Windham Township Trustee News
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly-scheduled meeting recently with all trustees, fiscal officer and zoning inspector in attendance. The trustees are as follows: Chairperson Danny Burns, Brian Miller and Rich Gano. The fiscal officer is Casey Timmons and Joe Pinti is the zoning inspector. The meeting was called to order and the board of trustees approved...
Cardinal and Berkshire students put our society to the four-way test!
Five local high school students presented passionate presentations for the Burton Middlefield Rotary at the Berkshire School Board office and on Zoom the evening of March 10. The students were asked to choose a topic and put it to the Rotary four-way test. The test is: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build...
Local Folks Grows Hope with Maple Syrup
It’s maple syrup season, and as Ohio is ranked fourth in US production of maple syrup production, it’s a sure bet you’ve seen trees tapped throughout the community. But did you know that a group of dedicated folks in Hiram are harvesting maple syrup to support farmers in communities around the world? For the seventh consecutive season, members of Hiram...
Electric Vehicles Gain Support in Garrettsville
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on March 10th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Assistant Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Sheri Johnson, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the meeting was held in person with no audience. The meeting was...
PARTA offering free rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments
Kent, Ohio - Thursday, March 18, 2021 – PARTA’s Dial-A-Ride service is providing free rides to vaccination sites around Portage County beginning Monday, March 22. Free rides will be in effect for trips riders take to and from scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments and are available on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to space availability.“We are doing what we can to...
Garrettsville Wrestling: 2 for 2 at State
This past weekend, two J.A. Garfield wrestlers travelled to Marion Harding High School to compete in the OHSAA Individual State Wrestling Championships and both left as All-Ohio wrestlers after a grueling two day tournament that pitted them against the best in the state at their respective weights. Hunter Andel, a sophomore, qualified at the 145 pound weight class. He won...
Accounting degree leads to Asteroid Mining Internship
Zephyr Benton, a soon-to-be graduate from the University of Toledo, is just one of those individuals that makes you go slack-jawed after having a conversation. At just 23-years-old this young man is already on a career path so astonishingly inventive, I almost can’t find words to describe how awesome it is. Really! He is the recent recipient the 3rd place...
Portage County Celebrates Ohio 4-H Week
Since 1902, youth in Ohio 4-H clubs have followed the motto to “Make the Best Better” and Portage County Commissioners recognized the impact of 4-H by proclaiming March 7-13, Ohio 4-H Week. In Portage County, more than 1,000 youth participated in 4-H in 38 community clubs and a variety of statewide Special Interest Clubs (SPIN Clubs) in 2020. “We had...
Portage Park District Acquires 325 Acres In Hiram Township
Hiram Township – Portage Park District recently acquired and has permanently conserved 325 acres in Hiram Township, formerly owned by the Carlisle Family. The property is located on the south side of State Route 82 and runs a mile south to meet the adjacent Headwaters Trail, a hike and bike trail between Garrettsville and Mantua. The property is also...
Hiram Village Council News
Hiram - At the last regular meeting, Council heard from Lisa Taddei, a representative from Ohio Edison on the power company’s plans and specifications for power line improvements within the Village. Ms. Taddei noted that the easement requests presented to Village residents were part of a larger plan to modernize the system through Portage, Trumbull, Mahoning, and Ashtabula Counties....
Get In The Maple Mood
Weekend opportunities to learn about the maple sugaring process at Swine Creek Reservation abound this March – but space is filling fast, so get online or call to register today! Rather than a large gathering for Sap’s-a-Risin’ this year, Geauga Park District has scheduled three half-hour Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides Through the Sugarbush to take place on Saturday, March 6, 13...
Geauga SWCD’s Summer Teacher Workshop Scholarships Now Available
Ready to get away?! Scholarships are now available for the Geauga and Portage Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ unique summer workshop for educators. Thanks to the generosity of Great Lakes Cheese, Geauga SWCD is offering a limited number of scholarships to teachers working in Geauga County Schools. Scholarship applications are due by May 1st. Don’t miss out on this...
Local Woman’s Mission to Help Kids
Mantua - Angela Smith of Mantua recently started an organization called iTELLsecrets. Her purpose is to help children learn the difference between good touches and bad touches, to help protect kids from sexual abuse. Strikingly, among cases of child abuse reported to law enforcement, 93% of victims knew the perpetrators; 34% were family members while 59% were acquaintances. Only...
NOSH Around Ravenna
NOSH: a verb, meaning: to eat enthusiastically! Are you hungry yet? Spring is almost here and our restaurants need our support now more than ever. Main Street Ravenna is working to keep feet on the ground downtown with the “Nosh Around Ravenna” program. Presented by Portage Community Bank, Nosh Around Ravenna is a unique and fun way to visit participating...
Windham School Board News
Windham - The Windham Board of Education (BOE) met recently with a quorum of members in attendance. The minutes and financial reports for the month of January were approved as presented. Superintendent Aireane Curtis reported that, Thursday would be the day the staff was scheduled for COVID vaccine if they wanted it. They also have the second dose scheduled for...
