AURORA
September 2022 - NortheastOhioParent.com | 19
Why
residents stay in this family-friendly town in Portage County SWEET LIFE Why Families Love It ADVENTURES IN TOWN Here’s 25 Things-to-Do NURTURING ROOTS Schools Share Vision C OMMU N I T Y FOCU S Aurora
“What’s cool about the housing over here, too, is they were all vacation homes for the Geauga Lake amusement park itself, years ago, so they are older style homes, which is great,” Megan says.
TheLifeSweetin Aurora
Megan loves to cook, and she enjoys making dishes such as Cornflake chicken and Greek pasta salad, which was mastered from a family recipe. On the weekends, The Sweets spend time with family, and they appreciate any opportunity to get together.
According to Megan, a few of the things that have kept the family in Aurora include
“I’ve taken our girls to the library for story time, where they read them stories, “ she says. “Aurora Farms Premium Outlets is always fun. You can make a whole day out of shopping. Then, there’s Aurora’s Sunny Lake Park, which is awesome, especially with kids. The dog park and the Aurora Splash Pad are really fun. “
A s natives of Aurora, Megan and Hobie Sweet chose to stay where they have decades of roots to raise their young family. In the commu nity, they feel comfortable and at home, they know everybody by name and with extended family close by, they have built a foundation for years to come.
The whole family enjoys golf, and they spend some of their free time golfing at local clubs like Club Walden, which is one of their favorites.Asacouple in their early 30’s, the Sweets spend the majority of their time raising their three young children – Mia, 8, who plays soccer and participates in gymnastics, Madison, 2, and the family recently welcomed a newborn son, also named Hobie.
“We both grew up in Aurora, and we’ve lived in our current home for about a year,” Megan Sweet says.
“I think I’m most proud that Hobie and I have learned where our strengths and weak nesses are as a team, together, so we’ve been able to figure out who should be in charge of what,” she says. “Our daily lives are sometimes stressful, but we have a good grasp on who does what part, each day, to get through the day, which I’m very grateful for.”
They moved to a neighborhood that consists of young families and there are two parks nearby. They live close to shopping and dining at a variety of restaurants.
Two big things that have kept the family in Aurora are the schools and immediate family, Megan adds.
Founded in 1799, Aurora’s rich history mixes rural charm with modern-day ame nities. The line-up of upcoming communi ty-wide events, from a concert and a classic car show to the fall festival and trunk-or-treat, keep families active and engaged with what’s happening in the area.
“It’s comfortable here and we’ve always felt at home,” she says. “We know everybody, and it’s just great. We have a lot of cookouts at our house.”
Community Focus : Aurora PhotocourtesyoftheSweetfamily .
Megan’s grandparents have lived in Aurora for decades. Additionally, both of their moms graduated from Aurora City School District. Megan’s mom, Pam Mehallis, (who is married to Gus,) serves as the president of the Aurora City Schools Board of Education, and Hobie’s mom, Jennifer Sweet (who is married to Craig,) works at Aurora Police Department.“Whatpeople love most about Aurora in general is the school systems are excellent,” Megan Sweet says. “It’s probably the main attraction for people who like to live here in the first place, it’s definitely what’s kept us here, because we both went to Aurora schools. So, we wanted all our children to come here as well. We’ve known each other since I was about eight years old.”
By Ginny McCabe
THE SWEET FAMILY SHARES THEIR LOVE OF THE CITY
The family attends Parkside Church. Megan, who grew up attending the church, says she recently volunteered at Vacation Bible Camp, where she was able to minister to some of the kids.
“There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, all over, which is really nice, and a lot of them are more upscale, which is more my speed,” she adds. “I enjoy being able to go out to a nice dinner, and it is not too expensive.”
the library system, and local parks, to name a few. Megan says Aurora has a “small town feel,” and that it’s a “tight knit community,” which they love. Of course, the family is complete with a dog, Mona, and three cats, Charlie, Myrah and Gizmo, which have all been adopted or rescued.
