Metro Digest

Business-tax evasion

CLEVELAND — A Girard man has been sentenced to three years’ probation, including one year of electronically monitored house arrest, and fined $10,000 for trying to evade employment taxes.

John D. Matuszwski, who pleaded guilty to a one-count information, owed those taxes with respect to wages he paid as sole proprietor of the Matuszwski Roofing and Siding business he operated in Niles.

Between 2003 and 2006, he paid his employees by check and cash without withholding Social Security and federal income taxes as he knew he was required to do, the U.S. attorney said.

Shortly after IRS agents executed a search warrant at his business, Matuszwski filed delinquent employment-tax returns and paid his $220,299 employment tax liability. He was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Lesley Wells of U.S. District Court.

MetroParks dedication

CANFIELD — A dedication ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm to formally change the name of the farm’s Habitat Trail to the Mindy Henning Memorial Trail.

The ceremony will begin at the Bikeway Trailhead on state Route 46 and be followed by the presentation of the first award from the Mindy Henning Scholarship Fund. The fund was established in 2008 in memory of Henning, and scholarships are awarded to a college student studying outdoor or environmental education.

A bird walk will precede the dedication at 9 a.m. led by Nancy Brundage.

Henning was a naturalist with the MetroParks for 17 years and was highly involved in developing the trail.

For more information, call the MetroParks Administrative Office at (330) 702-3000.

Teen Straight Talk Walk

VIENNA — The fifth Annual Walk-A-Thon to benefit Teen Straight Talk will be Saturday. Participants in the “Walk for Truth” will walk around the Teen Straight Talk office at 1393 Youngstown Kingsville Road. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 9:30 a.m. The event will last one hour.

For more information or to make a contribution, call (330) 539-6040.

Pumpkin regatta

GREENFORD — The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers will hold its annual giant-pumpkin weigh-off Saturday at Parks Garden Center, 9010 state Route 62.

The current Ohio state record is 1,524.5 pounds, held by Bob Liggett of Circleville. Prize money this year will exceed $12,500 for heaviest categories of pumpkin, squash, watermelon, tomato, muskmelon, field pumpkin and longest gourd. Heaviest pumpkin will be awarded $2,500 for first place. Growers wishing to enter any of the six categories must bring their entry to Parks Garden Center by 9 a.m. Saturday. The weigh-off will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Exhibits will remain on display until 4 p.m. Admission is free for spectators.

On Sunday from noon to 2 p.m., weather permitting, there will be a Giant Pumpkin Regatta. Boats made from giant pumpkins will be raced across the water using either paddles or motors.

Salt Springs closure

MINERAL RIDGE — Old Salt Springs Road will be closed Thursday through late Friday so Weathersfield Township Road Department can work on the CSX Railroad tracks.