A Message from Garrettsville Mayor Rick Patrick
Dear Residents, I have received many phone calls, emails and texts wanting to know what I know about the corona virus and how it is affecting our Village. I am not in direct contact with Governor DeWine but I do receive updates through Portage County EMA Director Ryan Shackleford almost daily. I must commend Governor DeWine for what he is doing...
Local Crafters Use Skills to Make Masks For Healthcare Workers
As hospitals and health care facilities across the country are running dangerously low on essential supplies, the CDC has declared that handmade masks are acceptable and can provide healthcare workers with an additional layer of protection. If you’ve got some time and some basic sewing skills, you can make reusable fabric masks to help protect local healthcare professionals using...
Windham School News
Two weeks ago, give or take, Governor Mike DeWine ordered all schools closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This action left many districts scrambling to get digital/ online classes and hard copy educational plans ready for their students. Windham Exempted Village School was no different in getting that set up. Administration and teachers armed with Chromebooks...
What Were You Doing Before The Corona Virus Hit?
Funny you should ask that question. Me, I am just sitting here in my command chair (as my daughter and lady friend call it), watching the depressing, minute by minute updates on CNN about the Corona Virus situation out of the corner of my eye-- sound turned off --while trying to write about something familiar, exciting and reminiscent of...
Portage Cares 4 Seniors
All of us at Home Instead Senior Care and our Portage County Community care so deeply for our seniors that we want to provide information and contacts for seniors to stay in their homes and remain healthy. To the Home Instead Senior Care® network, enhancing the lives of aging adults and their families isn’t just about providing care services. If...
Portage County Health District temporarily discontinues walk-in services
Ravenna - In an effort to follow Governor DeWine’s and the Ohio Department of Health’s Director Dr Acton’s recommendations to flatten the curve and lessen the spread of COVID-19, the Portage County Health District will be temporarily discontinuing walk-in services to the public. This will be effective Monday, March 23rd, until further notice. Necessary, in-person meetings will be provided by...
Local Experts Share Their Gifts Online
As people are encouraged to stay home and schools and local business close their doors, many people are finding new, safer alternatives to continue doing what they love. For example, while local zoos and other family-friendly locations have closed their doors to in-person visits, experts have moved online to share about the animals they care for with online visitors...
Food Cupboards Put Protocols In Place To Protect Volunteers & Clients
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect our region, the health and safety of the community is our primary concern. Area foodbanks are taking action to protect the volunteers and the neighbors being served. The Nelson-Garrettsville Community Cupboard has made adjustments to their upcoming distributions - during the month of April, clients will be asked to remain in their vehicles...
Townhall Will Continue Offering Services To Clients
Although Gov. DeWine has issued a “Stay At Home” order, Townhall will remain open because we are considered to be an essential business. The only change is that we can no longer have face-to-face sessions with our outpatient counseling clients- no groups will be held and individual sessions will be done over the phone. Clinic patients should still come...
Pochedly Greenhouse Offers Online Orders
Mantua - In this time of uncertainty, families may struggle to find a sense of normalcy. Adjusting to sheltering at home, usual springtime activities like yard work and garden planning may help pass the time and remind us of our typical springtime activities. Some may begin thinking of planting flowers or tending a vegetable garden. In times of stress,...
PORTAGE COUNTY EMA COLLECTING PROTECTIVE WEAR FOR REALLOCATION TO PORTAGE HEALTHCARE AND SAFETY WORKERS
RAVENNA, OH – ThePortage County Emergency Management Agency is asking businesses and the public for a variety of specific donations to help local safety and healthcare workers during the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.EMA officials are requesting that donations be limited to what is listed. Items for safety and healthcare workers should be delivered to the EMA office at...
Difficult Decisions For Small Businesses
Given the uncertainty and rapidly changing nature of the environment, many small businesses are doing thier best to determine the services that can be offered. The Villager companies (Weekly Villager, Villager Emporium and Villager Printing) are family-owned and operated and the health of our families and our employees are the most important thing! Our company is not alone, some businesses have...
Portage Park District Suspending Programs
Ravenna - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and guidelines to reduce public exposure of the virus, the Portage Park District is suspending all public programs until further notice. If you have already registered for an upcoming program, our Public Engagement staff will be in contact to inform you when they are rescheduled. We encourage the public to continue to...
Portage County Senior Center Discontinues Activities
Ravenna - The Portage County Senior Center has announced for the safety of their members, they will discontinue all social and recreational activities until further notice. They will be open only for those members who are in need of a carry-out lunch. For more information, the senior center can be reached at 330-297-3456. The Kitchen can be reached directly...
Big Brothers, Big Sisters Suspends Activities
Ravenna - Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Portage County will be suspending all face to face operations as of Monday, March 16 for the next 60 days. This will include all interviews, match meetings and activities. In addition, they are placing all matches on hiatus for the next 60 days. Matches will not be meeting in person but are encouraged...
Haylett’s Corner Store Expansion Planned
Mantua - In these uncertain times, good news is always welcome. And for those of you who frequent Haylett’s Corner store, you’ll be happy to know that the local business has plans to expand in the near future. The store is already offering grab and go items at Restoration 44 -- items that are exclusive to the local coffee...
