Stacy Turner

Mantua - At their last meeting, Superintendent David Toth showed a plexi-glass tri-fold, sharing that every student and teacher desk within the district would be equipped with one at the start of school. In addition, thanks to hard work by teachers and custodians, every classroom has been set up...

Mantua - The waiting is over -- Forage + Feather Artisan Marketplace opened it’s doors on Wednesday, August 12th at the historic Mantua Grain building (4690 East Prospect). “We are SO EXCITED to open!” marveled shop co-owner Hedy Laverdiere. The shop features natural bath and body products from Laverdiere’s 3...

Each year, local quilter Nora Brant has created a beautiful quilt in honor of her daughter, Meghan, who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 26. Each year, that gorgeous creation is raffled off, with proceeds used to increase awareness, fund education and ovarian cancer research, and...

Garrettsville - Ty’Shaun Caples and his sisters live with their grandmother in Windham. Two years ago, when his grandmother suffered a heart attack, then 16-year-old Ty’Shaun wanted to get a summer job to help support his family. At an event at Windham High School, where he was a student,...

If you’ve driven through Mantua, you’ve no doubt seen the colorful mural taking shape in the heart of the historic village this summer. On a gorgeous evening last weekend, the mural completion was officially celebrated by a socially distant gathering of some of those who helped make it possible. “It’s...

Mantua - The Village of Mantua is experiencing resurgence as storefronts are renovated and new tenants bring their wares and new life to the historic small town. Soon, another new shop will hang a shingle, offering yet another option in shopping local, in a natural new way.Forage + Feather:...

Hiram - Racial unrest has erupted in cities large and small across the country, and even rural Ohio is feeling the pressure. Good police officers of every race have been called into question due to the terrible actions of a few individuals. “2020 has been a rough year for...

Mantua - Back in 2018, three couples shared the idea that coffee could connect a community. That shared vision was realized in the Restoration 44 Coffee Company (R44), where friends and families routinely gather. R44 is a partnership between three couples: locals Jamie and Carrie Leister and Dan and...

Mantua - At the last board meeting, Superintendent David Toth asked the board to consider approving placing a request for new revenue on the November 3rd ballot. He reiterated that such a measure was necessary in order to provide the same services and programs to students in light of...

Garrettsville - As you have certainly noticed by now, Responsible RestartOhio — The state’s plan to restart Ohio’s economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — looks much different than returning to ‘normal.’ Our concept of standard operations is being reshaped according to the demands of an infectious disease. Instead...

Mantua - Holly Michelson saw the work that Broc Benner was doing to transform what some referred to as “the hole” in the heart of Mantua. As he shared his vision of transforming the spot into a green space to connect community in the village, Michelson commented that the...

Mantua - As this unusual school year draws to a close, Crestwood Schools commemorated their graduates in an unusual manner. Driving by Crestwood High School, you’ll notice school buses parked in the front parking lot. From ground level, you may not notice, but seen from above, thanks to aerial...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...