If you are a Geauga County resident maple syrup flows in your veins. On April 20, the yearly Maple Syrup Hall of Fame breakfast, Rotarian Paul Newman was recognized for his four decades of service to the Maple Festival held yearly in Chardon, Ohio in the month of April.
Paul has served in multiple positions in the organizing and running of the festival and has allowed it to become a major event in the social activities of the county. The tradition of maple syrup and pancakes was the idea for the 70-year Burton-Middlefield Rotary (BMR) pancake breakfast on Sundays in March. In addition to his service to the Maple Festival, Paul also has served in many other community positions. He has been a twenty-five-year member of the Geauga County Library board of directors, an author with numerous published books to his credit, a practicing attorney, an active member of BMR and a host of other community positions and activities. The festival also recognized the many producers of maple candy and syrup in multiple categories and types.
First place winner overall for all types of syrup this year was won by the Burton Chamber of Commerce syrup production crew staffed and manned by numerous community volunteers including Rotarian Tom Blair. The delicious breakfast, including (obviously) pancakes and syrup, was put on by the Geauga Farm Bureau and members of the Geauga Maple Committee at the grounds of the Geauga County Historical Society in Burton and included tours of the phenomenal Maple Museum which is a must-see destination in Geauga County.
