Estelle R Brown

Garrettsville - The holidays are prime time for devastation-turned-redemption dramas. For a real-time example, look no further than downtown Garrettsville and its restored historic district on Main Street. A little before-and-after reminder is in order, now that buildings are beautiful, lights are twinkling, and businesses are bustling. Just three short...

Garrettsville - Neighbors helping neighbors. That’s the basic premise that inspired local volunteers to establish the Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard (NGCC) more than three years ago, in a storage area behind Isaac Mills’ Bakery at Nelson Circle. Now the NGCC has outgrown its original home and has moved into a new...

Garrettsville - Jerry Kehoe Used Cars has stood in the heart of Garrettsville at the intersection of Main Street, North Street, Center Street, Windham Street and South Street for the past 34 years.  But the car dealership’s namesake quietly prepared for retirement by selling the business to Eric Hedge...

If you’ve been following this series of articles, you’ve learned about the purpose behind Disaster Preparedness Month, the increasing role of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) in preparedness and how it relates to the Affordable Health Care Act, and EMS milestones throughout history. This week, we’re looking deeper into the...

We know Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as the local firefighters, volunteer rescue personnel and regional ambulance transport services that respond to car accidents, at-home mishaps, heart attacks, strokes and other medical emergencies in public places. EMS   responds when we call 9-1-1, provides preliminary medical care while en route...

The fair isn’t just for kids! Linnette Patrick -- who happens to be the manager of South Wood Apartments and the wife of Garrettsville Mayor Rick Patrick -- swept the quilting category at the Portage County Randolph Fair last month.  Linnette brought four of her quilts to the show and...

Garrettsville - Whether you’re simply looking for a great deal, or you’re passionate about rescuing injured greyhound race dogs, you’ll want to attend Freeway’s Greyt Escape Benefit Yard Sale & Raffle at 10555 South Street, 9am-3pm, the weekend of September 19, 20 and 21. Organized by greyhound rescue advocate Diana...

Garrettsville - School districts throughout Ohio finally learned their scores for 2012-2013 according to the new state report cards last week. James A. Garfield School District -- which has achieved Excellent with Distinction for two of the past three years -- maintained high scores for 2012/13 by earning an...

I’m beginning to think that 40-something is the new 20-something. And no, it’s not because of medical miracles, cosmetic surgery or skin cream. Rather, it’s a strange convergence of rising college costs, a constricted job market and renewed outlooks as a result of the first two economic realities.  Middle age...

Garrettsville -  The (new) doctor will see you now. Timothy R. Neely, DO, established his family practice at 8:30am Thursday, August 1, 2013 at University Hospitals’ Garrettsville Family Medicine. Fresh from his residency at Summa Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Dr. Neely is seeing the former patients of Armelle...

Kent - Woodsy’s is a world of music for a world of musicians. Self-described as northeast Ohio’s largest independent, family-owned-and-operated music store, the business has been a fixture of downtown Kent for 41 years. Now, with its online sales, it’s a global phenomenon. President and owner Paul Braden says Woodsy’s...

Garrettsville - June 13, 2013 marked the beginning of a new era for James A. Garfield Schools. After 22 years under the leadership of Charles Klamer, the JAG Board of Education hired a new superintendent: Ted Lysiak of Garrettsville.  Lysiak was formerly Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Euclid Schools...

Garrettsville - Threatening skies forced commencement exercises at James A. Garfield High School to be held in the gymnasium rather than the football field on June 2. But nothing could squelch the magnitude of the moment for the JAG Class of 2013. The Class of 2013 exemplified its motto for...

The Image Consultants is a perfectly-named hair salon at 149 S. Water Street in historic downtown Kent. Owned and operated by Cheryl Germano-Smith, the salon sets itself apart by providing free customized consultations for every new client. People usually can’t answer the big question, which is, “What do you want...

Garrettsville - I was awakened this morning to the sounds of carriage wheels rolling along and the clip-clop of horses’ hooves as an Amish buggy passed by on the road in front of the house. As I rolled over for a few more zzz’s, I smiled to myself, thinking,...