Megan and Hobie both graduated from Aurora High School. They had their first date and got engaged at one of the town’s local restaurants, 1815 Tavern.
MAYOR’S LETTER – Aurora: The Hometown Place To Be
Marketed by the Connecticut Land Company in the late 1700s, much of the land in present-day Aurora was sold to a group of New England residents from and around Suffield, Connecticut. Since those early days of wilderness settlers, Aurora has slowly grown to a city of 17,000 residents inhabiting 25 square miles, with rolling hills, abundant trees, lakes and a branch of the Chagrin River creating its beautiful landscape.Historic homes line Aurora’s town center Historic District along State Route 306, with many beautiful residential areas spread throughout the community. Among them
strong commercial and industrial base, Aurora has the financial wherewith al to upgrade infrastructure, traffic flow, residential services, and safety and provide amenities like sidewalks, parks, a splash pad, ball fields and trails. The city owns more than 1700 acres of parkland and in the last eight years has acquired more than 200 acres of land to preserve greenspace, connect its parks, and manage development.
The outstanding Aurora schools, consis tently ranked high by U.S. News and World Report, help to attract many new residents to town who seek the hometown atmo sphere Aurora provides while securing one of the best educations in the region for their children. Couple that with a city adminis tration that has worked hard to preserve the small-town charm of Aurora while cultivat ing suburban conveniences, and you have a great location for families and businesses to prosper.”
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AbeauisOhiourora,a
— Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin
tiful and historic city in the Western Reserve. Founded in 1799, our community combines rural charm with the comforts of the 21st century, offer ing residents and visitors many amenities in cluding parks, recreational options, shopping districts and some of the finest residential neighborhoods in the region. Seven minutes away from major highways, the city has easy transportation access but is distant enough to avoid the traffic and congestion such thoroughfares can produce. Whether a business looking to succeed or a family seek ing a great hometown, Aurora provides the best in services, schools, and opportunities which have continued to keep Aurora one of Northeast Ohio’s most desirable suburbs.
Retail areas throughout Aurora offer easy shopping and everyday conveniences, including the popular Aurora Premium Outlets outdoor shopping center. Din ing options include Mario’s International Restaurant and Spa, the fabled Aurora Inn, ThornCreek Winery, Bertram Inn, 1815 Tavern, and others. Cultural opportunities include the Aurora Community Theatre and the well-known Aurora School of Music with outstanding music teachers and per formances. Grocery stores, hardware stores,
are the renowned Barrington with newer homes along the Jack Nicklaus-designed Barrington Golf Course, together with more established neighborhoods. Walden, a resi dential community with a private golf club, offers condos and homes situated among its trees and golf vistas. The eastern part of the city has larger lots and some farming areas as the city ebbs into the country to the east. Newer developments include Beljon Farms, Hawthorn, and Renaissance Park where townhomes, condos and ranch-style homes are being built on the north side of the city as part of the redevelopment of the former SeaWorld and Geauga Lake parks in WithAurora.a
pharmacies, auto and tire repair shops, and yoga studios and gyms help create a commu nity with all your needs close by.
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Aurora Cover: Photos From Top: Aurora Schools students during the Fourth of July parade; Moebius Nature Center; the newest addition to Aurora, the Splash Pad at Kiwanis-Moore Park; Fall Festival tractor PHOTOSfun.COURTESY OF CITY OF AURORA AND AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
Aurora Farms Premium Outlets is conve niently located off State Route 43, minutes from Cleveland and Akron. Shop more than 50 designer and name brand outlet stores
Places to Go in Aurora!
