City of Ravenna

The Ravenna Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Program gives local high school students a behind-the-scenes look at how the city of Ravenna operates. The students tour City Hall, the police and fire departments and Ravenna’s historic sites, learn what leadership and civic responsibility really mean and roll up their sleeves volunteering right in town.    

Created through a partnership between the city of Ravenna and the chamber, this program works directly with Ravenna High School’s Principal’s Advisory Committee students. Throughout the year, students get an exclusive look at what Ravenna has to offer through behind-the-scenes community visits, including:

• Ravenna City Hall
• Ravenna Fire Department and Ravenna Police Department
• Center of Hope
• Juvenile Detention Center
• Children’s Advocacy

The program officially kicked off its second year on Oct. 27 with a fun, hands-on, team-building project in which students designed and built scarecrows together.

To wrap up their experience, students will complete a capstone project presenting their ideas to city leaders and city administrators. Completing the program and project qualifies participating students to apply for scholarships awarded by the chamber and the city of Ravenna.

The chamber is looking for a couple of local businesses or community members to buy the group lunch with a $100 sponsorship on days the students are out touring, volunteering and working in the community. It’s an easy way to fuel Ravenna’s future leaders, and support will be recognized. Click here to sponsor a lunch for this amazing group of students during one of their days out in the community.

For more information, call (330) 296-3889 or email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

Main Street Ravenna is inviting the community to try its luck this fall with Prize-a-Palooza, a raffle with proceeds benefiting the organization’s mission to revitalize downtown Ravenna. Every ticket used in a basket drawing is automatically entered to win the grand prize: airfare and hotel accommodations for a four-day, three-night trip to Las Vegas. That makes one ticket equal to two chances for a prize. The trip is provided by Armstrong Travel. Participants can choose from more than 20 prize baskets, including a $500 Meijer gift certificate, game night baskets, movie passes, symphony tickets and more.

“We know with the holidays right around the corner, this raffle can help everyone get a jump start on their shopping,” Main Street Ravenna Board President William Barber said.

Ohio residents age 21 and older can purchase tickets and enter at www.mainstreetravenna.org/raffle. Tickets cost $10, or participants can purchase six tickets for $50, 12 tickets for $100 or 24 tickets for $200. The drawing will take place on Nov. 10 at the Main Street Ravenna offices and on Facebook Live.

For questions, call Main Street Ravenna at (330) 235-9509 or visit the office at 267 W. Main St. to see many of the prizes in person and purchase tickets.

Raffle proceeds help Main Street Ravenna continue making improvements to downtown.

The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Raffle is here.

There are more than $3,000 in prizes up for grabs, all donated by local businesses. Prizes include a PlayStation 5, a Kalahari getaway, a Mountaineer Casino Resort package and holiday gift baskets.

Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Tickets can be purchased at:

• Ravenna Chamber of Commerce office
• The Record Arsenal
• Guido’s
• Hometown Bank
• Bean and the Baker
• Books A Go Go
• Online at www.ravennaareachamber.com

Winners will be announced live on the chamber’s Facebook page on Monday, Dec. 7.

Questions? Contact Ryann at (330) 296-3889 or ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for vendors for the Nov. 27 Midnight Madness and possible weekend pop-up shops downtown this holiday season. It’s the perfect opportunity to earn extra money or test a business idea. People can also sign up to be Santa’s craft show vendor. Sponsorships are available. To be a vendor or sponsor, call (330) 296-3889 or email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

Join the Portage Development Board and industry leaders for a Facility Tour After Hours from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the University Hospitals Portage Medical Center at 6847 N. Chestnut St. in the Medical Arts Building, room 150. To register, visit pdb-november-after-hours-tickets.eventbrite.com.

Join the chamber’s next Coffee Talk from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Horseshoe Diner at 250 W. Main St.

The Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority (PMHA) will have a meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the PMHA office at 2832 state Route 59.

Decorate a home or business for the Ravenna Holiday Light Tour. Register to be listed on the tour by Friday, Nov. 20. To register, call (330) 296-3889 or email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

Ravenna Explore, a self-guided tour of Ravenna, continues on Saturday, Nov. 14. Explore places and local retail.

Aurora

UNWRAP 2027: Discover What’s Next for Your Brand, a hands-on promotional products showcase, will be from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Club Walden at 585 Country Club Lane in Aurora. This event is hosted by PromoPSG founder Jaya Yurchisin.

