<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0NtwcR_0m6CEytG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0NtwcR_0m6CEytG00" width="1355" height="1045" ></figure>For the last 92 years, the Geauga County Maple Festival has been a community tradition on Chardon Square.The festival, one of the first to take place in the county, kicked off this year on April 27 and will run through the April 30. For Bob Freeman, a syrup producer and a director on the festival board, the Maple Fest has been a part of his life for the last 30 years.“It’s a great thing to have,” he said. “It’s been around for a long, long time and it’s great to have community support.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0VxrIl_0m6CEytG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VxrIl_0m6CEytG00" width="1860" height="1394" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3fp1Dw_0m6CEytG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3fp1Dw_0m6CEytG00" width="1860" height="1395" ></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2iQ4dS_0m6CEytG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2iQ4dS_0m6CEytG00" width="1860" height="1516" ></figure>The festival’s origin starts with Art Carlson, who was a local merchant on Chardon Square who wanted to increase awareness of maple syrup production, as well as its price. When he told some friends about his idea, they started planning the first festival.“It’s something the community loves every year,” said Brad Sekas, who has helped out at the festival since 2015. “It doesn’t matter what the weather is. You get everybody out and about, and you also have the opportunity to help some of the small, local businesses.”Since being involved with the festival, Sekas has become a committee member and director. He is currently serving on the festival’s executive board.One of the mainstays of the festival is the maple syrup stirs, which have continued to draw people over the years.“We have about 1,000 pounds of syrup that we’re hoping to go through depending on how the weather treats us,” Sekas said. “It’s a tradition we want to keep going on for another 92 years.”In the stir booth at the festival, the syrup is heated to 234 degrees, what Sekas describes as the magic number and the temperature that turns it into a soft candy.“We heat it up in a steam kettle, take it off and serve it,” he said. “If you cook it not enough, it never turns. It gets very grainy and sugary.”Sekas moved to Chardon in 2018 and his connections with people led him to his involvement in the festival.“There was a guy stepping down off the board, so that’s how I got involved,” he said. “It wasn’t something I grew up with, but something I learned when I started coming up here.”Sekas estimates serving somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 maple syrup stirs per year. At last year’s Maple Fest, more than 10,000 stirs were sold.For Heather Penrod, president of the Kiwanis Club of Chardon, she enjoys socializing at the Maple Fest, as well as giving back to kids in the community.The Chardon Kiwanis has been a part of the Maple Fest for the last 50 years, Penrod said.“My dad was a Kiwanis member over 30 years ago, so he always brought me to volunteer and help throughout the years,” she said. “Finally, about 10 years ago, I joined myself.”The Chardon Kiwanis sources all of its products from Richards Maple Products, Inc., a Chardon area syrup producer.“We fundraise and our money goes to scholarships for Chardon community kids, and different things throughout the year that we do,” Penrod said. “We sell maple cotton candy. It brings the community together.”<ul><li>Tags: </li></ul><h2>Marah Morrison | reporter</h2>Marah Morrison is a multimedia journalist who joined The News-Herald in 2020. In addition to Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools, her beats include the cities of Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, Eastlake and Willowick. Marah is a 2019 Youngstown State University graduate and has always had a goal to be a voice for people. Aside from hard news and local government stories, she enjoys writing human interest stories, as well as features on people, and old and new businesses. When she is not doing journalism, Marah enjoys traveling, and spending time with her family and her friends. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

The 92nd Geauga County Maple Festival kicks off on Chardon Square

For the last 92 years, the Geauga County Maple Festival has been a community tradition on Chardon Square. The festival, one of the first to take place in the county, kicked off this year on April 27 and will run through the April 30. For Bob Freeman, a syrup producer and a director on the festival board, the Maple Fest has been a part of his life for the last 30 years.