Senior Board Students of the Month
The Portage County Senior Board proudly recognizes Sophia Wood of Waterloo High School and Oliver May of James A. Garfield High School as the Students of the Month for November 2024. These students exemplify academic excellence, community engagement, and unwavering leadership. Waterloo senior Sophia Wood’s dedication to education and her community is nothing short of inspiring. A College Credit Plus...
Radio club donates over $11,000 to Center of Hope
Portage County Amateur Radio Services (PCARS) has made a generous donation of $11,178.51 to the Center of Hope, a program under Family and Community Services. For 19 years, the organization has been actively fundraising for the Center, and this year’s contribution marks the largest amount they have ever donated. Michael Gonzalez, president of PCARS, and treasurer Greg Ash recently presented...
FOODBANK INVITES COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT HUNGER RELIEF THROUGH 80S-THEMED SELFLESS ELF 5K
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is excited to invite community members to the 12th annual Selfless Elf 5k run/walk on Dec. 21. The race begins and ends at the Foodbank’s Main Campus in Akron. This year’s race is 80s themed. Participants are encouraged to dress in leg warmers, tease their hair or even sport a funky mullet. Festive, holiday-themed costumes and...
Shop with a Hero Brings Holiday Cheer to Local Children
This holiday season, 29 local kids and their families in the Crestwood and James A. Garfield School Districts enjoyed some extra holiday cheer. This extra cheer was due, in part, to the extra help that was provided by several local first responder organizations. This year, the Hiram Police Department joined forces with the Village of Garrettsville Police Department, Garrettsville Freedom...
Rockets’ basketball uses balanced attack to throttle Indians
If it was not clear the Streetsboro Rockets boys’ basketball team felt they had something to prove this season, it should be now. Streetsboro continued its fast start to the season by hammering Metro Athletic Conference foe Akron Springfield 73-15 last Friday evening in Lakemore. “Unfortunately for Springfield they were missing four of their starters,” said Coach Nick Marcini. “They...
Garfield G-Men basketball chip away at Badgers for comeback victory
The Garfield G-Men’s first attempt at overtaking Berkshire for the lead in the third quarter of their basketball game against the Badgers may not have been successful but they were not discouraged. Garfield took control in the fourth quarter, overcoming a double-digit deficit to edge the Badgers 72-65 last Friday evening at the JAG Fieldhouse in Garrettsville. “It’s not supposed...
Windham girls’ basketball loses to St. Thomas Aquinas
Fielding a young squad this season, Windham Bombers girls’ basketball Coach J.J. Collins said he knew it would be a bumpy road ahead. Windham’s offensive struggles continued as its losing streak reached three games in a 37-22 loss against St. Thomas Aquinas last Saturday afternoon in Louisville. “They got off to a quick start and knocked down a couple of...
Garfield G-Men wrestling to unleash new wave of talent
For the last five years, the Garfield G-Men wrestling team has benefited by having leaders in the wrestling room in standout wrestlers Hunter Andel and Keeegan Sell. With both wrestlers now having graduated, the G-Men are ready to usher in a new wave of talent for the upcoming season. “I would say overall we are a team of sophomores,” Coach...
Regional Food Bank’s new fundraising event makes spirits bright at the Ohio Christmas Factory
The Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank hosted a new fundraising event on December 8, 2024, the Merry Meals Mixer. More than 300 guests strolled through the Ohio Christmas Factory showing their support of local hunger relief, helping to raise funds to provide enough food for nearly 280,000 meals. Event attendees delighted in the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The...
Windham Township Board of Trustees approve a pair of motions on how to spend ARPA money
In the final Windham Township Board of Trustees meeting of the year, the Board approved two motions to spend $33,350.00 of the American Rescue Plan Act funds last Thursday evening at Windham Town Hall. Timmons said that the Board had $146,706.93 remaining in ARPA funds and had to figure out how to encumber the money. One motion was carried for...
Aurora Chamber of Commerce honors Business & Person of the Year at luncheon
At the annual Aurora Chamber of Commerce holiday luncheon, LeeAngelo’s Pizza was honored as the 2024 Business of the Year and local attorney Rachel Reight received recognition as the 2024 Person of the Year last Friday afternoon at The Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center. “The Person & Business of the Year is really quite an honor,” Chairman of the...
SOAR Initiative: Building Resilience in the Digital Age
The Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary meeting on December 9, 2024, featured a program from Project Promise/SOAR (Savvy, Observant, Animated, Resourceful). This initiative, created by John Clark and Kali Roberts with support from the James Woods Foundation, addresses the effects of online existence on today’s youth. The program focuses on key issues such as societal challenges, communication, youth concerns, sexual violence, resilience,...
Food Pantry Serves Hundreds in 2024
The Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard, a 501(c)(3) organization serving residents within the James A. Garfield Local School District, provided critical food assistance to hundreds of families in 2024. Covering Garrettsville, Nelson Township, Freedom Township, and parts of Hiram Township, the program served as a vital lifeline for those in need. Over the course of the year, the organization assisted 136...
We’re All Invited
Book Review At The YMCA 1st & 3rd Mondays LOVE 101 by author Peter McWilliams “To love oneself is the beginning of a life long romance.” Share a stimulating hour exchanging impressions & opinions at our book review & discussion, 10am, the 1st & 3rd Mondays each month. Presented by Dr J Patella: Garrettsville YMCA, 8233 Park Ave, (330)469-2044. NO book or...
Badgers basketball ready to lock down opponents for new season
The Berkshire Badgers boys’ basketball team’s season ended with a whimper last year, but the Badgers are ready to turn the page. As the Badgers begin a new season, they will be fueled by a dynamic junior class that will focus on turning defense into offense. “We are playing better defense because we really have a group that can get...
