Windham Township Trustees Get Organized for the New Year
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on January 3, 2019 with all trustees and fiscal officer in attendance. The meeting was called to order by the fiscal officer Jayme Neikirk who then opened the floor for nominations for chairman of the board. Rich Gano nominated Danny Burns for chairman of the board, Brian...
Hiram Township Trustee News
Hiram Twp. - Fiscal Officer Diane Rodhe noted that the Grant Agreement document for the 2018 NOPEC Energized Community Grant Program for $7,516.00 was presented for signature to Tustees Steve Pancost and Jack Groselle. Next, trustees voted unanimously to approve the Ohio Edison quote of $1471.58 for the purchase and installation of a cobra extension arm and light for...
J.A. Garfield Elementary Rocks!
Garrettsville - The Shelly Company is one of Ohio’s leading limestone, concrete and asphalt paving companies. With more than 90 locations and 1,600 employees around the state, you may wonder why they recently sent two of their brightest employees to spend the day with sixth-graders at James A. Garfield Elementary School in Garrettsville. According to Natalie Walmsley, Material Coordinator...
Free Classes in Portage County
The Aspire Program is a non-profit that has served adults in Portage County for over 30 years. Aspire has sites available throughout Portage County in the morning, afternoon, or evening, which provides: • HSE/GED classes – Earn your high school equivalency at your own pace. Attend class and a certified instructor will guide you with...
MSFD News
Mantua - At the last meeting, Fire Chief Matt Roosa swore in new full-time firefighter Hanna Rollin. Ms. Rollin has worked as a firefighter in Rootstown; she was hired by the MSFD in December. She is a Crestwood graduate who lives in Shalersville. In other news, Chief Roosa asked the fire board to accept the resignation of Mike Pender. Pender...
Socks From Santa Makes Huge Impact
Garrettsville - We expect certain qualities from a leader: A bold vision, an inspirational plan, and discipline to see the project through to the end. Ultimately, a great leader provides a measurable, impressive outcome and a new goal to further the original vision. What we don’t expect is all of these qualities from a 7-year-old boy. And...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the last Board meeting, Superintendent David Toth shared some information on a new proposal under consideration by State Legislators to consider alternative pathways for students to receive a high school diploma. If you recall, recent changes in graduation requirements had been made that deem that an estimated 30% of Ohio’s high school seniors would not fulfill...
Recent Changes to Distracted Driving Law
House Bill 95, a new Ohio law aimed at cutting down on distracted driving in the State, recently went into effect, and it signifies some big changes for local drivers. The bill enhances existing moving violations to the extent that law enforcement officers no longer will need to prove a driver is texting, but only that a moving violation...
WVFD News
Windham - The WVFD Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting with all board members and fiscal officer in attendance. The board approved the November minutes, expenditures and bank reconciliation. They also approved the temporary appropriations of $600,000 for 2019. Chief Rich Gano reported that they had 539 calls to date (11/30/18). The gear extractor is in however, only...
PCDL Book Discussion Club
Garrettsville - The Book Discussion Club of the Garrettsville branch of the Portage County District Library will meet on Tuesday January 15, 2018, in the library meeting room at 5:00p.m. The month’s selection is Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard. Churchill, the man who would become Britain’s Prime...
Curtains Up Theatre to Bring “Clue” to the Stage
Garrettsville - The board game, “Clue” comes to life, on stage, with the Curtains up Theatre’s production of “Clue on Stage”. It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well…dead. So whodunit? Join the iconic...
A Very Special Shopping Excursion
Last Saturday morning, 27 kids from area families had the chance to do some Christmas shopping for themselves and their families at Target in Streetsboro. The children hailed from a dozen local families in the Crestwood and James A. Garfield School Districts. Special shoppers were on hand to help them select their gifts and make their purchases. And while...
Santa Pub Crawl Sets Record
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Summerfest Santa Pub Crawl was a smashing success with a record-breaking number of participants. December 8th’s crawl drew 115 participants ready to get their Christmas on and raise money for Garrettsville Summerfest. The pub crawl is quite a simple affair. Everyone dons their most obnoxious Christmas costume, pays a $25 entry fee, spends...
Garrettsville Receives An Early Christmas Present
Garrettsville - What happens when a community comes together? Great things! On December 12th, the Village of Garrettsville received a gazebo that was donated by the Garrettsville Family YMCA in partnership with the Cleveland YMCA. What started as a discussion, six months later became reality. In May of 2018, the Euclid Family YMCA closed its doors...
K&K Meat Shoppe a Local Treasure in Mantua
Mantua - Stepping inside the K & K Meat Shoppe, you’re engulfed in the aroma of smoked sausages and if you’re lucky, the succulent scent of wonder-roast rotisserie chicken. This family owned and operated shop on Main Street in Mantua provides quality meats, a full service deli, and an assortment of sandwiches and soups. “Our shop has a wood-burning...
