Heads up, James A. Garfield Grads
The James A. Garfield Alumni association will be marking its 10th anniversary this fall while recognizing “old timers” of the classes of ‘2005, ‘95, ’85, ’75, ’65, ’55, ’45, ’35, and as far into the past as possible. Come one, come all. Bring your friends and family, classmates (and teachers, if they’re still tottering about) and folks in the neighborhood. Tom Klem is recruiting attendees from the Class of 1995, Andrea Fox is attempting the same for the Class of 2005. Anyone out there who’d like to do the same for your class, have at it. Y’all come!
Spring Flowers Return to Garrettsville
This year the hanging baskets will be themed in pink in honor of long time member Faye Carlisle who passed away last December. Hanging baskets are planned to appear along State Routes 88 & 82, and at $55 to $75 per basket, expenses can add up quickly. Anyone interested in contributing to the flower basket fund can make a tax deductible donation by sending their contibution to the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce (Post Office Box 1, Garrettsville, OH 44231). Please be sure write “Flower Baskets” in the memo line of your check.
Newton Falls Prayer Shawl Ministry Celebrates Anniversary
Over 300 Prayer Shawl Lapghans have been given to people suffering from illness and many other needs. These shawls and laps have been given locally and mailed throughout the United States and to troops overseas.
New Emergency Alert Sirens Keep Hiram Families Safe
Stressing the importance of this seemingly old-school system, Chief Byers shared, “The 911 outage this January is a prime example of how a battle-tested method is still relevant.” Byers referred to the 911-outage caused when a steam pipe burst, damaging an AT&T switching station. That random event knocked out 911 service in Summit, Portage, Stark and Medina Counties for two-days.
Garrettsville YMCA Kicks Off Summer Camp for Kids
Campers will play games and sports, do arts and crafts, spend time outside, get messy, go on field trips on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, participate in community projects, enjoy swimming every Thursday at the Geauga YMCA, and make new friends. The school-age program offers fun weekly themes that align with Ohio’s Common Core K-12 state standards. The curriculum includes activities in the following areas: arts & humanities; character development; large motor skills and fitness; literacy; science and math, STEM, nutrition, and service learning projects.
Princess Party & Book Signing At Village Bookstore
Young ladies are encouraged to attend in their favorite princess dresses. They will receive gifts and have a chance to meet Freya, the Goddess of Love, who will read the first chapter of The Enchanted Necklace, a new classic fairy tale written by Hiram College alum James Bradley Clarke.
Mark’s Automotive To Close
Garrettsville - A staple on North Street for almost twenty-four years, Mark’s Automotive will be closing the doors for good the week of April 13, 2015. Mark Johnson, owner and operator of Mark’s Automotive has decided to retire and “enjoy life a bit”.
Hiram Fire Department Swears in Assistant Chief
“We as a department, and the community as a whole, are really lucky to have Brandon take Mark's place as our Assistant Chief,” shared HFD Fire Chief Bill Byers.
Custom Car Leaders Form Partnership
Two titans in the world of custom cars have formed a partnership in Northeast Ohio. Portage Trim and Mongoose Motorsports, of Ravenna, have teamed up to become one of the most formidable custom motor vehicle shops around.
Crestwood Intermediate School Visits Cleveland Museum of Art
During two special Saturdays in March, Crestwood Intermediate School (CIS) Art Teacher Patricia Timbrook hosted groups of CIS students and their guests on an excursion to the Cleveland Museum of Art on University Circle.
Active Minds of Hiram College Holds Panel Discussion
Active Minds of Hiram College held a panel discussion on suicide prevention as part of their “Green Week” – a week of mental health awareness activities on campus.
JA Garfield Historical Society News
he James A. Garfield Historical Society enjoyed three rings of excitement—celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Open House(with potluck dinner) for the public and a slightly irregular monthly meeting for March, held on Tuesday, March 17, rather than on Monday, March 16. All in a good cause.
Saving Mantua’s Center School… Fighting In The Trenches
Make no mistake, the whole initiative to Save the Mantua Center School has divided the current township trustees—split them three ways as to what to do with the old school building. This not a new development either, because historically there has been much mud-slinging since the purchase of the school in 2004. The community has demonstrated overwhelming support for saving the school and making it into a community center.
Windham’s Leadership and Legacies Teams Advance to State
Twenty winning teams from the local Leadership and Legacies History Contest held at Windham High School earlier this month, advanced to compete at Youngstown State University this past weekend.
Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report
The March 23 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club featured the program by Adam Wohlever, District Manager of the Ohio State Parks Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
Garrettsville Summerfest Announces Idol Auditions
The open-call auditions are scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2015 at James A Garfield High School at 1 p.m. (Use event entrance) Contestants are asked to come prepared to sing an entire song without musical accompaniment.
