County roundup: Streetsboro Brew & BBQ Bash is this weekend, plus Aurora, Ravenna and Shalersville news

Aurora

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf outing has been renamed the “Aurora Chamber of Commerce, David M. Benjamin Memorial Golf Outing” in memory of longtime Chamber board member David M. Benjamin, who passed away last year. Benjamin was a passionate supporter of the Aurora community and an avid golfer who truly loved the game. He was also the beloved husband of Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin. A longtime lawyer, municipal law director, and college and law school professor, Benjamin’s legacy of service and leadership continues to inspire.

This year’s golf outing, presented by WesBanco, will be held Monday, Sept. 8 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club at 6544 State Route 14 in Ravenna. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. Womer Benjamin will offer special welcome remarks at 9:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m. The cost is $150 per golfer, which includes 18 holes of golf with cart, breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus prizes and a gift bag. Space is limited, so register now at allaboutaurora.com.

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The City of Aurora had its annual National Night Out Truck and Tractor Night on Aug. 5 at both Kiwanis-Moore Park at 35 W. Pioneer Trl. and the adjacent Aurora Fire Department. “National Night Out is a national police event,” Womer Benjamin said, “so the police department and the fire department were involved along with our service department and parks and recreation department, all of which provided trucks, vehicles and all kinds of interesting tractors, etc., for kids to examine. The police department cooked free hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone.

“It’s a big event,” Womer Benjamin said. “It was very well attended. It was a lot of fun.”

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The city’s annual 9/11 memorial ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at Sunny Lake Park at 885 E. Mennonite Rd. Present will be American Legion and VFW veterans. There will be a flag-retirement ceremony to honor first responders and remember that terrible day.

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The annual Aurora Car Show will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at Sunny Lake Park at 885 E. Mennonite Rd. There is no cost to participate, and awards will be presented in several categories. There will be food trucks and a disc jockey. Registration is from noon to 1 p.m.

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The summer’s final two Food Truck Wednesdays and concerts will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 13 and Aug. 27 at Kiwanis-Moore Park at 35 W. Pioneer Trl.

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The last two summer concerts this year will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 (Aftermath: Experience the ’60s) and Thursday, Aug. 28 (Moonshine Groove) at Veterans Memorial Park at 40 W. Garfield Rd.

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Aurora City Council approved the conditional zoning certificate for the city’s new park at Geauga Lake at which a new recreational facility will be built.

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City council approved the purchase of a crack-sealer machine for the service department to be used on the roads at a cost of $76,697.

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An ordinance was proposed that would clarify the no-smoking statute in city parks and on city-owned properties.

Streetsboro

The Streetsboro Visitors Bureau and VFW present the summer event of the year: The Brew & BBQ Bash returns from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 to take over Streetsboro City Park at 8970 Kirby Ln. With smoke in the air and the craft beer flowing, the Brew & BBQ Bash is family fun for all. More than 17 craft beer breweries will be on hand along with pitmasters competing in five different “Best of…” categories to be named the 2025 Brew & BBQ Grand Champion.

Returning Pitmasters: 2024 Grand Champion: Sucka Bone BBQ (Ravenna)/runner-up: Jay Rhea BBQ (Aurora); 2024 People’s Choice: Chasin’ Tailz BBQ (Ravenna)/runner-up: Pink Piggy BBQ (Macedonia). Other returning pitmasters: Moonshine Q Slow Smoked BBQ (Beloit), Rak’s BBQ (Akron), Pig ‘n Nancy “That Punk from Cleveland” (Aurora), The Game Night Grillers (Streetsboro), Grum’s BBQ (Cleveland), Smoking Hot Dad’s BBQ (Streetsboro) and Ruth Helen’s Smokin Flavors (Maple Heights).

New for 2025: Stewart’s Smokin Backyard BBQ (Kirtland), Taste the Love BBQ (Garfield Heights), C4 BBQ (Warren), Ross Mountain BBQ (Sherrodsville), Here to Serve BBQ (North Benton), Rooster Tail BBQ (Louisville), The Ohio BBQ Crew (Campbell) and Hatfield’s Goode Grub (Cleveland).

BBQ Alley features BBQ trucks competing for the People’s Choice Award, with a portion of proceeds to benefit the Special Olympics “Portage Grin and Bear It” organization and the Streetsboro Heritage Foundation. With more than 15 traditional food trucks and 25 crafters, there will be something for everyone.

Headlining the Woodsy’s Music Stage are Detroit’s own The Hair Band Experience along with local rock favorites John Doe and special event host DJ Krooze. Celebrating the best days of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison and more, The Hair Band Experience brings a live music event with full costume and role changes and set enhancement that will give fans a true concert experience.

The event will also feature: a special show by the St. Helen Unicycle Drill Team, Pure Passions live animals and alpacas, bounce inflatables, the returning Foam Zone, caricatures by Ron Hill, kids games, and a special appearance-photo op with “Lola Oink” Pig. There will also be pictures with monster truck “Total Chaos”, plus Top Notch Motorsports brings “Maximum Override” monster truck rides.

