Short Takes: Go Out, Get Involved
Read Big! It’s not too late to participate in the BIG READ, a program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest being offered by Hiram College’s Lindsay-Crane Center for Writing and Literature and the libraries of the Portage County Library District. There will be authors, speakers, a dance troupe and Mexican food as well as discussion...
ABLE Offers GED/ESOL Classes in Portage County
Ravenna - The Adult Basic & Literacy Education (ABLE) Program at Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna would like to welcome everyone back to a new school year! The ABLE Program is offering classes and materials for adults, free-of-charge for GED, ESOL, basic English and math skills, and transitioning into post-secondary education, training, or trade. We have trained instructors to help...
Geauga Fresh Farmers Market Looks for County’s Best at Annual Salsa Tasting Contest
Enter your favorite salsa in the Geauga Fresh Farmers’ Market Annual Salsa Tasting Contest on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10-Noon. Customers and vendors are encouraged to enter – hot and sweet, fresh or cooked. Shop now for the freshest ingredients and please keep basic ingredients locally grown – zucchini, eggplant, peach, tomato, tomatillo, watermelon, cucumber and any other...
Hiram Fire Department Received DHS Grant
Hiram - At the last meeting of the Hiram Village Council, Chief Bill Byers reported that the Hiram Fire Department has received a grant of $14,250 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The money will be used to purchase firefighter protective gear, which is subject to a federally mandated 10-year replacement...
Extreme Rower Katie Spotz Speaks to Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary
The August 31, 2015 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club heard from a rock-star of the world of extreme rowers, Katie Spotz, who in a marathon 70-day adventure rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, from Africa to South America—alone! There were 30 ft. waves, there were freighters, there were scary encounters with unknown boats and individuals…but…there were also dolphins and...
Cops and Kids Fishing Event A Success
Hiram - Hiram Police Department held its annual “Cops and Kids” fishing day event at Camp Asbury. The weather was perfect, the fish were biting, and lifelong bonds were made with Hiram Police Officers and children of the community. The intent of “Cops and Kids” Fishing Day is to bring community children closer to law enforcement officers and build...
The 2015 Geauga SWCD Rain Barrel Auction Begins!
Burton - The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District’s Annual Rain Barrel Yard Art Campaign has begun marking the tenth year for this creative community initiative! Seven local artists and groups donated their time, talent, and materials to the District by painting 55-gallon plastic barrels to creatively transform them into beautiful, repurposed rain barrels! A rain barrel is a...
Garrettsville Rotary News
Recovering after their bang-up steak fry on August 3, the members of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary club got down to business on August 10. To wit : • The August 17 meeting will feature Cheryl Warren, District Governor, with a board meeting at 11:00 • The incoming exchange student will arrive on August 24; his mom has already called to get acquainted. •...
Robinson Health System officially changes its name to reflect integration
Ravenna – The future of Robinson Memorial Hospital includes a new name: University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. The Portage name signifies the heritage of Robinson as a county hospital and its stature as the only hospital located in Portage County. The new name is consistent with how University Hospitals identifies other community hospitals to reflect both their location and alignment...
J.A. Garfield Student Laptop Pickup Dates Scheduled
Garrettsville - Technology is today’s pencil. It is becoming an integral part of teaching and learning. Every James A. Garfield Student in grades 7 - 12 is issued an HP Chromebook. The devices are being provided to students as learning tools that will allow them to create, collaborate, communicate and engage in critical thinking activities. Dates have been scheduled for...
Go Yellow4Friends! Day on August 10
Be a friend. Go yellow. “Yellow is the universal color of friendship and happiness. (Think yellow roses for a friend, yellow smiley faces, yellow sunshine in the summertime.) We like to think we provide those things: friendship, smiles and warmth.” So says Ashley (Heavner) Doringo (daughter of Denette Heavner, who owns Denette’s Golden Mirror in Garrettsville). Doringo graduated from James A....
Mantua Potato Stomp Race and Fun Run
The 37th Annual Potato Stomp race will take place on Saturday, September 12th. The Potato Stomp is a classic road race through the scenic streets of Mantua Village and the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. There is a one mile Fun Run that begins at 8:30am and the 3.5 mile and 9 mile races begin at 9am. All races start at...
Portage Parks Seeks Input On Master Plan
Portage County - The Portage Park District has launched a Comprehensive Parks Master Plan project to guide the District and its use of levy funds over the next ten years. Led by planning consultant Brandstetter Carroll, Inc., the Master Plan project will seek public input through a variety of ways to determine the needs and opportunities for parks, trails...
Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report – Week of July 17
The Garrettsville-Hiram Rotarians discovered that they had a “Rivergod” in their midst, as member Mike Keas gave an outline of his varied and interesting career(s) at the July 13, 2015 meeting. A Jack-of-all-trades and , clearly, master of quite a lot ,he traced his progress through meatcutting, the rafting business, corporate training, commercial management, insurance, field service management, optician training,...
Thomas Collins Named President of Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report
The final June meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club was a busy one. It saw the installation of the new 2015-2016 club president, Thomas Collins (Installing officer, Jim Irwin, Tom’s family in attendance), and other club officers : Amy Crawford—treasurer, Mike Keas—sergeant–at-arms, Delores McCumbers—immediate past president (Secretary Ted Lysiak will be installed at a later date). The ceremony focused on...
