Streetsboro
Groundbreaking for the Streetsboro Community Center took place two weeks ago. The community center, which will be located at 8970 Kirby Lane at Streetsboro City Park, is scheduled to open in February 2024. The cost will be more than $3.5 million.
“It will be 7,500 square feet and will include the park and recreation offices, a senior center and a gathering area that will be able to hold 150 people,” Mayor Glenn Broska said. “The gathering area will be available for rent for weddings and showers and classes for boxing, karate and yoga, stuff like that. We’re severely lacking in areas where people can have events. The community center is going to be another jewel in the crown for the park and recreation department and the city.”
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Streetsboro has been hosting, and will continue to host, more than a few large youth baseball and softball tournaments at Streetsboro City Park, which has 10 ballfields.
“That says a lot about the condition of our fields and about the condition of our park,” Broska said. “Two weekends ago, we had about 40 teams playing. We draw people from near and far. The folks from out of town come into the city, and it’s a significant bump in the revenue for our restaurants, hotels and retail areas. More and more people are finding out how good our fields are, and the demand for them on the weekends for these tournaments is increasing.”
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University Hospitals will turn the old Denny’s restaurant at 9449 State Route 14 into a stand-alone urgent care center. The urgent care center is scheduled to open in about three months.
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There will be a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Monday, June 5 for the grand opening of Slothy Style Tattoo, a custom tattoo studio at 9270 Market Square Drive. Light refreshments will be served, and guests can meet the artists.
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VanBoxel Kitchen and Flooring at 9040 State Route 14 had its grand opening about three weeks ago.
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A Popeyes fast-food restaurant on state Route 14 is under construction and scheduled to open by the end of summer.
Aurora
Aurora has been awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant in the amount of about $2.6 million for flood and stormwater mitigation in the Geauga Lake neighborhood.
“City council authorized me to enter into the state/local grant agreement for this grant and also authorized our $47,399 match,” Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said. “That’s a very exciting project for the community because of the stormwater issues we’ve had in the Geauga Lake area.”
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Council approved the purchase of a brand-new fire pumper truck at a cost of $931,000. It will take probably more than a year for the fire department to actually acquire the truck. The old truck will go to backup status.
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The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is coming to Aurora. It will be on display at Hartman Park at 305 Townline Rd. from Thursday, June 22 through Sunday, June 25. The committee is looking for volunteers to work in three-hour blocks. Many volunteer opportunities are available. Anyone interested in volunteering can email [email protected].
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For the last year, city council has been going through a Master Plan update (it’s done once every five years) with a Master Plan Review Commission that Womer Benjamin appointed in January of last year. The commission presented its recommendation to the administration and to the planning commission. The planning commission approved it and sent it to council, and council adopted it with two small changes.
“The Master Plan serves as a guide to the city as we look at the future of Aurora,” Womer Benjamin said.
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The Fourth of July parade will start at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 4. The parade will begin at Barrington Square in the Heinen’s Grocery Store parking lot at 115 N. Chillicothe Rd., then proceed up state Route 306, travel up West Pioneer Trail and conclude at Aurora High School at 109 W. Pioneer Trl. Parade awards will be given afterward at Kiwanis-Moore Park at 35 W. Pioneer Trl. Judges will award Best School, Non-Profit, Business and Community parade entries as well as Most Patriotic.
After the parade awards are announced, a festival at the park will last until 4 p.m. Booths must be set up by 10 a.m. The fees for a booth are $50 for businesses and $10 for non-profits. One 10×10-foot tent will be provided to vendors. Vendors are responsible for everything else, including a table, chairs, decorations, etc. Anyone interested in being in the parade or being a vendor must contact the parks and recreation department at 330-562-4333 or go to City of Aurora Parks and Recreation (activityreg.com) by Sunday, June 11.
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There will be “Music on the Patio” from 6 to 9 p.m. on Fridays at Buffalo Wild Wings at 18865 Giles Rd. Andy Prayner will perform June 16, and Dream Café will perform June 23. The performers June 9 and June 30 are yet to be determined.
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“Wine Down Wednesday” at The Tanglewood Club at 8745 Tanglewood Trl. in Chagrin Falls will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 21. Beverages will be provided by Superior Beverage Group Wines, the Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Western Reserve Distillers Bourbon. Light fare will also be available. To RSVP, call 440-543-3752 ext. 4 or email [email protected].
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The first of four Outdoor Artisan Bazaars will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17 at Forage and Feather at 311 E. Garfield Rd. The cost for a 10-foot-by-10-foot space is $30. Anyone interested in having a space can call 234-781-9090.
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The Atrium of Aurora, a luxury senior living space at 800 N. Aurora Rd., will host an event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 10. Tours will be available. In addition, there will be a live band, appetizers and drinks. For more information, call 330-562-7777.
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The ribbon cutting and grand opening for Aurora Meadows, an event venue at 50 Trails End, took place June 1.
City of Ravenna
The first of four of the Ravenna Rocks Concert Series will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 17 downtown. On the docket are live music, food and drinks, vendors, a cruise-in car show, a cornhole tournament and more. Anyone interested in being a vendor or purchasing sponsorship packages can call 330-296-3886 or email [email protected]. Anyone interested in entering the cornhole tournament can sign up at the West Main St. Winery & Brewery at 234 W. Main St.
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Family Health and Safety Day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 17 at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center at 6847 N. Chestnut St. There will be family-friendly community events to celebrate wellness, with free health screenings, educational activities and demonstrations. Walk-up screenings will include: balance and grip, blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, bone density, cholesterol, pre-diabetes risk assessment and stroke assessment. Pre-registered health screenings will include: carotid vascular, hearing, lower extremity peripheral arterial disease screening, sleep apnea screening and thyroid screening. To pre-register, call 330-577-9993.
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The Raven Awards Ceremony will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 in the Ravenna High School Auditorium at 6589 N. Chestnut St.
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“Art on Main” will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10 downtown. The event will feature several professional and amateur artists, with most of their works for sale. There will also be wine tasting, while “The Door,” the area where you’re allowed to be out on the street with a drink in your hand, will be in effect.
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Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States (Monday, June 19 this year) commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, will be recognized in Ravenna two days earlier for the second year in a row on Saturday, June 17. There will be food vendors and musical entertainment around the courthouse at 203 W. Main St.
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The Boston Group, a designer and manufacturer of custom metal and plastic displays for retail stores, hospitals and pharmacies, relocated both of its headquarters from the Boston area and relocated its manufacturing facility from the Hubbard area to Ravenna. The business recently opened at 150 Loomis Pkwy.
Ravenna Township
The township’s Ohio Public Works Commission application for a grant for paving Hazel Street, East Lake Street and Edwards Street was accepted. It is a 50% match.
“We won’t know how much the project is going to cost until we put bids out for it,” township Trustee Vince Coia said.
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The township hired a full-time road worker, Robert Vieland, on May 22.
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As part of the Ravenna City School District’s community services program, on May 12 the Ravenna High School softball team went to Grandview Memorial Cemetery and spread 40 yards of mulch.
