MSFD Gets New Vehicles
We reported in May that the Mantua-Shalerville Fire Department received an upgrade to its Insurance Services rating, or ISO rating, which could result in discounted insurance rates for residents in communities served by the department. Based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best ranking, as of May 1st, 2014, the MSFD now ranks at a 4/4y. The last score received by the MSFD was a ranking of 6/9 in 1994.This phenomenal improvement in ISO rating is due, in large part, to the purchase of newer, more efficient vehicles now in service at the department.
GCPL adds World Vital Records to genealogy research resources
Geauga County – Geauga County Public Library is expanding its genealogical research resources with the addition of the World Vital Records database. As of July 1, GCPL patrons have access to more than 4.2 billion names in family history record collections worldwide. Created in 2006, World Vital Records offers easy-to-navigate collections of yearbooks, maps, certificates, immigration and military records,...
Brown Wins Silver Medal at the Special Olympics
Polly Brown is no stranger to the Special Olympics. She has competed in the Winter Games for several years now but this year she also qualified for the Summer Games, which is a new venture for the 27 year old Windham resident. Brown who has competed in Nordic Skiing at the Winter Games was able to qualify for bowling in the Summer Games.
Road Issues Dominate Windham Township Meeting
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly schedule meeting with all the trustees and fiscal officer in attendance. The meeting was called to order and the trustees approved the expenditures, and minutes from the June meeting. Road Supervisor Brian Miller reported that Mr. Isler removed the electric poles on the green and thanked him for helping with...
Nelson Township Trustee News
Nelson Trustees meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the Community House. Meetings are open to the public and residents are encourage to attend.
Join Portage APL at the Paws for Golf Charity Outing on August 16th!
On August 16, 2014, Portage APL and the Paws for Golf Committee hope you will join them for a fun filled day of golf. All proceeds benefit the APL and the nearly a thousand animals rescued and adopted each year. The outing will be held at Sugar Bush Golf Club in Garrettsville from 12pm – 7pm. This 18-hole scramble includes a cart, lunch, free beverages, gifts, BBQ dinner as well as skill and door prizes!
Deadline Nears for Chapman Award Nominations
The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 14, 2014. Nomination forms are available at all Geauga County Public library branches including Bainbridge, Chardon, Geauga West and Middlefield Libraries, Newbury and Thompson Stations, the Bookmobile, and at the Geauga County Public Library Administrative Center 12701 Ravenwood Dr., Chardon. More than one nomination form may be submitted per person.
Ox Roast Is Coming to St. Joe’s
The 51st Ox Roast Fair has plenty of fun to keep the whole family entertained, including: a wide variety of fair food favorites; live entertainment; Friday night fireworks; Saturday morning 5K Run/Walk & 1M Fun Walk; air-conditioned dining hall; an assortment of rides, games, contests & giveaways; over $7,000 in main raffle prizes & hourly progressive drawings each day plus several specialty raffles, souvenir T-shirts & hats!
Portage County to Hold Weeklong Celebration
Portage County Celebration Week, which will be held from August 24th through the 30th, is a week of festivities to share the exciting people, communities and organizations who help stitch together the fabric of Portage County.
American Legion Holds Flag Burning
The U.S. Flag Code stipulates that when an American flag has served its useful purpose, “it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.” Recently Mantua’s American Legion Post 193 conducted a disposal ceremony of unserviceable flags at the Mantua Village Park.
St. Ambrose Chicken Festival Winners
And the winners are… Everyone who attended last weekend’s Chicken Dinner Festival went home a winner (or at least with the satisfaction of having had a delicious meal). However, there are some who went home with a little bit more. Congratulations to all the following winners: $1,000 First PrizeBen Fashing $200 Second PrizeJulie Twardzik $100 Third PrizePauline Ross $100 Fourth PrizeCharlene & Richard Cermak $100...
