Freedom
The Freedom Community Park Boosters will host their Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Freedom Town Hall and Pavilion at 8966 state Route 700. The event will feature a car show, crafters/vendors, entertainment throughout the day, a 50/50 raffle, a basket raffle and the famous Cow Chip Bingo with the township’s own Freedom Cow. Pre-sale tickets for Cow Chip Bingo are available by contacting (330) 931-8227, [email protected] or by going to the Facebook page Freedom Community Park Boosters.
The Freedom Township Historical Society will host its monthly presentation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Community Center at 8940 State Route 700. The topic will be one-room schoolhouses presented by Judy Thornton.
The township’s Trunk or Treat for Halloween event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at Freedom Town Hall at 8966 state Route 700.
The township is finalizing the contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Township Sign Grant to get new road signs in Freedom Township.
The Asbury Road culvert project with the Ohio Public Works Commission is moving forward as a contractor has been chosen.
The township will be getting new signage with its new township logo at the Town Hall and Community Center.
Work on the new war memorial/honor roll is moving forward. The topsoil/grass seed has been planted. The new plaques are due within the next week or so and will be installed. The plan is to have a dedication ceremony at the Fall Festival if everything goes well.
The ADA and front step project at the Freedom Township Historical Society is moving forward. An architect was chosen, and the plans are being finalized.
“Hopefully, it will go out to bid in the coming weeks,” township Chair Jeff Derthick said.
A survey was sent to Freedom Township residents who own property in the township asking whether or not they would like curbside recycling. The results of those surveys are not complete yet as the cards just recently went out.
Village of Mantua
Games on the Mantua Green, an event sponsored by the Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce and local downtown Mantua businesses, will take place on three different Sundays in the next month or so.
There will be a cornhole tournament Sept. 17, a badminton tournament Sept. 24 and a chess tournament Oct. 15. For all three tournaments, registration begins at noon, and the games begin at 12:30 p.m. Entry is open to all Mantua residents and non-residents and all ages.
The entry fee per person/team is $15. Half will cover expenses, and half will go toward a winner-take-all cash prize. Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To pre-register, go to the Chamber’s Facebook page or to eventbrite.com.
The Poker Paddle, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mantua, will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. Participants will paddle down the Cuyahoga River from Camp Hi in Hiram to Buchert Park. On the way, each participant will collect a five-card poker hand. The top three hands will win cash prizes. Register at camphiadventure.com.
“It’s a lot of fun. I’ve done it,” Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce President Randy Ellis said.
A Farmers’ and Makers’ Market will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 at the Granary building on East Prospect Street.
Mantua Township
The Mantua Township Black Brook Water Study has been completed and approved by the Ohio Department of Safety and Ohio Emergency Management Agency. The township trustees are planning a special public meeting to gauge residents’ opinions on recommendations provided in the study.
Road maintenance season is wrapping up, with the last chip-and-seal project beginning this week. The township’s service department prepared the road surfaces, and Ronyak Paving is providing labor and materials for the road surface.
While all Eastlawn Cemetery roads have been completed, Westlawn Cemetery improvements are nearing completion, with the last section rescheduled to be plotted in spring 2024. The other township cemeteries are scheduled for renovations next year as well.
The township trustees and partner New Adventures are planning a Fall Fun Festival to be held Saturday, Nov. 4 in the township. Schedules and events will be announced within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned.
There will be a Chamber of Commerce meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Mantua Township Town Hall at 4196 Twinsburg Warren Rd. The meeting is open to the public. Networking will start at 5 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. The subject will be the benefits of the group health plan sponsored by the Northern Ohio Chamber of Commerce Association. There will also be a tour of the nearby Mantua Historical Society.
Anyone having an interest in what is happening in Mantua Township need not look any further than the official Mantua Township website — mantuatownshipohio.gov. There is tons of information, including current announcements, promotions, officials’ contact information, facility rentals, videotaped trustees meetings, policy, news items, events and much more.
Garrettsville
The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold the Roger Angel Memorial Car Cruise-In from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Garfield Plaza on State Street. Roger Angel, who owned the plaza, passed away two years ago. Any classic cars, motorcycles or trucks are welcome. Judges will vote on winners in eight different categories, and winners will receive trophies. There will be a barbecue with pulled pork dinners that people can purchase. Entertainment will be provided by the Ohio Crossroads Bluegrass Band.
Charles Auto Family, a Chevrolet dealership, was recently purchased by the Sarchione group. The dealership, located at 10851 North St., is now known as Sarchione Chevrolet II.
Hiram Township
Hiram Township passed the final resolution to place the fire/EMS replacement levy on the ballot for the November election.
The road department recently completed a chip-and-seal for 10 miles of roads in the township.
The township passed a resolution for a 5.8% cost increase for residents’ trash pickup, which matches the CPI increase.
“That’s a pretty good price,” township Chair Jack Groselle said.
Village of Hiram
The annual Fishing with the Cops event was held Aug. 5 at the lake at Camp Asbury in Hiram Township.
“We had a number of children fishing with the Hiram police officers and some officers from Mantua, too,” Mayor Lou Bertrand said. “There were treats for everybody. It was a very nice affair.”
Windham Township
Windham Township made a motion to spend up to $10,000 of its NOPEC grant money on a new furnace and air conditioning for the town hall. Yellow Jacket Heating and Cooling will start the project this week.
Alvin Sweet had a short stint as the township’s zoning inspector. He resigned Sept. 7 due to his position conflicting with his retirement. Sweet will finish out the month. Anyone interested in filling the position should go to windhamtownship.com to apply. You must apply by Friday, Sept. 22.
“We’ll probably vote the new person in on Thursday, Oct. 5 at our next trustees meeting,” township Chair Rich Gano said.
The township is currently working on new language for substandard lots in the zoning resolution.
Nelson
The Portage County Board of Commissioners recently awarded a contract to Winters Excavating LLC for the replacement of the bridge structure on Silica Sand Road. The bridge is located about 400 feet east of the intersection of Silica Sand Road and Parkman Road over Eagle Creek. A federal grant of just over $1 million will pay for the majority of the project. Construction on the bridge will start this month.
“The bridge has been in need of repair for some time,” township Chair Mike Kortan said.
