Articles by Denise Bly
Denise Bly has been a correspondent for the Weekly Villager for five years. She also does the public relations for Garrettsville SummerFest and the Garrettsville Area Chamber. In her spare time, she can be found at most local events, especially J.A. Garfield’s, high school and middle school athletic and musical events. When not out and about in the community, she can be found at home reading, sewing, cooking and spending time with her family.
Always in Bloom Celebrates Ten Years
Nelson Twp. – Always in Bloom in Nelson will celebrate 10 years of meeting the community’s gardening needs this year. Owner Angie Smithburger said it was a dream that she didn’t really have, that just sort of fell into her lap, so to speak.
Eleven years ago, Angie was living the …
The WVFD Joint Fire Board to Purchase Repeaters
Windham – The WVFD Joint Fire District met for the regularly scheduled meeting on May 8, 2013 with just enough members to have a quorum. The board approved the minutes from the special meeting on March 19, 2012 and their regular meeting held on April 18, 2013. They also approved …
Garrettsville Summerfest to Hold Idol Semi-Finals
Garrettsville - This year, there are forty-four contestants who will compete this Sunday, May 19, 2013 in the semi-final round of Garrettsville Idol at James A. Garfield High School’s Iva Walker Auditorium. There will be four judges determining who will have the opportunity to sing on the stage at Summerfest …
Windham Police Will Enforce Local Ordinances
Windham – Windham Village Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting April 23, 2013 at 7 pm with all council members present. Council approved the minutes from February, special meetings, regular March minutes, expenditures and the bank reconciliation.
Flash Mob Hits Garrettsville
Garrettsville – This past Saturday while many were out enjoying the beautiful weather, something unusual happened at four locations in Garrettsville. Shortly after noon, a dance flash mob of sorts was sighted at four locations in town. The dance flash mob was for National Dance Week (April 26-May 5). Studios …
Parkman’s Annual Kite Festival was a Success
Parkman – The skies above Parkman’s Overlook Park resembled a kaleidoscope last Saturday as the Parkman Chamber of Commerce held their 13th Annual Kite Festival. Kites of all shapes, colors and sizes dotted the vivid blue skies with beautiful colors as kids of all ages were at the park flying …
Kali Hilfer wins $2000 for Windham’s Prom
Windham – Windham Board of Education (BOE) met for their regularly scheduled meeting at the board offices on April 25, 2013 with all board members present. The treasurer was unavailable for the meeting.
In student achievement, Kali Hilfer brought home 1st place out of over 20 schools represented in the banner …
Garrettsville Summerfest Raffle is a Ford Truck
Last year, Garrettsville SummerFest raffled off a truck for the first time and it was one of the most successful raffles they have ever had, so with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” motto the committee decided to offer a 2013 Ford F-150 truck this year as well. …
Nelson Residents Outraged over Trustee’s Comments
Nelson Twp. – Nelson Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting with all trustees and fiscal officer in attendance. The trustees approved the minutes and expenditures. They also signed cemetery deeds. Mr. David Finney presented a letter from their insurance company, Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority (OTARMA) questioning …
WVFD Finds Dispatch Provider
Windham – The originally scheduled WVFD Fire Board meeting for April 11, 2013 was postponed until April 18, 2013. The postponement was done to allow more time to research dispatching options. After researching their options, the WVFD Fire Board has decided to use Ravenna City Dispatching starting June 1, 2013. …
Tiger Cubs Help Food Pantry
Nelson Twp. – Nine Tiger Cub Scouts and their leader Jason Bates visited the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard (NGCC) to lend a helping hand and to learn how NGCC helps those in need in our community. Each Tiger Cub brought a bag of groceries with them to donate to the …
Changing of the Guards for the Garfield Band Boosters
Garrettsville – It was a changing of the guard so to speak, as the James. A Garfield (JAG) Band Boosters elected new officers for the 2013-2014 year. The new president is Sherry Jones, Vice President of Uniforms -Robin Wadkins, Vice President of fundraising – Kim Hoffman, Secretary- Shelley Everett, and …
Windham High School Band Marches at Disney
Windham – After a year of planning and fundraising, the Windham High School Band made the trek to Florida over spring break for a once – in-a-lifetime experience, to march at Disney World in Orlando. The students began raising funds for the trip over a year ago and had some …
Nelson Residents Question Trustees on Road Maintenance
Nelson Twp. – Nelson Township Trustees met for their regular trustee meeting with only two of the three trustees present, the fiscal officer, three employees and 19 residents in attendance. Trustee Jim Turos was absent despite being present at a special meeting held at Pixley Park prior to the regularly …
Nelson Trustees Use Road Funds for Excavator Purchase
Nelson Twp. – Nelson Township Trustees met last Thursday with all trustees and fiscal officer in attendance. There were four employees and ten guests in attendance as well. After the approval of the minutes, expenditures and permanent appropriations, Chairman Tom Matota opened the floor up for guests to speak. Mr. …
Candlelight Winery Holds Adult Egg Hunt
Nelson Twp. – When folks think of Easter eggs hunts they think of children and their Easter baskets anxiously waiting to find the eggs, but the Easter egg hunt at the Candlelight Winery Saturday night was just a little different. They had eggs and even a few Easter baskets but …
Eggshelland Display Comes to an End
Betty and Ron Manolio had spent the last 54 years making mosaic eggshell art in their front yard for folks to enjoy for Easter. Last year, they told me they would continue the tradition as long as they were physically able to do it. Unfortunately, the Manolios didn’t realize that …
Windham High School’s Variety Show Rocked!
