Village of Hiram
The Village of Hiram Council formed a task force a while back for the revitalization of the downtown. That group continues to meet. Two Hiram College student groups — a total of five students doing a senior capstone project and also a semester project — will be contributing to the venture by collaborating with the task force.
“These are students who are studying marketing and business, so for them to get involved in our project, we’re really happy about it,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “We’re utilizing a resource that’s there for us.”
The Hiram Historical Society had the James A. Garfield presidential election flag reveal in February as part of an exhibition held in the Kennedy Center on the Hiram College campus.
“We had representatives from the Garfield Trail Association, we had almost 250 people come through the exhibit to see this 38-star flag from 1880,” Haynam said. “It was a wildly successful event. We were really happy to have so many people come through and see it. People came from Mentor, Kent and Akron. It was a big regional event.”
A public hearing was recently held regarding starting an exterior maintenance code within the village’s zoning structure. There was a request for a variance.
“We have an updated map of the zoning where we have changed the Hiram College research code to an institutional district,” Haynam said. “Besides that, the college had 11 properties that were out of zoning compliance. Essentially, we’re trying to have zoning now, so we decided, rather than having them come in and apply for 11 zoning variances, we just addressed them so now the map will reflect current use. The exterior maintenance code would be a change for the village. Essentially this is regarding safety, this is regarding maintaining properties at a reasonably safe level and appearance for the good of the village, the neighbors’ property values, etc. This will be coming to council for its first read this month, so if residents want to have input on the exterior maintenance code development — because it can be amended all the way up to its third read — they should come to council or reach out to a council member.”
The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at Village Hall at 11617 Garfield Rd.
Mantua Township
The Downtown Mantua Revitalization Committee will host a reverse raffle fundraiser that includes dinner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5 at St. Joseph Church at 11045 St. Joseph Blvd. Cost is $120 for two people. To purchase tickets, go to revitalizemantua.org. Tickets must be pre-purchased.
There will be a fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 14 in the Mantua Center School gymnasium at 11741 Mantua Center Rd. Donations will be accepted.
The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at the Portage County Regional Airport at 4039 Mantua Blvd. in Ravenna. The public is invited.
Village of Mantua
An Earth Day farmers and makers market will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 11 at the Greenery at 4690 E. Prospect St.
Nelson
The Nelson Trustees are getting estimates on repainting the interior of the Nelson Township Community House. The trustees are also getting estimates for a new furnace for the maintenance building offices that house the zoning inspector and fiscal officer.
The township trustees submitted four residences to be demolished, and two of those homes were indeed demolished recently by the Portage County Land Bank – one on Bloom Road and one on state Route 305.
Windham Township
The Portage County Land Bank will soon be putting out to bid the demolition of the home at 9092 State Route 303.
Garrettsville
The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Family Fun Day on St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17 downtown on Main Street. There will be horse-and-carriage rides, a petting zoo and kids face painting from 4 to 7 p.m. All the restaurants and bars will have specials.
Freedom
The Portage County District Library’s Bookmobile will be at Freedom Town Hall from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursdays for the foreseeable future. Town Hall is located at 8966 State Route 700.
