The Ohio Senate has approved legislation to designate the month of March as “Ohio Maple Syrup Products Month.”

Not your most Earth-shaking news, perhaps, but there may be some interest to people who love the sweet-tasting topping and especially to folks who live in Geauga County, where maple syrup production is serious business.

The legislation will need to clear the Ohio House of Representatives before it would move on to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.

State Sens. John Eklund, R-Munson Township, and Capri Cafaro, D-Hubbard, each represent portions of Geauga County in the Ohio Senate and they jointly sponsored the legislation - Senate Bill 272.

John Eklund

Capri Cafaro

In a news release, the legislators said the bipartisan bill intends to recognize Ohio for its rich maple syrup history dating back to the early Native Americans.

Eklund said Ohio is one of the top five maple producing states in the country and in 2013, the 100,000 gallons of maple syrup produced in Ohio contributed $5 million to the state’s economy.




John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Michael Wager opens campaign office in Solon

Michael Wager, the Democratic Party candidate to run in November for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, recently opened up a campaign office in Solon.

Wager of Moreland Hills will face two opponents in the election.

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of Russell Township who won a Republican Party primary to secure his party’s nomination to run again.

Solon Libertarian David Macko will also appear on the ballot as he was unopposed in his party’s primary.

The congressional district consists of all of Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties, plus portions of Cuyahoga, Portage, Summit and Trumbull counies.

Wager said in a news release to announce the office's opening that it will take a strong grassroots effort to defeat Joyce.

“I’m proud that our campaign has the support of so many enthusiastic volunteers who are ready to fight for working families, for women, for seniors and for students in Ohio’s 14th District,” Wager said.

Wager said his campaign would focus on the need to create jobs at livable wages, including raising the minimum wage.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
@newsheraldjah