Mantua Township
The Mantua Center Historic District received consideration by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, the federal government’s official list of historic properties worthy of preservation. Listing in the National Register provides recognition for, and assists in, preserving the nation’s heritage. National Register listing provides recognition of the property’s historic importance and assures protective review of federal projects that might adversely affect the historic character of the property.
The Advisory Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 16 at the Ohio History Connection, Cardinal Classroom, located at 800 East 17th Ave. in Columbus. A virtual attendance option is available to all National Register nomination authors, property owners, elected officials and other interested parties.
The Mantua Historic District boundary will be increased to include Westlawn Cemetery (8 Mausoleum, 3991 state Rte. 82), Public Common (4112 state Rte. 82), Disciples of Christ Church (4118 state Rte. 82), Mantua Township Hall (4122 state Rte. 82) and Eastlawn Cemetery, Cemetery and Stone Wall & Methodist Episcopal Church (Civic Center) (11670 Mantua Center Rd.), Mantua Center School (11741 Mantua Center Rd.) and Town Hall Boy’s Outhouse (11750 Mantua Center Rd.).
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Mantua Township will honor and mourn all U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The event will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 at The Mantua Township East Lawn Cemetery. Included in the festivities will be the Windham High School band, the honor guard and other special guests.
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Mantua Township trustees will be accepting bids for a new roof on the town hall. Notifications and specifications will be posted on the township’s website (mantuatownshipohio.gov). The trustees are also interested in refurbishing the town hall in the coming months, including scraping, painting, landscaping and any other improvements deemed necessary.
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The township approved the application seeking a proposed grant for the purchase of new playground equipment to be installed at the township ball fields. The trustees have committed the required matching funds as their contribution to the project.
Village of Mantua
There was a resolution submitting to the electors of the Village of Mantua the question of renewal of the 3.85 mill tax levy for the general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges within the village. This will generate approximately $80,000 annually.
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A resolution accepted the low bid of $127,353.60 submitted by Angelo Benedetti, Inc. for the 2023 Canada, Glenwood, Maple and Herald Paving Project, authorizing the mayor and fiscal officer to enter into a contract for said improvements.
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Village council accepted donations from Ross Kotkowski Lakeside Sand and Gravel for the aggregate, Jarrod Ronyak from Ronyak Paving for paving and Sealtech Striping for the work they did on East High Street from Herald Street down to East High by the Village Lodge. The village accepted the donation for a cost of approximately $23,000. Council also thanked Harold Ullman from the Crestwood Lions for reaching out to those businesses, which did this project for the Portage Local Soap Box Derby, which takes place on Saturday, June 17. This year, there will be special cars to give rides to physically challenged children.
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Mantua’s Triple Trail Fest will be held from 3:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2 and from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 on the Headwaters, Buckeye and Cuyahoga River Water Trails. On Saturday there will be paddling, food trucks, specials in the village’s businesses and restaurants, an ice cream social, live music and more.
On Sunday there will be geology hikes, a 5K Nut Strut run/hike or a nine-mile Tuff Nutter run/hike along Buckeye Trail and into Camp Asbury, adult and kid bike rides, yoga, a tail wagging dog walk, Camp Hi Paddling voyages, Breakaway Excursions Paddling, food trucks, specials in the village’s businesses and restaurants, an ice cream social, live music and more. For more information, visit tripletrailfest.com.
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There will be a Farmers and Makers Market from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 9 and Friday, June 23 on Main Street at Downtown Mantua by the mural.
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The Main Street Sub Rib Burn-off will be held on Saturday, June 17 at Downtown Mantua by the mural.
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You can get your SEE Mantua card at Bibury & Co., located at 4672 East Prospect St., and have all summer to get it stamped by restaurants, businesses and at events to earn a Free SEE Mantua T-shirt.
Nelson
Nelson Township renewed its deal with NOPEC as the energy generator for the township.
“It seemed to be the safest guaranteed price,” township Chair Mike Kortan said. “You do have the option to opt out and pick your own source of energy generation if you like, but through NOPEC you get a better rate. The prices from NOPEC are locked in until the end of December if you decide to go with them. There’s a lot of hearsay, there’s a lot to look into it, and I always encourage people to do their homework and shop.”
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Roughly seven miles of the township’s annual chip-and-seal – some asphalt overlay – will be happening very soon. The streets done will be Kyle Road, Fenstermaker Road and Hopkins Road. The job should begin this week weather dependent.
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The annual Memorial Day ceremonies, normally held at Nelson Circle at the Civil War Monument, will be cancelled this year.
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Kortan would like to see more people attend township trustees meetings.
“The meetings are held at 7 p.m.” he said, “on the first and third Monday of the month at the community center (11642 Windham Parkman Rd.).”