At Aurora’s Sunny Lake Park, you can enjoy boating, hiking and picnicking, or can play volleyball, paddleboat and more. Go around the paved multipurpose exercise trail that goes around the lake and is perfect for walking the dog or taking a stroll with your family. Kids can enjoy the large playground. Check out the disc golf course “Aurora Gold,” which boasts a 9-hole amateur/begin ner course, 18-hole intermediate course, and an 18-hole professional course. You can find the map and scorecard on the website. Also, you can head to the trail that connects to the Moebius Nature Center. 885 E. Mennonite Road, Aurora, 330-562-6910
6. Get Lost in a good book at the Aurora Memorial Library.
8. Support local and shop small.
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Splash the heat away at the splash pad, play on the playground, have lunch under the pavilion, grab a snack at the snack shack, and show off your skills at the two-level skate park that allows beginners and advanced users to utilize the park together. 35 West Pioneer Trail, auroraoh.com
7. Enjoy a show at Aurora Community Theatre.
115 E. Pioneer Trail, auroracommunitytheatre.comAurora,
3. Cool off at the splash pad and enjoy Kiwanis-Moore Park.
By Miriam Conner and Georgia Lattas
1. Spend the day at Sunny Lake Park.
5. Shop til you drop at Aurora Farms Premium Outlets.
The original library opened in 1966. Aurora Memorial Library is a great place to meet other parents and children at story time, participate in reading challenges, and access computers and internet free of charge.
The ACT, located on Pioneer Trail, presents four shows per year, once in the spring, summer, fall and winter. For the 2022-2023 season, ACT will start with a side-splitting comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Next up they will present a story of a family that is forced to confront its past and present in “August: Osage County.” Their spring offering will be “Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical” and more. If you’re a theater fanatic or on the lookout for local entertainment, consider watching a show at the ACT.
Sunny Lake Park
If you are looking to spend time in Aurora, there are plenty of family-friendly places to visit. Here are 25 destinations to try.
549 S. Chillicothe Road, premiumoutlets.com/outlet/aurora-farms.Aurora,
Community Focus : Aurora
Touted as Aurora’s best kept secret, Moebius Nature Center is located on 44 beautiful acres and has hiking trails, a pond where you can see beavers and you can also fish (catch and release). Eat in the picnic pavilion which has a lovely western view, a pollinator garden and a rain garden, a turtle enclosure and a deer exclosure. Mobius hosts many nature-inspired events and programs. Visit and explore the beauty. 929 E. Mennonite Road, Aurora, 216-402-4361, mymnc.org
2. Bond with your dog at Tails n’ Trail Dog Park. Aurora even has your best friend covered. Located at 841 Page Road, Tails n’ Trails has separate areas for large and small dogs to socialize and run off-leash and enjoy social izing with other dogs. You will find benches to sit while your pup plays, play features, and a water pump. 841 Page Road, auroraoh.com
4. Get in touch with nature at Moebius Nature Center.
Family-Friendly
Aurora is home to several local, quaint shops where you can support local business owners. Some of Aurora’s local shops include: Schell Bell Boutique ( 334 East Garfield Rd.) where you will find the latest fashions and accessories for women and girls.
including Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York, Aerie, American Eagle Outfitters, Crocs, Nike Factory Store and the North Face. Enjoy exceptional brands at extraordi nary savings.
Splash Pad at Kiwanis-Moore Park
115 East Pioneer Trail, portagelibrary.org
If you are looking for a beautiful place to walk or cross country ski, look no further than Paddock River Reserve 129 Trails End. The former Aurora Golf Course land includes rolling hills and steep ravines, woodlands, meadows, floodplain pools and creeks. A trail guide can be found on the website. 129 Trails End, auroraoh.com
Mad Jacks Grill & Pub has a relaxed vibe & charming patio for American fare, cocktails & many craft beers.
16. Find out if the fish are biting at Spring Hill Park.
9. Pamper yourself at Spa Walden & Inn Walden.
After a day of shopping, you are sure to be hungry and Aurora has many restaurants to choose from.