Windham – This past weekend Windham Choir presented their Annual Variety Show. The event lived up to its name providing quite a variety of acts to entertain the crowd. The choir opened up the show with “The Nicest Kids in Town,” which set the tone for the evening.
The show was …
Garrettsville St. Patrick’s Celebration a Hit
Garrettsville – The chilly weather didn’t deter the Irish or the wannabes from celebrating St. Paddy’s Day as Garrettsville put on her best green to celebrate the holiday this past Sunday. The traditional celebration really didn’t begin until Sunday, however many folks started celebrating a wee bit early Saturday night …
W.V.F.D. Dispatching Decision Delayed
Windham – The W.V.F.D. Fire Board met for their regularly-scheduled meeting on March 14, 2013 with all fire board members present along with Windham Village Council members, Cheryl Prem, Jena Miranda, and Rachel Barrett and Township Trustees Brian Miller and Jesse Wirick. Deb Blewett was also in attendance as a …
Windham Board Of Education News
Windham – Windham Board of Education (BOE) met for their regularly-scheduled meeting with all but one board member in attendance, along with Superintendent Gregg Isler and Treasurer Samantha Pochedly
Melissa Roubic gave the Maplewood report and reported that the new electricity instructor has done a great job in setting up the …
Windham Plans Mayor’s Court
Windham – Windham Village Council met for their regularly-scheduled meeting February 26, 2013 with five of the six council members present, along with the Mayor Rob Donham, Fiscal Officer Lloyd Billman and Solicitor Tom Reitz in attendance. Council woman Deb Blewitt was excused from the meeting.
Nelson Undecided on Fate of Old Garage
Nelson Twp. – Nelson Township Trustees met on February 27, 2013 for a special meeting originally set up to discuss the possibility of leasing the old township garage to the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard (NGCC). The meeting drew over 40 interested people and was somewhat heated at times but in …
WVFD Joint Fire District News
Windham – The WVFD Joint Fire District Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting on February 14, 2013 at the fire station. The entire board and fiscal officer were in attendance. The board approved the minutes, the expenditures, yearly appropriations of $623,413 and the monthly bank reconciliation before moving on …
Board of Elections Approve Referendum
Windham – Last week, the Board of Elections (BOE) approved the Referendum Petition circulated by Windham Village Residents Bob Edwards, Jim Moore and Lloyd McPherson. The Referendum petition was filed in response to council’s passage of Ordinance 2012-50 that repealed the tax credit given to those who work outside of …
Fire Department Issues Dominate Council Meeting
Windham – Windham Village Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on January 22, 1013 with all council members, mayor, fiscal officer and village solicitor in attendance. Council approved the monthly expenditures and the bank reconciliation. The resolution R-2013-4 authorizing the village to enter in to an agreement with Garrettsville …
Windham Residents File Referendum
Windham - Windham Village residents sent a strong message to council last week saying they were not happy with a decision council made in December by enacting Ordinance (O-2012-50) to repeal the village’s .5% tax credit given to residents who live in the village and work in another municipality. Residents …
Windham Township Considers Cul-De-Sac on Frazier Road
Windham Twp. – Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on December 6, 2012 with all trustees and fiscal officer in attendance. Chairman Dann Timmons called the meeting to order. Next, they approved the minutes and expenditures for the month of November.
Garrettsville SummerFest To Hold Scotch Doubles Bowling Fundraiser This Weekend
Garrettsville – It is January and it is hard to believe the Garrettsville SummerFest Committee is already hard at work looking for ways to improve the largest summer celebration in Portage County, Ohio. This three-day event is jam-packed with live entertainment and music in addition to rides, games, contests, car …
Garrettsville G-Plex Becomes Training Center
Garrettsville – Garrettsville G-Plex, which was once known as an indoor soccer facility with batting cages, is now a softball and baseball training facility. Ed Carpenter took over the facility in August and has been busy updating it and turning it into a state-of-the-art training facility for softball and baseball.
