Home Care In Stony Ridge, OH

“Holy cow! That’s a lot of pumpkins,” exclaims the girl sitting next me as the wagon we are riding pulls out of a stand of trees, revealing fields of bright orange pumpkins, rosy-red apples and green-and-gold corn.

This bucolic scene – complete with a bright red barn and cerulean sky – is the home of Whatcom County’s largest pumpkin patch at Stoney Ridge Farm, 2092 VanDyk Road, in Everson.

Both adults and kids have told me about Stoney Ridge Farm in the past, but I’d never ventured out to its east-county location before. My family and I have been missing out; but no more.

Our beautiful late summer melted into the fall, and we were fortunate to make it out to the farm on a sunny, dry day. (Be sure to wear boots once the weather changes!)

Open only Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and this year until Oct. 25, families have just a few opportunities to experience all the farm has to offer.

Admission is $2 per person weekdays, and $3 per person or 4 people for $10 on Saturdays. Included in the cost are wagon rides, corn maze and petting zoo.

U-pick pumpkins and apples are available as well as the pumpkins, apples, pears and squash for sale at the farm stand. Bring spending money for a treat from the bakery or the doughnut shop. And don’t forget to try the fresh-pressed apple cider.

My biggest piece of advice for a trip to Stoney Ridge Farm is simple: Bring a camera. Please, please, bring a camera. Not only is the natural setting picturesque, but the farm is filled with photo ops as well. The Gavette and Stemler families, who own and operate the farm, have done a terrific job outfitting the barns and outbuildings in a warm, whimsical country chic that makes the farm feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook.

On our visit, after selecting just the right pumpkin, we wound our way through the corn maze (twice!), made time for a few photo ops, then caught the wagon to head back up the hill to visit the craft and gift shop, drop in on the farm animals and have a snack in the bakery. The kids also discovered a small playground, while I watched the cider-making a short distance away. We could have stayed longer, but closing time was drawing near.

We had such a good time that we may just have to come back in a couple of months – Stoney Ridge Farm also offers Christmas trees and seasonal yuletide activities.

Other pumpkin patches around the county include:

Anthony Wayne, Toledo St. Francis, Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, Sylania Northview and Oregon Clay advance to Districts as a team; Josh Weisenburger, Evan Kurz, Nathan Cavanagh, Brandon Schoenherr and Ryan Rettig advance as individuals. Anthony Wayne’s Michael Distefano is medalist with 70.

FINAL RESULTS: Boys High School Golf 2023 Division I Boys Sectional Tournament Stone Ridge Golf Club, Bowling Green Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Qualifiers *: Top 5 teams and 5 individuals not on a qualifying team.

1st Anthony Wayne * 291 1. Logan Sutto 12 39 38 77 2. Myles Murphy 12 32 39 71 3. Ian Briars 12 37 36 73 4. Ted Robertson 11 40 37 77 5. Michael Distefano 10 34 36 70 MEDALIST Coach: Patrick Phillips

2nd Toledo St. Francis * 306 1. Sam Sutton 12 38 34 72 2. Nicholas Miller 11 40 35 75 3. Jack Julius 11 38 37 75 4. Ben Egan 12 45 39 84 5. Thanos Sarantou 12 45 44 89 Coach: Nathan Gullette

3rd Toledo St. John’s Jesuit * 317.086000 317 1. Carson Bruning 11 40 39 79 2. Liam McQuade 10 42 36 78 3. Cooper Johnson 10 37 41 78 4. Parker Johnson 10 41 41 82 5. Jason Loveday 10 45 41 86 Coach: Mussa Orra

4th Sylania Northview * 323.085000 323 1. Ben Graeff 12 37 38 75 2. Charles Lutz 12 42 43 85 3. Max Crooks 11 42 42 84 4. Evan Maki 10 39 43 82 5. Bode Briggs 10 42 40 82 Coach: Joey Bussdieker

5th Oregon Clay * 327 1. Brock Fussell 12 40 40 80 2. Darin Fussell 10 39 44 83 3. Kyle Rhuland 12 45 41 86 4. Ty Franke 10 39 46 85 5. Vinny Gallaher 12 37 42 79 Coach: Robert Belegrin

