January 2026 e-Grapevine

TRUSTEES CORNER

 

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, family, and friends. As we turn the page to a new year, the Board of Trustees is looking forward to serving our community in 2026 and continuing to focus on public safety, quality of life, and economic development in our Township!

 

We are excited to provide an update on the “Our Concord: Today & Tomorrow” Comprehensive Plan. The recent community survey was successfully completed, receiving over 650 responses—an outstanding level of participation that truly reflects the engagement and care our residents have for the future of Concord Township. The consulting team is now moving into the ideation phase of the plan, where they will develop recommendations based on the survey findings and align them with the wants and needs expressed by our community.

 

Additionally, we continue to prioritize keeping our community well-informed. Please tune in to our future Trustee meetings, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., for the latest updates about the Township. Meetings are held at the Town Hall and are also streamed live for your convenience.



On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, we wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!

 

Sincerely,

The Concord Township Board of Trustees


Happy New Year!

Thank you for a wonderful 2025. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and wish you health and happiness in 2026. Happy New Year!!

RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Sean Supler, Recreation Director, 440-639-4652

Susie Cobb, Administrative Assistant, 440-639-4650

Rachel Lamb, Program Coordinator, 440-639-4651

*Classes are held at the Concord Community Center, 7671 Auburn Road, Concord Township, OH 44077

*Unless otherwise noted

Online registration is free!

https://concord.recdesk.com/community/home 


REFUND POLICY

Concord Township reserves the right to cancel or consolidate any program that does not meet the minimum participation number required by the decision deadline. If a program is canceled, a full refund will be issued. Please allow 2-3 weeks for a refund check to be mailed. No refunds will be issued directly to credit cards.


In addition to canceled programs, refunds may only be fully refunded if there is a waitlist with someone able to take your spot, or written request within 3 days of the program. Partial or no refunds will be given if a participant cancels within 2 days of the program.

Vote!

Light Up Concord 2025


Online voting for the contest ends January 4th!


Please vote for one in each category. Only one vote per person will count.


https://forms.gle/LmkempBe6uaRQpj37

New Year, New You!


Senior Exercise

This circuit-style fitness class is designed to promote increased range of motion, strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. Members are encouraged to participate at their own level of ability, as all exercises can be modified to accommodate your needs. Stations will be set up with exercise equipment, and members will rotate to each station for a full-body workout


Teen/Adult Brick, Burn & Blast Exercise Class

This 45 minute class is a creative full body workout that combines cardio, strength, and resistance training. This class is designed to provide you with variety, flexibility intensity, and a just right challenge for your body to push through and past your limits!


Yoga Pilates Fusion

Pilates-Yoga Fusion: this fitness system combines the practices of Pilates and Yoga, this fitness system combines the practices of Pilates and Yoga, designed to build strength in the core and improve flexibility & balance. This class is low-impact and no experience is required. Class time is 1 hour. Please bring a yoga mat and water.


Kid’s Dance

Designed for kids ages 3-5, interactive movements and fun props will be used to get kids and caregivers active yet comfortable.

Senior Activities


Wednesday, January 7 at 1:00 PM ~ New Year, New You: Join us for an uplifting afternoon to start the year off right! We’ll kick things off with a sparkling cider toast, set meaningful intentions for the year ahead, and enjoy a brief presentation on healthy habits from a local Physical Therapist, Jen Nieset. Then, get creative as we design a set of cheerful greeting cards to share kindness with friends, neighbors, or loved ones.


Free to attend • Supplies provided • Light refreshments served


Wednesday, January 28 at 1:00 PM ~ TRIVIA: Test your knowledge, share some laughs, and enjoy a little friendly competition at our Team Trivia Showdown! We’ll be using questions from Trivial Pursuit: Boomer Edition, covering everything from TV and music to history and pop culture. You’ll play as a team with the folks at your table—no pressure, no public scoring, and no need to shout out answers. Teams will write down their answers together, and scores will be tallied privately. Whether you’re a trivia whiz or just along for the fun, everyone’s welcome!


Register here for Senior Programs!

Save These Dates in 2026!

  • Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, March 21 – 10:00am held at Fire Station #1
  • Summer Concert Series
  • Thursdays, June 4 – July 30.
  • No Concert July 2. 
  • Kids Night Concert on June 11
  • Concord Community Day is Saturday, August 8th

If you have any questions about programs, please call the us at 440-639-4650. 

SERVICE DEPARTMENT

The Service Department continues to maintain Township roadways and respond to snow and ice events during the winter months. Our crews, when not out making the roads safe for winter travel, are busy maintaining equipment, performing maintenance to storm water easements and ditch lines, and evaluating roadways for the upcoming construction season. The Service Department performs several road maintenance tasks, such as concrete slab replacements to our concrete roadways, and preventative maintenance to our asphalt roadways, such as crack sealing and dura-patching. Service Department personnel do these tasks in-house.


The Service Department's Snow Barricade program is very popular with residents that wish to protect their mailbox from heavy snow damaging the mailbox. Residents who would like to have a Snow Barricade installed can fill out the Snow Barricade Application found at Town Hall or on the Concord website under forms and applications. The cost of the Snow Barricade is $50. Once the Service Department receives the application, the request is placed on the schedule and is usually installed within 10 days of receiving the application.


The Service Department also works closely with the Lake County Storm Water Department to maintain and enhance stormwater runoff throughout the township. Recently a Storm Water Improvement project was completed on Sarah Lee Dr. This project was done to repair excessive erosion within a Storm water easement and upgraded the storm sewer within the road right of way along Sarah Lee Dr. A portion of Concord property taxes goes to the Lake County Storm Water Department and is used to help fund storm water enhancements and maintenance projects within the Township.


Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Service Department at 440-350-3225 or by email at concordtwp.com/service department. 

CONCORD TOWNSHIP CEMETERY

Karen Warner, Debbie Powall, and Cindy Sadler

cemeteries@concordtwp.com

We were honored to participate in the Wreaths Across America Ceremony on December 13, 2025, at the Concord Township Cemetery. Each Veteran’s headstone had a wreath placed, thanks to your generosity. We were grateful that so many of you Remembered and Honored our local heroes. Thank you to all who sponsored a wreath(s), volunteered or both. 


Wreaths
Wreaths at Concord Cemetery

ZONING DEPARTMENT

Are you a Concord Township resident interested in staying up to date with recently approved commercial projects and residential developments in the township? If so, consider attending a monthly zoning board meeting or visiting the Township website for more information. Concord Township has two zoning boards: the Zoning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Information regarding these boards, including their duties, may be found below.


The Zoning Commission consists of five members and two alternates who are appointed by the Trustees. The Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees on matters concerning amendments to the Zoning Resolution and the Zoning Map. In addition, the Zoning Commission reviews applications for Site Plan Review for commercial, non-residential uses and multi-family projects proposed within the Township. Agendas are typically posted on the website a week prior to a meeting. The Zoning Commission is always looking for citizen input and welcomes residents to their meetings to discuss zoning-related topics.


The Board of Zoning Appeals consists of five members and two alternates appointed by the Trustees. Their function is to act upon requests for variances, grant conditional use permits, and review appealed administrative decisions. Agendas are posted on the website a week prior to a meeting.



If you can’t make the meeting in person, you can watch it live from the comfort of your own couch on the Concord Township YouTube channel! For any questions, please reach out to the zoning department staff. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT

From the Chief’s Desk

As we come to the close of another year, I want to recognize not only the dedication and professionalism of our firefighters, Fire Prevention Bureau, and Fire Department staff, but also the families who stand behind them. Throughout 2025, our members answered the call at all hours, often missing holidays, family events, and time at home, to serve this community. That sacrifice is shared by spouses, children, and loved ones who provide unwavering support, understanding, and encouragement. Their role is an essential part of our success, and we are deeply grateful for the strength and commitment of our entire fire department family.


The Concord Township Fire Department is grateful for the continued trust and support of this amazing community. It is truly an honor to serve you.


Below is a snapshot of the 2025 call volume through December 21, 2025. As this will be the final report included in the e-Grapevine for the year, we encourage residents to watch for our 2025 Annual Report, which will be released in the first quarter of 2026 and will provide a more detailed overview of the Fire Department’s activities throughout the year.

Run Statistics

Fire Prevention Bureau:

As part of our ongoing mission to protect lives and property, the Concord Township Fire Prevention Bureau would like to remind residents of the importance of following manufacturer recommendations when using any type of electrical appliance.


🔥 What the Data Shows

According to nationally recognized fire-safety research:

  • Surge protectors and power strips are involved in approximately 700–800 fires each year in the United States.
  • Electrical distribution equipment—including power strips, extension cords, and surge protectors—causes more than 3,000 home fires annually, resulting in deaths, injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss.
  • Overloading power strips is a leading contributing factor, causing overheating, internal failure, arcing, and ignition of nearby combustibles.



It is important to remember that power strips and surge protectors do not increase the capacity of an electrical circuit—they only distribute the existing power. Plugging in too many devices or high-wattage equipment significantly increases the risk of fire.


⚠️ Common Dangerous Practices We See

  • Plugging space heaters, heat lamps, or compressors into power strips
  • Using power strips in areas that are not routinely monitored or in damp locations
  • Daisy-chaining power strips or extension cords together
  • Using old, damaged, or non–UL-listed power strips
  • Allowing power strips to become buried under rugs, blankets, or other combustible materials


Fire safety begins with awareness and prevention. A few simple precautions can make a significant difference in keeping your home and family safe.

 

As we reflect on 2025, the Concord Township Fire Department continued to experience steady growth in service demands—particularly in emergency medical responses—while maintaining our commitment to rapid, professional, and compassionate care.



Throughout the year, our firefighters and staff responded to a wide range of incidents, including structure fires, vehicle crashes, severe weather events, and a consistently high volume of EMS calls. Overlapping emergencies remained a challenge, requiring frequent coordination with our mutual aid partners to ensure uninterrupted service to the community.


In 2025, we also continued to focus on:

  • Strengthening firefighter training and professional development
  • Maintaining and improving the reliability of our apparatus and equipment
  • Advancing fire prevention and public education efforts
  • Supporting community events and outreach initiatives
  • Planning for future facility and fleet needs to meet increasing call volume


Despite evolving challenges, our personnel remained steadfast in their mission to protect lives, property, and the quality of life in Concord Township. The dedication of our members, along with the continued support of our residents and partner agencies, made it possible to meet the demands of another busy and meaningful year of service.


On behalf of the Concord Township Fire Department, we thank you for your continued support and wish you a safe and healthy New Year.

SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

If your local business or organization is interested in advertising or sponsorship opportunities in 2026, please reach out to Sean Supler at ssupler@concordtwp.com for more information!

Sponsors
Johnny's

Concord Township, Lake County, OH | P: 440.354.7510 | F: 440.354.7511 | www.concordtwp.com

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