The Big Read Grant to Have Big Impact on Hiram College Community Reading Program
Hiram – The Lindsay-Crane Center for Writing and Literature at Hiram College wants you to curl up with a good book. A book titled “Into the Beautiful North” by Luis Alberto Urrea, to be specific. The Center, along with its partners—which include three library systems, four high schools and many Hiram College academic departments—will a host a campus and community-wide...
“Avenue Q” Opens July 2nd in Aurora
Aurora - Smart, risqué and downright entertaining, “Avenue Q” opens at 8 pm Thursday, July 2 and continues through July 18 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail. Winner of the TONY “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, “Avenue Q” is full of heart and hummable tunes, people, puppets and politically incorrect lyrics in what...
Village Tavern Hosts Spudfest Fundraiser
Mantua - As you may know, due to overwhelming community support, the Mantua Potato Festival is back on, and will take place on September 11th, 12th and 13th. If you’d like to do your part to help insure the success of this year’s Potato Festival, you’ve got plenty of opportunities in the coming weeks. Here’s what you can do: This...
Crestwood School Board Approves Surround Care Program
Mantua - At their last regular meeting, the School Board voted unanimously to initiate a program called Surround Care, a before and after school program for district students. The program will run from 6:30 am until 6 pm during the school year, which begins on August 18th. Registration is open to all children enrolled in the Crestwood District from...
Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report – June 22, 2015
Time marches on and so does the Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram. The meeting on June 22, 2015—first full day of SUMMER—featured reports from two young ladies who had participated in Rotary youth programs. Megan Ryser was the local recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, which took her to Baldwin-Wallace University for what she termed “a life-changing” experience. It was...
Warren Amateur Radio Annual Field Day
Warren Amateur Radio field day will be held at Mosquito Lake State park at the boat ramp off route 305. It will begin around 2 pm on Saturday the 27th and end on Sunday the 28th at 2pm. You do not have to be a ham operator to participate. As long as there is a valid ham operator at the...
Summer Dance Clinic in Ravenna
Ravenna - Summer is our favorite time of the year, and this summer we’re offering a completely new take on our popular dance classes. A newly designed Summer Dance Clinic is now open to dancers of all abilities and styles of interest and will improve and expand your skills. Students will learn fast in this enjoyable combination class of Ballet,...
Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pulls Return to Garrettsville Summerfest
Garrettsville - Hey kids do you think you have the strongest legs in town? Well, here is your chance to prove it. Buckeye Pedal Tractor Pulls are coming to Garrettsville Summerfest this summer and it is expected to be a hit. The pulls are for all ages and will be held on the bridge, on Sunday June 28 at...
Three Days of Outstanding Headlining Acts at Garrettsville Summerfest
Garrettsville Summerfest boasts three stages of music playing throughout the entire weekend. Friday night, will kick off the event with Blue Siren, Boys are Back and Pop Culture. Each band plays a different genre of music. Blue Siren features local artist Avonlea Wensel, along with Rick Seidle, Randy Stan, Jen Carey and Jimmy Stafford. They play a variety of music...
Barney the Barn Rooster announces the Annual Barn Sale
Middlefield - Barney the Barn Rooster has been waiting all winter long for our Annual Barn Sale at The Barn Treasures in Middlefield on Saturday, June 20th. From 9am until 4 pm you can stop by and see the huge selection of items both inside and outside. Barney invites all treasure hunters to come and have a fun day...
Daisy Troop 90206 Celebrates Successful Year
Garrettsville - Daisy Troop 90206 celebrated the end of a successful and busy girl scout year on June 10th with a Court of Awards ceremony. The girls earned daisy petals this year by learning the girl scout promise & girl scout law, while they helped “make the world a better place” by giving back and using a portion of...
Garrettsville Author Burton W. Cole Wins Selah Award
Garrettsville-area author and newspaper humor columnist Burton W. Cole’s second novel, “Bash and the Chicken Coop Caper” (2014, B&H Kids), won the prestigious 2015 Selah Award as Best Novel for Middle Grades on May 20. And Cole’s third “faith, fun and farm pranks” novel, “Bash and the Chocolate Milk Cows,” was released May 1 from B&H Kids / LifeWay Christian...
Silver Creek Garden Club News
Garrettsville - The Silver Creek Garden Club of Garrettsville recently toured the hydroponic lettuce production facility at Mantua Gardens. Ryan Hyde and Darin Kelley gave the tour and an in-depth talk about lettuce from seeds to final product. Mantua Gardens sells their "living" lettuce to area stores and restaurants. They also have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) where members...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club “Bigger and Better Than Ever”
The June 8, 2015 meeting of the Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram, at Cal’s II in Sky Plaza, Garrettsville featured a program presented by departing exchange student, Lenart Zsadany, better known as “Zad”. He spoke of some of the highlights of his stay in the U.S. with the Collins, Schwan and Brown families, mentioning the travel—New York, Chicago, Outer Banks,...
You Shoulda Been There: Garrettsville’s Day of Family Fun
Garrettsville - Last Saturday (May30, 2015) was full of it…and it was all good…except the part that got cancelled because of the threatening thunderstorms…which snapped, crackled and popped all over the area on a very indeterminate schedule--rolling thunder in the distance, sprinkles any ol’ time of day and actual rain following a muggy afternoon. Whooeee! Northeast Ohio in full...