Portage Treasurer Announces Coronavirus Response Plan
Ravenna – Portage County Treasurer Brad Cromes announced changes Tuesday to his office’s operations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Effective March 17th through at least March 27th, the Treasurer’s Office will not accept in-person tax payments, and will limit pay-ins for other County offices. “Health experts tell us that social distancing is the best way to slow the progress...
It Takes a Village
Garrettsville - The James A. Garfield Local Schools, Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard, People Tree, SkyLane Bowling and Garrettsville United Methodist Church are working together to feed Garfield students during the state-mandated school closure. Full details have been announced through the Garfield Schools. Here’s how to help right now: Support our mission to “shut the door on hunger” in our district by...
Copper Kettle Antiques Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Ravenna - Do you remember how old you were when you found your passion? That moment when you fell in love with whatever it was that just made your heart light up with joy. Nancy Shaffer, the owner of Copper Kettle Antiques and Collectibles, can pin-point childhood memories when she fell in love with antiques and the stories they...
Portage Park District Permanently Conserves 89 Acres in Portage County
Ravenna– Portage Park District has conserved over 89 acres in Kent and Streetsboro, bringing the park district’s total conserved acreage to over 2,100. The newly conserved land consists of four unique properties adjacent to existing park properties and includes high quality wetlands, forests and open space. Creating larger tracts of contiguous natural areas provides increased quality of wildlife habitat...
Stalking Opponent Speaks at Local High School
Garrettsville - Last week, nationally recognized victim advocate Debbie Riddle spoke to juniors and seniors at James A. Garfield High School to shed light on the topic of stalking. According to Riddle, stalking is a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Riddle explained that stalkers use non-criminal behavior...
Christian Womens Fellowship Celebrates 190 Years
The Christian Womens Fellowship of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Ravenna, met on January 22, 2020 to begin the observance of the 190th Anniversary of the church which was formed in 1830. A presentation of the history of the women’s work which began in 1854 was given by Dorothy Jones, Vonna Klamut and Mary Lou Vair. The program...
EAA Air Academy Candidates
The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 5, based at the Geauga County Airport in Middlefield, is proud to announce that four students, who attended the Summer Youth Aviation Camp last summer, have been selected to go on to the next level and attend the EAA Air Academy Camps in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this summer. The four students are: Luke Shipman from...
Neikirk Retires After 20 Year with Windham Township
Windham Twp. - The Windham Township Trustees opened their meeting in the usual fashion and moved right to the business at hand. They approved the minutes from February meeting and the expenditures. Rich Gano introduced Sara Blake to the trustees and said Blake was interested in serving on the zoning commission. Blake has been a township resident for about...
Crestwood Students Bring Home Gold and Silver
Two Crestwood students that are currently enrolled in the Electricity program at Maplewood Career Center brought home Gold and Silver at the Northeast Ohio SkillsUSA Regional Competition. James Wheeler, a senior, competed in the construction wiring competition last year but did not make it to state. “James came into this year with a desire to learn and be the...
Area Undergraduate Students Invited to Apply to NEOMED’s MEDCAMP
Rootstown – Northeast Ohio Medical University’s MEDCAMP program, to be held July 9-11, 2020, is accepting applications from highly motivated undergraduate students. Now in its 30th year, MEDCAMP provides “hands-on” experiences in bio-medical science workshops ? research, clinical problem-solving and an introduction to the fields of clinical medicine. Participants join physicians, College of Medicine students, faculty and researchers in performing...
Ravenna Art on Main Festival Accepting Artist Applications
Ravenna – Main Street Ravenna is excited to announce the fifth year of ART on Main! The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2020, and will be from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Ravenna. The artist selection committee is now accepting applications for the following original artwork: oil/acrylic, watercolor, photography, sculpture, graphics/drawing, textiles, clay,...
Windham has a School Levy on March Ballot
Windham - Windham Board of Education has placed a 1.5 Permanent Improvement (PI) Levy on the March 17th ballot this year. The 1.5 mills PI Levy can only be used for the following: for building repairs and upgrades, buses, bus repair, heating and cooling parts, parking lots and repairs, maintenance grounds equipment and repairs to technology and technology infrastructure....
Local 4-H Club Celebrates Awareness Week
It’s National 4-H Awareness Week and that’s reason to celebrate. 4-H got its start in rural fields, but today it’s everywhere—from city streets and schools, to neighborhoods and universities. That’s why 4-H has stayed important for more than 100 years. Part of 4-H awareness week is that the local clubs ask local businesses if they can paint their windows,...
6th Annual Road Apple Roubaix Rolls Through Garrettsville
Garrettsville - The 6th annual Road Apple Roubaix has come (Boy, did it!) and gone (After a great ride-around covering a scenic slice of Portage & Geauga counties), having pretty much filled the center of town( and rocked Main Street--thanks to DJ Jason Adkins) for a good chunk of the day--a bright, sunny, chilly day, great for a ride. After...
