Aurora
The 2024 State of the City Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21 at The Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center at 600 N. Aurora Rd. The speakers will be Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin and Aurora City School District Superintendent Mike Roberto. The entrance fee for Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau members is $30. For non-members, the fee is $35. To register, go to allaboutaurora.com.
City council will be purchasing a car and associated equipment for the police department. Council will also be purchasing a car, a one-ton truck and three eight-ton trucks for the service department.
The city has been replacing damaged bridges. Two were finally installed recently at Paddock River Preserve and Bretschneider Park, and they are now open.
“We have one more bridge to replace, and that’s also at Paddock River Preserve,” Womer Benjamin said, “and Council approved the contract for the bridge design.”
February is Heart Health Awareness Month, and University Hospitals Portage Medical Center will host a free heart health screening event from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the UH Portage Medical Arts Building, Room 150. The hospital is located at 6847 N. Chestnut St. Heart health screenings will be from 10-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. A heart-healthy cooking demonstration will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Friends of the Aurora Memorial Library will host a book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 in the lower-level galley. The library is located at 115 E. Pioneer Trl. Patrons will receive 10% off on purchases. Cash or checks only will be accepted. Proceeds from the sales support activities, programs and events at the library that enrich the lives of community members. For more information, call 330-562-6502.
Aurora’s Spring Eggstravaganza will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23 at the Aurora High School gym and cafeteria at 109 W. Pioneer Trl. It is exclusive to Aurora residents. There will be more than 200 children ages 0-12 and families attending. To participate as a vendor, register at aurora.activityreg.com by Friday, March 8. The first option is to have a vendor tablet to do an activity and/or giveaway. The second option is to donate a kid’s raffle basket. Vendor setup is from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at the high school. An eight-foot table and two chairs will be provided. Raffle baskets need to be dropped off at the Walker Building (129 W. Pioneer Trl.) by Wednesday, March 20.
Atlas Cinemas has finalized a lease for the vacant movie theater space in Barrington Plaza, and they are working to re-open a movie theater. As part of the city’s package to help get the deal done, it has tentatively offered Atlas Cinemas an admission tax credit of $200,000, which City Council needs to approve and is considering.
City Council extended its moratorium on vape and smoke shops to Nov. 20.
“That deadline corresponds to our marijuana moratorium as well,” Womer Benjamin said. “We have a zoning code evaluation going on right now by a consultant, and we hope the consultant will be able to advise us on how to address those two issues.”
The city is working on a solar project, and Council approved the installation of solar panels at Fire Station #1, which is on Pioneer Trail.
City Council had its fireworks purchase for the Fourth of July authorized at $26,000.
The city is making repairs to a large, old barn at Spring Hill Park.
Streetsboro
The annual State of the City Address will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Thursday, March 21 at the Streetsboro Community Center at 8970 Kirby Lane. Mayor Glenn Broska will be the speaker. He will highlight Streetsboro’s accomplishments and his vision for the city’s future. This year’s theme “Keep Moving Forward” spotlights the strength and determination of Streetsboro’s Gateway to Progress City. Breakfast will be served. The entrance fee is $25.
The Mayor’s Circle includes two breakfast tickets, reserved seating and event signage for $125. A Corporate Sponsorship includes two breakfast tickets, reserved seating, event signage and a formal introduction with a three-to-five-minute speaking opportunity for $295.
To make a reservation, call the Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 330-626-4769 by Friday, March 8.
Ravenna Township
The Ravenna Township Fire Department, located at 6115 S. Spring St., will have an open house in preparation for its levy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. Residents will be able to see figures and facts about what it takes to run a fire department, and what is involved in the day to day operations. They will also be able to voice their questions and concerns. Refreshments and drinks will be served.
Bill Wisniewski, a co-chair for the Ravenna school levy, presented facts and figures at the township trustees meeting Feb. 6 about the Ravenna School District’s upcoming levy.
The Portage County Land Bank will be razing two dilapidated homes at 6640 Sumner Road and 5451 Portage Street. After tearing the home down, the land bank will clean up the properties.
City of Ravenna
City Council passed an ordinance for the 2024 paving program to include asphalt, concrete streets, crack sealing and sidewalks, all pursuant to specifications on file. Council will get bids from various asphalt companies.
“Main Street is being done by the State of Ohio,” Mayor Frank Seman said, “so we don’t advertise for that.”
Another ordinance authorized Seman to advertise for bids for the painting of pavement, markings and stripping pursuant to the specifications on file.
“This is the group that paints markings so you know where your parking lines are and where to stop your car at intersections, those kinds of things,” Seman said.
An ordinance authorized the GPD Group to recommend whether a change in the traffic light at the King Street and Main Street intersection needs a change.
“The GPD Group will determine the volume of cars going through there and the foot traffic too,” Seman said. “They could retool the traffic light and allow pedestrians to hit a button to change the light. The reason we’re looking at this at this time is that we’re going to be paving Main Street, and that traffic light has to be adjusted anyway. The question from the public is going to be: Is it safe to do that close to a school (West Main School). GPD Group will let us know what the risks are.”
An ordinance authorized Seman to enter into a contract with T. Manfrass & Associates Architects of Ravenna to offer a scope of service for a new parks and recreation facility. The parks and rec department is looking into the possibility of moving its operation from the armory to a site where they may be able to have indoor basketball along with other activities that are already available at the armory such as pickleball and archery.
“We’re getting estimates on what a new building would cost,” Seman said.
An ordinance was accepted and appropriated $30,000 to the industrial commercial properties. This was to get electricity to LG Chem on Rayann Parkway.
“They’re going to start putting the poles in there, and they should have electricity there within a month or so,” Seman said. “They’re looking to have an open house towards the end of August, but they need electricity before that because they’ll probably be training employees there before then.”
The 2024 Quarterly Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority (PMHA) Landlord Orientation will be from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the PMHA, which is located at 2832 S.R. 59. To RSVP, call 330-297-1489 ext. 258 or email [email protected]. The PMHA will also host a Meet & Greet Landlords event from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28. You can meet current voucher holders and find your next tenant! To RSVP, call 330-297-1489 or email [email protected].
City council approved the cost of living adjustment for the water, sewer, storm water and recycling, and that will be an increase of about 3.9%.
City council passed a resolution in support of the passage of the $2.7 million emergency levy for the Ravenna School District.
The Ravenna Police Department will retire three cruisers and purchase three new ones to replace them.
City council ordered a new salt spreader and new plow equipment for the street department at a cost of $38,496.67.
Swagelok, a local company that manufactures items for hydraulic hoses and similar things, will make its annual donations of $1,000 to both the Ravenna Fire Department and the Ravenna Police Department. Meanwhile, the Ravenna Elks Club will make its annual $250 donation to the Ravenna Police Department.
The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce and Reed Memorial Library are collaborating on “Welcome Home to Ravenna” Bags. The purpose is to share with the community what the Ravenna Chamber members have to offer. These bags are filled with information, coupons and promotional items representing the Chamber’s businesses. If you are a Chamber member and would like to participate in the program, you need to gather 50-75 items (coupons, information or promotional items) per month representing your business. Drop off these items to the library at 167 E. Main St. For more information, email [email protected].
A Masquerade Party Ball will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 812 Cleveland Rd. For more information, call 330-433-4611.
The Pot O’ Gold Marlene Watts 5K Poker Run/Walk will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, March 16. There will be a grand prize of $500. To register, go to ravennaparksandrec.com.
Ravenna resident Vernon Roen, who built the A&W at 769 E. Main St., recently turned 100 years old.
