Village of Hiram
A public hearing will be held regarding implementation discussions of the pay-to-park that was passed last October at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Village Hall, located at 11617 Garfield Rd. It is being implemented to cover the rising costs of having police, fire and EMS.
“We’ll talk about how it will work. We want to educate everybody,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “It’s essentially a system for enforcement. This is not going to be a meter system. It will be through an app on your smartphone. Is it going to be $10 a day? Is it going to be $2 an hour? Do we have 2-hour free parking at the parks? Those details are still being discussed. We’re looking for input, too.”
Just how will the process work?
“You come up to your parking spot, you go to the app and you put in your information,” Haynam said. “Earlier this year, council passed a parking bureau in which we have folks go around and essentially, through a handheld device we would get from the company we go through, could tell who’s paying and who’s not paying.”
Once a contract is signed, it will be at least eight weeks in terms of getting the software and the training before the pay-to-park is put into effect. The village has assessed several companies and has one in mind. Legislation discussions for the contract with a company will be the main topic at the monthly trustees meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. at Village Hall.
“That would have three reads to enter into a contract unless we vote to do it as an emergency,” Haynam said.
The Hiram Loop Trail was recently completed. The 4-mile-long trail throughout the village has three trailheads that can be accessed at the three parks within the village. The trail crosses a handful of streets but is mostly in the woods. It is for foot traffic only. To view a map of the trail, pick up a copy of the September “Communicator” at Village Hall at 11617 Garfield Rd., or go to hiramvillage.org and click on “September Communicator.”
Chris McCreight recently stepped down from his position as a village council member. Anyone who wants to fill the position should contact council President Chris Szell at [email protected]. A special council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Village Hall to vote someone in. Village Hall is located at 11617 Garfield Rd.
Garrettsville
Garrettsville Village Council is looking into and pricing out installing a second tornado siren.
“We have one siren now, and it’s been sufficient,” Mayor Rick Patrick said. “But since the town has grown and the population has grown, we feel that there’s probably a need for another one. We’re looking at different areas, trying to see where would be the best place.”
Garrettsville’s annual car cruise was held on Labor Day at Nelson Ledges Race Course for the first time in honor of Zach Peterson, who passed away last year.
“It was to raise money for a scholarship for aspiring auto technicians,” Patrick said. “Zach worked for his dad, who owns NAPA Auto Parts in Garrettsville.”
There were about 500 classic cars and a couple thousand people there as well as food trucks and music.
“It was a great day,” Patrick said. “There was plenty of support from all around. We even had people there from Pennsylvania.”
Always Indie, a boutique gift shop, recently opened at 8108 Main St.
Windham Township
Geauga Paving, which recently opened on state Route 303, will chip-and-seal Bryant Road, which has several cracks in it.
“We’re hoping it will be done by the end of this week,” township Chair Danny Burns said.
Windham Township will be updating all of the bulbs and electrical fixtures inside and outside all of the buildings that the township owns with LED lighting. A grant of approximately $10,000 from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council will pay for the project.
At the main entrance of Windham Cemetery, an electrical wire runs above Parkman Road to feed the cemetery electricity.
“Something tall, though,” Burns said, “must’ve come down Parkman Road and ripped the wire down and pulled it off the cemetery’s pole that the cemetery has to maintain. We’re waiting for the electric company to fix it.”
Village of Mantua
There is a vacancy on Mantua Village Council. Chuck Peterson stepped down after less than a year on the job. Anyone interested in filling the position should email Mayor Tammy Meyer at [email protected]. The term will expire Dec. 31, 2025. Council will interview candidates at the trustees meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Town Hall at 4650 High St. Council will vote in a candidate that night.
Village council meets at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at Town Hall. The public is invited.
The Portage County Health Department is sponsoring free fitness classes that will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesdays on Sept. 18, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 at the Mantua Lodge in Buchert Park. Please bring 3- to 5-pound hand weights. Arrive at 10:45 a.m. to complete release forms. To RSVP and for more information, call 330-296-9919, ext. 129.
Walk with a naturalist at noon Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Mantua Lodge in Buchert Park. Stretch those legs and learn a little something! Join a naturalist on a walk prior to a free seminar about “Aging in Place” by Cynthia Toth,
“Access to Independence” by Jennifer Spaulding and lunch, which starts at 1 p.m. The event will be hosted by the Crestwood Community Center. For more information, email [email protected].
A Mantua Farmer’s Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at Christ Lutheran Church at 10827 N. Main St. For sale will be produce, baked goods, crafts, jelly and more. For more information, contact Diane at 330-274-2868.
Games on the Green – Chess will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at the Village Green. The entrance fee for the chess contest is $10 and includes a beverage. The winner takes home half the pot. The other half will be used to support the Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce’s community events.
Games on the Green – Badminton will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Village Green. Bring your family and friends for some good, friendly badminton competition. The entrance fee is $15 and includes a beverage. Like with the chess contest, the winner takes home half the pot. The other half will be used to support the Chamber’s community events.
“Card, Poker, Pass the Ace” will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Crestwood Community Center. Play cards for a couple hours. Bring your small change. Everyone’s a winner since you will build friendships and have fun. Some people may even go home a little heavier with all the change they win! For more information, email [email protected].
New Crestwood Local Schools Superintendent Aireane Curtis will speak about the state of the school district at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce. Dan Tillett, president of the board of education, will also be on hand.
There will be a Farmers & Makers Market at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 behind the Granary building at 4690 E. Prospect St. Stock up on honey, garlic and more!
The Sisterhood of St. Joseph will host a wine and chocolate walk at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 downtown in the village. Sample wine from Ohio wineries hosted by Mantua’s shops and restaurants. Other storefront locations will have chocolates. Current participating wineries include Salvage Winery, Ferrante Winery, CLE Urban Winery and West Main St. Winery. More are being added! For tickets, go to eventbrite.com/e/mantua-wine-and-chocolate-walk-tickets-951428256527.
Freedom
The Freedom Fall Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Town Hall at 8966 State Route 700. There will be food, music, a bounce house and more.
The chip-and-seal of two miles of roads – Goodell, Smalley and Vaughn – has been completed.
The new excavator for the road department has been delivered to the township.
Nelson
A recent resignation led to the Nelson Township Trustees to advertise for a new zoning commission member. Anyone interested in filling the position should contact Fiscal Officer Kevin Cihan at [email protected].
The Nelson boy scouts will host their Swiss Steak Dinner fundraiser from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Nelson Township Community House at 11642 Windham Parkman Rd. Cost is $15 per person. Children under 5 will be admitted free.