6th Perrysburg 336 1. Josh Weisenburger 11 39 38 77 2. Ryan Rettig 10 40 41 81 3. Asher Lattimore 10 41 46 87 4. Rhys Mandery 10 46 45 91 5. Elijah Morris 11 45 52 97 Coach: Rick Rettig

7th Defiance 349 1. Luke Webb 12 45 51 96 2. Jaren Honsberger 10 39 44 83 3. Brayden Weaver 10 40 46 86 4. Jackson Honsberger 12 41 48 89 5. Drew Hoeffel 10 48 43 91 Coach: Rick Weaver

8th Sylvania Southview 349 1. Ben Kotnik 10 45 38 83 2. Wyatt Tuschman 11 44 54 98 3. Isaac Vens 11 42 43 85 4. Kyle Freels 11 45 45 90 5. Ben Hood 11 50 41 91 Coach: K.C. Newnham

9th Bowling Green 350 1. Brandon Schoenherr 10 39 41 80 2. Nathan Cavanagh 11 40 39 79 3. Seth Gollehon 11 48 46 94 4. Ryan Thomas 11 44 55 99 5. Lukas Green 11 48 49 97 Coach: Kurt Thomas

10th Hol. Springfield 362 1. Joe Konczal 12 42 43 85 2. Evan Kurz 12 38 40 78 3. Dallas Allen 12 43 42 85 4. Drew Holmes 12 55 59 114 5. Bubba Burditt 10 61 58 119 Coach: Brad Kerns

11th Fremont Ross 368 1. Max Kelly 12 43 47 90 2. Brandon Fry 10 48 49 97 3. Robert Rich 11 41 46 87 4. Parker Brown 11 54 45 99 5. Quinn Wolf 9 51 43 94 Coach: Jim Scharer

12th Maumee 373 1. Travis Moebius 12 47 50 97 2. Noah Marvin 10 49 49 98 3. Zak Morris 11 47 42 89 4. Keaton McCullough 9 48 43 91 5. Caylob Lepper 12 50 46 96 Coach: Blake Williams

13th Whitmer 381 1. Alan Kujawa 12 43 43 86 2. Connor Westray 12 52 49 101 3. Stephen Frank 12 54 51 105 4. Seth Rister 12 46 48 94 5. Cameron Schiavone 11 52 48 100 Coach: Daniel Hunter

14th Start 462 1. Braden Bowman 11 45 44 89 2. Nathan Sadowski 11 53 56 109 3. Connor Mielke 11 67 66 133 4. Devin Brown 11 65 66 131 Coach: Matthew Wortham