Garfield G-Men basketball, energized by senior class, are ready to shed ‘young team’ label
The last two years have seen the Garfield G-Men’s basketball team be the young team, having to go through a transitional period after graduating a talented senior class after the 2021-22 season. This season, the G-Men will be fueled by a six-player senior class and are eager to snap their two-season streak of posting a losing record. “Right now we...
Ravens basketball plagued by shooting woes in loss against Tigers
The Ravenna Ravens boys’ basketball team was not afraid to attack the basket in their season opener against Newton Falls last Saturday evening in Trumbull County, but could not find the net often enough, losing 50-43 against the Tigers. “We were pretty close,” said Coach Marlon Jones. “At one point we were up by three, down by three, lost by...
Cardinal girls basketball outmatched in loss against LaBrae
As much experience as the Cardinal Huskies girls’ basketball team gained last year, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Huskies could not measure up to LaBrae and were defeated by the Vikings 59-43 last Friday evening in Leavittsburg. “They were a shooting team, and they also know how to pass the ball quite well so...
Santa comes to Kent this Saturday
Downtown Kent will shine bright on Saturday, Dec. 7, as the Festival of Lights returns to kick off the holiday season. Hosted by the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, the annual event promises an evening of magic, community, and festive cheer. Running from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the celebration will take place near the Main Street Bridge and the...
Rockets wrestling seeking multiple state berths in new season
In the first year of the Mark Skonieczny era for the Streetsboro Rockets’ wrestling team, his squad qualified nine wrestlers to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II district meet but only one advanced to the state meet. According to Skonieczny, the Rockets had a few wrestlers who squandered their chances to become state qualifiers and does not...
Make memories at the fairgrounds
The Elegant Illusions Christmas Lights Drive-Through offers a magical holiday experience for all ages. Running from November 23 to December 23, the event takes place nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Randolph Portage County Fairgrounds. Visitors can enjoy a mile-and-a-half of stunning light displays as they drive through the festive scene. In addition to the lights,...
G-H Rotary News
The recent meeting focused on updates from the successful Reverse Raffle. Discussion included positive financial outcomes, suggestions for improvements, and notes for future events, which have been uploaded to the Google Drive for reference. The annual Dictionary Project will wrap up on December 13. Labels will be applied to the books, and distributions will follow shortly thereafter. This Wednesday marks a...
Meet the artists behind this year’s trees at the Trumbull Art Gallery holiday marketplace
TAG’s popular Trees at the Gallery Holiday Marketplace, which is celebrating its fifth year, continues now through Saturday, January 4, 2025, This annual event features a curated walk-through marketplace with a variety of displays showcasing unique gift items handcrafted by 27 local artists including art, jewelry, seasonal and holiday décor and more. Additional items are on display and available for...
Scientific breakthroughs, supervillains, and… flatulence?! take center stage this weekend at the Iva Walker Auditorium
The GMS Drama Club will showcase its “Night of One Acts” from December 6–8, featuring three comedic short plays: The Chili Haunts Me Still, Supervillains Anonymous, and Middle School Science Fair. Performances are scheduled for December 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Dec. 8 at 3 p.m. The production, set to take place in the Iva...
Shop Small, Gift Big at the Kent Flea Holiday Show
Holiday shoppers seeking unique and handcrafted gifts will find a treasure trove of options at the Kent Flea Holiday Show on Saturday, Dec. 14. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will feature over 60 vendors and food trucks, offering a festive shopping experience filled with one-of-a-kind items perfect for everyone on your list. The show will span...
Home-Delivered Holiday Meals for Geauga County Senior Citizens
The Geauga County Department on Aging and local Christmas Sponsors, Ohman Family Living and the Chardon VFW will offer a FREE traditional holiday meal to any Geauga County Senior, age sixty (60) and older, who will be home and alone on Christmas Day, December 25. There will be no regular Home Delivered Meal delivery or congregate meals on Christmas Day. ...
Raven Packs foundation receives $2,175 donation from UH Portage Medical Center
The primary goal of the Raven Packs Foundation has always been to feed the children in the Ravenna school district. A lot of hungry mouths will be fed after the Foundation received a donation of $2,175 from the University Hospitals Portage Medical Center on Nov. 20. “People see what we are doing in Raven Packs and they see the value...
We’re All Invited
Book Review At The YMCA 1st & 3rd Mondays LOVE 101 by author Peter McWilliams “To love oneself is the beginning of a life long romance.” Share a stimulating hour exchanging impressions & opinions at our book review & discussion, 10am, the 1st & 3rd Mondays each month. Presented by Dr J Patella: Garrettsville YMCA, 8233 Park Ave, (330)469-2044. NO book or...
Berkshire boys bowling goes 1-1, girls post 0-2 record in tri-match against Lakeside and Edgewood
The Berkshire Badgers’ bowling team’s season may be still be young but the goals are pretty clear. Berkshire received its first taste of action in the Chagrin Valley Conference as the boys defeated CVC foe Edgewood Warriors 2189-1986 but lost to the Lakeside Dragons 2321-1986 while the girls were defeated by the Warriors 1398-1387 and Lakeside 1409-1387 in a...
Badger girls basketball stumbles in loss against Knights
Like any team with a new coach and system, there are always kinks to work out. The Berkshire Badgers girls’ basketball struggled to find their footing in a 45-34 loss against Nordonia in the West Geauga Showcase last Saturday afternoon at The Wolvarena in Chester. “We talked about the key which was coming out and being patient,” said Coach Dave...
