Village of Mantua

The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting celebration at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26 for the completed Facade on Main Street in Mantua. The project was overseen by the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Committee (DMRC). The festivities will take place on the sidewalk in front of Crooked River Flowers – 10676 Main St, Mantua, OH.

The agenda: 

• 5 p.m.: Gather in front of Crooked River
• 5:20 p.m.: Pass out champagne glasses
• 5:30 p.m.: Speeches by the DMRC, county representatives and the ribbon cutting
• 5:40 p.m.: Move the party across the street to the Restoration 44 Coffee Company’s event space for some cake and to hear about the project’s ups, downs and discoveries from Ken Parker and Dan Tillet, two individuals who were closely involved in it
• 6:15 p.m.: Head to Crestwood High School’s football Homecoming game that starts at 7 p.m. or other Friday night activities

The DMRC led the project to update the building facade to give it a more cohesive and historic look, further enhancing Mantua’s downtown area. 

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Wander around downtown Mantua and visit local shops to sample wines and chocolate treats at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Wine & Chocolate Walk, sponsored by the Sisterhood of St. Joseph Church. Get your tickets before Oct. 1 to save money. Buy them on Eventbrite for $25 plus processing fee. The price goes up Oct. 1 and will be $35 if you buy your ticket at the event. Register here.

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Join in at Buckeye Trail Town Mantua to meet members of the Crooked River Chapter (CRC) Leadership Committee from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Restoration 44 Coffee Company at 10675 Main St. Committee members will discuss all things Ohio Buckeye Trail. Ask questions and get informed. Non-members are welcome. Meet other hikers and have a great cup of coffee! Make a day of it and hike the Buckeye Trail or enjoy shopping in Trail Town Mantua.  

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The Poetry Club meets at the Prospect Wine Shop at 4667 E. Prospect St. (down below, not on top) at 6:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month (the next one is Sept. 24). Read a poem or write your own. Poem lovers unite – join others who appreciate the beauty of words (and a glass of wine).

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Join in for a day of fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Christ Lutheran Church Car & Tractor Show. This is a fundraiser for the church, which is located at 10827 Main St. Activities include potato pancakes, prizes, pie the pastor, a raffle basket, a DJ, games, a costume parade and more. The first 50 pre-registered attendees get a swag bag. To enter a car/tractor, visit https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1056842583294794&set=gm.1308805007475986.

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Upcoming events in the Martin Hura Lodge’s Crestwood Community Center, located in Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St.:

• Wednesdays, Sept. 24, Oct. 1, Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 at 11 a.m.: Stay Active and Independent for Life – SAIL into the future with exercises designed for those 65 and older. Stay mobile and energetic.
• Wednesday, Sept. 24 at noon: “Walk with Ro” for 30 minutes. Then lunch on your own or bring a dish to share.  
• Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.: Join in for a craft program. Check out the Crestwood Community Center’s Facebook page for details.  
• Wednesday, Oct.8 at noon: Lunch on your own or bring a dish to share.

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Meet the Portage County District Library Bookmobile at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8 at Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St. Check out new books, return old ones and participate in library programs!

Mantua Township

The next fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10 inside the Mantua Center School gymnasium at 11741 Mantua Center Rd. Dine-in or carry-out. No charge, but donations are accepted. Please consider giving what you’d pay for a comparable meal at a restaurant plus tip. A variety of entrées will be provided, including one supplied each month from Main Street on the River. Dinner will include several salads and a variety of desserts, including homemade pies. All food is home-cooked and donated by MaRSI members – from soups and cornbread to salads and desserts. Light piano music will be provided by Steve Stork.

Please note … this is not a free community meal but rather a fundraiser for the restoration society, which 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.

Garrettsville

Garrettsville Summerfest will put on its Halloween Pub Crawl from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday,

Oct. 18. Participants will patronize five pubs/restaurants downtown and collect a playing card at each establishment. The pub crawl starts and ends at SkyLane Bowling at 8311 Windham St. The other stops will be Slim & Jumbo’s, Silver Crik, the Eagles Club and Garrett’s Mill.

A cash prize will be awarded to the individual with the best poker hand at the end. The evening will also include up to $2,000 in prizes, hayrides, prizes for best costumes, a basket raffle and pizza. Cost is $20 per person. Registration begins at 4 p.m. For more information, text 330-524-2646.

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Beauty With Grace Studio, a hair salon, opened its doors in August at 7997 State St., replacing the State Street Salon.

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Two businesses that will be closing their doors at the end of September are Jensen’s Flowers & Gifts at 8122 High St. and Always Indie: Permanent Jewelry & Boutique at 8108 Main St.

Freedom

Freedom’s Annual Fall Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 on Town Hall’s front lawn at the triangle of state Route 303, state Route 700 and state Route 88.

Food available for purchase will include hamburgers, hot dogs, donuts and coffee. The festival will include a car show with awards given out in several categories as well as crafters selling their works. Pumpkins and cornstalks will be available in exchange for donations to the Freedom Historical Society.

Windham Township

A Windham Township resident brought a proposal to the township trustees that would allow an additional house on the same parcel greater than five acres for agricultural assistance, for family only. The Windham Township Zoning Commission is reviewing the proposal and will then send it to regional planning for review. Public hearings will follow.  

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Geauga Highway Co., a road-paving service, has closed its doors at 9215 State Route 303 and will relocate. Replacing Geauga will be DBros Storage, which will open soon.  

Hiram Township

The chip-and-seal work on Hiram Township roads has been completed for 2025.

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The township’s garbage contract with Kimble has been extended two years.

Village of Hiram

The Coyote Café, a Mexican cantina-style restaurant, is scheduled to open its doors in early November at the corner of Wakefield Road and Garfield Road in the village of Hiram, on a property that has sat vacant for a decade.

A Coyote Café food truck is on site daily while the inside is being renovated. This will be Coyote Café’s fourth location; the others are in Ravenna, Kent and Bainbridge. The Hiram location will be an express version of Coyote Café.