15th Waite 5. John Hetz 9 62 62 124 Coach: Luke Murphy III

1 Michael Distefano Anthony Wayne 10 34 36 70 2 Myles Murphy Anthony Wayne 12 32 39 71 3 Sam Sutton Tol. St. Francis 12 38 34 72 4 Ian Briars Anthony Wayne 12 37 36 73 5 Nicholas Miller Tol. St. Francis 11 40 35 75 5 Jack Julius Tol. St. Francis 11 38 37 75 5 Ben Graeff Syl. Northview 12 37 38 75 8 Logan Sutto Anthony Wayne 12 39 38 77 8 Ted Robertson Anthony Wayne 11 40 37 77 8 Josh Weisenburger * Perrysburg 11 39 38 77 11 Evan Kurz * Hol. Springfield 12 38 40 78 11 Liam McQuade Tol. St. John’s Jesuit 10 42 36 78 11 Cooper Johnson Tol. St. John’s Jesuit 10 37 41 78 14 Nathan Cavanagh * Bowling Green 11 40 39 79 14 Vinny Gallaher Oregon Clay 12 37 42 79 14 Carson Bruning Tol. St. John’s Jesuit 11 40 39 79 17 Brandon Schoenherr * Bowling Green 10 39 41 80 17 Brock Fussell Oregon Clay 12 40 40 80 19 Ryan Rettig * Perrysburg 10 40 41 81 20 Parker Johnson Tol. St. John’s Jesuit 10 41 41 82 Evan Maki Syl. Northview 10 39 43 82 Bode Briggs Syl. Northview 10 42 40 82 23 Darin Fussell Oregon Clay 10 39 44 83 Jaren Honsberger Defiance 10 39 44 83 Ben Kotnik Syl. Southview 10 45 38 83 26 Ben Egan Tol. St. Francis 12 45 39 84 Max Crooks Syl. Northview 11 42 42 84 28 Ty Franke Oregon Clay 10 39 46 85 Joe Konczal Hol. Springfield 12 42 43 85 Dallas Allen Hol. Springfield 12 43 42 85 Charles Lutz Syl. Northview 12 42 43 85 Isaac Vens Syl. Southview 11 42 43 85 33 Kyle Rhuland Oregon Clay 12 45 41 86 Brayden Weaver Defiance 10 40 46 86 Jason Loveday Tol. St. John’s Jesuit 10 45 41 86 Alan Kujawa Whitmer 12 43 43 86 37 Robert Rich Fremont Ross 11 41 46 87 Asher Lattimore Perrysburg 10 41 46 87 39 Jackson Honsberger Defiance 12 41 48 89 Zak Morris Maumee 11 47 42 89 Thanos Sarantou Tol. St. Francis 12 45 44 89 Braden Bowman Start 11 45 44 89 43 Max Kelly Fremont Ross 12 43 47 90 Kyle Freels Syl. Southview 11 45 45 90 45 Drew Hoeffel Defiance 10 48 43 91 Keaton McCullough Maumee 9 48 43 91 Rhys Mandery Perrysburg 10 46 45 91 Ben Hood Syl. Southview 11 50 41 91 49 Seth Gollehon Bowling Green 11 48 46 94 Quinn Wolf Fremont Ross 9 51 43 94 Seth Rister Whitmer 12 46 48 94 52 Luke Webb Defiance 12 45 51 96 Caylob Lepper Maumee 12 50 46 96 54 Lukas Green Bowling Green 11 48 49 97 Brandon Fry Fremont Ross 10 48 49 97 Travis Moebius Maumee 12 47 50 97 Elijah Morris Perrysburg 11 45 52 97 58 Noah Marvin Maumee 10 49 49 98 Wyatt Tuschman Syl. Southview 11 44 54 98 60 Ryan Thomas Bowling Green 11 44 55 99 Parker Brown Fremont Ross 11 54 45 99 62 Cameron Schiavone Whitmer 11 52 48 100 63 Connor Westray Whitmer 12 52 49 101 64 Stephen Frank Whitmer 12 54 51 105 65 Nathan Sadowski Start 11 53 56 109 66 Drew Holmes Hol. Springfield 12 55 59 114 67 Bubba Burditt Hol. Springfield 10 61 58 119 68 John Hetz Waite 9 62 62 124 69 Devin Brown Start 11 65 66 131 70 Connor Mielke Start 11 67 66 133

Toledo St. Ursula Academy and Perrysburg advance to State as a team; Ava Hesselschwardt and Sophia Stanton advance as individuals. Perrysburg’s Sydney Deal is medalist with 69.

FINAL RESULTS: Girls High School Golf 2023 Division I Girls District Tournament Stone Ridge Golf Club, Bowling Green Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Qualifiers *: Top 2 teams and 2 individuals not on a qualifying team.

