Staff Reporter

Do things talk to you?  You know, THINGS, do they address you with plaintive tales about their origin, the treatment that they should get, a recital of their finer qualities, a subtle urging to purchase more of their little friends? With all of the buying going on, I think that...

Newton Falls - Not too many people use maps these days, instead they find their location or destination using cell phones and GPS equipment, not so with the 5th and 6th grade class of SS. Mary & Joseph School in Newton Falls. The class worked together as a team...

Garrettsville - Christmas is a magical time for youngsters, and adults, as the season holds many twinkling, colorful decorations. I remember driving around the streets of town after Thanksgiving so my children could see all outdoor displays. Even today as I drive I point out the different lighting displays....

2011 Chamber Calendars The Garrettsville Area Chamber Photo Contest Calendars are on sale now.  The 2011 calendars make a great holiday gift ~ $6 each or 2/$10.  Calendars are available at Middlefield Bank, James A Garfield Historical Society, and Village Bookstore. i-Pad Raffle The James A. Garfield All Sports Boosters are selling...

Kim Wampler had come close to bowling a 200 game before but never quite made it.  When she did hit the 200 mark, however, she hit it with force. A 234 game.   Kim called her grandfather right after the game; any readers who follow area bowling know her...

A beautiful morning awaited Doodle Dog as he wandered down the main street of town. Chasing leaves had been so much fun, but now he wanted to take his time and see everything there was to see. The crisp air turned just a bit colder which meant winter would...

It’s been a good year, actually, let me rephrase that – it’s been a GREAT year! Sure, this year has definitely put up a good fight for us... we’ve survived some bad economic times, we’ve dealt with a loss of crop from a late freeze last year, we’ve dealt...

A friend recently had a fire at her home.  Fortunately, no one was injured.  It did cause lots of damage and has left our circle of friends all pitching in to untangle an insurance claim.  Few things in my legal career have been as frustrating as insurance claims.  The...

“I was looking at a magazine and I saw this little ceramic bird stuck in the middle of a pie.  Can you tell me anything about it?” Some members of the Newton Falls Public Library staff were familiar with this cute item known as a pie bird, but having...

No flies on us last weekend.  The place was hoppin’.  Basketball games all over the place; Geauga Theater opened its holiday run of “It’s A Wonderful Life”; Santa and his clones--you know they’re all the REAL Santa wherever they are--were breakfasting and eating pizza and just chatting with the...

Meadville, Pa. – Tight end Rob Carlisle capped a marvelous senior campaign with one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate sports. On Wednesday, Carlisle was named ESPN First Team Academic All-America in recognition for his rare combination of outstanding academic achievement and athletic ability. Carlisle, who holds a 3.95...

Berea -  Samantha M. Martin of Garrettsville was inducted into the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society at Baldwin-Wallace College during a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 12, 2010. Martin is a junior. Dayton C. Miller recognizes academic excellence and inductees are selected for consistently maintaining superior academic work. Only four percent of...

Findlay – Alyssa Cain, a junior pharmacy major, recently performed in The University of Findlay’s student piano recital.  Cain performed “Autumn Breeze” by John Bastien. Cain, a 2008 graduate of James A. Garfield High School, is the daughter of Garrettsville’s Lynette and Charlie Cain. The University of Findlay is a comprehensive...

West Farmington - Fourteen members were in attendance as Hall Relief Corps #104 enjoyed an annual Birthday/Christmas buffet luncheon with Jackie Gore as hostess.  With excellent decorations around, a sumptuous meal was partaken of by all and then it was followed by a festive exchange of holiday gifts.  With...

Garrettsville - The James A. Garfield Elementary School music teacher Mr. Ken Fox and the third graders kicked off a celebration for the winter season on Wednesday, December 1st. As the first snow of the season fell softly outside, the children presented their audience with a wonderful mixture of...

Newton Falls - Enhancing the bridge by the waterfalls are the new stone planters donated to the Flower committee from the benefit held last year at the Riverview Inn.  The event, the D.J. Jagers Poker run, was organized by Debbie Sutherland and Sarah Corley.  Proceeds were donated to the...

Newton Falls - At the first council meeting of December, the snow-blanketed roads did not keep concerned citizens away. All officials were present and, after opening the proceedings, Mayor Waddell started the meeting by announcing that, on the heels of the recent budget meeting, it was mutually agreed there will...

Garrettsville - Garrettsville-Hiram Rotarians, having received a taste of   the Power of the Pen at their meeting on November 17, affirmed their support for the program, directed at the Garfield Middle   School by Mrs. Jackie Lovelace.  This support took the form of a $600 contribution toward the...

Burton -  Countryside Home Baker is pleased to announce their 5th Anniversary celebration on December 17 & 18, from 8am-5pm, with drawings, free coffee and more! A family owned business that opened in 2005 as a way to generate a little extra income has grown into a self sustaining...

Hiram – In the information age, sharing critical heath care information with emergency medical providers – even when you can’t talk – just got a whole lot easier for all Hiram College students and faculty. My LifePlan, a Ravenna, OH-based health care information technology and services company started by...

Garrettsville - Miller’s Family Restaurant located on Main Street in Garrettsville is celebrating 15 years! Owner Monica Miller decided to try her hand in the restaurant business and her customers are very glad she did! She opened first in Windham for a year until the building in Garrettsville became...

Newton Falls - Santa’s Elves were working overtime this past Black Friday and it wasn’t just to stock the shelves for the early morning deals at the retail stores. What  better way to spend The Day After Thanksgiving than in downtown Newton Falls getting into the early holiday spirit and...

Middlefield - All council members were present for this meeting.  After the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Poole asked for approval of the November 4 minutes and they were approved.  He also asked for payment of bills (two separate requests) and both requests were passed. The Fiscal Report was submitted to...

Burton – The Burton Grille and Pizzeria in the center of historic Burton Village will be transformed into an elegant dining location the evening of Friday, December 31, 2010.  Plans are to close the restaurant to regular dining at 3:00 p.m. on that date.  Later, when the doors re-open,...

Windham - Pleasant surprises come from all places.  Mine started in the form a flyer in the Nelson town hall for the “First Snow” concert.  I figured that if they weren’t that good, it was still only $6 and for a good cause.  Then I found that low price...

Mantua - In the polymer industry, constant changes and improvements are the essential ingredients to servicing customer needs effectively.  Mantaline Corporation of Mantua, Ohio has recently added key new processes and materials to its portfolio in its efforts to offer current customers an avenue to “best available” technology as...

Save a little money this holiday season by coordinating your MP3 players, iPods, and electronic readers (excluding the Kindle) with free downloads from Portage County District Library. Visit overdrive.portagelibrary.org 24/7 (anytime, anywhere) to download eBooks and audiobooks from the convenience of your own home or other PC.  Using a...

What do you give to the person that has everything? Give the gift of a dedicated book or donation this year. Dedicate a book to the Portage County District Library collection. You may choose to dedicate a book, music, downloadable audiobook or eBook, book on CD, or DVD on...

Windham - Last Saturday the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Windham kicked off the holiday season by hosting breakfast with Santa, letter writing to Santa, crafts and an opportunity for boys and girls to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.  On the breakfast menu were French toast stix,...

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