People from around Northeast Ohio descend upon Aurora Thanksgiving morning for this 5k run. auroraoh.com
1119 Aurora Hudson Road, yourwalden.com
duces visitors to over 500 live trees. 305 Townline Road, auroraoh.com
Learn anything and everything there is to know about Aurora and visit the museum to see the latest exhibits and collections. You can even purchase special gift items and become a member. aurorahistorical.org
23. Enjoy the sounds of summer at the Aurora Concert Series at Veterans Park.
The concerts are Thursdays throughout the summer and are free of charge. auroraoh.com
18. Smell autumn in the air at the Fall Festival at Sunny Lake Park where you can enjoy Free hay rides, an inflat able corn maze, inflatable games,a petting zoo, face painting,visit Flower the Clown for a free balloon creation,see Jungle Terry’s free & fan tastic animal show, and meet local businesses. auroraoh.com
20. Show your patriotism at Aurora’s Fourth of July parade and events.
Visit Veterans Memorial Park. You can even donate a brick to the Memorial. 40 West Garfield Road. auroraoh.com
382 Townline Road, clevelandaudubon.org
Evexia Cafe offers an extensive menu of quick, healthy, and flavorful café fare.
22. Have an extra helping of mashed potatoes after you run the annual Turkey Trot.
25. ThornCreek Winery & Gardens
Fantasy Delight has been owned by the same family for over 30 years. With a huge selection, there is something for everyone. 21 N Aurora Rd, fantasydelighticecream.com
Luxury accommodations, relaxation, and tranquility await.
11. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Fantasy Delight.
Papous Tap & Grill is a sustainable, new American restaurant serving delicious dishes 7 days a week. 360 Aurora Commons Cir, papoustapgrille.com
302 Aurora Commons Circle, mazzulos.com
Farm fresh produce picked fresh daily. Open May - October 7 days a week from spring flowers to fall favorites everything has a season and they have the best picks. 1199 E Garfield Road, becksfarmandmarket.business.site
Fourth of July Parade
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF AURORA
155 Treat Road, thorncreekwinery.comAurora,
10. Eat locally.
1815 Tavern is located in the heart of historic Aurora, and features modern American fare. 170 S Chillicothe Road, 1815tavern.com
13. Honor National Wetlands Day while walking along the grass trails at the Aurora Wetlands on West Garfield Road.
14. Take a hike at Paddock River Preserve.
19. Get festive at the annual tree lighting.
Secret Garden Antique Mall (196 S Chillicothe Rd.) that boasts 3000 square feet of antiques and collectibles.
The park consists of 65 acres including a nature trail and fishing dock. 1113 East Pioneer Trail. auroraoh.com
The sanctuary is a rich habitat for nesting birds with at least 56 species on the Aurora side and 41 species on the Mantua side. The area has been part of the spring bird walks of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleve land since 1993. An observation blind in the wetlands area was completed in 2002, further enhancing their educational potential.
Abigails (178 S Chillicothe Rd.) for jewelry, accessories, bags, and more.
A hometown favorite, the 4th of July parade is one to remember and then stay for hometown activities. auroraoh.com
Annual Tree Lighting
17. Remember those who served.
12. Go for a run at Hartman Park. Hartman Park is a 125-acre parcel on Townline Road. Enjoy all the athletic field complex has to offer: 4 ballfields, 5 full-size soccer fields, playground and a 24x36 pavilion with picnic tables and charcoal grill. Get your running shoes and run the cross-country trail: a mulched loop trail that begins in a meadow and winds through wooded areas. Enjoy Tree Museum: unique half-mile walking trail intro
Straight out of your favorite Hallmark movie, this is an event not to be missed. 115 E. Pioneer Trail Aurora, auroraoh.com
Nestled among eight acres of nationally awarded gardens, ThornCreek Winery & Gardens is a magical and authentic winery and venue. They host local musicians, farm to table dinners, painting classes and a variety of events year round. Join them for weekly live music or a delicious culinary event.
