Garrettsville

The 2025 Garrettsville Summerfest will take place downtown from Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29. There will be two stages of live music and entertainment.

The headline band is the Michael Stanley tribute “In the Heartland” that includes at least one member of the original Michael Staney Band. FOX 8 news personality Todd Meany’s band, Ace Molar, will perform Sunday afternoon. There will be food vendors, craft vendors, rides and games. A fireworks show will start at 10 p.m. June 28.

There will be a Summerfest raffle in which first prize is a MadJax golf cart, second prize is a summer meat-grilling package valued at $500 from Bonner Farms, and third prize is free Domino’s pizza for a year. Raffle tickets cost $10. The grand marshal is Little John Rinaldi from Big Chuck and Lil’ John. The event’s main sponsor is Sarchione Chevrolet.

---

The second Cruise-In of the summer will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at SkyLane Bowling at 8311 Windham St. Awards and door prizes will be given out, and the Dennis Chandler Band will perform. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage and other festival-type food will be available.

---

Village council approved legislation allowing tattoo parlors to exist in Garrettsville.

Village of Hiram

Hiram Village Council recently passed the external maintenance code of the zoning ordinances. In the past, there have been properties with troubling circumstances, from lack of maintenance that creates a dangerous situation to landlords who refuse to mow their lawn that becomes a hazard.

“We have not had any teeth in our zoning,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “What this allows for is, if there’s a troubling property, we can now address it. This is really set up for safety reasons in a lot of cases and extreme cases that impact peoples’ property value and living experience.”

The external maintenance code will be enforced both through the zoning inspector and with appeals going to the zoning board.

---

Charlie Goodyear will continue a series of presentations he has been giving in the area about former United States President James A. Garfield at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14 in Bates Hall on the Hiram College campus. Goodyear published a very popular book about Garfield, who attended Hiram College and lived in the village of Hiram for several years.

“Goodyear is a very animated speaker,” Haynam said.
There is no fee to attend.

---

Village of Hiram Police Chief Brian Gregory will retire June 2 after nine years with the department. Sergeant James Clemens will be elevated to chief.

Nelson

Many Nelson residents, including those who live in a nearby trailer park, have complained that it is difficult to see at night at the intersection of state Route 282 and state Route 305. The township trustees received a price of more than $9,000 from Ohio Edison for the installation of a new street light there.

“We put it on hold because we just can’t afford that,” township Chair Anna Mae VanDerHoeven said. “This is not a township road, but when we contacted the state, they didn’t think that it was a needed street light. We’ll be looking into whether we can get a grant to help pay for the street light.”

---

It has been two years in the making, but the $1.6 million glass-floating walking bridge on state Route 282 at Nelson Ledges State Park finally opened with a ceremony May 23. The bridge is 136 feet long, 8 feet wide and is S-shaped. It was built over a gorge by Minnehaha Falls.

“It looks like it floats,” VanDerHoeven said. “It’s bringing everybody to Nelson. Last weekend, the parking lot was overflowing. ODNR built the bridge. There were quite a few people there, including county commissioners, people from Columbus, the trustees and fiscal officer. It was a nice presentation. They also gave a tour of the bridge.”

---

A driver accidentally knocked over a headstone at Harrington Cemetery on Easter Sunday, but there was no damage to the headstone or the vehicle. The Nelson road crew put the headstone back where it belonged.

Village of Mantua

Activities taking place this month at the Crestwood Community Center at Buchert Lodge, located at 4810 E. High St. in Buchert Park, include:

• Stay Active and Independent for Life – SAIL into the future with exercises designed for those 65 and older at 11 a.m. every Wednesday in June beginning June 4.
• The Portage County District Library Bookmobile will be at Buchert Park at noon every Wednesday in June beginning June 4. You can check out new books, return old ones, meet new friends and participate in library programs.
• Bingo at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 4.
• Mexican Train dominoes at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 11.
• Special programming at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. Check out the community center’s Facebook page and website for details.
• Card games or a craft activity at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25. Some crafts require a small fee to cover supplies.

---

Join in for a fun-filled day of activities on the Buckeye Trail, the Headwaters Trail and the Cuyahoga River Trail at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 7. Meet at Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St. Register at https://www.tripletrailfest.com/.

---

The Village of Mantua has won a ServeOhio Day grant to plant trees between the baseball field and the houses nearby. In order to win the grant, the village had to show community involvement. Residents can help beautify the village at noon Tuesday, June 10 by getting dirty to make the community greener and prettier. Meet at Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St. Bring water and work gloves. In order to get a good head count for the grant, let Rachel know you’ll be there by emailing her at administrativeassistant@mantuavillage.com.

---

The Community-Wide Garage Sale will take place Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, starting at 9 a.m. both days. This is for the village of Mantua, Mantua Township and Shalersville Township. Registration is open now. For $15, you’ll get your address and a short description listed on a map, and a sign and balloon to help customers find your house.

---

A farmers and makers market will take place Friday, June 13 and Friday, June 27, starting at 4 p.m. both days, in the parking lot and basement of the Granary Building at 4690 E. Prospect St. The market will feature fresh produce and homemade goods as well as vendors.

---

Mantua Township

A fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 13 inside the Mantua Center School’s gymnasium. Dine-in or carry-out. A variety of entrées will be provided, including one supplied from Main Street on the River. Also on the menu will be soups, salads, casseroles, cornbread and a variety of desserts, including homemade pies. All food is home-cooked and donated by MaRSI members. Light piano music will be provided by Steve Stork.

There is no charge, but donations will be accepted (the society asks that you consider giving what you’d pay for a comparable meal at a restaurant plus tip). Donations will help provide funds for the restoration and upkeep of Mantua Center’s historic buildings and sites. For more information, contact Susan Pollard at 330-586-8337.