Art Abounds Around Town This Weekend
Be sure to check out the Art Hop in Hudson, and Art on The Hill in Mantua this weekend!
Boy Discovers Ancient Fossil Along Silver Creek
Summertime for a certain 9-year-old boy is an endless string of sun-filled days spent cooling off in Silver Creek, digging for buried treasures alongside his cousin and grandpa. A typical day along the creek bed turns up ancient brachiopod fossils, historic bricks from long-gone Garrettsville streets, or even desiccated cattle bones that could be mistaken as the skeletal remains of a dinosaur. Until one fine day, as they were creek walking near Liberty Street and the water treatment plant. It was June 26. Grandpa Larry Beatty asked, “What’s this?” Grandson Brendan picked up the blackened, 2-inch, cone-shaped relic, convinced they’d found a dinosaur tooth. There was only one way to find out...
“And the results are in!”
The results from Garrettsville Summerfest's 2014 contests have been received. Award winners are listed as follows. ==================== Garrettsville Idol Youth: Olivia Sheer Teen: Jasmine Nevarez Adult: Jason Stachowski Car or Cash Raffle Grand: Mona Scapillini Second: Mattew Molner Third: Savannah Lorinchack Fourth: Bob Faber 10th Annual Garrettsville Lions Club Punt, Pass & Kick Contest 1st Place 4 Year Old Female Division: Reese Angel 1st Place 6 Year Old Female Division: Avery Angel 1st...
Top 10 Little-Known Facts as Garrettsville Celebrates its 210th Year
This village was settled 210 years ago, in early July 1804, by John Garrett of Delaware. On the occasion of Garrettsville’s Centennial Celebration, the history of early Garrettsville was written by S.M. Luther and published in SOUVENIR of Garrettsville ~ Centennial Home Coming. (Interesting to note it was published three years late in 1907!) Local businessman Christopher Perme discovered a copy of this relic on eBay, and has loaned it to the Villager in order to share these little-known facts about our hometown…
Campus of Excellence Progress
The latest update, delivered June 19 in a presentation and walk-through to an interested and inquisitive group disclosed the various contracts and contractors involved, from sitework and concrete through structural steel, lockers, HVAC, building electric(Scotchman Electric),painting and wall covering(Doug Seaman Decorating), technology and paving. Not to mention kitchen equipment, carpentry, flooring and plumbing. Every one of these contracts was bid out and issued keeping both the cost and the time constraints in mind. The intricacies of scope in such construction are quite amazing, involving the “breathability” of a building combined with building efficiency, updating of the utility functions for the entire campus, the element of “Seek and ye shall find,” in discovering an Insinkerator in the bus garage attic, brick types and so much more.
Nelson Township Trustee News
Non-violent inmates from the Portage County Jail worked alongside township employees, and a PlayWorld Systems specialist to erect the township’s playground equipment at Pixley Park on June 19th. The playground is expected to be ready for use by the second week of July.
Rick Patrick Named 2014 Summerfest Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal for the 2014 Summerfest parade is... Mayor Rick Patrick. Each year, the committee selects a person who has tirelessly given back to the community, by donating their time, money and energy to see the community grow and prosper. Rick Patrick is that man. Rick Patrick has served this community tirelessly over the years. He has served on the...
Join the Bike MS Pedal to the Point Ride
Don’t just ride, Bike MS. Join more than 2,800 cyclists on August 2-3, 2014 as they challenge themselves during the Bike MS Pedal to the Point Ride presented by The Andersons Inc. Charitable Foundation. The two-day inspirational ride is held every year to support people living with multiple sclerosis by providing programs, services and MS research to find the...
Village Piecemaker’s Quilt Club to Raffle “Village Square” Quilt
The Village Piecemaker’s Quilt Club has created this beautiful queen size quilt (95” x 112”) called “Village Square”. This quilt, which is being raffled, will be on display at the Weekly Villager office (8088 Main Street, Garrettsville) during the Garrettsville Summerfest. Tickets for the quilt are 6 for $5 or $1 each and will be available at the...
