Village of Mantua

The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate the grand opening and relocation of the Crestwood Community Center (CCC). The grand relocation event and official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Crestwood’s central offices, Rooms 114 and 115, located at 10880 John Edward Dr. in the village of Mantua. Join in for light refreshments, games and guided tours. 

The CCC was established to provide nondenominational activities and programs for local adults. Its mission is to create a welcoming, inclusive space that fosters personal growth and community connections. The village of Mantua has been allowing the CCC to use the Martin S. Hura Lodge in Buchert Park as it established its organization. As the program has picked up new members and to give it a permanent home, the Crestwood school district has provided space for its activities. This will enable the CCC to expand its offerings to the community.

The CCC offers free programs and services to support health and adult education, including:

• Weekly SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life) fitness classes.
• Rotating activities based on resident feedback, such as bingo, dominoes and bunko.
• Monthly arts and crafts sessions.
• Upcoming “Meet Up” trips for senior celebrations, Oktoberfest, Porthouse Theater and the Soap Box Derby for seniors.

The CCC also hosts various “Lunch and Learn” programs covering local history, health and wellness, nature and practical life skills like estate planning and Medicare navigation. Looking ahead, the CCC plans to expand its days and hours of operation, add more classes and provide two free lunches every month.

The community’s presence at the grand relocation event will help support the future plans of the CCC. Individuals can join to see what it offers and perhaps identify needs that can be met.

Proclamations or letters of congratulations would be appreciated.   

For more information on the CCC, email crestwoodcommunitycenter@gmail.com or follow the organization on Facebook at Crestwood Community Center.

Upcoming CCC events:

• Nutrition Label Literacy: A Framework for Healthy Eating – Wednesdays, Sept. 2, Sept. 9, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, 10 a.m., Room 114. A NEOMED representative will begin a four-week program.
• SAIL Class: Stay Active for Life – Wednesdays, Sept. 2, Sept. 9, Sept. 16 and Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m., Room 112. A gentle exercise class to get blood flowing.
• Free lunch – Wednesday, Sept. 2, noon, Room 114. Lunch will be provided by Renee Walker from the Inn at the Pines. Please RSVP by Sept. 1 to crestwoodcommunitycenter@gmail.com.  
• Lunch and Bunko – Wednesday, Sept. 9, noon, Room 114. Bring a lunch or a dish to share. Afterward, play bunko!
• Lunch and Education – Wednesday, Sept. 16, noon, Room 114. Bring a lunch or a dish to share. Afterward, at 1 p.m., attorney Lee Thompson will discuss powers of attorney and living wills. Open to all.
• Lunch and Craft – Wednesday, Sept. 23, noon. Bring a brown bag lunch or a dish to share and enjoy time with friends. Join at 1 p.m. for paper roll crafting ($4 to cover cost of supplies).

For those who want to help improve the Mantua community, the Rotary Club might be the place. The club sponsors Safety Town at Crestwood school, among other philanthropic activities. The club’s next two meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Sept. 3, Sept. 10 and Sept. 17 at the R44 event space at 10675 Main St. Open to everyone. Meetings are on the first three Thursdays of each month at R44.

Celebrate the release of “Practical Magic 2” with a fun, magical evening from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, downtown. Collect items for spell jars from different businesses around town and enjoy a DORA beverage while searching for the next item. Come dressed as a favorite character. Bring a friend.

The Rotary Club’s annual Poker Paddle event will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. Start at Camp Hi and paddle back to Mantua, collecting cards along the way. Build the best poker hand and win cash prizes! Register at mantuarotary.org.

A ribbon cutting will be held for Wildflower Beauty & Wellness at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. The new hair and nail salon and spa is located at 4690 E. Prospect St. Time is tentative – stay tuned for updates. Learn more about Wildflower at https://wildflowerbeautywellness.glossgenius.com/

Find out what exciting projects the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation will be tackling next at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, in Buchert Park’s Martin S. Hura Lodge. The park is located at 4810 E. High St. Input is needed. All are welcome.

The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing will be on Friday, Sept. 18 at Sugar Bush Golf Club. Shotgun start at 8 a.m. The fees of $90/person and $360/team include games, prizes and food. A portion of the proceeds will go to the chamber’s scholarship fund. To sign up to play or to sponsor the event ($75-$600), contact Nancy Sheppard at (330) 281-3776.    

Mantua Township

The next fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Mantua Center School gym at 11741 Mantua Center Rd. in Mantua Township.

Dine-in or carry-out. No charge, but donations accepted. Please consider giving what a comparable meal at a restaurant plus tip would cost. A variety of entrées provided, including one supplied each month from Main Street on the River. Several salads and a variety of desserts, including homemade pies. All food is home cooked and donated by the MaRSI members: soups to casseroles to cornbread to salads and desserts. Light piano music provided by Steve Stork. Note: this is not a free community meal but rather a fundraiser for the society that helps 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.

Join the Mantua Historical Society between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, for an Ohio Open Doors event on the Mantua Center Green at 4196 Twinsburg-Warren Rd (Route 82).

Village of Hiram

The 2026 Hiram Community Hillfest will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, in the village of Hiram. The event will be at the East Hall parking lot near Henry Field on the Hiram College campus. The village partners with the college to host this annual event, celebrating Labor Day and the wrap-up of the summer season. The community is welcome.

Event details and schedule:

• Admission: Free to attend.
• Activities and entertainment: Live music, yard games, a performance by Swifty the clown and a mobile petting zoo (the Jungle Island Zoo “Cuddle Shuttle”).
• Food trucks: A lineup including SummerFest Steak Burgers, The Cheezylicious Food Truck and King Kone Ice Cream Truck. Cash and cards are accepted.
• Fireworks show: Scheduled for 8:15 p.m. These are the rescheduled fireworks from the postponed July 4 celebration.

Note: The food trucks and petting zoo will close at 8 p.m. to prepare for the fireworks presentation.

The grand opening of the new wiffleball field at Hadsell Park will be on Sunday, Sept. 20. A wiffleball tournament will run from approximately 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A home run derby will be held at 5 p.m. There will be adult and youth divisions for the tournament and home run derby. Live music will also be at 5 p.m. For details and to register, go to hiramohio.org.

The Coyote’s Express Mexican Grill recently opened at the corner of state Route 82 and state Route 700.

Hiram Township

With or without the village of Hiram, on Thursday, Oct. 1, a new fire department/EMS will open in Hiram Township at the township garage on state Route 82. A mediation is scheduled to be held at the beginning of September.

“If that goes poorly, then we’re in for a divorce,” township Chair Jack Groselle said, adding that the new fire department already has a squad and a fire engine, plus it will work jointly with Troy Township in a handful of areas.

Village of Windham

The village of Windham’s “Fun in the Sun” Falling Out of Summer Festival and Chili Cook-Off will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12, downtown on North Main Street. Activities will include a car show, bounce houses, food trucks, local vendors, a beer tent, live music and a fireworks show at dusk. Free admission with $10 all-day kids’ activity wristbands. Check updates or get details by clicking on this link: Village of Windham Facebook Page. Interested in being a vendor, food truck, sponsor or participant in the event? Contact Daniel Miller at dmiller@windhamvillageoh.gov.

“This is an amazing event for our community,” Mayor Terrie Altiere said.

The former Patti’s Restaurant, which was located at 9644 E. Center St., has been purchased. A new eatery will open at the same address sometime in the near future.

Windham Village Council approved assessments to taxes for fees owed to the village.