Windham Repeals Tax Credit
Windham – Twenty-five residents filled council chambers for the last council meeting of the year to voice their opinion on council’s plan to repeal the tax credit given to residents that work outside the village. Residents claim council is rushing it through in one month’s time (November council meeting …
Christmas on Main Winners Announced
Garrettsville – Garrettsville Area Chamber announced the winners of the Christmas on Main, shop local event. The drawing took place at the Annual Chamber Christmas Social held at the Sugar Bush Golf Club on December 19, 2012. Scott Walls, Alliance Foods Project Manager from the Save-A-Lot Store in Garrettsville did …
Windham Jr/Sr. High Students Receive ALICE Training
Windham – The Windham BOE met for their monthly meeting at a special time and date to accommodate holiday schedules. All the board members along with the treasurer and superintendent were in attendance.
Happy Birthday Dann!
Dann Timmons celebrated 60 years of living on November 17, 2012 and his family held a cake and punch reception in his honor last weekend at the Brick Chapel in Windham to commemorate this milestone. Over 60 friends, family and community leaders were on hand to help celebrate the event.
King Family Returns to Cal’s
Garrettsville – After a three year break, the King Family is back at the helm of Cal’s Restaurant and Pizza Express in Garrettsville. Aaron and his mother, Carole took over the ownership of the facility on November 29, 2012 and they are eager to return Cal’s to one of the …
Sky Plaza IGA Open House a Success
Garrettsville – Sky Plaza IGA held an Open House last Friday night that featured their Seafood Road Show, food samples, displays in each department, Santa Claus, and Marine Mike Rowe who brought his holiday letters to a service member project. The event began at 4 pm and ran until 8pm …
Windham United Methodist Church Breakfast with Santa
Windham – Area children and their families converged on the Renaissance Family Center (RFC) to have breakfast with Santa. The event was hosted by the Windham United Methodist Church (WUMC). Children and their parents were treated to a breakfast of French toast stix, breakfast casserole, juice and milk. Coffee was …
Hobbyist Creates 1000+ piece Christmas Village
Windham – When one walks into Windham Village resident Ted Stryczny’s garage, one will not see cars, motorcycles or even a bicycle but what one will see is his version of a man cave. Now, you will not find a beer cooler, game table, big screen television or even a …
Windham Village Council Slashes the Budget
Windham – Windham Village Council met last Tuesday night with all council members, the mayor, fiscal officer and village solicitor in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rob Donham. Council approved the agenda changes and the minutes from the last meeting.
Nelson goes to Narrow Band Radios
Nelson Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting last Wednesday with all trustees and the fiscal officer in attendance. Chairman Jim Turos called the meeting to order. Fiscal officer J. David Finney presented the expenditures including wages totaling $4606.91, minutes from the previous meeting, notice of a zoning court …
Windham Tree Lighting
Windham – Windham’s Tree Lighting Festivities will be held Saturday December 8, 2012 beginning at 5 pm. The evening will have a variety of activities for all ages to usher in the Christmas Season. Come dressed for the elements, because one would not want to miss the hay wagon ride …
Garrettsville Ushers in the Holiday Season!
Garrettsville – It was a record breaking crowd that gathered at the clock tower in Garrettsville last Saturday night as folks were ready to usher in the Christmas Season at Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Clock Tower and Tree Lighting Ceremony. The cold, snowy weather didn’t deter folks from …
Windham Lions Host Zone Meeting
Windham – Windham Lions club hosted their quarterly zone meeting last week at the Windham United Methodist Church. The Lions Clubs invited Streetsboro, Ravenna, Kent, Garrettsville and Crestwood Lions Club. A representative of the Crestwood Leos was present as well. Garrettsville and Streetsboro clubs were not available.
Small Business Saturday
The Thanksgiving turkey has barely been devoured and many are already strategizing for Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but if you want to find unique gifts, bargains and avoid the crowds, try shopping small businesses. November 24, 2012 which is the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small …
Garrettsville Area Chamber Tree Lighting Set for Nov. 24th
Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Tree and Clock Tower Lighting Ceremony on Saturday night, November 24, 2012. The lighting ceremony will begin at 6pm however if the weather permits horse and carriage rides will begin at 5 pm and run until 7pm.
Christmas on Main Returns to Garrettsville
Garrettsville – Last year’s Christmas on Main was such a smashing success; the Garrettsville Chamber of Commerce has decided to do it again this year. This year, the event will begin November 2, 2012 so it coincides with the James A. Garfield Historical Society’s Christmas Walk. Christmas on Main is …
G-Men – Bombers Football, The End of an Era
The best rivalry in Portage County is coming to an end this Friday when the Garfield G-Men and the Windham Bombers will play their final football game in the Portage Trail Conference (PTC), as Windham will exit the PTC at the end of the year. This year’s game will be …
Fire board Questioned on Gas well Safety Measures
Windham – The WVFD Joint Fire District Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting on October 11, 2012 at the fire station. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Kilgore. The board approved the minutes as presented, the expenditures and the bank reconciliation.
Windham Celebrates Homecoming
Last Friday, Windham High School held their Annual Homecoming festivities. The event started Monday with Spirit week, which had the students dressing up to different themes each day and ended Saturday night with the annual dance.
Friday at 4:30 pm, the Homecoming Parade was held with the high school band leading …