1st Toledo St. Ursula Academy * 340 1. Emma Myers 11 47 44 91 2. Sophia Antypas 12 43 47 90 3. Kennedy Donnelly 10 45 37 82 4. Sydney Socha 10 41 44 85 5. Lindsey Kornowa 10 38 45 83 Coach: Jim McGowan

2nd Perrysburg * 350 1. Sydney Deal 12 35 34 69 MEDALIST 2. Ariyah Ellis 12 50 43 93 3. Olivia Eisaman 12 44 42 86 4. Paige Feldkamp 12 47 55 102 5. Ella Calvin 11 53 52 105 Coach: Ryan DeLauter

3rd Toledo Notre Dame Academy 370 1. Sydney Simpson 12 44 46 90 2. Marin Gaubert 12 42 43 85 3. Macy Valentine 10 DNF DNF 4. Anna Reed 11 48 50 98 5. Rhiannon Zenz 10 48 49 97 Coach: Tony Reams

4th Anthony Wayne 377 1. Sophia Stanton 10 40 42 82 2. Madison Mitchell 12 42 44 86 3. Lila Hippert 10 52 54 106 4. Piper Phillips 9 50 53 103 5. Teaghan Gwin 10 61 54 115 Coach: Brad Matthews

5th Lexington 400 1. Makaree Chapman 11 46 42 88 2. Darcie Reinhart 12 45 52 97 3. Kyler Lamb 11 54 55 109 4. Lauryn Nupen 11 54 55 109 5. Willow Roberts 11 55 51 106 Coach: Michael Kathrein

6th Sylvania Southview 412 1. Sydney Sutton 10 50 48 98 2. Tayvian Walton 11 43 45 88 3. emma curth 11 54 59 113 4. Evvie Jackson 11 68 57 125 5. Emma Irons 10 57 56 113 Coach: Matt Fojtik

7th Ontario 417 1. Anzaya Estep 12 44 50 94 2. Delaney Moritz 10 48 62 110 3. Brooklynn Black 10 58 52 110 4. Ashley Hall 10 54 49 103 5. Alexia Sesco 10 55 62 117 Coach: Michael Ellis

8th Findlay 424 1. Ava Metz 11 43 45 88 2. Natalie Gutman 10 55 56 111 3. Josey Weihrauch 9 53 54 107 4. Lainey Ricker 9 60 58 118 5. Abigail Kasselmann 9 67 62 129 Coach: Laura Metz

9th Ashland 436 1. Lydia Wells 12 45 43 88 2. Kyah Huckleberry 11 53 41 94 3. Elleni Miller 10 56 52 108 4. Natalie Kohler 9 74 73 147 5. Carly Wyatt 11 75 71 146 Coach: Mason Berry

10th Norwalk 449 1. Kilee Duncan 11 57 55 112 2. Katie Wolcott 12 56 55 111 3. Grace Wiegel 11 56 57 113 4. Evelyn Welschenbach 10 52 61 113 5. Kennedy Leto 12 66 78 144 Coach: Kate Brutcher

11th Bowling Green 1. Lily Pollick 12 52 49 101 Coach: Paige Bulkeley

Celina 1. Maddie Fleck 12 41 42 83 2. Sara Tester 12 55 45 100 Coach: Madelynn Sudhoff

