Benjamin Coll
Ben is the co-owner and editor of The Weekly Villager and actively guides the James A. Garfield Local School District's student media programs. He oversees GGtv broadcasting, the High School yearbook, and Podcasting initiatives, fostering student creativity for the JAG community. In Garrettsville, he serves as vice president of the Garrettsville Area Chamber, vice president of the Garrettsville Board of Public Affairs, and contributes as a board member for the Nelson Garrettsville Community cupboard,
Nelson Township Trustee News
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.
Biennial Masquerade Ball to be a Frighteningly Good Time
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.
Superintendent Ted Lysiak to Join Garfield Inspectors As They Take On...
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 Township Trustee News
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...
Biennial Masquerade Ball to be a Frighteningly Good Time
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Masquerade Scholarship Ball returns this year and promises another evening of spooky fun for a great cause.
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...
The Harlem Ambassadors to Challenge the Garrettsville Inspectors in October: Tickets...
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.
News from Nelson Township
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 Township Trustee News
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.
Nelson Township Trustee News
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.
Disbursement Guidelines Established for GarrettsvilleStrong Fund
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 Township Trustee News
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 Area Chamber Scholarship Winners
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 Township Trustee News
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...
Think Local: UMC’s “Camp Read-a-Lot” to Boost Literacy Skills This Summer
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...
GarrettsvilleStrong Fund Status Announced
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...
A Look at the Upcoming Campus of Excellence
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...
Think Local: Waterfall Antiques & Collectibles
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,...
Elementary Students Thank Garfield PTO
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 Township Trustee News
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...
All Star Showcase Simply Amazing!
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...
The Numbers Don’t Lie
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...
Nelson Township Trustee News
Nelson Twp – Officials present at the April 2, 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.
As the first order...
Cut & Pedi-thon Raises Funds For Rebuilding Garrettsville
Rachel King and her team of stylists at Facet Salon & Day Spa held a “Cut & Pedi – thon” last Saturday to raise money to help rebuild Garrettsville’s historic district. The salon was thrilled to announce that they had exceeded their goal of $1,000, and would be donating...
Brewing For The Future
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...
#GarrettsvilleStrong
Garrettsville - On behalf of the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce members, we are all incredibly proud of the tenacity and resilience of our community. An enormous THANK YOU to ALL of the emergency personnel who responded to this past weekend’s fire.
The outpouring support from local residents, and the...
Nelson Township Trustee News
Nelson Twp – Officials present at the March 19th, 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.
Finney made copies of...
Garrettsville Cinema OPEN!
Garrettsville - After months of intensive refurbishments and upgrades, the new owners of Garrettsville Cinema, Justin & Desiree Dlugokecki, held a weekend-long Grand Re-Opening celebration at their cinema. The owners were joined Saturday afternoon by Garrettsville Village Mayor Rick Patrick and Chamber of Commerce President Benjamin Coll for a...
Another Exciting Year of St. Patrick’s Day Fun
Garrettsville - Mother Nature (finally) loosened her wintery grip on the area this week allowing people to enjoy a wee bit of Irish fun in Garrettsville.
Many came out to partake in the fun which included traditional Irish fare, leprechauns, shopping and a variety of enjoyable family-friendly entertainment.
Thank you...
Internet Service A Hot Topic At Nelson Township Meeting
Nelson Twp – Officials present at the March 5th, 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.
As the first order...
