City of Ravenna
City council received permission to advertise for bids to tear down the old water tank off state Route 14. A new water tank will be built and will hold a little less water and be raised off the ground.
“The one we have there now is like a big pipe,” Mayor Frank Seman said. “The new one will be more efficient.”
An ordinance authorized $200,000 in home Revolving Loan Fund money to be used to pay Neighborhood Development Services to build three single-family homes.
“This is recovered money from previous grants,” Seman said, “and we’re putting it back into the housing.”
C.T. Consultants will be working with the wastewater treatment plant on Hommon Road.
“They’re going to look at all of our equipment,” Seman said, “and evaluate it and see what we need to fix.”
An ordinance was passed allowing Seman to enter into a contract with JD Services for the painting of pavement markings and striping. JD Services has been doing this for the City of Ravenna in the recent past. This is done every year and should be finished by September.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new cardiac catheterization & electrophysiology laboratory at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 18. The medical center is located at 6847 N. Chestnut St. To RSVP, email [email protected].
Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and its partners collaborate to observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The social media campaign highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live. In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which was March, the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities is bringing you the Limitless Art Show through Tuesday, April 30 at seven locations throughout Portage County. Two of the locales are in Ravenna – Reed Memorial Library at 167 E. Main St. and the West Main Street Winery and Brewery at 234 W. Main St. For more information on how to purchase art, email [email protected].
Lake Hodgson opened for fishing April 1. It is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. A little later on, it will be open until dusk. It will close for the season Oct. 26.
Ravenna Youth Cheer Combine Day will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Check-in begins at 10:30 a.m. Come out, show your skills and get excited for the 2024 season! For more information, email [email protected].
The annual Raven Awards, recognizing award recipients from 2023, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5 at the Ravenna High School Auditorium. The high school is located at 6589 N. Chestnut St. Award sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available. For more information, call 330-296-3886.
A proclamation was held for Andrew Kluge and his seven years of dedication and service to the City of Ravenna at the April 1 city council meeting. Kluge recently stepped down as council president. He was president for four years.
Ravenna Township
Ravenna Township’s annual spring cleanup will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27 in the parking lot behind the police department and road department on South Spring Street. It will be a drop-off collection. Chemicals, batteries and tires larger than automotive tires will not be accepted. There will be a cost of 50 cents per tire.
The cleanup of Ravenna Township Park on West Main Street began April 8.
“We had a tree company remove a couple trees and trim the rest of the trees,” township Vice Chair Vince Coia said. “Once the tree work is done, we’ll be putting in a new sidewalk that will cut through the park.”
The township is looking for three or four township citizens to serve on the community development strategy group that regional planning is doing for the township.
“They’d like to get the input of those residents,” Coia said, “to help them implement the plans they are drawing up for the township.”
If you are interested, call Coia at 330-310-0703.
The Portage County Health Department held its annual housekeeping meeting for the cities and townships that belong to the health department March 21 at the Ravenna Elks Club. Ravenna Township was represented by the township trustees.
The township trustees meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 30 has been changed to Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. That’s because Portage County Water Resources is having its informational meeting about the sewer project for the residents of the Chinn development April 30 at Ravenna High School.
Aurora
Aurora City Council approved the purchase of three flood-prone homes in the Geauga Lake neighborhood pursuant to the FEMA project that council is undertaking there.
“We received a large grant from FEMA to purchase flood-prone homes in this neighborhood,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said. “We’ll take the homes down and provide additional stormwater management areas. There are eight more flood-prone homes in the neighborhood about which we’re negotiating with the owners.”
City council approved its 2024 contract for the road paving program, which will cost about $1.3 million. The company that will do the paving is Perrin Asphalt.
City council approved the conditional zoning certificate for the hike-and-bike trail that council proposed to construct in the former railroad right-of-way.
“We needed that as part of the approval process,” Womer Benjamin said.
City council approved the purchase of 11 MARCS radios for the police department.
Well over 500 people were at the Eclipse Over Aurora event April 8 at Sunny Lake Park.
“It was a great festival,” Womer Benjamin said.
Shred Day was April 6 at the Aurora Service Department on West Pioneer Trail. The next Shred Day will be Saturday, Sept. 21, also at the service department.
Atlas Cinemas opened April 11 in Barrington Plaza.
The City of Aurora is hiring seasonal parks and recreation workers and also a new park ranger. Anyone interested in those positions should go to auroraoh.com.
Karen Bosley will step down from her role as executive director of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau effective Friday, May 31.
“For the past six years, it has been an incredible and exciting journey for me,” Bosley said. “I have cherished every moment of it, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have served as executive director. While it’s hard to say goodbye, I am excited about the next adventure in my life. I am confident that the Chamber will be in good hands and will continue to thrive under new leadership. Thank you for your support, partnership and friendship throughout my tenure.”
Anyone interested in applying for the executive director position should go to indeed.com and search for “Aurora Chamber of Commerce executive director.”
“Bingo, Bourbon & Beer – A Night Out with Friends!” will be held Wednesday, April 17 at The Aurora Inn Hotel & Event Center at 30 Shawnee Trl. Bingo and buffet dinner will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cost for that is $65 per person or $245 for a table of four (save $15). Bingo only will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost for that is $35 per person or $125 for a table of four (save $15). There will be a cash bar, and sponsorships are available. To register, go to allaboutaurora.com.
AwiN will host “Women of Wisdom – An Evening of Stories From Some of Aurora’s First Ladies of Business” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7 at the Orchid House Winery at 155 Treat Rd. The community is invited to this event featuring prominent women business owners from Aurora, who will share their stories of success, challenges overcome and lessons learned along the way. Light appetizers will be served, and there will be a cash bar. Registration is required. To register, go to allaboutaurora.com.
“Twentieth: A Taste of the Western Reserve” will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at Silver Creek Church at 252 N. Chillicothe Rd. Sample outstanding food from the area’s finest restaurants. The event will also feature a silent auction, 50/50 raffle ($20 each or six for $100) and a wine pull. Cost is $60 per person or $520 for a table of eight. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Aurora. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Trinity Farm. To purchase tickets or sponsorships, go to aurorarotaryclub.org.
What is the Better Business Bureau? You can find out at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 15 when the Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau sponsors a Lunch & Learn event at the Aurora Inn Hotel & Event Center at 30 Shawnee Trl. You will be able to explore the benefits of your local BBB with such topics as:
- Establish a business
- Resolve conflicts
- Prevent fraudulent activities
- Gather feedback from customers
- Conduct thorough investigations
- Evaluate advertising campaigns
- Many additional tasks
Cost is $30 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. For more information, go to allaboutaurora.com.
The 2024 Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau Golf Outing will take place Friday, June 14 at Tanglewood Golf Club at 8745 Tanglewood Trl. in Chagrin Falls. The day includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, breakfast, lunch, dinner, an A.M. adult beverage bar, beverages and a gift bag. An Early Bird Special costs $600 per team, which is good through Wednesday, May 1. After May 1, the fee is $155 per player. Sponsorships are available. To register, go to allaboutaurora.com.
