The Village of Bentleyville has been given a watercolor painting of a former Chagrin River Bridge. That iron bridge, part of Chagrin River Road, crossed the Chagrin River until its collapse in the 1970s. While that bridge was never repaired or replaced by Cuyahoga County, it remains part of Bentleyville history, as were the bridges in the same location that preceded it.

Nick Trudick of Novelty, Ohio, commissioned the watercolor from his then neighbor on Bentleyville Road, Alfred Howell. Howell, an English born artist, arrived in the United States in 1929. He served as the Supervisor of Art Education for the Cleveland Public School System and was a professor of art at Case Western Reserve University. He is noted for his local work in watercolor and sculpture of Chagrin Falls Village scenes and of the local waterfalls.

Weeks after Howell completed the newly donated painting, the iron bridge, which is its subject, unexpectedly collapsed. This is its final image. The Village of Bentleyville is immensely grateful to Mr. Trudick for making it possible for the Village to share this piece of Village history. The painting has been hung in a place of honor in the Village Council Chamber. Other historical items relating to the bridge and its predecessors are presently in the collection at the Chagrin History Center. We look forward to working with the History Center to share more of the story as we continue our research.

Please be aware of the amendment to Village Ordinance 452.01 Prohibition Against Parking that was passed at the November Council Meeting.

The added sections read as follows:

452.01(c)- When on the traveled or paved portion of any street in the Village there is a snowfall of two or more standing, a “snow emergency” shall exist and parking on such street or streets shall be prohibited. Any car parked on the street when two inches of snow is accumulated shall be removed forthwith so that the paved portion is clear for the passage of snow plows.

452.01(d)- Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; each subsequent offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Click here to read the full Ordinance Amendment
Village Snow/Ice Policy

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Tree Lighting!

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Thanks to our Service Director, Matt Maistros, and Joe Jacobs and John Storaasli from Chagrin Home Improvements for our newly repaired and replaced sign!