Oregon Clay 1. Isabelle Vriezelaar 12 42 42 84 Coach: Kevin Crosson

Columbian 1. Jessica Herron 12 52 56 108 Coach: Tony Vasko

Defiance 1. Ava Hesselschwardt 9 39 39 78 Coach: Patrick Murphy

Madison Comprehensive 1. Kyleigh Reiter 12 55 55 110 Coach: Mico Castelvetere

Sylvania Northview 3. Myah Greene 11 55 48 103 Coach: Tricia Fojtik

Wapakoneta 1. Natalie Hefner 12 56 56 112 Coach: David Acheson

Whitmer 4. Kenzie Richardson 12 58 53 111 Coach: Andrew Lockard

1 Sydney Deal Perrysburg 12 35 34 69 2 Ava Hesselschwardt * Defiance 9 39 39 78 3 Sophia Stanton * Anthony Wayne 10 40 42 82 3 Kennedy Donnelly Tol. St. Ursula Acad. 10 45 37 82 5 Maddie Fleck Celina 12 41 42 83 5 Lindsey Kornowa Tol. St. Ursula Acad. 10 38 45 83 7 Isabelle Vriezelaar Oregon Clay 12 42 42 84 8 Marin Gaubert Tol. N. Dame Acad. 12 42 43 85 8 Sydney Socha Tol. St. Ursula Acad. 10 41 44 85 10 Madison Mitchell Anthony Wayne 12 42 44 86 10 Olivia Eisaman Perrysburg 12 44 42 86 12 Lydia Wells Ashland 12 45 43 88 Ava Metz Findlay 11 43 45 88 Makaree Chapman Lexington 11 46 42 88 Tayvian Walton Syl. Southview 11 43 45 88 16 Sydney Simpson Tol. N. Dame Acad. 12 44 46 90 Sophia Antypas Tol. St. Ursula Acad. 12 43 47 90 18 Emma Myers Tol. St. Ursula Acad. 11 47 44 91 19 Ariyah Ellis Perrysburg 12 50 43 93 20 Kyah Huckleberry Ashland 11 53 41 94 Anzaya Estep Ontario 12 44 50 94 22 Darcie Reinhart Lexington 12 45 52 97 Rhiannon Zenz Tol. N. Dame Acad. 10 48 49 97 24 Anna Reed Tol. N. Dame Acad. 11 48 50 98 Sydney Sutton Syl. Southview 10 50 48 98 26 Sara Tester Celina 12 55 45 100 27 Lily Pollick Bowling Green 12 52 49 101 28 Paige Feldkamp Perrysburg 12 47 55 102 29 Piper Phillips Anthony Wayne 9 50 53 103 Ashley Hall Ontario 10 54 49 103 Myah Greene Syl. Northview 11 55 48 103 32 Ella Calvin Perrysburg 11 53 52 105 33 Lila Hippert Anthony Wayne 10 52 54 106 Willow Roberts Lexington 11 55 51 106 35 Josey Weihrauch Findlay 9 53 54 107 36 Elleni Miller Ashland 10 56 52 108 Jessica Herron Columbian 12 52 56 108 38 Kyler Lamb Lexington 11 54 55 109 Lauryn Nupen Lexington 11 54 55 109 40 Kyleigh Reiter Mad. Comprehensive 12 55 55 110 Delaney Moritz Ontario 10 48 62 110 Brooklynn Black Ontario 10 58 52 110 43 Natalie Gutman Findlay 10 55 56 111 Katie Wolcott Norwalk 12 56 55 111 Kenzie Richardson Whitmer 12 58 53 111 46 Kilee Duncan Norwalk 11 57 55 112 Natalie Hefner Wapakoneta 12 56 56 112 48 Grace Wiegel Norwalk 11 56 57 113 Evelyn Welschenbach Norwalk 10 52 61 113 emma curth Syl. Southview 11 54 59 113 Emma Irons Syl. Southview 10 57 56 113 52 Teaghan Gwin Anthony Wayne 10 61 54 115 53 Alexia Sesco Ontario 10 55 62 117 54 Lainey Ricker Findlay 9 60 58 118 55 Evvie Jackson Syl. Southview 11 68 57 125 56 Abigail Kasselmann Findlay 9 67 62 129 57 Kennedy Leto Norwalk 12 66 78 144 58 Carly Wyatt Ashland 11 75 71 146 59 Natalie Kohler Ashland 9 74 73 147 60 Macy Valentine Tol. N. Dame Acad. 10 DNF 0 DNF

STONY RIDGE, Ohio — A Wood County Common Pleas judge has halted a transfer order of exotic animals from a Stony Ridge farm, ordering that they be returned to the property they were seized from earlier today.

Judge Reeve Kelsey signed the order this afternoon, stating that the animals should be returned to Tiger Ridge Exotics off Fremont Pike, taking into account “the safety of the animals.” Officials with the Ohio Department of Agriculture sized the exotic animals - which includes five tigers, a black leopard, a lion, a Kodiak bear, a liger, a bobcat, and a wolf hybrid - this morning by tranquilizing them and transporting them to a holding facility in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, by trailer.

“They shouldn’t have been taken in the first place,” said Kenny Hetrick, the owner of the exotic animal farm, who spoke to media after the injunction. “I should have had a hearing, and I never got one.”

