Staff Reporter

Portage County - You may not realize it, but you are surrounded by real heroes every day... ordinary people who react quickly, courageously and selflessly during emergencies. The American Red Cross of Summit and Portage Counties takes time each year to honor the Real Heroes of Portage County, shining...

Huntsburg – Right on the outskirts of Middlefield, right off of Burton-Windsor Road and Clay Street is a most unique shopping experience.  Yoder’s Coleman is located at 15890 Durkee Road in Huntsburg.  Their phone number is 440-636-6224.  Their normal business hours are Monday through Saturday from 8 am until...

Middlefield - On February 26 the Middlefield Police Department and CWE Championship Wrestling Experience teamed up for fun filled night of “High Flying”, “Hard Knocks” and “Total Excitement”. The wrestling event was a fund raiser for the Middlefield Police Department’s “Shop with a Cop” program. CWE promoter  Kyle Terreri...

Garrettsville - The Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Joint Fire District is proud to place in service a new 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1-ton truck, which will be used as a brush truck (replacing a 1963 model). This truck was purchased due to the department being awarded a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant in...

Garrettsville – Village Council met on Wednesday March 10 for their monthly meeting.  The minutes of February’s meeting were approved without correction.  The Mayor reported that the equipment for the new canine police vehicle has arrived, but the vehicle will not be here until the end of April to...

Windham - The Windham Volunteer Fire Department (W.V.F.D) Joint Fire District board met for their regularly-scheduled meeting with four of the five board members. The board’s first action was to approve the fiscal report and expenditures. After a month of research and review, the board has approved the purchase...

Windham - The Windham Historical Society continues their busy 2011 schedule on Monday, March 21, at 7 PM in the Brick Chapel on North Main Street in Windham. The program for this meeting will be presentations by two Windham High School seniors, Jeremy Isler and Jarrod Davis, as the final...

Newton Falls - Newton Falls 4th of July Festivities Committee is in the final planning stage.  We are so excited this year because it is our 25th Annual Car Show. That’s right. Can you believe 25 years?  We are going to start this year’s car show with a Street...

Summerfest Wedding Deadline April 29 The Summerfest committee is accepting entries for couples who would like to get married or renew their vows at Summerfest 2011. Send your story on why you would like to be Summerfest’s First Couple to: Summerfest’s First Couple, c/o Weekly Villager, PO Box 331, Garrettsville, OH...

Columbus - On Saturday, March 5th the Garfield and Crestwood boy’s bowling teams competed in the State Championships at Wayne Webb’sColumbus Bowl.  It was the first trip to State for both teams. The G-Men got off to a great start in game one, led by Kyle Bolton’s 258 and Cody...

Portage County - On March 12, the Portage County Chapter of the American Red Cross honored some real heroes for life saving acts of courage.  More than 200 people gathered at the Bertram Inn in Aurora for this event.  Both civilian and professional emergency responders from throughout the county...

Garrettsville - Where can you start in the morning and celebrate all day? Garrettsville of course! Head on down to Garrettsville for a mile and a half of food, fun, entertainment and more this St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17th. It’s no blarney, grab your friends and neighbors, head...

Garrettsville - The James A. Garfield Historical Society trudges past boring stuff like maintenance and repair concerns and into the future with plans for a festivity on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, possibly tying in with the local green-tinged activities by offering Irish genealogy searches for any suspected Hibernians...

Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly-scheduled meeting last week with all trustees and the fiscal officer present. Trustee Dann Timmons announced that the NOPEC Grant has been approved and the first payment should be received soon. New lighting on “the Green” will be the first...

Ravenna - Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson has agreed to give a presentation in Portage County on March 18th, 2011 at 7:00 pm at Ravenna High School,6589 North Chestnut St, Ravenna, Ohio. Lt. Col. Patterson is an Air Force pilot, decorated for his service in Bosnia, Somalia, Grenada and the...

