COVENTRY TWP.: Richard Kutuchief fears that Coventry Township is losing its identity.
To many, the community of nearly 11,000 people is just part of the larger Portage Lakes region.
To others, it’s part of Akron or Barberton due to the fact that the township doesn’t have its own post office or mailing address.
But Kutuchief, who serves as a township trustee, wants people to start taking pride in saying they live in Coventry.
That’s why he’s undertaking an effort to have the U.S. Postal Service recognize Coventry Township as an official mailing address.
“We want to be known as Coventry Township,” Kutuchief said.
If approved — the Postal Service is researching whether it would work — residents would be able to list “Coventry Township” on their mail as opposed to Akron or Barberton. They also could keep using Akron and Barberton if they wish.
The 44319 ZIP code would remain the same.
The township trustees will host a public meeting to hear feedback from the community at 7 p.m. March 14 at the town hall, 68 Portage Lakes Drive. (The town hall, ironically, has an Akron mailing address.)
It also has placed an advertisement in the South Side Leader weekly newspaper with a ballot asking residents to check a box saying:
• Yes — Please change to “Coventry Township, Ohio.”
or
• No — I would like my address to stay the same.
Kutuchief said he’s heard plenty of positive feedback so far, along with some complaints that the trustees should worry about more serious problems.
He believes the mailing address change, while a small thing, could have a big impact on community pride. And it’s not like the trustees aren’t focused on other pressing issues at the same time, he added.
Lifelong Coventry resident Jerry Burkhamer, who runs the Long Lake Bait and Tackle shop on Portage Lakes Drive, likes the idea of bringing back a sense of identity and pride to the community.
“We used to have it when I was a kid,” he said.
Of course, Burkhamer would rather the community be known as Portage Lakes.
“I won’t get my way so Coventry is fine,” he said with a laugh.
Many people aren’t rah-rah about the proposal — or even aware of it when asked. But once they learn about it, they aren’t opposed to the idea, either.
“It would give Coventry more of a sense of community,” said Steve Rector, who owns the Honeymoon Grille on Manchester Road.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .