Home / Newsletters / Ohio / Geauga County / June 16, 2025

🎪 Festival frenzy

Geauga County • June 16, 2025

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Good morning, Geauga County. The annual Unity Days festival kicks off next week with a show of force that would impress even the Secret Service—over 20 police officers, surveillance cameras, and even a K-9 unit will ensure the three-day celebration remains the family-friendly affair it's been for more than a decade. While officials beef up security, visitors can look forward to carnival rides, live music from tribute bands, and that quintessential small-town tradition—a Sunday parade capped with Friday night fireworks.

Meanwhile, a remarkable culinary odyssey is making a local stop as Judy and Mike McNamara visit their 514th Texas Roadhouse in Willoughby next week. The retired couple has transformed their golden years into a meaty adventure spanning the nation's highways. In less appetizing news, Cleveland Clinic is adjusting to demographic realities by downsizing pediatric care at Hillcrest Hospital, reflecting Northeast Ohio's aging population and declining birth rates.

🌤 Sky Skoop

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☕️ What's Brewing Locally

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🎡 Mayfield Heights promises safety at upcoming Unity Days festival. The annual community celebration returns June 20-22 at City Park with enhanced security measures including over 20 police officers, cameras, and a K-9 unit. Officials emphasize the event has been incident-free for more than a decade, addressing concerns after recent youth disruptions at nearby festivals. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, live music from bands like Bon Journey and Ace Molar, dog shows, and traditional favorites including a parade on the final day. The weekend culminates with fireworks on June 21 following a full schedule of family-friendly activities.

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🥩 This couple is eating their way through every Texas Roadhouse in America. Judy and Mike McNamara will visit their 514th location in Willoughby, Ohio on June 19, marking another milestone in their quest to hit all 600+ restaurants nationwide. The retired couple began their journey in earnest after Judy left her 45-year paper mill career in 2017, planning trips around museums, national parks, and Texas Roadhouse stops. Beyond the "home cooking" food they love, the McNamaras cherish the connections they've made with staff, including a manager who once gave Mike the shirt off his back. Fans can follow their meaty adventure on Facebook as they continue their cross-country steakhouse pilgrimage.

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🏥 Cleveland Clinic downsizes pediatric care amid aging population shift. The hospital will close its 14-bed inpatient pediatric unit at Hillcrest Hospital on August 5, replacing it with a smaller nine-bed short-stay unit. The freed-up space will be converted to expand adult care services, responding to Northeast Ohio's demographic trends of lower birth rates and an aging population. All staff currently working in the pediatric unit will be offered positions elsewhere in the Cleveland Clinic system. Other pediatric services at Hillcrest—including the emergency department and neonatal care—will continue operating.

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🏡 Real Estate Reveals

Real estate listing image Updated spacious rural escape: Priced at $414,900, this private retreat on 1.6 acres offers an open floor plan with granite kitchen, first-floor primary suite, two upstairs bedrooms, finished walk-out basement, and recent updates including a new roof in 2024.
Real estate listing image Stately ranch awaits construction: This $615,000 to-be-built ranch, called the Tisbury, offers three bedrooms, a great room adjacent to the kitchen, and a luxury master suite. Base price includes an Essence Package and average lot costs ranging from $135K to $157K.
Real estate listing image Lavish Canyon Lakes masterpiece awaits: This custom $898,000 new-build in Canyon Lakes boasts a chef's kitchen, first-floor in-law suite, and luxurious master with four total bedrooms, all minutes from Chagrin Falls Village Square.

🙏 In Remembrance

Marlene Marie Pellegrine

Marlene Pellegrine, 70, of Middlefield, passed away on June 12, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. Born to Michael and June Morosko in 1954, she married Albert "Cookie" Pellegrine and together they raised four children. Marlene worked as a nurse's assistant at Heather Hill and enjoyed baking and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her four children, three grandchildren, two brothers, and a sister, while being preceded in death by her husband and parents. Funeral services will be held at Sly Family Funeral Home on June 17-18, 2025, with burial at Middlefield Cemetery.

Marlene Marie Pellegrine

Marsha Ann Fischer

Marsha Fischer (née Colwill), 88, of Chesterland, Ohio, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, surrounded by family. A graduate of Ohio State University with a master's from Western Reserve University, she was a dedicated educator who taught in the Euclid City School District and later became a successful real estate entrepreneur. Throughout her life, Marsha balanced her roles as a gifted teacher, devoted mother to three children, loving grandmother to three, and skilled homemaker and businesswoman who rehabbed eighteen homes. Known for her vibrant personality, warm smile, and infectious laughter, Marsha's legacy of faith, generosity, and service will be remembered by all who knew her.

Marsha Ann Fischer

Joan Spangler

Joan E. Spangler, 84, of Chardon, passed away on June 13, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church and worked as a nurse for Cleveland Clinic and West Geauga Schools for over 35 years, after earning her BSN-RN from St. John College. Joan and her husband Paul, who preceded her in death, founded Drummond Corporation in 1979. She is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and extended family, and will be remembered for her generosity, love of travel, and enjoyment of hosting family gatherings.

Joan Spangler
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