‘The Coffee Mill’ Waiting to Brew in Garrettsville
It took six months for developer Mike Maschek of Hiram to renovate the historic feed mill at the intersection of Main, Center and Water streets. Maschek had gained ownership of the dilapidated mill property from Marty Paul in May 2014. By December, its exterior had been transformed from a sagging eyesore to a beautiful centerpiece for the village.
Hero’s Rock Rises from the Rubble
Scott and Trish Snyder of Mantua had a simple idea when they started their part-time business making handcrafted wooden rocking horses for children of all ages. “For every 10 Trott Wood Creations we build, we pledged to give one away,” they explained. As they sold their original rocking horses, dragons, and other creations through local art shows and events, the idea for Hero’s Rock was born, giving Trish and Scott the mission to build tribute rockers for the children of fallen heroes. According to the two self-described hippies, “It was a play on words but it seemed so perfect -- The most important thing to each of these heroes was their family…their rock.” In addition to customized rocking horses for small children, Hero’s Rock also creates Treasured Chests for older children, providing a place to hold treasured keepsakes of their loved one. Each custom piece features a laser-engraved portrait and service title of their loved one, so that their hero will never be forgotten.
Destination Imagination Competition at Hiram College
Hiram - This past weekend, 60 student-led teams from 12 area schools converged at the Hiram College campus for the District 15 Destination Imagination (DI) Competition. DI is an educational program where student teams solve open-ended challenges, then present their solutions at regional, state, and global tournaments. Competitors range in age from Early Learners (ages 4 through 7) to High...
Quilts and the Underground Railroad
Newton Falls - The fifth grade students of Newton Falls Middle School recently had a guest speaker to discuss the topic of the Underground Railroad. Jean Watkins, was invited by Miss Megan Perrine to speak about this era of history and share her talents for quilting with her social studies classes. Mrs. Jean Watkins has a background of arts and...
Over 5,000 Easter Eggs!
Over 5,000 eggs will be filled with candy and contain special prize tickets from the Ravenna Women of the Moose. Check out the times below for each age group's egg hunt times. Be sure to bring a bag, basket or container for the candy you find in your eggs. This annual event is held rain, snow, or shine. We hope to see you there!
Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report
Garrettsville - It was a buoyant mood at the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club on Monday, March 16 as the group heard from incipient new member, Adam Jenkins, of Edward Jones Investments, and Megan Ryser, of Garfield High School, who will be competing in the 4-Way Speech Contest, representing the local club. The group agreed to hold reports to presentation at the...
The Garfield Alumni Association Is Looking For You!
Garrettsville - The Garfield Alumni Association is giving a heads-up to all individuals who attended—that’s graduates, plus—the schools/townships which make up the James A. Garfield Local District; that’s Freedom, Garrettsville, Nelson, the eastern remnants of Hiram, pieces-parts of Charlestown or Windham. If you’re a G-Man, listen up! Mark September 19th, 2015 on your calendar This will be the 10th anniversary...
Caring Bunny expanded to a morning of fun activities for children on spectrum
Started three years ago by Autism Society of Ohio, this annual event is dedicated to making sure that families with children with special needs have the opportunity to enjoy seasonal traditions like the Bunny Photo Experience.
Jack Joins Garrettsville Police Department
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Police Department is pleased to announce that our new K-9 team has been selected. Ptl. Keith Whan and his new partner Jack started training on March 16, 2015. They will graduate on April 24, 2015 as a certified K-9 team through the State of Ohio. They will be certified in utility and narcotics detection.
2015 Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp Scholarship
The Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is pleased to offer scholarship funding for the 2015 Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp, held June 7-12, 2015 at FFA Camp Muskingum in Carroll County.
One Year Later: Signs of Life Beneath the Ashes?
Garrettsville - Everything changed on March 22, 2014. Like the day the music died, that date altered local history irreversibly. The Great Garrettsville Fire ripped through the Buckeye Block on Main Street, taking with it 14 businesses, a once-familiar skyline, and 160 years of history.
A Great Day for Goodnight’s
Hiram - “This is the next phase of our 36 years in the business,” shares Goodnight’s Kitchen & Bath, Inc. owner Jerry Goodnight, Junior. And it’s a great day in Hiram Village, as the family-run business relocates from their long-time home in Garrettsville. The Goodnights were unable to find space to suit their needs in Garrettsville. Thanks to a...
Portage Park District Foundation Announces Award Winners
Portage County - The 17th Annual Portage Environmental Conservation Awards Dinner will take place Saturday April 11th and will feature a reception with music, hors d’oeuvres featuring local foods, a buffet dinner and more. The 2015 Portage County Environmental Conservation Award Winners to be honored at the event include: Environmental Education: Hiram College Tree House Project Environmental Activism: Downtown Mantua Revitalization...
Garrettsville – Hiram Rotary Report
The ladies and gentlemen of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Club were pleased to host Ms Cheryl Warren, incoming District Governor of District 6630 ( Northeast Ohio) at their recent meeting on March 2. As it was their regular business meeting, their guest was able to get the lowdown on the many local projects and activities that Rotary pursues in the community.