Kent - You just don’t find places like this any more. Shops like Sue Nelson Designs, Ltd. in historic downtown Kent died off when big box hardware stores replaced family-owned interior design sales and services. But Sue Nelson has kept her shop alive at 156 South Water Street for nearly...

Garrettsville - On May 2, 1993, Garrettsville’s newest attraction -- the Main Street boardwalk -- was dedicated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Later described as “a wooden walkway to nowhere in particular except delight” in Ohio Magazine, the boardwalk held a promise of downtown revitalization and increased tourism for this...

Garrettsville - Don’t get caught with your head in the sand. Parents have often been accused of being out of touch or naive when it comes to their children’s (mis)behavior. Here’s your chance to either redeem yourself or to get a rude awakening. Looks can be deceiving. Don’t be fooled....

Garrettsville -  Bill Butto and his father-in-law, Pete VanPelt, shared a dream for 20 years. Precision surface grinders by trade, they worked together at a shop in Streetsboro. But they always talked about going into business together and being their own boss. The only thing keeping them from pursuing...

Garrettsville - On March 22, James A. Garfield School District Superintendent Charles C. Klamer submitted his letter of resignation to school board president Guy Pietra. The school board is expected to accept Klamer’s resignation officially at its next regular meeting on April 11. When his resignation goes into effect...

Garrettsville  - Despite the obstinance of Old Man Winter, signs of Spring are adding up, from the blooming crocuses to the melodic calls of morning songbirds. There’s even a eye-catching red tractor in front of the old Paul’s Lumber building… and a new sign over the door which indicates...

I like the way the pages feel and sound when you turn them and the way some books smell warm from decades of paper decay beneath the whorls imprinted from generations of turning, penciled notes in the margin small and fading. (Robert Andropolis) Depending on how old you are, this...

Portage County - What if a violent intruder showed up at your workplace or school, intent on shooting to kill? What would you do? In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst...

“Wherever there is change and uncertainty lies opportunity, if you’re willing to take risks.” -Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks Undoubtedly, for newspapers to survive in this new environment of 24/7 digital information streams, they need to be nimble, flexible, experimental and bold. Ultimately, the newspaper of the future may bear little resemblance to the newsprint you now hold in your hands. Newspapers have already become hybrids: part-print and part-internet. Eventually, they seem destined to become internet-only manifestations. Meanwhile, the transition from the printed page to its next embodiment is challenging, both for the newspaper industry and for its consumers.

Troy  - Welshfield Inn is a historic landmark, familiar to anyone who lives in the Portage/Geauga County area. It’s been an elegant family dining destination for generations, first established in 1842 as the Nash Hotel. But if you haven’t been paying close attention, you may have missed the fact...

Garrettsville  - If you’re looking for comfort food, it’s time to come home to The Pasta House. This Italian restaurant is downtown’s newest addition at 8126 Main Street, owned and operated by Sherry Quiggle and her son, Jeremy. If these names sound familiar, they should. Jeremy took ownership of Italian...

Ravenna - Some people started preparing for the Christmas holidays as early as Halloween. Others got a start on their shopping by Thanksgiving or Black Friday. But even these early birds were put to shame by a group of young kids known as the Chesty Pullers Young Marines. Back...

On January 2, the long holiday season was freshly behind us and it was time to get back into a normal routine. My FaceBook feed was full of glossy and hopeful well wishes for the new year... until I landed on this one from an old pal from high...

Garrettsville -  The James A. Garfield School District has once again distinguished itself with highest honors. It earned the Excellent with Distinction (A+) status on statewide district report cards for the 2011-2012 academic year. JAG was one of only four among Portage County’s 11 school districts to achieve such a...

Garrettsville - It was cold, damp and grey outside Garrettsville’s IGA grocery store on Saturday morning, October 20. But Joe Leonard’s bright red antique firetruck with Santa on board drew curiosity seekers to the “Fill The Fire Truck Food Drive” and resulted in four truckfulls of food donations for...