Did you miss the Indian statue on the Cuyahoga Valley scenic railroad? Never fear sculptor Peter…read moreJones installed this beautiful statue across the street from the Mayor's court in addition to the one on the railroad. Entitled "River Trade" the statue shows how the Native Americans utilized the Cuyahoga river to trade with their peers in the nearby settlements. The statue is not very big and very easy to miss. Much detail goes into making this statue. The city of Cuyahoga Falls is very small but very clean and well organized. Eateries abound in the area and there are picturesque parks such as Riverfront park. They do hold festivals during the year such as Italian day which was the date I visited. If you wish to take a photo of the Indian statue then it is best to park behind the municipal building and walk around. Great tribute to an indIgenous people.

It is a razor's edge: You decide to do some home improvement work, add a fence, install a pool,…read moreeven add on to your home. Do you take out the permit, do everything by the book, be a good cub scout? Or do you, as most I think must do, try to cut some corners, hope the neighbors don't squeal and press on regardless, irrespective of trifling things such as building codes, and public safety, and permits? I fall into the former camp. I take out the permit. I pay the fees. I secure the insurance. I do the job right, then invite the City Inspector over for his little look-see. I do everything by the book anyway, so what's the big deal? Here's the big deal. I helped a friend who was installing a pool. He needed a little work done, nothing big, which required a permit. Fifty bucks is the minimum permit. But wait! You also have to register to be a certified contractor in the City. Cha CHING! Another one twenty-five. But wait! In order to be certified, you have to buy a surety bond for the city, that way if you totally screw up the job, the insurance pays for it. Not your liability insurance, which they also require. That surety bond? Another one twenty-five. So far, you're into your "favor" for three hundred, and you haven't even done the work. Here's my suggestion: Make the building permit FREE. Make it so that anyone can take one out, then crack down on the people who have no clue what they're doing and have no bidness doing any kind of contracting. The way it is now, only the cleanest of clean contractors even bothers to take out the permit, drop the money, have the inspection. Make the scoundrels pay.

Not far from the Goodyear world headquarters, this marker points out the history of the man who…read morefounded the company and is laid to rest not far away in Glendale Cemetery. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Industrialist and entrepreneur Franklin Augustus Seiberling (1859-1955) named his fledgling rubber goods manufacturing company "Goodyear" to honor Charles Goodyear, the man who invented the vulcanization process for curing rubber. Seiberling founded the company with his brother, Charles Willard, because of their desire to participate in an enterprise that afforded an "opportunity for invention." Incorporated in 1898, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company rapidly grew with the young automotive industry and helped establish Akron as the "Rubber Capital of the World." Among Seiberling's many significant inventions were the tire-making machine and the detachable wheel rim. He resigned from Goodyear in 1921 and went on to found the Seiberling Rubber Company. Stan Hywet Hall, F.A. Seiberling's estate in west Akron, is a National Historic Landmark." This is marker number 23-77. It was erected in 2003 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and The Ohio Historical Society. [Review 1357 of 2024 - 276 in Ohio - 22380 overall]

Richfield Township was just another farming/bedroom community in the '60's when a bunch of intrepid…read morelocals sat down with a map: If they could figure a way to get the population density high enough, out of the township could arise a Village. That's why the middle section of the five-mile by five-mile township, a strip from Brecksville in the north to Bath in the south, is now the Village of Richfield. The Ohio Turnpike, as well as Interstates 77 and 271 all have exits into and out of Richfield, making it a logical spot to build trucking terminals. Man, does Richfield have trucking terminals. What if all those trucks, and all those dock-workers, and all the satellite companies could be taxed? Well, the township can't. But a Village can. Great government, and their solid tax base, has made Richfield the envy of Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Magazine rated it the top suburb in 2009, in part because property taxes are very low, while community services are excellent. (They were dinged in other years for too few sidewalks!) Rolling hills, wooded parks, and carefully crafted and maintained zoning have all come together in a unique blend of old and new. My only quibble with Richfield is that segment of the town that clings to the Western Reserve heritage, excluding anything after 1850. The East and West Centers aren't exactly lively spots, which they could and should be. The businesses that want to thrive end up by the aforementioned exits, which is too bad, really. No town needs another faceless strip mall, when a true "town center" already exists; TWO, in fact. Think progressive!

a great place for running summer tech camps, and a fantastic communityread more

Very clean and nice station…read more Has historical things to look at in the building. A safe location to exchange items bought or child custody exchanges. Has a drug drug off. Staff is very friendly.

Ohio State Route 82 is pretty rutty and curves in slaloms galore. On Route 82 you can get through…read morethe Cuyahoga National Park South of Cleveland and over to Macedonia and pretty Northfield, OH. The Cuyahoga River moves North - South and has multiple parks, waterfalls, picnic areas, car lots, bike paths, walkways and historical signs to read! This area of Cleveland is very serene, quiet and a nature preserve filled with outdoor stillness. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is vast and green and connects lots of towns East - West South is Cleveland. Unfortunately some of these backwoods roads are near-undriveable and almost not street legal in their derelict state. Signs are missing. There are a few old train stops, but who knows where they will take you and if they even still are in service. Review: 4 star Nature Park, bad signs, bad roads

A rather small library but definitely better than some other nearby small branches. There are a few…read moretables to sit at as well a lot of computer stations. The children's area is a good size with lots of books and toys. The materials appear well organized.

Beaver Marsh is the southernmost part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a casual flat trail for an…read moreeasy hike or brisk walk. Part of the trail is a boardwalk over marshland, with viewing spots for wildlife - mostly birds, but allegedly the big draw is beavers (hence the name) and otters. The recommendation is to go at dusk or dawn, the best times to maximize your odds of a beaver sighting. Be warned though, it's also the best time for mosquitoes: it's a marsh, after all. Not a ton of parking at the trailhead, which can be annoying given how remote this part of the park is.

While I am usually looking for a challenge every so often I just want to have a nice easy walk and…read moreenjoy the scenery; the Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a great place for this type of day. Located about half way through the park, across from Howe Meadow there are parking lots at either end of the marsh. Parking at the South lot it is a short walk to the Towpath Trail which allows you to traverse the marsh on the boardwalk. The boardwalk has several projections with informative signs and benches. The marsh is fascinating, created when the park took over a large auto junkyard, cleaned it up and reintroduce beavers to the area. The marsh is wide and long with plenty to see and hear. During the non-winter seasons there are plenty of birds around. You can usually find Blue Herons, ducks, red winged blackbirds and others. In the water you can see fish, turtles and frogs and if you are lucky possibly see a beaver or otter. Recently I did spot a nice snake on a log next to the boardwalk. At the North end of the boardwalk you can see where the beaver dam is blocking the flow in the abandoned canal which actually creates the marsh. Just south of the marsh on the trail is an abandoned lock that gives you an idea of how the lock system and canal worked. Overall the Beaver Marsh is a great place to hang out observe nature at some of its most scenic. If you want a more ambitious walk the Towpath Trail offers endless possibilities and the Beaver Marsh is a great place to start or just stop in a longer walk or ride.