Garrettsville
Garrettsville installed two EV stations in the municipal parking lot behind the Garrettsville Police Department so people can charge their electric cars. The charge is 25 cents per kilowatt.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Mayor Rick Patrick said, “because our former councilman, Tom Collins, who passed away last year, was big behind that and got grants to do it. So we finally finished up on it.”
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Garrettsville’s annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29. The parade will start at the Veterans Memorial on Maple Avenue and will conclude at Park Cemetery on Center Street. Ceremonies will be held at the Veterans Memorial before the parade and at the cemetery after the parade.
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A golf outing fundraiser for Garrettsville Summerfest will be held at Riverview Golf Course at 3903 state Rte. 82 on Saturday, May 27. It will be a 10 a.m. shotgun start for foursomes. Participants can show up the day of the event. The cost is $80 per person, which includes coffee and donuts for breakfast, Italian sausage and hot dogs at the turn and a catered dinner by Cal’s Restaurant & Pizza Express plus all beverages.
“We’re looking for teams and sponsors,” organizer Aaron King said.
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The Garrettsville Police Department held a scotch doubles bowling tournament fundraiser at Skylane Bowling that generated more than $3,000 for the department’s canine.
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The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its first of five Car Cruise Nights from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, May 27 on Main Street. There will be judging and trophies.
Said Patrick, “People come from all over Northeast Ohio for it.”
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The village will honor two Garfield High School wrestlers, Hunter Andel and Keegan Sell, at its council meeting on Wednesday, June 14. Andel and Sell in March became the first wrestling state champions in school history. Andel won the Division III 165-pound championship, and Sell captured the 190-pound title. The two young men will each be presented with a plaque.
Village of Hiram
The Village of Hiram’s annual Memorial Day Parade will occur on Monday, May 29. The parade will start at noon at the post office and will conclude at Fairview Cemetery, where there will be a ceremony.
Mayor Lou Bertrand, retired United States Army Artillery Lieutenant Colonel Barnard S. Kemter, Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge John Eklund and state Representative Gail Pavliga will speak at the ceremony. A number of veterans and Hiram Township Trustee Debra Blake will read the names of the 260 veterans going back to the Revolutionary War who are buried in Hiram’s four cemeteries.
Blake will also put up the flags for each veteran at the cemetery. Hiram Township Chair Jack Groselle will read the Gettysburg Address. Included in the parade will be the Crestwood Scarlet Guard Band, the police and fire departments and the boy scouts and cub scouts from Mantua.
“If the weather is good,” Bertrand said, “we usually have 100-200 people show up. A lot of the people who come are the descendants of the veterans buried in our cemeteries.”
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A Town Hall meeting regarding parking permits in delineated parking spots on public streets via a phone app was held.
“It was placed back on the table,” Bertrand said, “so it won’t be brought up again for another month or two.”
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The village decided to sell the light plant property on Terrier Drive.
“In order to rehabilitate the property, it would probably cost us $100,000, so we decided to advertise it for sale,” Bertrand said. “It will take some time.”
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The village accepted a 99-year lease for the property by the water treatment plant on state Route 305 to do recycling of leaves and twigs.
Hiram Township
Hiram Township will seek a replacement of the fire levy and the road and bridge levy. Both levies will be on the ballot in November.
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The township received a $1,000 NOPEC event grant for the fire department that will be used for a contribution that the fire department will make during July 4 festivities.
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The township received the bids for this year’s chip-and-seal. There were four people who bid.
“The bids now go to the county engineer, who looks them over and makes sure they have everything they’re supposed to have in them,” township Chair Jack Groselle said. “We try to do eight to 10 miles of streets a year.”
Freedom
The Hankee Road culvert replacement project is nearing completion.
“We are waiting on catch basins, guardrail and final landscaping,” township Chair Jeff Derthick said.
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The Asbury Road culvert replacement project will be going out to bid sometime in June.
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The bids for chip-and-seal for this year will be received, and the hope is that it can be completed later this fall.
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The ADA Compliant Project and front steps at the Freedom Township Historical Society of Portage County will be going out to bid soon.
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Haultech is currently putting in the first phase of drainage at Freedom Township Park in hopes of future improvements, including a walking trail and possibly a football field.
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The War Memorial pavers with names on them have been placed at the memorial.
“We are still waiting on the plaques to be delivered,” Derthick said.
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The park committee will be doing a cleanup on Wednesday, May 24 and Thursday, May 25 with mulching and planting flowers at Freedom Township Park and the War Memorial along with trimming some trees.
Village of Windham
Picone Family Medicine will soon be closing its doors at its present location of 9621 East Center St.
