PCDL Announces Summer Reading Program for Families
Portage County District Library (PCDL) announces that its annual summer reading program for children will continue this year with significant participation and event changes. These changes have been made to ensure that PCDL continues to follow state and federal government COVID-19 guidelines, and for the continued safety and well-being of patrons and staff. This year’s “Imagine Your Story” summer...
Garrettsville Village Council News
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the special village council meeting on June 22nd were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty, John Chambers and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements the meeting was held in person with no audience; however, the meeting...
Hiram Township Trustee News
Hiram Twp. - At a recent meeting, Trustee Steve Pancost shared an article from the Farm & Dairy with Portage County Regional Planning regarding Internet service in our area. Trustees agreed that the Covid-19 shelter-at-home mandate has highlighted the need for better Internet service in rural areas. Pancost noted that Regional Planning was able to have their monthly meeting...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary News
Time marches on! And so does the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club, in-person and via Zoom at Cal’s II, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville, high noon.The treasurer’s report led to extensive discussion of continuing financial issues involving the current pandemic and its effects on fund-raising. The Snack Pack program continues as a function of the district grant. The Reverse Raffle will likely be...
J.A. Garfield Student Top Performer In National Online Quiz Competition
The move to social distancing caused many changes for students, but the changes also brought about new opportunities to shine on an international stage. Jack Rado, a rising 10th-grader from James A. Garfield High School, was one of 178 high school students competing online in Buzzword this season. But unlike their normal quiz bowl competitions, in which teams play...
Reed Memorial Library Reopens Building – Limited services available
Ravenna - On June 15th, Reed Memorial Library opened their building to patrons once again. This phase of the library’s restart gives access to the building for limited services and limited capacity, following the Governor’s Responsible Restart Ohio Guidelines and complying with public health recommendations. “We know people want to use their library,” explained Library Director, Brian Hare. “but...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the last board meeting, Superintendent David Toth asked the board to consider approving placing a request for new revenue on the November 3rd ballot. He reiterated that such a measure was necessary in order to provide the same services and programs to students in light of state budget cuts and inflationary increases. Toth noted the district...
Garrettsville BPA Plans to Modernize Water Billing
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Board of Public Affairs met Monday, June 8th to review, among other things, a proposed change to Water Department billing that would bring the billing for water usage into alignment with sewer billing. Currently a water customer looking at their bill in June will see water usage for April, and sewer usage from May. The...
NGCC and JAG Schools Rise to The Challenge
Garrettsville - It is often said that difficult times will test what you are made of. There is no question that when the Governor of Ohio issued a stay-at-home order due to the Covid-19 Global Pandemic, the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard was tested. On Thursday, March 12th the Governor announced that schools would be closed for three weeks,...
Garrettsville Village Council News
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on June 10th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty, John Chambers and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the meeting was held in person with no audience; however, the meeting was...
Ditching and Roadside Mowing are Keeping Township Workers Busy
Windham Twp. - The Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting recently. The meeting was called to order and the floor was opened up to guests. One guest asked, about water run-off on Bryant Road, mainly ditch drainage and the storm water fees Portage County charges as required by law. Trustee Brian Miller explained that the township receives...
Reopening the Geauga Parks
Geauga Park District is pleased to announce the reopening of its facilities and continuation of public programming with efforts in place to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19. Guests are again welcome to patronize The West Woods Nature Center and Big Creek Park’s Meyer Center during their normal hours of 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with the Meyer Center...
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At their last Council meeting, which was live-streamed due to Covid-19, Village Council voted unanimously to cancel the Soap Box Derby, Art on the Hill, and the Headwaters Adventure Race special events. The Village Park lodge, pavilion, and playgrounds will remain closed until Governor DeWine mandates they may be safely opened to the public. Next, Council discussed a...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
Duo-Zoom was the order of the day for the June 8, 2020 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club. Members were participating in person and on-line. Here’s what they discussed: Grant requirements were met and the check to the Rotary Foundation was confirmed. Deb Blake presented information from her PETS meetings having to do with group assessment, new members and...
Drastic Times Call for Drastic Measures at the Dentist’s Office
Garrettsville - As you have certainly noticed by now, Responsible RestartOhio — The state’s plan to restart Ohio’s economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — looks much different than returning to ‘normal.’ Our concept of standard operations is being reshaped according to the demands of an infectious disease. Instead of Walk-Ins Welcome, we have No Mask - No Service....
Garrettsville Reopens Amidst Ongoing Pandemic
Garrettsville - If necessity is the mother of invention, then we’re entering into an accelerated Age of Innovation. As local storefronts and services reopen to the public amidst an ongoing pandemic, they are devising new ways to keep employees and patrons safe while getting back to business. While state and federal officials provide specific reopening protocols for salons, barbershops, restaurants...