The Mantua Grain and Supply ( 526 S Chill icothe Rd.) sells a wide variety of items from outdoor decor, furniture, plants all the way to sports items.
Forage and Feather (311 East Garfield Rd.) specializing in handcrafted local goods.
15. Learn about Aurora history at the Aurora Historical Society.
204 S Chillicothe Road, madjackspub.com
21. Enjoy fresh produce and more from Beck’s Farm & Market.
24. Spend time birdwatching at Blanche Katherine Novak Wildlife Sanctuary and State Nature Preserve.
Cafe Tuscano’s Italian dishes are the perfect blend of inspired recipes and fresh ingredients. 46 S Aurora Road, evexiacafe.com
Mazzulos, prepares a daily variety of home made dishes that are deliciously convenient for heat & serve meals.
With this strategic vision, the great young people and supportive families in our district , and the people who work and learn in each of our school buildings at all grade levels PK-12, we are confident the ACSD will be able to design and support learning environments that meet the needs of all young people even during and what we hope this year will be on the other side of a pandemic.
6. INNOVATIVE
1. EMPATHY
Just as balance equates to perspective, resilience is analogous to persistence. When all people can be put in situations that cause productive struggle, they begin to de velop the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. This leads to being more resilient rather than giving up when one doesn’t know the right thing to do, but instead starts to think of what is the next best thing to do.
Visit the six competencies in the strategic vision on aurora-schools.org
Preparing Learners to be Future Ready
Aurora City Schools has a vision to ‘nurture the roots’ for students in all grades by helping them develop these six competencies.
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By Michael ofSuperintendentRoberto,AuroraCitySchools
FROM TOP: Aurora Schools’ Goodyear STEM Day; Interact Habitat for Humanity, and ASF Book Grant Craddock.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AURORA CITY SCHOOLS
Here’s what people and stakeholders in our community have stated are important for young people to develop in grades preschool through 12th.
Being objective also means keeping things in perspective. As all people develop the social-emotional ability to form positive relationships while being self-aware, they walk that balance and lay the groundwork to be lifelong learners.
Community Focus : Aurora
The definition of learner can mean different things to different people, so we wanted to be clear that the term “learner” for the Aurora City School District carries with it some key characteristics including the importance of continual growth. Learning, through the lens of this vision, is less about gaining knowledge through curriculum transfer and more about being able to build on that knowledge and apply it so a young person is better prepared for life. Although developing learners is the main focus of our strategic vision, we are also targeting six competencies to nurture within young people attending the Aurora City Schools.
5. COLLABORATIVE
We all know relationships matter and the first step in building relationships is em pathy. As one becomes more empathetic, an awareness of others begins to develop which helps to make those relationships stronger.
You might think that rolling out a strategic vision in the middle of a pandemic would be a terrible idea. However, we couldn’t think of a more important time to make the shift to focus on the whole child and to emphasize the importance of what we call “nurturing the roots” of young people. It all starts with building relationships in order to have a better understanding of what young people know and are able to do.
he Aurora City School District works off of a set belief statements with the first being, “Kids Come First.” The im plementation of these beliefs are dis played on a daily basis ranging from making decisions in the classroom to those that impact the district as a whole. Using this simple ap proach of keeping what is best for kids on the forefront. The school district then developed a new strategic vision in 2020-2021, which was the first year of the pandemic.
2. CRITICAL THINKING
In an ever-changing and complex world, one has to be able to take in information, analyze it, and decide what to do with it. One of the hallmarks of a critical thinker is the ability to stay objective.
3. BALANCED
4. RESILIENT
We all understand the power of collaboration and learning from each other’s experiences. The importance of collaboration can be summed up by the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
To be innovative doesn’t necessarily require cutting-edge technology, but instead it means looking at things in a different way. As all people, both young and adult, begin to bend what they know, break from what is typically done, and blend ideas from different perspectives, they become more innovative in their approach.