Local Resident Leaves Legacy
By terms of the sale the house will be called the Garfield Robbins Zimmerman House, to reflect the history of those who owned it. The home will house the offices for the Garfield Institute for Public Leadership, which instructs students in public service. Eventually, it will serve as a venue for discussions and guest speakers and a mini-museum showcasing the legacy left by James Garfield.
Perme Secures $10,000 Grant for Community Cupboard
In its short history, the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard has assisted more than 245 families. Currently, approximately 660 residents are using the food cupboard; over 50% of them children and senior citizens — and the need is increasing. Since its inception, the NGCC has distributed more than 64,500 items of food. More than one in seven Ohio households are reportedly facing a daily risk of hunger or are considered ‘food insecure’ — an increase of 71,000 households over last year.
Area Fireworks
Garrettsville Summerfest June 28, 2014 at 10:00 p.m. Downtown Garrettsville Hiram 4th of July July 3, 2014 at 9:30pm Hiram College Football Field Hiram, Ohio 44234 Aurora Fourth of July Fireworks July 4, 2014 at 9:45pm West Pioneer Trail Ball Fields Aurora, Ohio 44202 Woodside Lake Park Fireworks July 5, 2014 at 9:00pm Woodside Lake Park 2486 Frost Road, Streetsboro, Ohio 44241 Kent Heritage Festival July 5, 2014 at 10:00pm Downtown Kent, Mogadore Road, Kent, Ohio 44240 Newton...
Hiram Village Report
Police Chief Ed Samec reported that his Department has received a $2,000 grant from the Hiram Community Trust. The money will be used for the ‘Shop with a Cop’ program. In addition, Chief Samec reported that his Department has grown by two additional officers -- Officer Brittnee Wolf and Officer Keith Whan. In addition, Samec reported that Click or Ticket event in May was a big success.
Julie Thompson to speak about the “Last Great Train Robbery” in Garrettsville
Alvin “Creepy” Karpis' successful train heist in Garrettsville, lead to the first arrest made by J. Edgar Hoover, and catapulted Hoover and his G-Men into national prominence, and helping secure the Garfield school mascot name of G-Men.
Local author releases new book, Bash and the Chicken Coop Caper
Burton W. Cole will be part of the four-author book signing from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at The Village Bookstore, 8140 Main St., Garrettsville. Store owner Ellen Eckhouse invites all to her quaint, old treasure trove of new and used books and teddy bears in downtown Garrettsville. Cole will also be enthusing with the kids of the summer reading program from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, June 23, at the Garrettsville Public Library about the joys of writing. He will share his first “novel,” which he wrote when he was in fourth grade. Cole also plans to “try a writing exercise, read from the books, and laugh ourselves silly.” Books will also be availabe for signing.
Garrettsville Village Council Report
The mayor also gave an update from the last Planning Commission meeting. He said builder Mike Maschek showed his plans for the recently purchased feed mill at the east end of Main St. Demolition has already begun and should be completed by Summerfest. He also reported that the Pizza Hut construction has started and block is already being laid. The Mayor announced that Jeff Shehan was sworn in as a member of Planning Commission, he replaces Don Harvey.
Annual Barn Sale at The Barn Treasures
The Barn Treasures in Middlefield is holding their first annual Barn Sale this weekend. Get the details below.
Center School Needs You!
“The school building sitting mostly vacant is not serving the community and is costing the Township valuable resources. Unquestionably, this has become a divisive issue in the community.”
Bio-Med Science Academy Selected As Ohio STEM Learning Network Regional Training Center
Rootstown - As a result of its ongoing success in developing innovative and progressive learning opportunities for students, Bio-Med Science Academy, a year-round public STEM+M high school located on the campus of Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), has been selected by the Ohio STEM Learning Network to serve as one of its regional STEM training center sites. The Ohio STEM Learning...
