Benjamin Coll

This year the hanging baskets will be themed in pink in honor of long time member Faye Carlisle who passed away last December. Hanging baskets are planned to appear along State Routes 88 & 82, and at $55 to $75 per basket, expenses can add up quickly. Anyone interested in contributing to the flower basket fund can make a tax deductible donation by sending their contibution to the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce (Post Office Box 1, Garrettsville, OH 44231). Please be sure write “Flower Baskets” in the memo line of your check.

The Garrettsville Area Chamber held their first meeting of 2015 in February at Facet Salon and Day Spa.  After a review of the board minutes and finances the following information was shared. GarrettsvilleStrong Status Report As of February 6th, the Chamber's #GarrettsvilleStrong fund has raised just over $87,114 for rebuilding efforts! ...

2014 was an interesting year for the Village of Garrettsville and our member businesses. On March 22nd our historic Main Street business district experienced a devastating fire that reduced over 150 years of history to rubble in what felt like mere moments. In the wake of the disaster, our community and supporters from across the globe united to help raise funds to aide in rebuilding Main Street through the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce’s #GarrettsvilleStrong fund; and get business owners back on their feet through the People Tree & Garrettsville United Methodist Church’s joint efforts.

Garrettsville - On Saturday, October 11th the Daisies of Girl Scout Troop 90206 learned valuable lessons in community service, fundraising, and salesmanship by selling pumpkins which were donated by J.A. Garfield alum Dennis Pochedly. The girls, and their parents, raised $556 for the #GarrettsvilleStrong fund in only five hours! The...

On Wednesday, October 1st, Rich Hoffman from Sky Plaza IGA presented the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard with $500 worth of IGA Gift Cards to help those in need this holiday season. In addition, IGA also presented the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce with a donation of $312.50 for #GarrettsvilleStrong which was raised by the IGA bottled water fundraiser they held this summer.

For the remainder of the meeting the trustees heard commentary in support of the the Quarry Park’s concerts, as well as several complaints about them. Ultimately Meduri suggested that the trustees put together a list of changes they would like to see from the Quarry Park, and submit them to the owner’s legal counsel; a suggestion that most of the trustees seemed to agree with.

Saturday, October 25, 2014 attendees will pack Sugar Bush Golf Club located just outside village limits on State Route 88. The doors will open at 6 pm, with a catered dinner served at 7 pm. Tickets for the event are $30 each, $60 a couple, and $200 for a table of eight. Tickets must be purchased early, as the event usually sells out quickly. Tickets are available at Huntington Bank, Middlefield Bank, Dairy Queen, Skylanes Bowling, Ellerhorst Russell Insurance or by calling 330 527-2463.

Representing the Garfield Inspectors are: Ted “Leapin’” Lysiak (Garfield Superintendent), “Big Jim” Pfleger (Garfield Athletic Director), “Techno” Tom Bartz (GHS/GMS Technology), Josh "Calculating” Camuso (GHS Math), Mike “Proton” Paes (GMS Science), Steve Zivoder (Class of 2009), Toby Gerez (Class of 2008), Marcus Roach (Class of 2002), Jon Daley (Class of 2007), Cody Berg (Class of 2012), CJ Carlise (Class of 2009), Ben Goodknight (Class of 2009)

Nelson Twp. – Residents gathered at the Nelson Community House on Wednesday, September 17th for the second trustee meeting of the month. All trustees and officials were present and accounted for. Dave Finney presented the board of trustees with the minutes from the previous meeting; the minutes were approved as...

Advance tickets go on sale Monday, August 18th and may be purchased online at garrettsvillearea.com/tix or at one of many area businesses including: The Villager (8088 Main St); Charles Auto Family (10851 North St); Miller’s Family Restaurant (8045 State St); Garrettsville DQ Grill & Chill (8013 State St); and the James A Garfield School offices when school returns.

Fiscal Officer David Finney provided the trustees with suggested supplemental appropriations to the Township budget that will free up $85,000 for use on the chip & seal project. By dropping part 5 from the project, only $84,576.20 would be needed for chip & seal work on Township roads. The trustees also voted to award Hughes Contracting the contract for parts 1 through 4.