Portage County - Maplewood Career Center is teaming up with The Renaissance Family Center, Kent Free Library, Reed Memorial Library, and the Portage County Libraries to offer free job opportunity workshops throughout March in Portage County. The workshops will be approximately 90 minutes and will focus on how to be...

Freedom Twp. - Highlights of the February 17 meeting of the Freedom Township Trustees were: A representative of the Ohio Plan (insurance agency) presented information on a plan similar to the OTARMA plan which has been used for some time. This will be considered at the March 3 meeting. Zoning Inspector...

Mantua - Every year, Crestwood students are recognized for outstanding contributions in the classroom and in the athletic field. Students who help in the community are no exception. Crestwood senior Kyle Vertoch, a member of the National Honor Society, is organizing a rummage sale as his NHS service project to...

Hiram Twp. - The March 1st meeting of the Hiram Township Trustees was opened by Mr. Brewer with the reading of the minutes from the February 15th meeting. Highlights from the gathering include the announcement that the new fire truck has been picked up and “is ready to go.” Firemen...

Summerfest Wedding Deadline April 29 The Summerfest committee is accepting entries for couples who would like to get married or renew their vows at Summerfest 2011. Send your story on why you would like to be Summerfest’s First Couple to: Summerfest’s First Couple, c/o Weekly Villager, PO Box 331, Garrettsville, OH...

Newton Falls - Kiwanian Barry Silliphant appeared at the Newton Falls library to give away ID Stickers to the young parents who transport their kids in safety seats.  Wednesday’s reading program director Chrissy Braun was excited to have Barry explain how important the sticker project is to anyone who...

Columbus - Area wrestlers did a fantastic job in representing northeast Ohio and their respective high schools in Columbus last week. Leading the way were the Crestwood Red Devils who qualified a school record seven wrestlers.  After finishing second in the Akron Firestone district the week before, head coach Dave...

Newton Falls - Recently, a café that usually tantalizes customers with its breakfast and lunchtime offerings opened its doors after hours to treat local ladies to a special evening of food, fun, and fashion. In celebration of women in business, the Brew Basket in Newton Falls hosted a Ladies’ Night...

Garrettsville - On March 11, 2011, Charles Klamer will celebrate a benchmark which makes him the longest-serving school district superintendent in Portage County. On that date in 1991, Klamer became superintendent of the James A. Garfield School District. Over the next 20 years, he was to pull the flailing school...

Garrettsville -  Don’t ever underestimate the power of setting a lofty goal. Call it an unrealistic challenge, an impossible dream or a ridiculous notion. But Chris Perme calls it DONE! And the reward is well worth the time and effort to make it happen. Christopher Perme, CLTC, Financial Services Professional...

Windham - The W.V.F.D. Joint Fire District Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting recently.  Prior to the meeting each board member had an opportunity to see the possible new ambulance for the district. The new ambulance is a 2010 Ford E-450 super duty that is set up exactly...

Did anybody see the animals lining up two-by-two down by the bridge?  Holy Cow! (Bull and cow, if you want to get technical.)  What wild weather!  March, acting like a typical cat, couldn’t wait to “come in like a lion” and pounced on the last day of February.  What...

Windham Village council met for their regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers at village hall.  Council members in attendance were Rachel Barrett, Scott Garrett, Kelly Meszaros, and Jena Miranda. Council member Phil Snyder was away for a family emergency. Fiscal officer Lloyd Billman reported that the expenditures for January...

Middlefield - Vinny’s Authentic Italian Eatery located at 15620 West High Street in Middlefield is sure to please any lover of Italian food.  Vinny’s offers its patrons mouth-watering Italian cuisine at a very reasonable price.  You can expect good, fresh food as well as friendly service.  Their hours are...

Janet Esposito, Portage County Auditor, is reminding all County residents to make sure they are receiving all the tax reductions they are entitled to off their real estate bills. Senior citizens 65 or older are entitled to the homestead credit for real estate or manufactured homes. Even if a...