Budgets for 2027 are being set now, and the brands that plan their merchandise early get better pricing, better selection and fewer rush fees. For businesses that use branded merchandise for employees, customers, events or year-end gifts, this is the easiest way to see what’s new for 2027 in one afternoon. Attendees will be able to:

• Meet top supplier partners and see, touch and compare the newest drinkware, tech, apparel, writing instruments and more.
• Try their luck at the Mystery Swag Wall.
• Leave with a curated UNWRAP 2027 take-home bag.
• Connect with other Aurora business owners.
• This is free to attend.

To RSVP (or can’t make it but want a head start on 2027?), contact Yurchisin at contact@promopsg.com.

The Winter Blanket Drive runs through Dec. 18. Donations can be dropped off at the Walker Building at 129 W. Pioneer Trail from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Blanket donations support hospice patients.

The Turkey Trot 5K and Mashed Potato Mile will be on Thursday, Nov. 26, in the Aurora High School parking lot at 109 W. Pioneer Trail.
Schedule:

• 7 a.m. – Check-in and registration
• 8 a.m. – 1 mile begins
• 8:30 a.m. – 5K begins

Early packet pickup will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the Walker Building.

Veterans Day will be observed at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Memorial Park at 40 W. Garfield Rd.  

The Holiday Tree Lighting Festival will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Bicentennial Park. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 5 p.m.

Want to receive a letter from Santa this holiday season? Drop off letters to Santa by Dec. 17 at the North Pole Mailbox in the Aurora Memorial Library parking lot at 115 E. Pioneer Trail (near the gazebo). Include a name and address. No stamp needed.

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Luncheon for person and business of the year awards will be at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, at Hawthorn Clubhouse at 685 Walnut Ridge Trail. Members $40, non-members $50. RSVP: allaboutaurora.com.   

The city of Aurora’s Holiday Lights Tour will be from Dec. 11-31. Beginning on Dec. 11, an official tour map will be available with a list of participating homes. Drive around and enjoy the beautiful holiday displays. Want to show off a festive holiday display? Click here to register by Dec. 6.

Join in for Jingle & Mingle from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Abigail’s of Aurora at 178 S. Chillicothe Rd. Please bring a food donation to support Aurora’s food pantries (cash donations accepted). Abigail’s will be collecting food donations the entire month of November.  

The Children’s Choir, age 4 through fifth grade, will have their last three practices on Sundays, Nov. 15, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6, at the Church in Aurora at 146 S. Chillicothe Rd. Kids are welcome to join in for Sunday school, snack and choir practice. The schedule:

• 10:15-11:30 a.m.: Sunday school
• 11:30-11:45 a.m.: Snack
• 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Choir practice

The Friends of Aurora Memorial Library will have a book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28. Veterans Special: buy one book and get one free (a book of equal or lesser value during book sale). For more information, call (330) 562-6502 or visit facebook.com/friendsauroramemoriallibrary.

The Avantor Blood Mobile at 220 Lena Dr. will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29. Schedule an appointment today by calling 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Aurora City Council authorized the city to purchase a liquor license for $20,290 to be used for Aurora Park.

Council approved the conditional zoning certificate for Anytime Fitness in Barrington Town Square.

Council authorized the city’s contract with United Medical Resources as the city’s medical and prescription claims administrator at $76,777 per year for three years.

Council authorized Swiss Re for medical stop loss coverage.

Council will consider changes in regulations of metal roofs.

City Council will consider putting a fire/paramedic levy renewal on the May 2027 ballot.

Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin will introduce the 2027 proposed budget.

Aurora Park is now open. Park hours are dawn to dusk. Visitors can enjoy paved walking loops, waterfront seating, pier and self-serve kayak rentals.

Shalersville

At a special meeting on Oct. 20, a motion was made to table the zoning amendments proposed by Mike Cyphert and by Geis/Shalersville Holdings. Both the Zoning Commission and Regional Planning had previously tabled these amendments. 

The regular trustees meeting immediately followed the special meeting. Letters from Halle Scherba and Steve Demetriou were read into the record. In the latter’s letter, Demetriou stated that H.B. 392 was not written to help data centers circumvent local zoning regulations. Several residents disagreed with that statement and suggested it was intended to remove local control over data centers.

Meanwhile, a resolution was passed to extend the moratorium of data centers for an additional six months.

All portable restrooms except for one were removed from Shalersville Park. Winterization of park facilities will be completed this month. The parking lot entrance off state Route 44 will be closed for the winter.

Road salt may be in short supply this winter due to the water intrusion at the Morton salt mine in Fairport Harbor. The mine was shut down in October. At this time, there is no indication when shipments will resume or how much salt the township can expect to receive.

The culvert on Frost Road was replaced in October.