Panel slates a tour of
city land, selects reps
City Council's newly created buildings and grounds committee will tour city properties April 19, starting in the Geauga Lake area.
The tour was set at the panel's April 9 meeting, at which time panelists also voted to recommend residents Mike DeMay and George Yanda as citizen representatives to the committee.
Already serving are Councilmen Tom Dreher (chairman), Jim Vaca and Dennis Kovach. The citizen rep appointments must be confirmed by Council.
Resident George Mazzaro said he believes the tour will show panelists that some of the city properties are not well-maintained.
"Hopefully, the tour will raise awareness of the condition of the properties, and maybe this panel can call in some city officials afterward to address some issues."
Vaca said the panel should communicate closely with the parks and recreation committee.
He also called the new panel "another eye on city business," saying it will communicate to Council some issues that the administration has failed to inform Council about in recent years.
Planners meet tonight
Four items are on the planning commission's agenda for its meeting tonight (April 16) at 7 in Town Hall.
A final site plan for additions at Rotek Inc. will be one item, while a lot reconfiguration-minor subdivision for Barbara Burns at 1116 E. Pioneer Trail is another item.
The planning panel also will discuss a proposed zoning code amendment regarding tourist attraction directional signs and sidewalks around new residential and commercial developments.
'Cabaret' is gearing up
at community theatre
Aurorans Scott Zolkowski and Bernie Keister will be among the cast in Aurora Community Theatre's spring musical "Cabaret."
The production will run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. from April 25 to May 17. It is a story of love, nightlife and the world on the precipice of change in pre-war Germany.
Zolkowski portrays the emcee who presides over the Kit Kat Klub entertainment and serves as a reminder of emerging Third Reich power. Keister is the customs officer.
David Vosburgh directs the play. He is a veteran of more than 100 operas, plays and revues, including several ACT musicals.
Tickets at $15 each are available by calling 330-562-181 or online at www.auroracommunitytheatre.com. The theater is in its 48th season.
Singups under way for
July 4 parade, festival
The city of Aurora is accepting registration forms for the annual July 4 parade and old-fashioned festival.
Individuals and groups are encouraged to participate in the parade, which will start at Barrington own Square an hour earlier than usual this year -- at 10 a.m.
All Aurora Baseball League baseball and softball teams will set up at Craddock School. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Afterward, the festival will run until 4 p.m. at Kiwanis-Moore Playground.
Booths are available on a first-come, first-served based for promotional and fundraising opportunities.
For more information and signup and liability-waiver forms, call Laura Holman at 330-995-9149 or visit www.auroraoh.com and click on the parks-rec department and special events.
Benefit is planned for
breast cancer survivor
A benefit pasta dinner to raise money to help pay the medical bills of Lisa Marie Hill will be April 26 at Aurora VFW Post 2629.
Donations from personal friends and businesses, and diners are needed to help Hill, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall at the age of 39.
Chemotherapy will last several months. Hill is employed by Twinsburg schools and has had to take a leave of absence.
Hill has dealt with tough times, having taken care of her 16-year-old son Brandon who has the condition hydrocephalus (water on the brain), causing him to live with a handicap.
In addition to monetary donations, food and donations of items for raffles and Chinese auctions are needed.
Anyone who is willing to help should e-mail l.hill08benefit@yahoo.com or call Michelle Ice at 330-562-1160, Judy Caporale at 330-562-3560 or Judy Simmons at 440-548-5588, or send donations to Michelle at 1000 Orchard Ave., Aurora 44202.
Business show slated
by 3 nearby Chambers
A three-Chamber Business to Business Show for the Aurora, Solon and Twinsburg Chambers will be May 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Signature of Solon.
Attendees must present a business card or event ticket to be admitted. There is no charge.
The show will showcase 75 area businesses and allow attendees to make contacts, gain prospects and customers, discover new resources, learn from consumers, form alliances and enjoy health screenings, food, door prizes and workshops.
Healthy Solon is the presenting sponsor. Workshops include "HR 101 and Significant Upcoming Legislation," "30 Marketing Tips in 30 Minutes" and "Health Care Options."
For details, call the Aurora Chamber of Commerce at 330-562-3355.
Recycling fee is due
The deadline for Aurora residents to pay their 2008 recycling fee is April 30. The fee is $39.48.
If it is not received by the Portage County Recycling Center by Aug. 31, the amount will be assessed to real estate taxes.
Residents shoulid call the Recycling Center at 330-678-8808 or the service department at 330-995-9116 for more information.
