Islands of Flowers have Sprouted Around Town
Ravenna - Lilies and Pansy and Zinnias…Oh my! Or should I say Oh, May!? The month of May seems to be the season for Spring here in town as we see delightful colors adorning the sidewalks. But why have these small patches of earth recently become a feast for the eyes? It all started with a bet between two...
WATCH: Garfield High School’s 2020 Virtual Commencement
Congratulations to the James A. Garfield High School Class of 2020! Austin Evan ArmstrongMandolin Win Arnett £Austin Paul Babuka »Camron Ian Hobart BackEthan James BakerJoseph Ryan Ball *~Kaylie Elizabeth BatesAlyssa Rae BellHannah Elizabeth Bittence *§+Kannon Douglas BorrelliJesse Edward Bounds £Preston Allen Chase Brainard £Maya Nicole Brown ~Kage William Callahan ~Mason Michael Cebulla *§+Hannah Frances Chartier *~Madison Ann ClarkLucas Xavier ClemensTalon...
Cleveland Foundation Grant Ensures Promising Future for Rising Scholars
Silver spoon or plastic fork? Every child is born with certain economic advantages and disadvantages that shape their futures. The fledgling Rising Scholars program was initiated last year to level the playing field for at-risk Geauga County students who face uncertain outcomes after high school graduation. Thanks to a $14,079 grant from the Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, this...
Bibury & Company Opens in Mantua
Mantua - As the state loosens restrictions and businesses begin to open their doors, Bibury & Company, a new gift shop has joined the merchants in Mantua Village. Although Ann Ellis lives in Aurora, Mantua’s historic downtown drew her to the village. She noted that many towns try to recreate the historic look that has been preserved in the...
Windham Board of Education News
Windham - They did it! They graduated without the usual “Pomp and Circumstance”, the class of 2020 are now graduates of Windham High School. Windham High School seniors had a chance to experience graduation in a different way. Instead of the usual band, lots of family members and friends offering congratulatory hugs and hand-shakes, it was a quiet, intimate...
United Way Supports Windham Exempted Village Schools Food Pantry
Windham - Windham Exempted Village Schools received a $1,000 grant from United Way of Portage County (UWPC) to help with funding for the food pantry at the Junior-Senior High School that is provided for students and their families. There are multiple staff members and volunteers to help arrange pick-up and delivery for items. The families receive balanced meals, as...
Rise Up Ravenna Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!
Ravenna - This is an initiative that I am extremely passionate about and determined to have come to fruition...during this pandemic we all have been effected greatly. I have received many calls from business owners in tears who have been panicked and distressed, because they didn’t know how they were going to make ends meet. Quite a few of these businesses...
A Day To Remember
A Memorial Day unlike any in living memory. No parade, no marching band, no families waving from street corners and driveways and front porches, no speeches at the Veterans’ Memorial on Maple Ave. No listening crowds, no walkers to Park Cemetery, no trumpets echoing “Taps” from hidden locations. The unofficial opening event of the Summer revealed a world, a...
Local Pastor Gifted With Parade
Mantua - Pastor Chad Delaney from the Mantua Center Christian Church last held services in person on March 7th. But his work leading the small Disciples of Christ community of believers has been busier than ever, even during while many have been sheltering in place at home. During this trying time, Delaney has learned to work through pastoral care...
2020 Winter Writing Festival Winners Announced!
Ravenna - “I’m not sure who is teaching those ninth graders, but whoever it is, does a good job. Reading these five pieces, I felt inspired!” wrote David Dix, high school judge of the 2nd Annual Winter Writing Festival Student Writing competition held this spring as part of the 2nd Annual Winter Writing Festival festivities in downtown Ravenna on...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Crestwood Superintendent David Toth shared that at the start of that week, the district’s nutrition team had distributed 35,172 meals to local families. While the school year has progressed virtually, Toth noted that no new instruction will take place after May 22nd. He shared that each school will determine the review and practice...
Mantua Native To Compete On Season 2 of “The Titan Games”
NBC’s hit athletic competition series The Titan Games returns for its second season on Monday, May 25 with a two-hour episode at 8/7c. This season, the competition breaks down into three regional brackets: West, Central and East. Mantua, Ohio native, Andrew Hanus, will be competing for the East Region for his chance to compete on Mount Olympus in order to...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram met in the cloud on May 13, 2020 to discuss, among other things, returning to meeting Mondays at noon in Cal’s II, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville. Final word will be out ASAP, to coincide with general opening of restaurants. In other business : The co-operation with Toastmasters for instruction in public speaking for students is still...
Trail Lake Park Development
There’s a lot of excitement about the future Trail Lake Park on Ravenna Road! The Park District acquired the property on the southern boundary of Herrick Fen State Nature Preserve in Streetsboro thanks to two Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grants and a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, matched by in-kind contributions from the previous landowners. The park property...
