USO Show with The Dave Banks Big Band
The Dave Banks Big Band will perform a USO-style variety show at the American Legion Post #496, located at 1945 Mogadore Road in Kent, on Friday, August 9, at 7 p.m. The event, which aims to honor veterans, will feature music spanning seven decades. Performers Shannon Eller, Stanley Davis, and Walt Sanders will deliver live tributes to Barbra Streisand,...
Townhall II offers free harm-reduction vending machine in Kent office lobby
Townhall II Integrated Health Network now offers free harm reduction supplies from a vending machine in its Kent office lobby, located at 155 N. Water St., in downtown Kent. Supplies featured include Naloxone (Narcan), Fentanyl test strips, Deterra drug deactivation and disposal kits, condoms, pregnancy tests, first aid kits and hygiene kits. The vending machine is funded by the Mental...
The Wiener Guy food truck becomes Portage County staple
In the summer of 2020, Ravenna resident Cory Rabatin only had a hot dog cart, two tables and a tent to promote his new food business, The Wiener Guy. Four years later, The Wiener Guy has become one of the most sought-after food trucks in Portage County. “I get told all of the time we make hot dogs fun. I...
Garden Club of Kent to Host Annual Horticultural Show
The Garden Club of Kent is inviting the public to participate in its annual Horticultural and Photography Show on Saturday, August 17, at the Ode to Joy Center, located at 480 Ravenna Road, Kent/Streetsboro, Ohio. The event is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring their best home-grown flowers, potted plants, herbs, vegetables, and plant-themed photographs...
Heritage Festival takes over Kent this Saturday
The annual Kent Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, July 6th, offering a variety of activities for the entire community. The all-day event will feature a classic car show, live music on two stages, and a children’s play and activity area. Public safety demonstrations will be offered by the Kent Police and Fire departments, with vehicles on display for...
Portage Foundation opens 2024 grant cycle
The Portage Foundation is accepting applications for its 2024 grant cycle from June 1 to August 31. Nonprofit organizations providing services in Portage County may apply for grants in the following categories: children, health, human services, arts and culture, the environment, animal welfare, education, and economic development. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s website: https://portagefoundation.org/grants. Typical grants range...
Dr. Amanda Burke wins Award Of Excellence From Problem Gambling Network Of Ohio
Townhall II Problem Gambling Prevention Specialist Dr. Amanda Burke was honored posthumously at the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio’s (PGNO) annual conference with the Award of Excellence. The PGNO Award of Excellence is awarded to those who make significant contributions to the problem gambling service system, encourage collaboration within the field and display continuous advocacy for the field. “In Amanda's...
We’re All Invited
Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class at...
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
League of Women Voters of Kent to host Face2Face candidate forum
Voters can ask questions of county-wide candidates in the contested Primary Election races at the Voters & Candidate Face2Face forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Kent on Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The forum, designed for small group question-and-answer sessions, will be held in Pierson Hall of Kent United Methodist Church, 1435 E. Main...
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
Leadership Portage County hosts Jingle & Mingle
Leadership Portage County welcomed the Christmas season by hosting its annual Jingle & Mingle event last Thursday evening at the Over Easy at the Depot Restaurant in Kent. Having always hosted events throughout the year for community connection, LPC Executive Director Andra Polasky said in an email to The Weekly Villager that the holiday event was a way to bring...
Townhall II Announces Sanctuary-Based Treatment Model
Townhall II is ready to take the next step in holistic treatment. Townhall II, a non-profit Portage County health, wellness and recovery center announced its plans to adopt a sanctuary blueprint model to treat trauma patients by hosting a picnic in the Hometown Bank Plaza on Oct. 5 in Downtown Kent. The sanctuary model teaches people how to cope...
Portage MHRB and Coleman Health Services Receive $2.5 Million in Project Funding from State
Ohio State Representative Gail Pavliga delivered a check in the amount of $2.5 million to the Mental Health and Recovery Board (MHRB) of Portage County and Coleman Health Services to support a new behavioral health urgent care facility in Ravenna. The project entails a combination of extensive renovation and new construction activities to improve the usage of the existing mental...
Kent State to offer Ohio’s first evidence-based suicide prevention course in partnership with Ohio Suicide Prevention FoundationClass will be taught through Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, but open...
Kent – Recent data from the Ohio Department of Health shows Ohio averaged over 1,700 suicide deaths between 2016-2021, with those numbers expected to increase over the next reporting period. However, few educational opportunities exist for mental health practitioners prior to being in the field. That’s why Kent State University and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) are working...
