Rosemary Krupar is a longtime Mantua resident and Crestwood primary school teacher. Upon retiring from the school district, she went on to work as a naturalist at Lake County Metroparks. Eventually she left that position to care for her grandchild. These days she’s fully ready to retire, and wanted to find opportunities to gather with friends.
She looked for a nearby Senior Center to take advantage of the activities and events offered but learned that the closest option was the Streetsboro Senior Center. And while she has enjoyed their programming, Krupar noted that it gets bothersome having to leave her local community in order to take advantage of these activities. So she decided to do something about it.
That’s when the idea for a Crestwood Community Center (CCC) took root. In a matter of months, Krupar worked with like-minded friends Karen Schulz, Cindy Siebenthal, and Barbara Stiebeling to propose, plan, and solicit grant funding. While many CCC programs take place during the weekday which attracts retired folks, interested parties of all ages are welcome to attend.
Az Sabo from Teresa Skully’s Graphic Design Internship class at Crestwood High School created the group’s logo. CCC also received a grant of $3,580 from the Hiram Community Trust for programming materials, laptop computer and internet service, and other start-up costs.
Krupar noted that Mayor Tammy Meyer and the Village Council have been very supportive as well, allowing the fledgling group to use the Mantua Lodge at Buchert Park at no charge. In addition, Councilwoman Nina Schroeder compiled a survey for the group, which seeks to gather information about what types of activities are of interest to potential attendees.
The group officially began in April, meeting once a week for activities including potluck lunches, hikes, and plant swaps. With so many other activities competing for attention during the summer months, the group decided to meet every other week during warmer weather.
Last Friday, the group met at the Farmers & Makers Market in Mantua, sharing information, adding to their contact list, and handing out soft ice cream cones. All donations accepted will be directed toward future programming. On Wednesday (6/19), the group met at Mantua Lodge to play ‘Pass the Ace’ and exchange cards, book and puzzles.
Upcoming events include meetups at a variety of community events including: a classic rock concert at the Aurora Veteran’s Memorial Park on June 27th, the annual fireworks display in Hiram on July 3rd, and Art on the Hill in Mantua on July 13th. Later in that month, they’ll host a potluck picnic on July 17th at the Mantua Lodge. On July 25th, the group will meet up to hear the Chardon Polka Band play in Aurora.
On August 7th and 21st, the group will return to the Mantua Lodge for Cornhole & Bocce tournaments and other activities. The month will close out with a carnival and picnic on August 28th at the Streetsboro Community Center.
Summer sessions and activities take place on the first and third unless otherwise noted. They meet at the Buchert Park Village Lodge (4810 East High Street) in Mantua. For more information or to RSVP, visit the Crestwood Community Center page on Facebook or contact Rosemary Krupar via email rokrupar15@gmail.com.
