Stacy Turner

Portage County - The 2014 Northeast Ohio Envirothon is an outdoor academic competition that provides area high schoolers with a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about environmental conservation and sustainability. The event features an “ecostation” format, where students travel to five outdoor stations to answer questions from the content...

It seems that most everyone is Irish, at least on Saint Patrick’s Day. And although my family is truly Irish (just ask Grandma Flanagan!), we haven’t inherited a love of many of the Irish foods typically served this time of year. Sorry, Grandma, but cooked cabbage has been pretty...

Mantua - At Power of the Pen competitions across Ohio, students are given a topic sentence or ‘prompt’ on the spot and have 40 minutes to write a complete short story. While the exact prompts are confidential, coach Marphy shared, “In one round, students were given the topic sentence,...

“Maple syrup is a unique product made in a limited part of the world, and Ohio is fortunate to be located in the heart of it,” explained Nate Bissell, owner of Bissell Maple Farm and board member of the Ohio Maple Producers Association. Bissell and his colleagues at the...

Mantua Twp. - At a recent meeting of the Mantua Township Trustees, the trustees approved a resolution to certify their jurisdiction of 37.09 miles of township roads. In similar news, they have also approved a list of zoning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in response to the increase in questions...

Mantua - Last week, students at Crestwood Primary School were on their feet, clapping wildly as their school gymnasium was filled with music and dance. Was it simply a cure for cabin fever, or the result of far too many recess periods spent indoors?  It was all that, and...

Mantua - Several months ago, K & K Meat Shoppe owner and proprietor Dennis Kolar, Sr. wanted to retire. So he handed over the reigns, and the 12-year-old Mantua Village landmark business, to new owners, and began life as a retiree. But after a few months in a new...

Garrettsville - As last week’s warmer weather brought melting snow and renewed our hope of spring, it also brought forth a group of Girl Scouts on a field trip to the Weekly Villager office in Garrettsville. The group of Juniors from troop 732 and Brownies from troop 835 came...

Mantua -  The Mouse and the Motorcycle  came to life at Crestwood Primary School last week, as Principal Cindy Ducca appeared, dressed as a mouse at her school’s “One Book, One School” assembly. According to Mrs. Ducca, her attire was a reward to her students, who exceeded their goal...

As we enjoy the competition and exhilaration of the Winter Olympics, cheering on the talented men and women of our US Olympic team, it’s hard to imagine that things haven’t always been so equal for male and female athletes. For example, after the 1964 Olympics, swimmer Donna de Varona,...

Recently, I heard an interview with a writer in Nebraska, who compared this winter’s polar vortex conditions to the ninth circle of hell mentioned in Dante’s “Inferno”. That reference brought to mind a quote by writer Oscar Wilde, who said, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.”...

Mantua -  In his report to the School Board, Superintendent David Toth shared that first grade teacher Natalie Harr was one of only two Ohio educators to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science this year. Harr will receive a $10,000 award from the National Science...

This week’s installment is a little light on recipes, and heavy on the rambling part. But I’ve got a very good reason. Because this Saturday, February 15th, the nice folks at the Burton Chamber of Commerce will be holding their annual Tree Tapping Ceremony. This event signifies the official...

Mantua Twp. - At the last meeting to discuss prospective plans for the Mantua Center School/Administration Building, over 60 residents braved the blustery weather to find out the results of community feedback regarding the historic township structure. Todd Peetz, from Portage County Regional Planning Commission again led the meeting. According...

Hiram Twp - After Steve Pancost, Chairman of the Township Trustees called the meeting to order, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Kozak presented his monthly report, sharing that, fortunately, January’s calls were, “kind of low.” Kozak reported 32 total calls within the village and college, with a total of 14...

Hiram - Recently, on a brisk winter afternoon, Hiram College unveiled the Homefront Education Ready Op (HERO) Program at the Freedom Center; the first on-campus housing dedicated to veterans in the Midwest. Hiram College President Thomas Chema acknowledged, "We, as a country, are so fortunate to have these dedicated...

If you’re feeling the effects of the ice and snow of an unusually cold Northern Ohio Winter, you’re not alone. And now that all the major holidays, including Groundhogs’ Day are over, you can spend a little extra time pampering yourself. There’s no time like the present to give...

Hiram - At the start of the meeting, Mayor Lou Bertrand called for nominations for an appointment to fill Alan Donley’s seat on Village Council. Mr. Donley gave up his seat in December 2013. Council approved the nomination of Mr. Tom Wadkins to fulfill the remainder of Mr. Donley’s...

At the first regularly scheduled meeting in 2014, the Village Council approved appointment of Paul Janson as 2014 President of Council. In addition, Mr. Janson was appointed to the Finance Committee along with Ben Prescott and John Clark. Martin Hura was named the alternate member to the Finance Committee....

Mantua - When Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation  (DMRC) member Mary Hannah saw the vacant storefront on Prospect Street in the Village, she came up with a plan to revitalize a little portion of the Village she loves so much. She also thought it could be a great venue to...

Mantua Township - At the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Mantua Township Trustees, Trustees Victor Grimm and John Festa were in attendance. Mr. Festa noted that the Township’s inventory has been completed and turned in to Fiscal Officer Marie Stehli. Mr. Grimm noted that a draft document of...

Recently, news has surfaced that a Sunoco high-compression ethane pipeline will be built in southern Portage County. The pipeline will stretch from northeast Ohio to Ontario, carrying the gas from extraction sites to processing facilities in Michigan and Canada. Proponents of the pipeline argue that the natural gas extracted...

Mantua - At the School Board Organizational meeting on January 6th, new School Board members David Becker and Todd Monroe took the oath of office. Once they took their seats, the Board held an election to fill the office of board president and vice president. Matt Sorrick was elected...

Hiram Twp. - The township has received a copy of a suit filed in December by the Pinter family against Clarence Moore, the owner of Far View Airport, a privately owned airstrip in Hiram. The issue was initially brought to the attention of Township Trustees in February of last...

The start of the New Year is a great motivation to make small changes to help make life run a little smoother. Since everyone must eat, one easy change to incorporate is in the area of meal preparation. This is where a little pre-planning can make your life a...

Mantua - Principal Arden Sommers is pretty proud of “his kids” at Crestwood High School.  At a recent visit to the school, Sommers proudly shared their stories, as he discussed a program called the Junior/Senior Seminar. The class, which is an elective, and therefore, not a requirement for graduation,...

This time of year, Santa isn’t the only one who’s making lists and checking them twice. If you enjoy giving handmade gifts, here are some simple spice mixes that are sure to appeal to the foodies on your list. Individually, they make great stocking stuffers. Package them together with...

Mantua - The Eighth Grade Crestwood Middle School Pre-Engineering Academy, under the direction of instructor Ed Judd, have the opportunity not only to learn valuable engineering skills, but to how to accurately present their ideas to potential clients. According to Judd, the Acedemy took root when Crestwood Middle School...

We’ve all heard that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Well on Tuesday, December 10th, that old adage will be updated to include paper clips, dryer sheets, and lots of other seemingly harmless household items. That evening, the Mantua Police Department will host a traveling exhibit entitled...

Mantua - For the first time ever, the Rotary Club of Mantua is hosting its Christmas Tour of Homes during the first two weekends in December.  While usually held in November, this year’s December tour of homes will help you get into the holiday spirit, giving you ideas for...