The-News-Leader.com - Village marks 75th anniversary

by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Northfield Village -- In the final days leading up to the village's 75th anniversary celebration Aug. 14, village officials say it will be a party to remember.

"There's so much going on that day, it's truly going to be amazing," said Village Councilor Jesse Nehez.

Nehez, along with the rest of Council and Mayor Victor Milani have been working as a committee since at least February to plan the diamond jubilee.

"It's all going together very well," said Council President Beatrice Greenlee. "We've been working on this really hard and want it to go well."

Special coverage of Northfield Village's 75th anniversary

• See the schedule of events.

• Check out the parade route.

• Historical record: Political struggles led to breakup of village.

• "A Plea" penned in the time of the Great Depression.

• A snapshot of the year 1935 in America.

• Village officials look ahead to the future.

Milani said the event will be similar to the golden jubilee celebration in 1985.

"We thought we'd do something along those lines and 25 years from now we'll do the 100th," he said.

"It's a chance to foster rapport with the residents," he added.

The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. when a parade will leave Northfield Park and make its way to Smith Park off Houghton Road (see map below).

Councilor Karyn Selle, who is coordinating staging of the parade at the race track, said it is expected to include the Nordonia High School Lancers Marching Band, the Akron-Summit County Public Library bookmobile, old cars, and various marchers or floats by various area organizations and businesses.

"We're going to have a lot of people, but we don't know who specifically until the day of the parade," said Selle.

Selle said anyone interested in taking part in the parade should call the Village Hall at 330-467-7139, ext. 10 in advance, but this is not absolutely necessary.

"They're welcome to just show up at the staging area," she said.

Councilors say they plan to put together their own float. Nehez said it is expected to be a "natural scene," with plants, folding chairs, banners and an American flag.

"It should be really nice," he said.

The celebration at Smith Park is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

"I think the kids will have a good time," said Councilor Linda Bowen. "We'll have bouncy houses and face painting. I think everyone will have a good time."

The village's three living former mayors, Carmen Consolo, Arch Milani and Michael Satola are expected to attend, as are Summit County District 1 Councilor Nick Kostandaras and women's world boxing champion Vonda Ward, who grew up in the village. Nick Ciofani, district outreach representative for 14th District Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township), will present a proclamation on behalf of LaTourette.

At 4 p.m., Miss Northfield Village will be crowned and given a $100 savings bond. Food will be provided by Scoreboards in Summit Plaza, with music by the Good Knights, a band whose members are all Nordonia High School alumni.

Parking will be available at Summit Plaza on Route 8, with a bus providing continual shuttle service to and from the park.

The Smith Park festivities are scheduled to end at 6 p.m., but that will not be the conclusion of the celebration. It will move back full circle to Northfield Park at 7 p.m., where there will be a special race in honor of the anniversary and the park will present a special commemorative blanket to the village.

Signs of sprucing up to mark the milestone became evident in July, with two beautification projects along Route 8.

"The [Nordonia Hills Garden Club] did that for the 75th anniversary," said Nehez, who worked with the club on the projects.

In early July, with donations by the club, the Olde Northfield Preservation Association and numerous area businesses, garden club members planted several flower beds and nine trees at the village fire station. Later in the month, the club planted an estimated 150 to 200 flowering plants around the Village Hall, said Nehez.

The village is also hanging 10 large banners along Route 8 to mark the anniversary.

Village officials say they expect the event will be fun for everyone who attends.

"I'm very excited about our jubilee and I pray for good weather," said Greenlee.

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169