City of Ravenna
The two recent floods have led Ravenna City Council to do an analysis of the city’s drainage system, part of which has been completed.
The very large – 48-inch – pipes are going to have to be cleaned and opened up completely. There is a pending possibility of legislation in which council would hire an outside group to check the city’s entire drainage system to see what can be done to alleviate the damage that continually happens when there are heavy rains.
City council authorized the purchase of a vehicle lift system for the sum of $54,436. This particular lift is designed to lift the heaviest equipment, including a fire truck if need be. The lift would be available to all of the departments in the city.
The 45th annual Ravenna Balloon-a-Fair will be Thursday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 22 in downtown Ravenna and at Sunbeau Valley Farm at 3229 State Route 59. There will be an abundance of activities and food concessions. Cost for the festival at Sunbeau Valley Farm is $5 a car for parking and $5 a person (kids 12 and under free) for entry. There will be a free shuttle to Sunbeau from Brown Middle School on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For a complete schedule of events, go to ravennaballoonafair.com.
The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce and the Portage Employment Collaborative will host Ravenna’s first inclusive hiring event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Reed Memorial Library. The library is located at 167 E. Main St. The event is open to all job seekers. There are immediate openings for entry-level opportunities. There will be free professional headshots, on-site interviews and free resume evaluation. If you need a free interview outfit and for more information, email [email protected].
The Friends of Ravenna Schools’ Community Night will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 in the Ravenna High School Community Room at 6589 N. Chestnut St. If you have any questions about the upcoming levy proposal and/or the demographics and financials of the school district, this is an open and available meeting for the community to attend.
Opening night for Popped! Art Space’s latest art show, Play Ball, will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Popped! Art Space at 232 W. Main St. This will celebrate baseball, with selected works from local and national artists. The opening reception is free, and artwork is available for purchase. The show runs through Friday, Oct. 11. It is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
The Ravenna High School and Ravenna Brown Middle boys soccer teams will host a putt-putt golf fundraiser from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at Birdie Shack at 2567 State Route 59. Check-in and donuts will be at 9 a.m., followed by a shotgun start. You can purchase tickets at the course.
Books a Go Go’s Silent Book Club will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 at Bean and the Baker at 107 E. Main St. There are no assigned books. Bring a current read and pop in for some dedicated reading time and book chat. A Books a Go Go bookstore pop-up will also be available. This event will be held the second Sunday of each month.
A Maple Grove Cemetery History Walk will be conducted by Kevin Gray of the Portage County Historical Society at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the cemetery, which is located at 6698 N. Chestnut St.
The next open city council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 at City Hall at 210 S. Park Way. Council meetings are also livestreamed via YouTube; search: Ravenna City Council.
The next Portage County Board of Commissioners meeting will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 on the seventh floor of the Portage County Administration Building at 449 S. Meridian St.
Ravenna Township
Due to the recent flooding in the Ravenna Township area, especially in Bramley’s West Park Mobile Home Park, the township trustees have spoken to the Portage County Emergency Management Agency about possibly getting grants to try to dredge up the creek that runs through the mobile home park.
Aurora
Aurora’s Fall Festival & Business Showcase will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 at Sunny Lake Park at 885 E. Mennonite Rd. Explore local businesses with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau. There will be food trucks, inflatables, a petting zoo, balloon art, an animal show, a magic show and more.
For more information, call 330-562-4333 or go to auroraoh.com. For more information about sponsorship levels, vendor opportunities and to register, go to allaboutaurora.com.
A business after-hours networking event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at Premier Bank at 1023 Aurora Rd. Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau members and anyone from the local business community are invited. The event is an opportunity to connect with fellow business professionals, exchange ideas and expand your network in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Anna Maria of Aurora will provide refreshments and small bites throughout the evening.
RSVP by going to allaboutaurora.com, clicking on “events” and then clicking on the registration link.
AWiN and the Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau will present designer purse bingo at “Glamorous Game Night” on Thursday, Sept. 12 at The Aurora Inn Hotel & Event Center, located at 30 Shawnee Trl. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m., with bingo beginning at 6:30 p.m. The costs of $65 per person or $475 for a table of eight include dinner and one set of bingo cards. You can purchase additional bingo cards the day of the event. There will be a cash bar, door prizes and more.
To register or to explore partnership, sponsor or vendor opportunities, email [email protected] or go to business.allaboutaurora/events/details/2024-designer-purse-bingo-5315.
Don’t forget to get your nominations in for the 2024 Aurora Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau Person of the Year Award and Business of the Year Award. The Person of the Year Award is given to recognize the contribution of a person who exemplifies civic awareness, demonstrates leadership and works for the betterment of the Aurora community. The Business of the Year Award is presented to a local business or organization that makes a positive contribution to the community while sharing a commitment to making Aurora a better place to work and live. The winners will be presented at the holiday luncheon Friday, Dec. 6 at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center at 600 N. Aurora Rd.
Nomination forms are available at allaboutaurora.com or by calling 330-562-3355. You can also email your nominations to [email protected]. The nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 11.
Shalersville
Country music group Little Texas will perform Sunday, Sept. 29 and Monday, Sept. 30 at Sand Hill Stables at 4311 State Route 303. There will be line dancing, cold brew, great food and music videos. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be a fee to gain entrance.
The township trustees opened bids for the new paved walking trail that will be located in the new section of Shalersville Park. This trail will be funded by the $134,000 grant the township approved last year.
Two township residents had several suggestions for Shalersville Park. One resident suggested that the township consider holding special events there, like a car show or possibly a fair. Another resident suggested that the township create a trail to the pavilion to make it more handicap accessible.
The existing park pavilion ceiling and the outside will be painted. Plans are for the new pavilion to be clad in vinyl.
The township is having a potluck dinner at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Town Hall, 9090 State Route 44.
The roof on the township garage was replaced with one made of metal.
The Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at Town Hall at 9090 State Route 44. The public is invited. Aireane Curtis, the new superintendent of Crestwood Local Schools, will speak and give an update.