New Mural Adds Hope in Mantua
Mantua - Holly Michelson saw the work that Broc Benner was doing to transform what some referred to as “the hole” in the heart of Mantua. As he shared his vision of transforming the spot into a green space to connect community in the village, Michelson commented that the red brick wall that bordered the space would be an...
Immense Knowledge Leads To Appearance On Jeopardy
Joanna Pratt a fun-loving and spirited local woman recently got to appear on the game show Jeopardy. Her episode airs Wednesday, June 10th at 7:30pm on channel 19 WOIO. “I joke that I have an immense wealth of useless knowledge,” she said with a full-hearted laugh. “I just felt the best place to showcase that would be on Jeopardy!...
Let’s bring $25k to your neighborhood – Neighborhood Assist is back!
Shannan Jursa, Agent for State Farm is happy to announce that State Farm Neighborhood Assist® is back for its ninth year in 2020. As in the past, the top 40 causes with the most votes will each receive a $25,000 grant from State Farm. As a company, we continue the effort to inspire and empower people to get involved in...
Preventing Teen Drug Use Risk Factors & Why Teens Use
When someone realizes that their child has a problem with alcohol or drugs, they often start by asking the question – How did we get here? Sometimes there is a quick answer…sometimes it feels nearly impossible to answer. The tricky part is, often times, alcohol and drug use is only recognized or addressed when it’s already a problem. This...
Hiram Village News
Hiram - At the last village council meeting which was held virtually, Ed Frato-Sweeney, Director of Residential & Citizenship Education at Hiram College, shared that the college would be open for the Fall 2020 semester, providing single rooms for all residential students at no additional charge. In his Police Report, Chief Brian Gregory shared that the department applied for several...
Ohio Turnpike announces 3rd annual W82TXT Teen Video Contest
The Ohio Turnpike today announced a fun and important contest for high schoolers to encourage distracted drivers to kick their dangerous habit. Students entering grades 9-12 and graduating seniors can encourage their peers to drive safely and win some great prizes by participating in the 3rd annual “W82TXT” Teen Video Contest. By producing and submitting a video, high schoolers can have...
Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics to open in new Portage Health Center
Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics will move its recently combined Kent and Ravenna practices to the hospital’s new Portage Health Center June 2. The primary care office will be the first service to open in the new 29,500-square-foot health center, located at 2497 State Route 59 in Ravenna. The pediatrics practice will now be known as Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, Portage. Additional...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary met--at long last--on June 1, 2020 at Cal’s II, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville in a meeting in (socially distanced) person and on-line with Zoom, including assistant district governor Karen Bordanaro in some of the discussion. Tech connections and difficulties were part of the ambience. The district officials urge continuing to comply with state guidelines; the upcoming international convocation...
Garrettsville Summerfest Cancels 2020 Festival, Regroups for 2021
On behalf of the Summerfest committee and with deep sadness we have decided to cancel this year’s festival. There were many factors in our decision. One of the main ones is the safety of our festival goers and community. Another factor was the lack of funds due to the inability to fundraise. Summerfest has established itself as one of the...
Contactless Pick Up at PCDL
Portage County District Library (PCDL) is happy to announce that we will be entering the second stage of our return-to-service plan. On Monday, June 1, patrons were able to schedule times to pick up their holds at all of our branches. Holds may be placed through our online catalog, or by calling any of the branch locations. If you don’t...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - As this unusual school year draws to a close, Crestwood Schools commemorated their graduates in an unusual manner. Driving by Crestwood High School, you’ll notice school buses parked in the front parking lot. From ground level, you may not notice, but seen from above, thanks to aerial photographer John Rayle, the buses are arranged to display 2020...
Islands of Flowers have Sprouted Around Town
Ravenna - Lilies and Pansy and Zinnias…Oh my! Or should I say Oh, May!? The month of May seems to be the season for Spring here in town as we see delightful colors adorning the sidewalks. But why have these small patches of earth recently become a feast for the eyes? It all started with a bet between two...
WATCH: Garfield High School’s 2020 Virtual Commencement
Congratulations to the James A. Garfield High School Class of 2020! Austin Evan ArmstrongMandolin Win Arnett £Austin Paul Babuka »Camron Ian Hobart BackEthan James BakerJoseph Ryan Ball *~Kaylie Elizabeth BatesAlyssa Rae BellHannah Elizabeth Bittence *§+Kannon Douglas BorrelliJesse Edward Bounds £Preston Allen Chase Brainard £Maya Nicole Brown ~Kage William Callahan ~Mason Michael Cebulla *§+Hannah Frances Chartier *~Madison Ann ClarkLucas Xavier ClemensTalon...
Cleveland Foundation Grant Ensures Promising Future for Rising Scholars
Silver spoon or plastic fork? Every child is born with certain economic advantages and disadvantages that shape their futures. The fledgling Rising Scholars program was initiated last year to level the playing field for at-risk Geauga County students who face uncertain outcomes after high school graduation. Thanks to a $14,079 grant from the Lake-Geauga Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, this...
