as one week prior to your trip and as late as the same day, according to GT. It is recommended to call as early as possible as reservations are made on a first-call, first-serve basis. To schedule a reservation, call Geauga Transit Dispatch at 440-754-5555. For early voting times or to find your voting location, contact the board of elections at 440-279-2030 or visit www.boe.ohio.gov/geauga. avoid paying for every pickup, he said. “We want to get as many people to work as possible,” he said. Another route in the Chester-Russell township area of northwest Geauga is under consideration, officials said.
Also present to congratulate Geauga Transit on its program were Ohio Sen. Sandra O’Brien, State Rep. Steve Demetriou and Katie Burger from the office of U.S. Congressman David Joyce. TESCO sponsored the event and a lunch for participants.
Halloween Trick or Treat Residents wishing to have their homes visited are asked to leave a porch or outside light on. Children are asked to stop only at homes with lights on. Huntsburg Township: Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. Middlefield: Oct. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual cider, doughnuts and costume contest just after 7 p.m. at the Middlefield Fire Station. Parkman: Nov. 1: 6:308 p.m. at Parkman Community House. Bring the kids for trickor-treating, games, goodies and music. New this year is a trunk or treat option in the parking spaces directly in front of the Community House. Call 440-548-2939 to reserve an outdoor space.