Home Instead In Search of Caregivers
Ravenna - At Home Instead, we believe that being a caregiver is the most special gift you can give to another. Aging seniors want to remain as independent as possible, yet their loved ones worry about their safety, emotional well - being and health. As a Home Instead CAREGiver - You will be able to not only help care...
Experience of Life Creates a Novel
Life. It is such a fragile thing and such a beautiful gift. Many people become parents not knowing what to expect and hoping the best for their children. Happiness, health, and that they know they are loved is what they pray for, but we never know which turn the road will take. In the case of the Furness family,...
Windham Board of Education News
Windham - The Windham Board of Education (BOE) met with one board member physically attending and the rest through video. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, President Mandy Berardinelli reported that the giving tree gave out help for 60 families during the Christmas season. The student food pantry will continue to supply food to those students in need. They...
Recent UFO Activity Invites Others to Share
After reading about Joe’s story in recent editions of the Villager, two Hiram residents were moved to relay a similar experience they shared. “My mom and I were reminded of an experience we had when I was a child,” Willow*, now in her early 60’s, shared recently. “We lived in Parma, Ohio in a neighborhood composed of tightly placed...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Superintendent David Toth publicly recognized Food Service Director Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch and her Nutrition Service team for helping to support Crestwood students and their families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Toth noted that the team served more than 300,000 meals to area families, both in school and via drive-through services from March through December...
PCDL Reopens to Public Again
Portage County District Library (PCDL) is pleased to announce its doors will reopen to the public again on Monday, February 8. There will still be enforcement of one-hour time limits for patrons inside our branches, and occupancy limits- based on the size and layout of buildings (will vary from branch to branch)- will be used to ensure CDC guidelines...
Hiram Village News
Hiram - At their last meeting, Village Council passed several pieces of legislation. Among them, council approved Resolution 2020-33, a resolution submitting the question of renewing an existing tax levy to village voters. In addition, council also approved Resolution 2021-02, authorizing the Village Administrator to submit an application for the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) program for capital improvements to...
The Nominations for ‘Villager of The Year’ are in…
As we all dealt with the ever changing world of Covid in 2020, we saw the best (and sadly, sometimes worst) of people. Some just dealt with things, moved on and waited to see what was coming next, while others refused to just sit back and wait. Our community has some amazing people who set their minds to thinking outside...
Free Virtual Conservation Programs
If winter’s snow and freezing temperatures have you wishfully thinking ahead to spring, why not take advantage of some of the free opportunities for programs hosted by the Portage Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)? While Covid may keep in-person programs from happening, it won’t keep the SWCD from providing opportunities for local folks to learn, grow, and even...
Reed Memorial Library Open for Browsing
Ravenna - The Reed Memorial Library Board of Trustees recently voted to broaden access to library services, no longer requiring an appointment and making materials directly accessible once again. “We are going back to the “grab-and-go library model we adopted in June,” explained Library Director, Brian C. Hare. Library patrons are asked to keep their visits brief. Meeting rooms, study...
Child Find Awareness
Garrettsville - Child Find is an effort by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, to ensure all children from birth to 21 with disabilities are identified, located, and evaluated as required by the individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Ohio school districts, serving ages 3-21, work with Help Me Grow, serving children birth to...
Portage County Administration Building Reopens; Treasurer’s Office Remains Closed
Ravenna – Portage County Commissioners reopened the County Administration Building to the public beginning Jan. 25, 2021 from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Offices under the direction of the Commissioners were advised to bring back staffing from when the COVID-19 pandemic moved operations remotely. Board of Commissioners President Sabrina Christian-Bennett advised citizens with business at county offices to...
Garrettsville Area Chamber Sets 2021 Schedule
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met in a hybrid manner on Wednesday, January 20th for the annual organizational meeting. The 2021 membership packets have been mailed and are due back by February 15th. If you have not received a packet, please contact the chamber at 330-527-2411 or visit our website at garrettsvillearea.com to download...
Portage CIT Officers of 2020
The Mental Health & Recovery Board is proud to announce the 2020 Crisis Intervention Team Officers of the Year awarded by the Portage County Police Chief’s Association: Officer Josh Bartholomew, Streetsboro PD; Officer Matthew Butcher, Kent City PD; Officer Scott Krieger, Ravenna PD. The officers were recognized for practicing the communication and de-escalation techniques they learned during their CIT training...
Portage County Health District starts vaccinating Portage County residents in Phase 1B
This week, Portage County residents aged 80 and older are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. To be placed on the Portage County Health District (PCHD) vaccine scheduling list, go to the PCHD website at www.portagehealth.net and click on the COVID-19 tab in the green banner at the top of the page. Residents who do not have internet access can...
GCPL Offering Tours of Bainbridge Branch Set to Open in Early February
Geauga County – We are excited to announce that our new Bainbridge Branch is near completion and scheduled to open on February 1st. Before opening to the public, GCPL will be offering a series of sneak preview tours in small groups of five people maximum. We invite you to join us in our celebration of this Geauga County milestone. To...