Garrettsville Farmers’ Market Launches Produce Perks Nutrition Incentive Program
Fresh, healthy produce is now more affordable in Garrettsville for people shopping with SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps). Garrettsville Farmers’ Market is excited to announce the launch of the Produce Perks program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP customers to spend on fruits and vegetables. The program helps our community members using federal benefits stretch their grocery...
Freedom Township Announces Spring Clean Up Days
Freedom Township has announced the spring clean-up days for township residents will be held as follows: Thursday, June 11 • Noon to 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 12 • Noon to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13 • 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The drop off location will be the Township Garage on State Route 700 Proof of residency required NO TIRES will be accepted. NO Paint,...
Fire District Approves Chassis Swap on Ambulance
Windham - Windham Volunteer Fire District (WVFD) held a long discussion on what to do with ambulance 2812 at their most recent meeting. This ambulance has been a “problem child” since day one. The ambulance starts but doesn’t restart immediately if it’s turned off. After having it looked at, it was determined that the problem would be labor intensive...
Say What?!? Garrettsville Used to Hold Record for Largest Red Oak
Garrettsville - Most people who have grown up in the Garrettsville area know that the Lifesaver was invented here. We were known for producing the most maple syrup in the world and the great train robbery of 1935, but few people are aware that Garrettsville had the largest Red Oak tree in the World. Yes, the world! The tree was...
Garrettsville Delays Road Projects Out of Caution for Budget
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on May 13th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty, Tom Collins and John Chambers. The meeting and public hearing were held via Zoom (courtesy of the Villager) and live-streamed on Facebook due to...
Hiram Township Trustee News
Hiram Twp. - At a recent meeting, Fiscal Officer Diane Rodhe reported that she had met with Ohio Health Benefits to finalize the change from Anthem to United Health Care, which became effective on March 1st of this year. Next, the Hiram Fire Association notified township trustees that the HFA will be pleased to accept the 2020 NOPEC Event...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram met remotely on May 6, 2020 to discuss the following: What to do about Memorial Day observances is being considered by Council and others normally part of the activities, possibly including live streaming, volunteer musicians to perform “Taps” and a recording of the Garfield Pride playing the National Anthem; more news later. The Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard...
Windham Township Trustee News
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly-scheduled meeting with all pertinent parties in attendance. Guest Deborah Blewitt, administrator for Windham Village was there to ask the township if they could help pay a portion of the rent for the Windham branch of the Portage County District Library (PCDL) at the Renaissance Family Center (RFC). Currently, the village...
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Village Council approved legislation authorizing an increase of $30 for sewer rates (Ordinance 2020-15) and an increase of $20 for water rates (Ordinance 2020-16). According to Mayor Linda Clark, the increases will generate roughly $192,000 per year, and will give the village a better chance for grants for much-needed repairs to the water...
Garrettsville Farmers’ Market to open as scheduled!
That’s right! We will open our summer season as planned (with some small adjustments) on June 4, 2020! There is much info and many recommendations for COVID-19. Thankfully, farmers’ markets are able to operate under the essential category identified by Governor DeWine and we believe that with added precautions, new procedures and proactive steps to protect market customers,vendors and volunteers...
State Budget Cuts Impact J.A. Garfield
Garrettsville - On Tuesday, May 5, Governor DeWine announced significant cuts to public education due to a shortfall in tax collections due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This will certainly have a direct impact here at JAG. I wanted to communicate to our community the impact of these cuts as well as address other questions you may have. The cuts Governor...
Portage Libraries Plan Phased Reopening
Portage County District Library is beginning its phased reopening procedure. While it will be some time before we are able to operate in the way that our patrons are accustomed to, we are taking steps to make sure that when we do open our doors, we will be able to keep our communities and our staff safe. We are currently...
Relapse Concerns During Pandemic
The isolation and economic distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic are creating a ripple effect of mental health issues. For individuals fighting addiction, the social isolation and additional stressors may lead to relapse. “Almost all relapses occur when the person is unable to effectively cope with urges or cravings to use,” stated Townhall II Clinical Director Rob Young. “Experiencing stress,...
United Way of Portage County Awards Grant to Offer Dinner for Front-Line Workers
Ravenna –United Way of Portage County (UWPC) continues to support the needs our community during this health emergency. UWPC and The NEW Center team up to provide dinner for front-line workers in Portage County. The NEW Center at NEOMED was awarded $840 to feed dinner to University Hospital staff in Ravenna, as well as Rootstown’s Fire Department and EMT,...
Hiram College and Cuyahoga Community College form new pathway for honors students
Hiram College, in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), is pleased to announce a new articulation agreement that creates a seamless and sequential progression of academic courses from the associate level to the baccalaureate level for honors students.?? The pathway offers students direct acceptance into Hiram’s Eclectic Scholars program upon completion of the honors program at Tri-C with a cumulative...
