Local Seamstress Uses Gift to Help Others
When Covid-19 became big news, local seamstress Debbie Chanson became aware that hospitals needed masks by a request made on Facebook. She reached out and was provided with a pattern and began making masks at no charge for EMS, Firefighters, Doctors, and Medical staff. Since that time, Debbie Chanson has made over 750 masks, with the goal of making...
Crestwood To Honor Graduates at Midway Drive-In
Mantua - Recently Dave McMahon, Principal of Crestwood High School, shared details on the graduation plans for the class of 2020. He noted that based on guidelines released on April 29th by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Board of Health, schools are not permitted to conduct face-to-face graduations at any time this summer. He noted that Crestwood is working...
May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Ravenna – Portage County Safe Communities, a program of Portage County Health District, reminds all vehicle drivers and all motorcycle riders to “share the road.” Motorcycle crashes involving another motor vehicle continue accounting for nearly half of all motorcyclist fatalities in the United States. Motorcyclists are inherently at more risk than motor vehicles - lacking many of the same safety...
Windham Village Council News
Windham - Windham Village Council held their most recent meeting using Zoom. The meeting got off to a rocky start as there were a few problems with the link to Zoom. After getting all the technical bugs worked out, it was business as usual. The meeting was called to order with all council members, mayor, fiscal officer, and the village...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram zoomed into action online with the usual suspects in attendance electronically. Items under discussion included the following : The status of the summer Snack Pack program remains in flux but G-H Rotary will still be involved. Grant applications for the district are in the process of being updated. This coming year’s budget is being adjusted...
Hiram College announces enhanced services, changes to summer and fall semesters
Hiram - With physical distancing recommendations likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, Hiram College is leveraging its small size and low-density environs to make real-time and future-focused decisions. To promote the health and well-being of its students, as well as the success of the institution, the College is pleased to announce many changes beginning summer 2020....
Woodcarver Donates Custom Furnishings to St. Ambrose Church
Garrettsville - Back in the days of Moses, God called upon master craftsmen and woodworkers to dedicate their giftedness for His purposes and the greater good. From the ancient tabernacle to the Ark of the Covenant and all the tabernacle’s furnishings, every detail was carried out by the craftsmen God appointed for the task. Today, skilled craftsmen still hear...
JAG To Celebrate Seniors During The Month Of May
Garrettsville - The JAG Graduation Committee has put plans in place to celebrate the Class of 2020 beginning this week and culminating with a special graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 31st at 2pm. Starting this week, Garfield teachers will be delivering yard signs to every senior’s yard. Parents are encouraged to take pictures of thier kids next to the...
Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market Changes Look for Safety
South Russell – Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market will have a new look when it opens for its 18th Season on May 9, the Saturday before Mother’s Day. In keeping with tradition, the market will have a free plant for mothers who attend on Opening Day. However, visitors can expect many changes this year, as the market responds to the...
United Way of Portage County Awards Grant to Kent State University Design Innovation
United Way of Portage County (UWPC) has recently began accepting applications to address emerging needs of organizations in the community due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant provides funds for non-profit programs and public school districts, making sure they have supplies needed to support the overwhelming need in our community. Kent State’s Design Innovation is responding to...
Windham School Board News
Windham - Due to technical difficulties I was unable to log in and attend the virtual Board of Education (BOE) meeting, however through email the superintendent brought me up to speed on what I missed and also answered some questions I had about how the district is running on the COVID -19 Protocol. The board passed a resolution on COVID-19....
9-Year Old Donates to United Way of Portage County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
Ravenna – Provision Honey, a charitable project led by 9-year old, Isaac Waldeck, made a $850 donation to the United Way of Portage County (UWPC) COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The donation was generated from the sales of the local, Midwest honey. Isaac launched Provision Honey this past Thanksgiving with the goal of raising money for charities targeted toward those...
Crestwood High School Yearbook in Search of “School from Home” Submissions
The Crestwood High School Yearbook staff is working hard to complete the yearbook during the COVID19 crisis. The end of a school year is typically a busy time for the staff, but especially this year when students are not able to go to school. The staff came up with a way to document this difficult time in the yearbook...
County Officials Provide Covid-19 Update
Last Thursday, local media were invited to attend a conference call led by Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde. The call included Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio and other County stakeholders and provided insight about the status of the County’s response to Covid-19. According to Diorio, County his staff has been working tirelessly during this global health crisis. He noted...
Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard Continues To Fill Area Need
The Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard is thankful for the monetary support and food donations we have been receiving. Your support has allowed us to make a tremendous impact in the JAG community. Working with the Akron Canton Foodbank and local retailers, we have been able to stretch these funds -- every $5 donation we receive pays for 20 meals...
Garrettsville Family YMCA Offers Child Care For Area Essential Employees
Garettsville - The Garrettsville Family YMCA was granted a special pandemic day care operating license and has been able to operate their childcare service for the essential employees in our area. This has provided much needed relief for many parents who are unable to perform their jobs from home. “We are delighted to provide this service to essential employees,” said...