Moebius programs set
Two programs are coming up on the next two Saturdays at the Moebius Nature Center on East Mennonite Road.
On April 19, a program about rain gardens will be offered at 10 a.m. for ages 10 and older. On April 26, a program about reptiles and amphibians will be offered at 1:30 p.m. for ages 8 and older.
Registration is possible by voice mail at 330-562-2592 or by e-mail at Kim@mobiusnatureccenter.org.
U.S. marshal is named
top 'influential person'
Aurora resident Pete Elliott, U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, has been named one of Cleveland's 50 most influential people in the April edition of Cleveland Magazine.
According to the magazine, those chosen have achieved "true power" by making an indelible mark on the people who surround them and the city they call home.
Among others on the top 50 list are LeBron James, Iris Wolstein, Fred Nance, George Forbes, Mike Trivisonno, Phil Savage Michael Schwartz and Jim Rokakis.
Elliott crated the Fugitive Safe Surrender program in 2004, which arranges for churches to have open houses where people wanted by the law can turn themselves in and have their cases handled quickly.
The program has expanded to six more cities nationwide, and 10 others are in the works. More than 6,500 people have turned themselves in, making the region's streets safer.
Brush pickup for 2008
will kick off next week
The city's Department of Public Service will kick off its 2008 monthly brush pickup program this month.
The April dates are the 21st to 25th and the May dates are the 26th to 30th. Pickup depends on the weather.
Brush will be picked up from residential developed lots only with existing homes, excluding private developments, condominium and apartment complexes and any other commercial properties.
Privately hired contractors such as landscapers and tree trimmers must dispose of brush without the benefit of this program.
Residents should stack clean brush with cut ends toward and close to the curbside.
Pieces should not exceed 6 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. Resident should limit the quanitity of brush to a pile similar in size to a standard car.
Tourism organization
launches new Web site
Aurora Farms Premium Outlets, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom and the Aurora Convention and Visitors Bureau are members of Adventures in Northeast Ohio.
The peer networking and marketing organization funded in 1978 is launching a brand new Web site this month -- www.adventuresinnortheastohio.com.
It is designed in response to tourists and planners using the Internet to research travel destinations and assisting the three local entities to reach out to those travelers.
"We're celebrating our 30th anniversary this year, and we're excited to launch this Web site as part of our marketing strategy for the 21st century vacationer," said Western Reserve Tourist Council President Lynda Nemeth.
A calendar of events and a map of the area listing hotels, restaurants, attractions and visitors bureaus is available on the Web site.
Yoga for teens slated
There still is time to sign up for the introductory yoga class for teens scheduled April 19 at 1:30 p.m. at Aurora Library.
Bob Sinclair, a certified yoga instructor, will introduce teens to the principles behind yoga. Participants should take a mat or towel and small pillow.
There is no charge, but registration is preferred at 330-562-6502 or by stopping in at the library.
3 deceased residents
to be commemorated
In conjunction with the Portage County bicentennial celebration, the city will participate in a cemetery memorial recognition ceremony May 17.
The city has selected three outstanding deceased citizens to be honored.
They are Ebenezer Sheldon (1754-1825), founder of Aurora; Charles R. Harmon (1811-1902), merchant and Ohio legislator; and John Ingalls Eldridge (1896-1986), mayor from 1956-59 whose leadership helped move Aurora Township to become a city.
At 10:30 a.m. that day, Aurora Scouts are invited to join Mayor Lynn McGill in posting 240 American flags around the cemetery.
The official ceremony will begin at 11 and will include comments by McGill, biographical remarks by historian Richard Fetzer and presentation of commemorative grave markers by John Kudley Jr.
The city will be presented a memorial plaque by the Portage County bicentennial committee. The public is invited to the event.
Two items on agenda
Only two items are on the agenda of the city's landmark commission, which will meet April 17 at 7 p.m. The session will take place in Town Hall.
Panelists will discuss a bridge over a drainage ditch at the Seward-Giles Cemetery on Aurora Lake Road and plans for a front and rear addition to a driveway at the Pozniak property at 282 S. Chillicothe Road.
Library's hours noted
Hours at the Aurora branch of the Portage County District Library are: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday from 10 a.m,. to 8 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m.
Various maps available
Geographic Information System (GIS) maps are available from Aurora's planning-zoning-building department. To request a map, residents should complete a standard map request form or custom map request form and fax to 330-562-9719)or e-mail to Judy Conkling at conklingj@auroraoh.com.