Paris
The bridge by the corner of Newton Falls Road and Holcomb Road has been closed by Portage County until a new bridge is built. Brick barriers were put up on both sides.
“The current bridge is falling apart and has failed inspection,” township Chair Dave Kemble said. “We were glad to hear that now before something heavy like a school bus or truck went over it.”
The fourth annual Brunch with Buddy (the Elf) was held Dec. 9 at the Shearer’s Community Center. The event was a fundraiser for the Paris Township Fire Department. Santa Claus was there handing out gifts to the children.
Palmyra
Palmyra Township is looking at options for purchasing a new tanker for the fire department.
“The current tanker is getting old,” township Chair Tom Grund said. “It’s a 1986 model, and reliability is starting to become an issue.”
The cost of a new tanker will be $600,000-$750,000.
The second annual Brunch with Santa will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Palmyra Fire Department at 3956 state Route 225. The menu will consist of pancakes, bacon, eggs, oatmeal, oysters, milk and coffee. Santa is scheduled to arrive on a fire truck at 11 a.m. Children can have their pictures taken with him and the Grinch.
There will be kids’ crafts and other kids’ activities like getting to sit on the fire trucks. Raffle basket drawings will be held, too.
“We did it last year, and it was a hit,” Grund said. “It was a very good time.”
The prices are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-12. Kids under 5 get in free.
Deerfield
After a three-year absence, Deerfield’s Festival of Lights has returned this holiday season.
“We tried it about six years ago and did it for two more years. We got about six participants each year,” Stephanie Barringer, owner of sponsor — and Deerfield business — U.S. Pride Home Specialists and creator of the event, said.
Here’s how it works: Participants send in their addresses, and a map is made with all of the lit-up homes. Residents can look at the map and make their own route depending on where they live. This year’s Festival of Lights was kind of thrown together at the last minute.
“I wasn’t sure how much response and participation I was going to get,” Barringer said. “We have 12 or 13 houses participating, so that’s a very good response we got. We’ve asked participants to make sure that their lights are on by dark each night.”
Barringer will change things up next year and present the Festival of Lights the way it was done several years ago.
“Hopefully,” she said, “we’ll be at the Town Hall on a certain date, and that will be the day you drive around and see the lights and then come back to see Santa Claus and get some hot cocoa, donuts and cookies.”
U.S. Pride Home Specialists will also sponsor Christmas for four area families in need. Anyone who wants to make a donation should call (330) 423-2294.
Rootstown
The annual Light It Up Rootstown was held Dec. 2. All kinds of decorations were put up all around the center of town, Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck, there were free hot dogs and cookies plus hot chocolate and face painting, the Lions Club was there handing out goodies, and several churches helped out.
A Night at the Races benefiting the Rootstown Wrestling Club was held Dec. 2 at the Immaculate Conception Parish’s hall in Ravenna.
A new bakery will be opening sometime soon in Dunlavy Plaza between Dunkin’ Donuts and Romeo’s Pizza on State Route 44.
Edinburg
Breakfast with Santa Claus took place Dec. 2 at the Edinburg Fire Department. Everyone enjoyed pancakes, and children got their pictures taken with Santa.