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Streetsboro City Council frequently receives requests for a variance to the board of zoning and building appeals regarding the placement of accessory structures on residential property. In the past, accessory structures were allowed only in residents’ backyards.

“Well,” Mayor Glenn Broska said, “in two of the zoning districts, open-space conservation and rural residential, we amended the text so people can have accessory structures in their side yard or their front yard, depending on how far they’re set back from the road. People are saying, ‘Hey, I live on 10 acres of land, and I have to keep this structure behind my house. Why can’t I put it out here?’ It just made sense, so we’re addressing it.”

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City council put a moratorium on solar installation in homes almost a year ago because there weren’t any regulations as to what people could do. Over the past year, Planning Director John Cieszkowski has researched and compiled data and created an amendment for the city’s zoning code.

“For the most part, it was well received by city council,” Broska said. “There were a few things that council asked us to go back and look at. We’ll decide if we’re going to make those amendments to it. It’s a very good proposal. It would allow us to be able to regulate the installation of solar panels in peoples’ homes and in their yards. It’s not that we don’t want them, but we just don’t want them everywhere. As a municipality, we can only regulate up to 50 megawatts of electrical production. After that, the state takes over. Fifty megawatts would be way more than what is adequate for someone to power their house. When you get over 50 megawatts, you’re talking about the solar fields.”

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Construction should begin soon for both a Winking Lizard on state Route 43 and a Chick-fil-A on state Route 14.     

City of Ravenna

The Ravenna Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Inclusive Hiring Event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at Reed Memorial Library at 167 E. Main St. This event is for job seekers, including those who may face barriers to employment – such as individuals with disabilities, veterans, new graduates and second-chance candidates. It is designed to set candidates and employers up for success. Provided will be on-site supports to help job seekers put their best foot forward such as:  

*Resume review and editing

*Mock interviews to help candidates practice and build confidence

*Free professional headshots

*Resource tables to address common questions and barriers

*Transportation guidance to help ensure reliable access to work

Why you should join in:

*Meet a wide range of local candidates who are motivated and ready to work

*Showcase your company’s values and commitment to community hiring

*Build partnerships with workforce organizations and local support networks

*Strengthen your presence as a local employer of choice

There is no cost to participate. Table and chairs are provided. Free lunch for all registered participants. Preference will be given to Ravenna Chamber members. To register, email tiffanyj@portagedd.org.

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The Ravenna Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Break Golf Outing will be Friday, Aug. 22 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club at 6544 State Route 14. Early registration starts at 8:15 a.m., with a tee time of 9 a.m. Included will be 18 holes of golf with cart, hot lunch, beverages, steak dinner, swag bag, 50/50 raffle, and lots of contests and prizes. If you are interested in donating items, gifts, gift cards or baskets that represent your business for the 50/50 raffle, sponsorships are available. To pre-register, be a sponsor, donate items for the raffle or learn about any other details, email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com or call 330-296-3886.

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The Chamber’s next “Lunch & Learn” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at The English Pub and Bistro at 320 E. Main St., Ste. 108. The guest speaker will be David Alan from Mail-Rite Media AI.        

Ravenna Township

FirstEnergy has signed a Road Use Maintenance Agreement with Ravenna Township and the Portage County Engineer. FirstEnergy will repair the roads it damages when the company makes improvements on its electrical lines.

“The weight of the equipment will probably damage the roads,” township Chair Vince Coia said, “so when they’re done, they’re going to pay to have the roads paved and chip-and-sealed.”

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Ravenna Township received approval from the Portage County Commissioners to change a portion of the name of Richardson Street to Beatrice Mitchell Boulevard in honor of the late Beatrice Mitchell. Mitchell was a leader in the McElrath neighborhood, overseeing the formation of several worthwhile projects for the betterment of the community.

“We’re just waiting for the signs to come in,” Coia said. “The family will be gathering for a reunion ceremony at some point.”

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Grandview Memorial Cemetery’s mausoleum will be getting a new roof by the end of August or the first part of September.

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Ravenna Township received a $1,291 grant from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) for energy efficiency upgrades.

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Ravenna Township received some generous donations through the township fire department from citizens who live both inside and outside the township in memory of Coia’s wife Suzanne, who passed away July 5. Meanwhile, the fire department received a donation from the Ravenna Moose Club.

Shalersville

Shalersville will have two road closures this week: state Route 44 starting Monday, Aug. 11 for a week, and Webb Road from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12 for a culvert replacement.

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The zoning inspector stated that Shalersville has two more new home permits, bringing the total to eight so far this year.

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Concrete was poured for the new pavilion and gazebo. The electrical still must be completed.

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The township trustees passed a resolution to withdraw from NOPEC. This will not become effective until summer of next year.

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The township trustees will soon be paying off a pair of loans: a Sanicky property loan and the International truck loan. These two loans total approximately $115,000.