Nelson Trustees meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the Community House. Meetings are open to the public and residents are encourage to attend.

Non-violent inmates from the Portage County Jail worked alongside township employees, and a PlayWorld Systems specialist to erect the township’s playground equipment at Pixley Park on June 19th. The playground is expected to be ready for use by the second week of July.

Almost three months after the fire that devastated a portion of downtown Garrettsville, the charred remains of what once was, have been removed. Fill dirt and fencing, banners displaying support and hope now line a portion of Main Street. As the cleanup process was taking place, the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors have been working to establish guidelines on how the monies raised and held in the GarrettsvilleStrong fund will be distributed.

Nelson Twp – Officials present at the June 4th, 2014 trustee meeting were fiscal officer J. David Finney and township trustees Joe Leonard, Mike Elias, and Tom Matota. Also present were, Roads Supervisor Chuck Vanek, Zoning Inspector Anna Mae VanDerHoeven, and Community House Caretaker Michelle Cmunt. Dave Freiss, chief of...

Garrettsville - On June 4th the Garrettsville Area Chamber held their annual Scholarship Luncheon at Cal’s Restaurant.  Each year the Chamber awards three scholarships to graduating Garfield High School seniors. Pictured above are the 2014 recipients of the scholarships.  Amber Wenger (right) will be attending Kent State University to study...

Nelson Twp – Officials present at the May 21, 2014 trustee meeting were fiscal officer J. David Finney and township trustees Joe Leonard, Mike Elias, and Tom Matota. Also present were, Roads Supervisor Chuck Vanek, Zoning Inspector Anna Mae VanDerHoeven. After the meeting was called to order, Finney asked the...

Garrettsville - Garrettsville United Methodist Church is launching a new outreach mission this summer. 'Camp Read-a-Lot' will be held Wednesdays, June 25, July 2, July 9, and July 16 from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM; lunch will be served from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. The ages for the...

Garrettsville – At Wednesday’s meeting of the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors provided a fund status report for the fund. Erika Frankel, Treasurer, announced that as of May 6, 2014 the GarrettsvilleStrong fund stood at $46,370. This number reflected the total amount deposited as of...

Garrettsville – Last December the James A. Garfield Local School District was awarded a $5 Million State of Ohio Straight A Fund Grant. The funds from this grant have been used to create a “Campus of Excellence” our community can be proud of for generations to come enhancing education...

Garrettsville - For over twenty years, husband & wife team Nelson and Judy Bisard have owned and operated one of the area’s premier destinations for antiquities and collectible items. Their multi-dealer shop, Waterfall Antiques & Collectibles, carries a general line of antiques and collectibles, including furniture, accessories, glassware, pottery,...

Garrettsville – Gym Teacher Mark Rado and his students expressed their appreciation to the James A. Garfield PTO, which recently donated a rock-climbing wall to the Elementary School for use during gym classes. Spanning the width the gymnasium, this multicolored climbing wall will provide Garfield students fun new opportunities...

Nelson Twp – Officials present at the April 16, 2014 trustee meeting were fiscal officer J. David Finney and township trustees Joe Leonard, Mike Elias, and Tom Matota. Also present were Roads Supervisor Chuck Vanek, Zoning Inspector Anna Mae VanDerHoeven, and Community House Caretaker Michelle Cmunt. After the meeting was...

Garrettsville - If you weren’t at Iva L. Walker Auditorium on Friday, you missed one amazing benefit show produced by PMG Chocolatier. Between the tickets for the show, a 50/50 raffle, and the 94 gift baskets raffled during the show, over $6,400 was raised for the #GarrettsvilleStrong fund.  Thank you...

Garrettsville - On Monday night over sixteen concerned Portage County residents gathered for the first of many community meetings with the Portage County Drug Task Force. Led by Village Councilwoman Becky Harrington the meeting was a “barebones” version of the presentation delivered at a special meeting in Nelson Township...

Garrettsville - Main Street Grille & Brewing Company’s Brewmaster Mike Mallone (left), and Head Brewer Brian Koptis (right) are brewing a special GarrettsvilleStrong Pilsner. The beer goes on sale April 26th at $5 glass. 100% of proceeds benefit the GarrettsvilleStrong fund established to aid reconstruction of the block of...