Windham Holds the Fourth Annual Christmas Celebration
Windham - The Fourth Annual Parade of Lights and Polar Express, Christmas Celebration was held in Windham this past weekend. Although the weather was quite chilly, it didn’t keep folks from coming out to celebrate the season. The parade stepped off at 6:00pm from the Dollar General Store and went south, down Main Street to Center Street ending at...
Hiram Township News
Hiram Twp - At their last meeting, architect Hal Stamm presented preliminary details and information regarding the septic system at the new building. In similar news, Fiscal Officer Diane Rodhe asked the trustees to approve a resolution authorizing First Energy to install a streetlight at the entrance at the township’s property on State Route 82. Similarly, Chief Bill...
News from Mantua Village
Mantua - On Saturday, December 15th from 3-4 pm, Portage Park District staff will host attendees on a journey about what happens during winter in the parks. They’ll discuss how plants, animals and insects adapt to the season’s cold weather and what tracks can be spotted in the snow. The program begins at the Pop-Up Artists’ Market at 10676...
Nature’s Ornaments
From evergreens to icicles, the beauty of the holiday season can be seen in Nature. Try your hand at making your own unique ornaments from natural items by stopping into The West Woods Nature Center on Sunday, December 23, any time 2 to 4 p.m. during Nature Ornaments: Make It Yourself!Registration is required ahead of time to join in on...
Candlelight Christmas Service Invitation
This year will be my wife, Pastor Janie and my ninth year celebrating Christmas with the First Congregational Church of Freedom. This will be our final Christmas services with them as we are being called by our Lord into retirement at the end of the year. Please join us on December 23 at 6:30 pm for the Candlelight...
New Adventures donates 150 canned food items to the 4C’s Food Cupboard
Mantua - For the month of November, the New Adventures Early Learning Center students participated in a canned food drive to be donated to Mantua’s 4C’s Food Cupboard. The students learned about the importance of giving back to others in their community and to people in need. The Pre-Kindergarten class collected the most items with more than 75...
A Successful Warm Hearts, Warm Kids Coat Drive
Portage County - Each year members of the Portage County Insurance Association, a collection of Insurance Agents and vendors throughout Portage County hosts a Warm Hearts, Warm Kids Coat Drive. The association collected 335 kids coats, 20 adults coats, and numerous hats, gloves, snow pants, boots, and scarves which were distributed to three Portage Co. schools: Kathy...
Middlefield Keeps the Grinch from Stealing their Christmas
Middlefield - How do decorated trees, a craft show, the Grinch, fireworks, Cindy Lou Who and present snatching work together? If you said Merry Middlefield then you’d be correct. This past weekend it was Merry Middlefield, a Christmas celebration that included the Grinch, along with his side kick Max visiting area businesses trying to steal the children’s gifts the...
Angus McDougall Recognized as Ohio History Teacher of the Year
Mantua - At a recent School Board meeting, 2018 Ohio History Teacher of the Year, Angus McDougall was recognized by State Coordinator Christian Pascarella from the the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The Institute’s mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. Pascarella noted that McDougall was selected from over...
ACT Prep Workshop Jan. 12 at James A. Garfield High School
New workshops this winter will offer one-day sessions packed with review and strategies for time-strapped students to achieve higher ACT scores.Area students will master testing strategies, conquer core subjects and build confidence to ace the college entrance exam and stay competitive among peers for college admission and scholarship dollars. Students can choose a workshop that fits their schedules: ? James...
Hiram Police Receive AAA Platinum Award
Hiram - In public comment, resident Daniel Burdecki inquired about the potential for US Mail delivery to his home in the village. He noted that it is inconvenient to travel to the Post Office each day to retrieve his mail, and noted he’d prefer receiving regular deliveries to his home. After some discussion as to the reasons behind the...
Thank You from the JAG Historical Society
The James A Garfield Historical Society would like to thank everyone who helped with our Christmas Walk 2018. It takes a village of volunteers to have such a successful event. We are most grateful to the homeowners who generously opened up their homes. Some decorating by themselves, some allowing our members to come in and fill their homes with a...
Mantua Township Historical Cemeteries Restoration Project
The Mantua Township Historical Cemeteries Restoration Project is a recently established group for those interested in the Pioneer and Eastlawn Cemeteries in order to preserve their historical significance. Under the direction of the Township Trustees the organization will evaluate, research, and with fund-raising for professional help, restore applicable gravestones. The group is represented by three township organizations: The Mantua Restoration...
Garfield Lego Teams Compete In Regional Competition
Garrettsville - On Sunday, December 2, five Lego teams from James A. Garfield traveled to the regional competition in Aurora. It was a day of judging, coding, competing, and camaraderie. The competition is completed in three parts. There is a research project portion, a second part which asks teams to work together and share their...
Ravenna Community Choir Presents Rhapsody in Bluegrass
Ravenna - Please join us for a fun-filled afternoon when the Ravenna Community Choir presents a new Christmas cantata, Rhapsody in Bluegrass by Joseph M. Martin, at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, at the Ravenna Assembly of God. Rhapsody in Bluegrass: A Christmas Jubilee tells the Christmas story with music based on American folk songs, spirituals, bluegrass-styled carols...