Vacant Building Gets New Life in Mantua
Mantua - If you’ve been in the Village of Mantua recently, you’ve noticed that a variety of projects have been steadily progressing in spite of Covid-19. Those who were saddened at the closure of the Chase Bank branch last May will be pleased that the old space is being renovated for new life. According to Mantua Village Mayor Linda Clark,...
Preserving Geauga County Farmland for Generations to Come – Application Deadline Extended!
The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) provides funding to assist landowners in preserving farmland. The program purchases agricultural easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in agricultural production in perpetuity. The Geauga County Board of County Commissioners, with assistance from Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), is a Certified Local Sponsor to administer...
2020 OX Roast Fair Cancelled
Mantua - On April 16th, Fr. Ed Stafford, pastor of St. Joseph Church, issued a letter announcing the cancellation of the Ox Roast Fair for 2020. These are not normal times, due to the global impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic, affecting the lives of all people throughout the world. There is so much uncertainty right now that it requires...
Local Families Support Area First Responders
Mike Zamecnik shared that he heard about a shortage of gloves in Portage County from the Ravenna Township Fire Chief and thought, “Let’s see if we can get some for our family.” He and his wife, June, have family members working at fire departments in Ravenna Township, Hiram, Mantua, and Stow, as well as at the Aurora and Mantua...
KSU BSN Graduate to Serve In NYC
Burton - Kent State University Geauga Campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program 2018 graduate Bailey Hill has been selected by The Cleveland Clinic as a nurse who will spend the next four weeks at New York Presbyterian Hospital—an area in the COVID hot zone with a shortage of nurses. When Bailey received an email from the Cleveland Clinic...
Annual student art show at Hiram College hosted virtually, winners announced
Hiram - Each spring, Hiram’s Art and Design program hosts a Juried Student Art Show in the Gelbke Fine Arts Center Gallery. With the rise of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the closure of many public spaces, this year’s show is presented through a virtual space, where visitors can explore the exhibition in full. Featuring the work of students...
Amish Genetic Disease Panel created by DDC Clinic can now test for 160 rare conditions
Middlefield - Dr. Heng Wang, a board certified pediatrician and the Medical Director of the DDC Clinic located in Middlefield, OH, announced today that their Amish Genetic Disease Panel will now test for 160 rare conditions. This important tool allows faster diagnosis of unidentified genetic conditions at a reduced cost. DDC Clinic delivers personalized and life-changing medical care to...
Mantua Gains Green Space
Mantua - Several months ago, Mantua native Broc Benner was having a drink with a friend in Garrettsville, and the topic of conversation turned to the green space that Garrettsville had created in the heart of downtown, in the spot made vacant by the fire of 2014. That conversation planted the seed for Benner to do something similar in the...
Windham Village Mayor’s Proclamation Invokes a Temporary Curfew
Windham - On April 13, 2020 in a council, all committees meeting held through Zoom, Windham Mayor Scott Garrett issued a Proclamation that sets a curfew for the village of Windham. The curfew is from 10 pm until 5am seven days a week and is effective April 14, 2020. According to Garrett, this is a “soft” curfew. This means that...
Maplewood Carpentry Students Work On Schoolhouse
During these difficult times, the Freedom Township Historical Society is thankful for those in the community who have helped us. FTHS is renovating a former one-room schoolhouse and church on S.R. 303 to use as a museum and community center. One of the priorities of our renovation is to restore handicapped access to the building, which had fallen into disrepair...
Students Can Apply Now for Pay it Flash Forward Emergency Funds
Kent - Even before the coronavirus crisis up-ended daily life, college students were already juggling critical demands on their time, careers and finances. Any interruption in their study-work-life balance could threaten their stability. COVID-19 has proven to be that sudden and severe disturbance and now scores of students are experiencing serious setbacks. Fortunately, Kent State University has established the...
GlueTread Innovates In the Midst of Covid-19
While people shelter at home and many businesses have shifted their workforce to their homes, local business GlueTread is quietly and efficiently shipping orders across the country. “GlueTread is a family-owned business that was quite literally started in our garage,” local entrepreneur Dave Auble shared. He explained that he and his family grew up riding ATV’s and enjoying the...
Friends of Melana 5K / 1 Mile Goes Virtual for 2020
The Friends of Melana Foundation was established in honor and memory of Melana Matson, a Garrettsville resident, who lost her battle with brain cancer in 2009 at the age of nine. The foundation holds 5K/1mile fundraisers for childhood cancer research each year during Garrettsville’s SummerFest. Because of the pandemic the foundation is holding a virtual race event this summer beginning ...
Adaptability Equals New Opportunities for Kneaded
Over Easter weekend one entrepreneur was thinking “outside the basket” on how to contribute positivity to the community while still selling her baked goods. Kimberly Nader was excited to host her pop-up shop in front of Immaculate Conception church this past Saturday on West Main street in Ravenna. So much so that she had been up since midnight designing...