PHOTO GALLERY: State tranquilizes exotic animals at Tiger Ridge

Mr. Hetrick said he’s happy they are being returned, but is angry about the whole situation and has concerns about any potential traumatic effects the move had on the animals.

A large group of people were on the property late today laying down fresh straw, scrubbing water troughs and fixing fencing Mr. Hetrick claimed was damaged during the seizure.

Corrina Hetrick, the daughter of Kenny Hetrick, who owns Tiger Ridge Exotics, said their attorney, Karen Novak of Toledo, had filed a stop order earlier today to try to stop the transport process. She could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Hetrick has been in discussions with state leaders for months now after they said he had failed to obtain the necessary state permit to keep the animals. Erica Hawkins, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said that state officials are seizing the animals today because Mr. Hetrick’s application for a permit, which he submitted after he was contacted by the state, was denied last week.

As of about 2 p.m. today, all of the animals had been removed from the property and state officials had left the animal farm.

ODA spokesman Erica Hawkins confirmed this afternoon that they were aware of the injunction, and said they were assessing when it would be safe to return the animals to the Stony Ridge property because of the tranquilizers that are administered to transport them.

Merrissa Coffman, 19, the granddaughter of Mr. Hetrick, was in tears as she spoke to media, saying the animals were her grandfather’s life. She said today happens to be the fourth anniversary of the death of her grandmother, Roberta Hetrick, which makes it more difficult.

“This is wrong,” she said of the seizure, adding that her grandfather is remaining indoors because he doesn’t want to see his “babies” taken.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture, via a letter sent by a special prosecutor, gave Mr. Hetrick an ultimatum in October. He was to voluntarily surrender the animals or the animals would be seized, and Mr. Hetrick would face charges in Perrysburg Municipal Court for failing to obtain a permit as required by a 2012 exotic animal law.

But then, with the help of donations and volunteers, Mr. Hetrick completed several upgrades to his facility and obtained a $500,000 insurance policy.

Judge Kelsey set a preliminary injunction hearing for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.

First Published January 28, 2015, 7:35am

BENTON TOWNSHIP - A case pitting local property owners against a company that wants to put spent lime in the former Stoneco quarry is scheduled to go to bench trial in March but could be decided by summary judgment, the county's prosecutor said Tuesday.

Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten said Benton Township filed a motion for summary judgment in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court against Rocky Ridge Development LLC and Stansley Industries.

If the case is not decided by summary judgment, a bench trial is scheduled to begin March 18.

VanEerten and Benton Township allege the companies' activity violated local zoning laws.

Rocky Ridge Development LLC bought the fractured limestone quarry in 2014, reviving the abandoned site as a new resting place for spent lime sludge from Toledo's Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.

MORE: Quarry neighbors irate about dumping, water quality

Benton Township opponents say Rocky Ridge Development LLC dumped spent lime sludge into excavated cells and covered it with dirt, not in compliance with the company's Ohio EPA Land Application Management Plan (LAMP) permit, which requires the lime sludge to be dry and mixed with 65 percent native soil to 35 percent dried sludge from the treatment plant.

There's been a halt in activity at the quarry since March 2017 after a court injunction issued by Ottawa County Common Pleas Judge Bruce Winters.

Rocky Ridge Development LLC representatives repeatedly insisted publicly that they were following the conditions of their Ohio EPA-issued LAMP permit and were safely disposing of the spent lime sludge from the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant.

The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals dismissed a motion by Rocky Ridge Development LLC in October 2017 to lift a temporary injunction halting operations at its Benton Township quarry.

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Tuesday, VanEerten said there had been a little activity recently at the quarry site.

The prosecutor said Rocky Ridge Development filed a request to do some cleanup work at the Benton Township quarry site to prevent flooding from spreading to adjacent property owners' land.

"We did not oppose that," VanEerten said.

Brenda Weidner, a member of The Benton Township Quarry Dumping Opposition, said her group is in a holding pattern waiting on a ruling in the case.

She said the group is trying to maintain awareness with its billboard on Ohio 2 and through yard signs.

[email protected]

419-334-1046

Twitter: @DanielCarson7