Great Fall Hikes, Geauga-Style
In Northeast Ohio, it’s tough to find scenery that isn’t an “I-can’t-believe-I-live-here” fall vista.
Our good luck aside, we asked the folks at the Geauga Park District for their favorite leaf-peeping hikes for gobsmacking autumn scenery. Here’s naturalist Trevor Wearstler’s take on it:
“Honestly, anywhere with an open field or meadow where you can see the treeline would be good: Burton Wetlands Reservation, Observatory Park or Frohring Meadows, off the cuff. An especially popular new location for fall foliage is Veterans Legacy Woods. Not only does the park itself catch fire with colors, but you can see miles of fall colors into the distance from the entrance.”
He continues, “As for my personal suggestion, The Maple Highlands Trail can take you along 21 miles of color, including a lot of open areas where the leaves generally begin to change first.”
Another favorite place (from Boomer editor Marie Elium) is Welton’s Gorge, just outside of Burton. The Rookery is terrific, too.
Get directions at geaugaparkdistrict.org.
Don’t Complain; Vote
Taxes, roads, schools. We all know people who gripe about stuff but don’t bother to do anything about it. A simple way to make your voice heard is at the ballot box.
You’re in luck if you want to be a more informed voter for the Nov. 5 general election. Cuyahoga County Public Library is hosting several programs to help clarify the issues and candidates on the ballot.
The library system is partnering with Signal Cleveland, the League of Women Voters and the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to offer a series of voter education seminars at library branches throughout Cuyahoga County, now through the end of October.
The only thing worse than not voting is not knowing what you’re voting for. Topics range from key issues on the ballot, the origins of our voting system, and key dates for voter registration and mail-in ballots. If you’ve got a question, someone will have the answer.
Learn more by going to the Cuyahoga County Public Library website, cuyahogalibrary.org/voter-education.
Heating Help: Stay Warm, Not Broke
HWAP. HEAP. PIPP. The alphabet soup of letters boils down to lower utility bills for low-income residents, with priority typically given to older adults.
The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) helps people make their homes more energy-efficient with insulation, upgraded heating system repairs and more. Call 800-282-0880 or go to energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply.
HEAP offers a one-time payment for utility customers in need. Household income can’t exceed $26,355 for one person, or $35,770 for two. Download an application at development.ohio.gov or pick one up at a community action agency, post office or library.
And finally, PIPP Plus (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) helps low-income families make more affordable monthly payments year-round for their utilities. You can apply through your local utility provider.
Local Singer Releases New, Nostalgic Album
Avon Lake’s Jerry Popiel is a popular singer-songwriter, well-known among local audiences who will undoubtedly welcome his album “Edgewater” when it’s released this November.
Popiel tells us the folk-country-rock music “captures a nostalgic look at life in the days before computers ruled daily life.” Many of the songs have a familiar edge. The title track recalls “pining for summer classics like mayflies, cottonwoods, driftwood, spitting watermelon seeds and old El Caminos sitting in the driveway.”
He sings about tugboat crews working on the Cuyahoga in “Collision Bend.” We’re on board for Popiel’s musical nostalgia. Find the album and his other original music on Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube, Spotify and other streaming outlets.
Home Alone (With a Twist)
If you’re a fan of Ohio-based detective novels, you know about Wooster’s Bob Adamov. His mystery-adventure books based in Put-in-Bay have created a legion of fans, near and far.
Bob’s new book has a familiar storyline with an unexpected spin. “Alone at Home” takes the Christmas classic “Home Alone” movie theme and spins a tale of a curmudgeonly 80-year-old who’s spending Christmas watching a cat.
Adamov tells us his new book is humorous, heartwarming and ultimately, a tale of redemption. You can find it on Amazon or at packardislandpublishing.com.
