Village of Hiram
The implementation of a police officer-held speed camera was the main topic at a public forum Feb. 22 at Hiram College. Trevor Elkins from Targeting Solutions had a question-and-answer session with residents regarding the startup of the speed camera.
“We have signs up now as you enter the village, so the folks are aware,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “In April, residents will get a warning mailed to them, and then we’ll be set to launch with the speed camera in May. There will be one speed camera, and there will be various spots throughout the village that the officers will sit with it.”
Hiram Village Council recently formed a Parking Bureau, which allows a selection of people in addition to the village’s police officers to issue parking tickets. Presently Haynam, village Administrator Steve Schuller and assistant village Administrator James McGee can issue parking tickets.
“In the future, we could hire more people to be able to issue parking tickets like students and safety officers at Hiram College. It would be a paid position with training,” Haynam said. “Right now, though, we’re not looking to spend money outside of the three of us.”
A Trail Town Initiative Task Force has been created to officially make the Village of Hiram a Trail Town. The task force is made up of representatives from the village, Hiram Township and Hiram College looking to collaborate, recognizing they need each other and could do a lot more together than apart.
“We’ll be looking to work towards rerouting the Buckeye Trail within the village, we’re looking at connecting some of our existing trails into a loop of the outer perimeter of the village, and we’re looking at how we long-term connect to the Headwaters Trail,” Haynam said. “We’re going to be enhancing our current mountain bike trails. There will be foot trails as well as hike-bike trails. All of these things are designed to take advantage of what we have in the village when it comes to natural resources and to get that tag from the state as a Trail Town. There are certain qualifications you have to have, and we’re going to work towards it.
“Being a Trail Town indicates that we value our natural resources, that we’re a welcome place for people to use our trail system. Ultimately, we’re looking at ways to not be a pass-through town but be a destination. We’ll be able to host some events for trail clubs and mountain bikers. It’s basically taking what we have right there in front of us and turning it into something.”
There is a proposal to allow up to six hens per building within the village.
“We reflected on a lot of other villages and cities in the region,” Haynam said, “so we’ve certainly done research on comparison, and six seems to be a number that’s consistent with what other people are doing and reflects a manageable amount.”
Keith Holmes, who was newly elected as a village council member last fall, resigned Feb. 14. Council has 30 days from the resignation date to appoint someone to replace him.
Anyone interested in applying for the position should email Haynam at [email protected] or Council President Chris Szell at [email protected]. If council does not vote in a member at its next meeting Tuesday, March 12, Haynam will appoint someone.
A chili cookoff was held Feb. 25 at the Hiram Christian Church. It was a collaboration between the church and Hiram College as a resource center for students to get free groceries and other household supplies. There were about 20 different chilis and upwards of 80 people who attended.
Village of Mantua
On the fourth Thursday of every month, the National Honor Society at Crestwood High School offers free tech help by the students for senior citizens from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Restoration 44 Coffee Company at 10675 Main St. The coffee shop will also host a Girls Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. For $35, you get mocktails, grazing boards and dessert. The event is targeted to adult women.
The annual Chili Bowl 5K will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 22. The race will start and end at sponsor Advanced Rehab at 4707 Mill St. The race will cover the Headwaters Trail. After the race, all of the participants will receive a bowl of chili. The fee is $20. To register, go to arhs.us. You must register by Wednesday, March 20.
The Village of Mantua is working on obtaining a grant from Major League Baseball to pay for improvements of the ballfields at Buchert Park – specifically, new bleachers and solar lighting to be able to have night games.
Top Tier Pastry opened recently at 4668 E. Prospect St. The hours of business are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Mantua Township
The annual Mantua/Shalersville “Spring Fling” will again be held in Mantua Township this year. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24 at Corners Catering & Event Center at 11845 state Route 44. The highlight will be the Kids Easter Egg Hunt for ages toddler-12 (please bring your child’s basket); there will also be an obstacle course, face painting, a coloring contest, prizes, treats, a Mantua K-9 demonstration, Mantua Township fire trucks and, of course, the Easter Bunny! For more information, go to https://mantuatownshipohio.gov/announcements.
Play ball! Spring is just about here, and the Mantua Township Service Department is scheduled to prepare the ball fields for the area’s baseball and softball seasons, which start in April. Sign-ups went extremely well, with the number of young players exceeding last year’s record total.
The Mantua Township Trustees are seeking civic-minded residents to fill vacancies on the zoning commission and board of zoning appeals, mostly for the position of alternate. If you are interested in contributing your time and want to learn the inner workings of township zoning, please apply. For more information and instructions, go to https://mantuatownshipohio.gov/announcements.
Garrettsville
The SummerFest Adult Easter Egg Hunt is back! It will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, March 22 at Slim & Jumbo’s at 8101 Main St. Tickets cost $25. If you find the Golden Egg, you win a $50 cash prize. Also included are pizza, an adult beverage, drink specials, a raffle and a Chinese auction. Text Aaron at 330-524-2646 to reserve your spot.
A SummerFest Casino Bus Trip to Presque Isle/Ferrante’s Winery in Geneva will be Thursday, April 11. The cost is $90 and includes the bus ride and tip, dinner at Ferrante’s and wine tasting. The bus will depart from SkyLanes, located at 8311 Windham St., at 8 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. Call Aaron at 330-524-2646 for seats and more information. Payment is due by Thursday, April 4.
Windham Township
Windham Township inherited the former Windham Alloy property, located on State Route 303, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and sold it to a paving company for $350,000.
“Windham Alloy hasn’t been there for more than 20 years,” township Vice Chair Rich Gano said. “The property has been in the EPA’s hands for quite awhile. They considered it a brownfield, so there’s a lot of remediation of the land.”