Portage Foundation Accepting Grants And Scholarship Applications
The Portage Foundation will begin accepting grant and scholarship applications now through April 16, 2021. On-line applications for grants and scholarships are available at: https://portagefoundation.org/grants-and-scholarships/. “We are thrilled with the individuals that established endowed grant funds and scholarships at the Portage Foundation” says Debbie Smeiles, president. “Because of their support, we are able to provide approximately $40,000 in spring grant...
April Is Autism Awareness Month – Let’s “Light It Up Blue”
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Freedom Nelson Joint Fire District invite the community to join them as they “Light It Up Blue” for Autism Awareness Month ~ a fundraiser to benefit the Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community. Hiram Farm is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically...
Ravenna City Council Creates Permanent Solution for On-Line Meeting Accessibility
Ravenna - Beginning on Monday, March 1, Ravenna City Council moved all meetings to “Cisco Meeting” using the permanently installed camera system in Council Chambers. Meetings can continue to be viewed by the public via the Ravenna City Council YouTube channel. “When the pandemic hit, we moved all meetings to Zoom and have stayed with that software for the past...
Five Five Media Co Now Open in Mantua
Mantua - A new shop opened its doors recently in Mantua, though the occupants are no stranger to the village. Five Five Media Company, Holly and Matt Michelson’s photography and videography business has been in operation since 2011, so while this isn’t a new business, it’s definitely a new location, at 4690 East Prospect Street. Five Five has also carved...
No Pancakes For You…
Garrettsville - After careful consideration and correspondence from the Portage County Health Department, the Garrettsville Farmers’ Market and the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard have decided to postpone their annual pancake breakfast fundraiser which was slated to begin this Sunday and run through March. While this decision saddens them, the board of directors felt that it was in the best interest...
Marching to the Beat of Community Need
Ravenna - On my drive home from running errands, I was thinking about what I would have for dinner. Leftovers. Would I throw something in the microwave? Would I cook a gourmet meal fit for a Queen? (If my feet weren’t too tired.) This is what people do on a regular basis plan what they’re going to have for...
WVFD Hires Grant Writer
Windham - The WVFD met for their regularly scheduled meeting via Zoom with one board member absent. The chairman of the board, Cindy Cale called the meeting to order and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The board approved the minutes and expenditures for the month of January before moving on to the chief’s report. Chief Rich Gano reported that there...
Mantua Quick Mart is Open For Business
Mantua - Peter Patel, shop owner, is no stranger to convenient stores. He owns and operates another Quick Mart in Ravenna. When the opportunity arose to purchase the former Circle K store in Mantua, Patel was happy to transform the chain store to an independent business. The former location had also been home to a Subway, leaving a void for...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
Jennifer Bowen, from the Mantua office of Edward Jones Investments and a member of the Garrettsville Chamber of Commerce, zoomed in to present information on putting Performance into Perspective, as regards a family’s or an individual’s financial objectives. This leaned on the three R’s : Relevant, Realistic, Reviewed, when it comes to determining what is needed, what is the...
Thank You From The Portage County Senior Center
Dear Portage County 4H members, and friends of the community, I cannot express enough the happiness you have brought to our Portage County Seniors during our recent “Valentine’s/Birthday” drive-thru event. With the help of Portage County Extension 4H coordinator Ashley Hughey, you all really made a difference in the lives of our seniors. It’s no secret that the senior population...
Cold Snap is Ideal Time to Go Ice Fishing
While some choose to stay inside during this month’s record-setting cold weather, others have taken advantage of the thick ice that resulted. “People don’t want to be cooped up inside,” reasoned local fisherman Jack Carson. He noted seeing more enthusiasts outdoors this winter. The veteran angler attributes the influx of ice fishermen to limited indoor opportunities due to Covid....
In the Garden
Welcome to the initial article of “The Garden”. Last March when things got locked down, going to the grocery store was just about the only to get out of the house, and many didn’t even do that. Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, once a staple in a dinner salad, were taken for granted. One just couldn’t pick up stuff in a...
Windham Township News
Windham Twp. - Windham Township’s year is off to a good start. The road crew is doing a fantastic job keeping the roads cleaned. The crew will install a culvert on Horn Road as soon as they can. The road supervisor, Brian Miller said they are keeping a close eye on the grit salt mixture to see that it...
Garrettsville Village Council News
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on February 10th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Assistant Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Larry Beatty, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the meeting was held in person with no audience. The meeting was...
It’s Winter – So Where Are the Bees?
Honey bees overwinter in social togetherness inside their hives, keeping each other warm. But most bees are solitary or at least have a solitary part of their life cycle – how do they survive all alone through the deep freeze of Ohio winters? How can we help them hibernate so they’ll emerge ready to pollinate our crops and gardens? ...
