Aurora
The annual Aurora holiday tree lighting festival will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 in the center of town by Bicentennial Park. The tree lighting will be at 5 p.m.
There will be food trucks, all kinds of activities, a special surprise for the city’s 225th birthday and movie characters. Santa Claus will arrive on a fire truck. Also, a holiday lights tour will take place from Friday, Dec. 13 through Tuesday, Dec. 31. You can sign up through the Aurora Parks & Recreation Department. There will be a map available at the parks and rec department once the tour starts.
Aurora City Council awarded a $704,000 contract to MKSK, which will be undertaking master-planning services for the new park at Geauga Lake. Meanwhile, council also passed a $40,000 contract to Strand for design services for a new lift station in the Geauga Lake area.
City council voted to extend the moratorium for 90 days on vape shops, e-cigarette shops, tobacco and smoke shops, and shops that sell CBD and related products. The moratorium will now conclude sometime in late February.
City council approved a contract with Zoneco to update the zoning code in the city, which has not been updated for more than 20 years. Zoneco will present recommendations, then council will evaluate how it wants to proceed.
City council approved a proposed contract with Perrin Asphalt for $1.25 million to construct the first phase of the Aurora Trail, which is the hike-and-bike trail that will be built.
A 12-year, 100% tax abatement was passed and granted to Piping Lock, which is a company in the industrial park, because of its expected $19 million investment in its building.
El Granero, a Mexican restaurant, recently opened in the Aurora Farms Premium Outlet. The ribbon cutting will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26.
City council approved a contract with Hejduk-Cox for $37,630 to design sidewalks from North Bissell Road to Aurora Road, which is state Route 43.
The 2024 Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau holiday luncheon, annual meeting and Business & Person of the Year presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at The Bertram Inn & Conference Center. The Bertram is located at 600 N. Aurora Rd. For more information and to secure your seat, call 330-562-3355, email [email protected] or go to allaboutaurora.com.
“Brunch with Santa” will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at The Orchid House Winery at 155 Treat Rd. There will be hot chocolate, a visit with Santa, kids coloring and games placemat. Lists for Santa will be available. Reservations are available through Open Table Experience.
Aurora Night at the Races, a 100% scholarship benefit presented by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, will take place Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Hawthorn of Aurora Clubhouse at 685 Walnut Ridge Trl. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. The races will be from 7 to 10 p.m. The cost is $40 per person, which includes dinner and a cash bar. Race bets start at $2 cash. Sponsorships are available. For more information, call 330-562-3355.
The Aurora Schools Foundation will present Family Movie Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26 at Atlas Cinemas at 140 Barrington Town Square. For more information, go to auroraschoolsfoundation.org.
The annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1-mile races will be at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 28. Registration and check-in will be at 7 a.m. at Aurora High School. To register, go to auroraoh.com.
There will be a special postal box in the Aurora Memorial Library’s parking lot for letters to Santa. The library is located at 115 E. Pioneer Trl. The letters may be dropped off from Saturday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 15. Please provide your address.
The 2024 NOACC Bright Star Award winner is Stacie Riffert, president of Empowered Leadership LLC and vice president of the Aurora Chamber Board of Directors.
The city offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of Thanksgiving.
City of Ravenna
The annual Ravenna Holiday Celebration/Midnight Madness & Holiday Raffle will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29 downtown. There will be a Balloon A-Fair light-up parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a tree lighting, horse and carriage rides, a Myers Farm sleigh hayride, an elf workshop, holiday vendors and much more. For registration, sponsors and holiday raffle tickets, go to ravennaareachamber.com or email [email protected].
The holiday decorating of downtown Ravenna is almost finished.
“We’ve resurrected some old decorations we found and had them reconditioned,” Mayor Frank Seman said. “The train and the snowmen go back to the 1970s and ’80s. This is a chance for some parents to see their youth and show their kids what it was like back then.”
Ravenna Discount, a general merchandise store, recently opened on the corner of Main Street and North Chestnut Street.
Yoi Hibachi Express recently opened at 221 S. Chestnut St.
Moonflower Apothecary will open soon on North Chestnut Street.
“They collect things in nature and look for stuff that’s edible, and they market it,” Seman said.
A multi-chamber holiday luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center at 6847 N. Chestnut St. The event will feature networking, food and fun plus a gift exchange. You will gain free entry with donations of $10 or more, gifts or toiletries. To RSVP, go to allaboutaurora.com.
Streetsboro
The GNOME for the Holidays campaign kicks off Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30 and runs through Tuesday, Dec. 31. Reese, Sprig and Tully will be visiting local businesses. Register your business now for this free, festive promotion before spots fill up.
October marked Manufacturing Month, and the Streetsboro Chamber of Commerce spotlighted Streetsboro’s manufacturers as part of its ongoing commitment to workforce development and education.
The Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Bourbon & Bingo” was another huge success thanks to the support of attendees, sponsors, volunteers and donors. The grand prize – 10 bottles of premium bourbon, cigars and accessories – had everyone buzzing.
Cindy Toth, a Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce board member, received the prestigious NOACC Bright Star Award for her outstanding dedication to the Chamber and the Streetsboro business community.
Shalersville
The Shalersville Township Trustees approved the Portage County Land Reutilization Corporation to acquire the two parcels of land that were the Common Areas of the now-defunct Spring Hill Homeowners Association, Inc. The Portage County treasurer foreclosed on the parcels. These parcels have not been maintained, nor have property taxes been paid for some time.
The township leases the old elementary school on the corner of state Route 44 and state Route 303 to BioMed. Recently, the roof over the school’s gymnasium was repaired, and the students at the school are starting a new program in which they will fly an air-quality flag on the flagpole. The solid-color flags will show the air quality.
The fee schedule for vendors in Shalersville is being reviewed.
“We hope to have suggestions at the next meeting for a revised fee schedule,” township Trustee Jack Bias said.
The trustees approved replacing the deck for the mini-excavator and replacing the battery for the generator.
The Shalersville digital billboard is set.
Said Bias, “We’re just waiting for the electrical hookup for it to become operational.”
The annual Advent celebration will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Portage Faith United Methodist Church at 9922 state Route 44. The Uniontown Worship Instrumental Group will perform. There will be a cookie walk afterward in which guests pick out a plate of cookies and make a donation.
Also at the Portage Faith United Methodist Church will be the annual “Living Christmas Card” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15. It is a drive-thru lights display in which guests drive their vehicles around the parking lot, which goes around the building. There will be different light displays set up, and Santa Claus and other characters will be on hand. There will be a cookie or some kind of baked good at the end.
Emily’s Soaps will host a pop-up event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at her barn/warehouse at 7930 Peck Rd. The owner does this twice a year, selling soaps, lotions and much more. There will be craft vendors, food and coffee as well.
