Streetsboro
Streetsboro City Council has been discussing the installation of six Flock cameras at the major approaches to the city: along state Route 14, state Route 43 and state Route 303. Police forces and neighborhood homeowners associations use these cameras to investigate crimes, catch stolen vehicles and receive real-time alerts when a known suspect’s vehicle enters an area.
“This is a hot-button topic right now,” Mayor Glenn Broska said. “The vast majority of city council were in favor of them because they’re a great crime-fighting tool. Council has asked the police chief and the law department to come up with a set of policies and procedures to make sure the cameras are used the way we want them to be used, which is just as a license-plate reader and a crime-fighter tool.”
There are those who are against Flock cameras for contributing to mass surveillance and tracking citizens’ movements without a warrant.
Nine city roads will be resurfaced this summer by Ronyak Paving. Three of the roads are in the Quails Chase subdivision: Hunting Valley Lane, Meadowsweet Lane and Tanager Lane. Four are in the Tinkers Creek subdivision: Holborn Road, Dawnwood Court, Jenwood Court and Autumn Court. The other two roads are Elliman Road and Ferguson Road, in which complete rebuilds that began last year will be completed. The paving of all nine of these roads will have no effect on the additional construction in the area. There will be no detours, and there will be no closed roads.
The project will begin during the first week of August and should be completed by Sept. 1. The cost of the project is just less than $1.6 billion: $1.2 million of which the city will pay and $399,000 of which will come from a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
The city of Streetsboro signed a construction agreement for a new subdivision called The Villas at Boulder Creek. It will be 116 units, mostly townhouses.
“It’s probably the last big housing development that we’ll see, because it’s on the last available piece of land that has R-1, a zoning designation meaning low-density, single-family homes,” Broska said.
Aurora
Aurora City Council approved putting a .9 mill renewal levy for roads and bridges on the November ballot.
City Council approved the city’s contract with KOMPAN to design the play features for Phase 1B at Aurora Park.
Council approved Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin’s request to extend the moratorium on vape shops, smoke shops, e-cigarette shops, etc., to Dec. 31.
Council approved a request for a moratorium on data centers through the end of the year.
Council approved the purchase of a vacant lot on Eldridge Road for storm-water maintenance purposes for $45,000.
At the City Council meeting on Monday, July 20, the mayor will request council to allow the mayor to accept a gift of four soccer goals with wheels from a donor.
The last planned event of Aurora’s America’s 250th Birthday Celebration is the birthday business tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1. To sign up, contact the Aurora Chamber of Commerce at 330-562-3355.
Aurora’s annual National Night Out and Truck and Tractor Night will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Kiwanis-Moore Park at 35 W. Pioneer Trl. There will be free food, lots of activities and all kinds of equipment for kids to explore.
The city’s Safety Forces Bike Rodeo will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Miller Elementary School parking lot at 646 S. Chillicothe Rd. To register, contact the Aurora Police Department at 330-562-8181.
Applications are due Wednesday, Aug. 5, for participating in the city’s sidewalk assistance program, in which the city helps to share the cost of repairing sidewalks.
Food Truck Wednesdays continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays through the end of August at Kiwanis-Moore Park.
The Summer Concert Series continues from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays through the end of August at Veterans Memorial Park. Performing next, on July 23, will be the incredibly popular Chardon Polka Band.
Lynk Packaging, located in the city’s Industrial Park, is in the process of a 20,000-square-foot expansion.
Ravenna
The 12th annual Octane Nights Ravenna Cruise-In will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, downtown on East Main Street. Classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, trucks and more. Alcohol, golf carts and bicycles not permitted. Be prepared for a half-mile road closure. For details, visit octanenights.com.
Join Great Lakes Honda and surrounding chambers, including Ravenna, for a Networking on the Go event from 8 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, at the dealership at 43 Pruitt Blvd. in Akron. Mimosas, pastries, door prizes and giveaways. Free to attend.
Coffee Talk with the Ravenna Chamber of Commerce is held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of every month at the Horseshoe Diner at 250 W. Main St. The next Coffee Talk will be Aug. 12. To register, email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.
The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Outing will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at Windmill Lakes Golf Course at 6544 state Route 14. Your business golf break includes:
- 18 holes of golf and cart
- Hot lunch
- Beverages
- Steak dinner
- Swag bag
- 50/50
- Lots of prizes and contests
To register, to be a sponsor and for teams, email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com or visit ravennaareachamber.com.
The Community Cup Challenge will be on Tuesday, Sept. 1, Thursday, Sept. 3, and Saturday, Sept. 5, at Chestnut Hills Park, City Park and Sun Beau. The Community Cup Challenge brings local businesses and organizations together for friendly competition, community pride and a whole lot of fun, from pickleball to archery to golf to disc golf to tug of war and more. Awards are based on participation and involvement, making this an event designed for everyone, not just athletes. High visibility sponsorships available. To register, for sponsorships and for details, go to ravennaareachamber.com or contact Ravenna Parks and Rec.
Join in for July Fourth Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 24. Stop into any participating business to pick up a punch card, then grab a beverage and stroll through downtown. Local artists will be featured in each shop. Enjoy the city of Ravenna’s shops and restaurants. Get your punches and then take your card to the Main Street Ravenna office for a chance to win! Music in the pocket park provided by local band It’s About Time. Activities for kids provided by the Portage Park District.
A cruise-in is held from 5 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday until Oct. 7 at A&W All American Food at 769 E. Main St. The next cruise-in is on July 22.
Ravenna Rocks 2026 will be held from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 downtown in the Historic District on W. Main St. Seventh Day Slumber with Magdalene Rose. Hosted by DJKrooze. Featuring 1052 The Band and Southside Fiasco.
A Portage Community Bank Lunch and Learn will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at The English PUB at 320 E. Main St. Ste. 108.
Join in for a 250-year celebration of United States veterans at “Vet Fest” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the Ravenna Veterans Administration Clinic, which is located at 6751 N. Chestnut St. Community fun, live music plus food and drinks.
Ordinances were passed at the last Ravenna City Council meeting that authorize Mayor Frank Seman to:
- apply for the 2025 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant and to accept it if awarded.
- enter into a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc., for new tasers for the Ravenna Police Department in the sum of $113,991.
- enter into an agreement with Ravenna Township, the Ravenna City School District, the Village of Mantua, Axess Family Services and the Maplewood Career Center to develop a salt consortium to purchase salt in bulk and then sell it at lower prices.
- receive, upon the approval of the Ohio Public Works Commission, a grant in the amount of $250,000 and a loan of $150,000 to enter into the necessary contracts, including one with ZTech Excavators for the King Street water-line project, and appropriating $95,487 and declaring this to be an emergency.
- purchase a new cruiser from Preston Chevrolet Kia for the police department.