Musical Musings ~ The Marilyn DeFrange Trio
It was a blustery spring Friday evening in Portage County. This reporter had a bit of cabin fever, so decided to engage in a favorite hobby-going to catch a bit of Live Music. Many venues have opened back up in this time of reduced covid numbers, so there were plenty of options. Marilyn DeFrange, a familiar name from my...
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF KENT HOSTS APRIL 2 FACE2FACE COUNTY CANDIDATE FORUM
KENT—Voters can talk in person with county candidates in contested May 3 Primary races at a forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Kent on Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The forum will be held at the Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St., Kent. It is free and open to the public....
Grief Recovery After Substance Passing Group Available in Portage
Joey, Debby Smith’s only son died of an accidental heroin overdose 7 years ago on October 2, 2014. Devasted, Debby sought counseling, but realized she was looking for something more to help her through her grief. She then discovered GRASP - Grief Recovery After Substance Passing. GRASP is a support group for those who have lost a loved one...
Townhall II is Celebrating 50 Years of Community Involvement
Townhall II will host their 50th anniversary community celebration on October 1, 2021! The family-friendly event will be held in the Hometown Bank Plaza located at 142 N. Water Street. Festivities will begin at noon and will continue through 6pm. There will be music, snacks, fun, prizes, and blasts from the past. Townhall II promotes the health, wellness, and...
Portage County Senior Center & Park District Team Up For Senior Turtle Hikes
The Portage County Senior Center, in coordination with The Portage Park District, would like to invite all seniors to join them for a fun opportunity to socialize with friends and get a little exercise, all the while enjoying the beauty of what our parks have to offer. Jennifer and Becca from the Portage Park District will lead the group...
Red Cross In Need Of Blood Donations
As the nation transitions to a new, hopeful phase of this devastating pandemic and people resume some of their normal activities, the American Red Cross needs your help to avoid a summer donation slump.Individuals of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine...
PARTA offering free rides to COVID-19 vaccination appointments
Kent, Ohio - Thursday, March 18, 2021 – PARTA’s Dial-A-Ride service is providing free rides to vaccination sites around Portage County beginning Monday, March 22. Free rides will be in effect for trips riders take to and from scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointments and are available on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to space availability.“We are doing what we can to...
Portage CIT Officers of 2020
The Mental Health & Recovery Board is proud to announce the 2020 Crisis Intervention Team Officers of the Year awarded by the Portage County Police Chief’s Association: Officer Josh Bartholomew, Streetsboro PD; Officer Matthew Butcher, Kent City PD; Officer Scott Krieger, Ravenna PD. The officers were recognized for practicing the communication and de-escalation techniques they learned during their CIT training...
Local Man Competes at National Level
Kent - Recently, Jack Edwards from Martial Arts Ohio competed in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Masters competition in Orlando, Florida. Edwards explained that despite many setbacks that could have easily derailed his plans, he persevered, and it made all the difference. He came to jiu-jitsu as an adult, setting aside the fear of trying something new or...
The Bill White Charity Bowling Tournament Donates to United Way of Portage County and Miller Community House
Kent - As a local entrepreneur and bowling champion, Bill White has worked in and owned many of the bowling alleys of Portage County over the years, including Twin Star of Kent (now known as Spins Bowl) and SkyLanes Bowling in Garrettsville. White hosted his 91st birthday in combination with a charity tournament at Skylanes this past February. The...
UPDATED: Megan Dye Was Located in Cincinnati on July 10
Update: Megan Dye was safely located by the US Marshal Service in Cincinnati. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Kent Police Department in Ohio are searching for this missing 17-year-old girl.Megan Dye vanished from Kent, Ohio on July 8, 2020. Megan was last seen in Tannery Park in Kent, and her belongings have been found there...
Relapse Concerns During Pandemic
The isolation and economic distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic are creating a ripple effect of mental health issues. For individuals fighting addiction, the social isolation and additional stressors may lead to relapse. “Almost all relapses occur when the person is unable to effectively cope with urges or cravings to use,” stated Townhall II Clinical Director Rob Young. “Experiencing stress,...
United Way of Portage County Awards Grant to Kent State University Design Innovation
United Way of Portage County (UWPC) has recently began accepting applications to address emerging needs of organizations in the community due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 Emergency Response Grant provides funds for non-profit programs and public school districts, making sure they have supplies needed to support the overwhelming need in our community. Kent State’s Design Innovation is responding to...
