Giving Back: St. Joseph Church Achieves Premier Blood Partner Status
Mantua - St. Joseph Church in Mantua has been recognized by the American Red Cross as one of its Premier Blood Partners for 2019, a prestigious honor, for its support of the community and national blood supply. Last year, St. Joe’s helped the Red Cross collect 136 blood donations as part of its deep-rooted commitment to help save lives...
PCDL Fine Amnesty
Portage County District Library (PCDL) is pleased to announce that its fine amnesty will remain in effect until June 30, 2019. During this time, Library administration and the Board of Trustees will take steps to make the library permanently fine-free on most materials. This only pertains to overdue fines and not to lost or damaged materials, and does not...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Learns About Opioid Crisis
Speakers at the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club on January 14, 2019 were Mantua mayor Linda Clark with Start Talking Portage and Karen Kravitz of the Portage Mental Health and Recovery Board who both spoke of programs dealing with the opioid crisis facing the county and the nation. These included making known information on signs, resources, steps to use in dealing...
Twentieth Century Club News
A hardy group of Eskimo emulators met in the Professional Development Center at the James A. Garfield Elementary School for the January 17, 2019 meeting of the Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville. In a reference to the upcoming program for the evening, the roll call was answered by naming what kind of dancer each of the various members would...
Treasurer Partners With Local Groups To Feed Seniors, Vets Finance Tips
Ravenna – Seniors and veterans in Portage County hungry for financial guidance now need look no further than under their plates, thanks to a new initiative from the office of Treasurer Brad Cromes. Called the “Pocketbook Placemats Program,” the effort seeks to help those in these commonly-targeted groups avoid scammers and make sound financial choices by providing easy-to-digest tips...
Sweet-heART Auction
Mantua - On Saturday, February 9, come to the 3rd Annual Sweet-heART Auction and Cookie Walk at the Mantua Center School building , 11741 Mantua Center Road. Art--Cookies—Whimsies--Specialty Dessert Auction (new)—Music by Skip Schweitzer and Cal Craig—home made food by The Mantua Restoration Society, Inc., plus two special raffle items. This is a fund raiser to continue The Mantua...
“Snapology” Classes Are Under Way at JAG Elementary
Garrettsville - Students in grades 3-6 have just begun a six-week after school enrichment program that teaches children about science, technology, engineering, and math (S.T.E.A.M) through hands on work with various LEGO models. Snapology is a franchise program that comes to Garfield Elementary courtesy of Alicia Lenczewski of Kent. Fifth grade science teacher Peggy Shay has used the program...
Crestwood Provides Local Help During Government Shut-Down
Mantua - Reaching an unprecedented 30 days, this latest government shutdown has meant that countless families living paycheck to paycheck with government jobs began 2019 in a tough financial position. Although Ohio doesn’t have a high number of government employees directly affected by the latest shutdown, cuts to the Department of Homeland Security, Treasury, Commerce and the EPA impact...
Positive Morning Greetings at Garfield Elementary
Garrettsville - Fist bump… High-five… Handshake… Hug. No matter what the greeting, this is sure to be another great day in Mrs. Livingston‘s classroom! To help build relationships and demonstrate kindness, students in Mrs. Livingston‘s kindergarten class each receive an individualized morning greeting from an appointed “student greeter” of their peers. Students choose the greeting they wish from a...
Hiram Police Raise Funds for New K9 Officer
Hiram - Corporal Devin Brown at the Hiram Police Department is expectantly awaiting the arrival of a new partner. While Brown doesn’t have a preference on whether his new partner is male or female, he’s certain his new partner will take a bite out of crime in local communities. Brown is fairly certain his new partner will be willing...
WVFD News
Windham - The WVFD Joint Fire District met for their regularly scheduled meeting recently with all board members in attendance. Jayme Neikirk opened the meeting with nominations for the chairman. Brian Miller nominated Ron Kilgore as chairman and Cheryl Taylor second the motion, the motion carried. Kilgore took over the meeting from there. The board chose Miller as...
Mantua Village Garden Club News
Mantua - Members of the MVGC had the installation of their 2019 officers during their annual Christmas party, held, this year, at the home of member, Linda Hurd. The members enjoyed socializing, and a lively gift exchange, after a delicious holiday meal. Members also brought paper products to donate to the 4-C’s Food Cupboard. Newly elected officers were installed...
Portage County Republican Women’s Club Monthly Meeting
The Portage County Republican Women’s Club first meeting of 2019 will be held on Monday, January 21st. 6;30 p.m. at Susie K’s Tea Room, 145 E. Main Street, Ravenna, OH 44266. Our speaker will be Faith Lyon, Director Board of Election. Reservation and dinner selection are required. Please call 330 687-4067. The Club meets...
News From Mantua Village
Mantua- At the December 2018 meeting, resident Jason Wysong presented Council with documentation from the Ad Hoc Committee that was convened with the goal of gathering facts, information, and ideas regarding the current state of the village’s water treatment plant & waste water treatment plant. Initially, the group reviewed the August 2018 WTP & WWTP Facilities Plan prepared by...
Preserving Geauga County Farmland for Generations to Come
The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) provides funding to assist landowners in preserving farmland. The program purchases agricultural easements from landowners who volunteer to keep their land in agricultural production in perpetuity. For the third consecutive year, the Geauga County Board of County Commissioners, with assistance from Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District, is...
Garrettsville G-Men Classic 2019
Garrettsville - Most people recognize a Rubik’s cube when they see one - its multi-colored squares are pretty distinctive. And most people have, at one point in their life, tried to solve one. How fast could you do it? Would it take you a couple hours? A couple days? Or could you never solve one? Well, the world record...
Maple Tree Tapping Time 2019 – Burton Tapping Ceremony
Burton - Each spring Burton Village comes alive after a long winter to become Pancake Town U.S.A. The first step to this is the annual Tree Tapping Ceremony. The maple trees that grow in the Village Green will be officially tapped to kick off the 2019 maple season. The 2019 Tree Tapping Ceremony, sponsored by the Burton Chamber...
Garrettsville Area Chamber Sets Calendar
Garrettsville - On Wednesday, the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors met to set the 2019 Calendar of Events. Garrettsville will be going green in March ~ the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will once again happen with lots of corned beef, cabbage, green beer as well as entertainment and family fun! More details to...
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...
