Wednesday, July 12, 2023 • Vol. 16 No. 4 • FREE
Chamber of Commerce to Meet July 18 The Middlefield Chamber of Commerce’s next regular business meeting is set for July 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Harrington Square Mall, 15561 Kinsman Road, Middlefield. All chamber members are invited to attend. There are three new businesses – Grand River Grounds, Crystal’s and Troyer’s Home Bakery – in Harrington Square where attendees can purchase a drink or food. This event is sponsored by Karlovec Media Group (Middlefield Post), Flowers by Emily and John’s Country Nursery. The meeting will feature CPR Instructor Kay Misink. In addition to an informative presentation, she is offering CPR certifications to the first 20 chamber members who reserve a spot. The cost for a certification is $25, with the option of an extra certification from The Heart Association for $25. If more than 20 people are interested in this opportunity, the chamber will plan for a future session. Contact chamber director Marcia Bryson at 440-6325705 or 440-487-7601 to register for the CPR certification. For information on joining the chamber of commerce, visit online at middlefieldcc.com . You do not need to be registered for the CPR certification to come to this meeting.
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Middlef ield Fire District Asking for 4.7-Mill Replacement Levy in November By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com
The East Geauga Fire District board recently voted to begin the process of placing a continuing, 4.7mill levy on the November ballot to help support the Middlefield Village Fire Department’s work force.
The levy would replace the district’s current five-year, 2.8-mill levy, which has been falling short in supporting the department’s staff, said Lt. Ben Reed, adding MVFD has been using up its carryover reserves to cover last year’s wage increases that were necessary to staff the station.
“It’s a workforce thing that’s killing us,” he said in a phone interview last week. Qualified firefighters and emergency medical personnel are not easy to find and the department’s personnel are all part time, he said, adding attracting and keeping See Levy • Page 2
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From left are Geauga County Commissioner Jim Dvorak, Burton Middlefield Rotary member; Beth Mahne, Pleasant Hills Golf Club co-owner; and Mike Valentino, BMR president.
Pleasant Hills Golf Club Donates for Kids Submitted Jim Dvorak with the Burton Middlefield Rotary (BMR) presents a plaque to Beth Mahne and Sal Forlani, of the Pleasant Hills Golf Club, on June 28 as thanks
for years of donating golf carts to the Children’s Special Needs Fishing event that was held May 18 at Walter C. Best Wild Life Preserve. Initiated by Dvorak in 2012, the program is for special needs children to come fish and
enjoy a picnic lunch for the day. Geauga Park District closes the park for the special day. “The buses come in and drop off the kids and that is where the golf carts are needed. We are so grateful,” said Dvorak.
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CARDINAL SCHOOLS
Armstrong Brings Wealth of Experience to Treasurer’s Office By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com Cardinal Schools’ incoming treasurer, Terry Armstrong, sees a lot of similarities between the Cardinal community and Lordstown Schools, where he was superintendent for six years. “Middlefield’s a small town with a lot of industry,” he said in a phone interview July 1, comparing the two districts. “They have a lot of the same challenges.”
Having lived and worked in According to his candidate proNortheast Ohio all his life, Armstrong file, he has strengths in negotiation, recognizes the strengths grant writing and facilities and needs of a district with analysis along with expera large industrial sector. tise in budgeting and all Lordstown, which once the fiscal operations of a had a booming automoschool district. tive industry, was growing Since his term at its distribution facilities Lordsburg, Armstrong, when he was at the school 53, shifted from the sudistrict from 2014 to 2020 Armstrong perintendent role to that and he helped develop a of treasurer. As such, he partnership program with compa- has helped school districts in Newnies there, he said. ton Falls and Boardman navigate
through the federal funding associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. “Though the positions are different roles, both required working diligently to improve school finances while addressing district needs,” he wrote in his cover letter to Cardinal Schools Board of Education in March. He heard about the opening at Cardinal from Mike Chaffee, a retired Cardinal Schools principal who also lives in Warren, and See Armstrong • Page 3
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