2021 Sportmen’s Dinner benefits Haven of Portage County
The ninth annual Sportsmen’s Dinner will be held Jan. 30 at Portage Community Chapel, 6490 S.R. 14, Ravenna. This year’s event will be a hybrid event—both an in-person and virtual experience. We want everyone to experience the event in a way that works best for them. This event, for anyone who loves the outdoors, is an evening full fun with...
COVID-19 Vaccine distribution for Phase 1B populations to begin in Portage County
In conjunction with Ohio’s statewide efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Ohioans in Phase 1B starting the week of January 19, Portage County Health District and Portage County Emergency Management Agency are partnering to lead the vaccination efforts. The combined knowledge and decades of planning and training will allow us to continue to serve our community as we work...
Portage United Way Accepting Grant Applications for Income Focused Programs
Ravenna - United Way of Portage County (UWPC) invests funds raised during its annual campaign through a volunteer led review and recommendation process. Grant Review Volunteers engage in a process that matches community needs with evidence based best practices and program interventions. Volunteers review applications and make COVID-19 compliant site visits. They meet to select the most effective programs...
News From Mantua Village
Mantua - At their last meeting in 2020, Council approved Ordinance 2020-54, which amended Ordinance 2019-49, the “Mantua Village, County of Portage Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems Transfer Agreement” that was struck down by voters last year. This agreement has been amended, and “overwhelmingly approved by residents,” according to Councilman Matt Rosolowski. Council also approved Resolution 2020-55 a resolution authorizing...
Windham Trustees Select Burns as Chairman
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met recently with all trustees, fiscal officer and zoning inspector in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Fiscal Officer Casey Timmons, because the chairman of the board had not been determined before the new year. Brian Miller nominated Danny Burns as chairman of the board, with Rich Gano seconding the motion....
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their recent organizational meeting, the Crestwood School Board elected Karen Schulz to serve as Board President and Kristen Cavanaugh to serve as Vice President in 2021. They determined that the board would continue the pattern of meeting monthly at the Crestwood Primary School building at 7 pm. In their first regular meeting of 2021, which was held...
January is National Mentoring Month
At its most basic level, mentoring helps because it guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. (Mentoring.org) What a simple statement. And this basic level is where each one of our match relationships begins. Building a friendship. The volunteer showing that the youth can depend on him; that he will be there when needed; that...
2021 Wild Hikes Challenge: Celebrating 30 years as Portage Park District
The Portage Park District is pleased to present the Wild Hikes Challenge, a program designed to encourage healthy recreation in our parks and trails while showcasing Portage County’s rich natural heritage that we are working to conserve. In 2021, we challenge you to complete either 30 hikes or 30 miles in our parks to celebrate our 30th anniversary as...
Local Man Competes at National Level
Kent - Recently, Jack Edwards from Martial Arts Ohio competed in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Masters competition in Orlando, Florida. Edwards explained that despite many setbacks that could have easily derailed his plans, he persevered, and it made all the difference. He came to jiu-jitsu as an adult, setting aside the fear of trying something new or...
Hiram Township Trustee News
Hiram Twp. - At a recent meeting, it was determined that Fiscal Officer Diane Rodhe would submit proof of purchase for safety uniforms, road safety signs, fire safety equipment, and registration fees for the OTA conference to the MORE Grant, which was due by the end of 2020. In other news, a copy of the State Employee Rights for...
Crestwood Distributes Food and Holiday Cheer
Mantua - A week or so before the final meal distribution before the Christmas, Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch, Director of Nutrition Services at the Crestwood Local School District had an idea. The Crestwood Local School District has provided over 300,000 meals since the pandemic began in March. And while local families have appreciated receiving breakfasts and lunches, she thought, after a...
Who Will Be The Villager of The Year?
The Weekly Villager, in conjunction with the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, is looking for “The Villager of The Year”. As we all dealt with the ever changing world of Covid in 2020, we saw the best (and sadly, sometimes worst) of people. Some just dealt with things, moved on and waited to see what was coming next, while...
Local Man Shares UFO Experience – Part II
You’ll recall from the first part of Joe’s story, which appeared in the December 25th issue, where he shared what he experienced one night on Shanks Downes Road on his way home from work. You’ll remember that Joe set the phone aside, and didn’t think about them again until he sat down to remove old contacts and download photos...
Portage County DD Board Honors Hattie Larlham Employee with Community Service Award
Mantua – Hattie Larlham employee Maggie Wooten has been selected as a recipient of the Earl and Mary Lohr Community Service Award presented by the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This award recognizes high-performing professionals and engaged citizens in the developmental disabilities services field. Award recipients have a known reputation for providing exemplary advocacy, services or supports to individuals...
