The Lorax, Literacy and Quilts
Mantua - Nora Brandt makes quilts. Her self-described “addiction” began with a request made by her eldest daughter Meghan, who passed away at age 26 from ovarian cancer. Initially, her first creations were given to the newborn children of Meghan’s friends, so that even though Meghan couldn’t be there herself to hold them, they would have a tangible gift...
Part V: Books or Bytes? Looking at the Library of the Future
I like the way the pages feel and sound when you turn them and the way some books smell warm from decades of paper decay beneath the whorls imprinted from generations of turning, penciled notes in the margin small and fading. (Robert Andropolis) Depending on how old you are, this little excerpt either fills you with the nostalgic memory of...
First Book – Portage County Accepting Book Grant Applications
Ravenna – First Book – Portage County announced today it is accepting book grant applications from community groups and nonprofits. This spring, First Book – Portage County plans to grant out approximately 1500 new books to programs in Portage County. Teachers and directors of local preschools, day care, after-school, tutoring and mentoring programs are encouraged to apply on behalf...
Rotary Report
The last meeting involved gearing up for the district Four-Way Speech Contest coming up on March 23 at Aurora High School. Local high school speakers are urged to sign up to participate…cash prizes and good practice for real-world situations. The local competition will take place on March 18. Speak up, kids! The G-H Rotary Club also voted to make a...
Excavation at Cleveland Museum of Art Brings The Last Days of Pompeii to Life
Cleveland - Working in conjunction with the Theatre Ninjas, a Cleveland-based theater troupe committed to creating “experiences that are out-of-the-ordinary, unforgettable events”, the Cleveland Museum of Art is bringing the tragic history of Pompeii to life. Located within the Cleveland Museum of Art’s exhibition titled The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection; on select days visitors to the...
Hiram Village News
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH STATE SEN. JOHN EKLUND On Friday, March 1, 2013 AT 8:30 A.M., State Sen. John Eklund will be at Koritansky Hall to exchange ideas and discuss the state’s new proposed 2014-2015 budget and any other matters of concern to our community. Koritansky Hall is located in the heart of Hiram at the intersections of SR 700,...
Navigators USA announces Chapter opening in Streetsboro, Ohio
Streetsboro - Navigators USA, a co-ed, youth-adventure organization committed to opening minds and creativity through direct contact with nature, announces the formation of a new chapter in Streetsboro, Ohio. Robin Bossert, Executive Director, Navigators USA, welcomed the new chapter in an email sent to the founding committee members. “Pack your backpacks! You can now go camping as Navigator Chapter...
WVFD Joint Fire District News
Windham - The WVFD Joint Fire District Board met for their regularly scheduled meeting on February 14, 2013 at the fire station. The entire board and fiscal officer were in attendance. The board approved the minutes, the expenditures, yearly appropriations of $623,413 and the monthly bank reconciliation before moving on to the chief’s report. Fire Chief Mike Iwanyckyj reported that...
Hiram Township Happenings
Hiram Twp. - As of January, 2013, Kathy Schulda was voted Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Steve Pancost was voted Vice Chairman and Regional Planning Commission Representative. Meeting minutes from the past two meetings were approved, and are now available to view downloaded at the Hiram Township web site, hiramtownship.org. The meeting continued as Chief Byers gave the...
Fate of Garrettsville’s Design Review Board up for Debate
Garrettsville – Village Council met on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 for their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The public hearing that had been scheduled at last month’s council meeting to discuss proposed restructuring of the Design Review Board (DRB) was postponed due to an error in publishing the announcement. Instead, proposed Ordinance 2013-01 was presented for second reading. The...
New eBook Service: Axis 360
If you got a new tablet during the recent holiday season or already had a tablet and want to get free eBooks, get your library card out and visit the Portage Library Consortium’s new eBook service, Axis 360. The Portage Library Consortium, a partnership between Kent Free Library, Portage County District Library, and Reed Memorial Library, makes this service...
Special Meeting Scheduled In Nelson Twp. to Discuss NGCC
Nelson Twp. - Currently, more than 140 families in the Garrettsville area rely on the Nelson Garrettsville Community Cupboard (NGCC) for supplemental groceries. In the one year that they have been open, NGCC has distributed over 34,000 food items to those in need. “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support we have received from the community during...
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures: How to Respond to an Active Shooter
Portage County - What if a violent intruder showed up at your workplace or school, intent on shooting to kill? What would you do? In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. With Teddy Roosevelt’s empowering quote...
Canine Classes Recently Held
The Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Joint Fire District recently played host to area police canine units, holding a joint continuing education class. Firefighters and EMS providers were instructed on working at multi-disciplinary scenes involving canine units, how to operate around them, and how to help them in an emergency. Many thanks go to the canine officers, their partners, and Dr Kartley, DVM...
The Problem with Print in a Digital Age: A Five-Part Series
“Wherever there is change and uncertainty lies opportunity, if you’re willing to take risks.” -Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks Undoubtedly, for newspapers to survive in this new environment of 24/7 digital information streams, they need to be nimble, flexible, experimental and bold. Ultimately, the newspaper of the future may bear little resemblance to the newsprint you now hold in your hands. Newspapers have already become hybrids: part-print and part-internet. Eventually, they seem destined to become internet-only manifestations. Meanwhile, the transition from the printed page to its next embodiment is challenging, both for the newspaper industry and for its consumers.
“I’m considering donating blood. Are there any restrictions?”
“I’m considering donating blood. Are there any restrictions?” The Newton Falls Public Library staff knew that the American Red Cross is the local organization which sponsors blood donation collections, so we accessed their website to see if we could find the information needed by our patron. At www.redcross.org, we selected Give Blood and then For First Time Donors. There is...
“This Is How We Roll”
What’s better than good youth bowling scores to report? Two weeks’ worth of good scores! On January 19, Gavin Dunfee had a great 123 game in the 11:00 PeeWee League. Milo English rolled games of 117 and 110, and Brooklynn Horner and Memphis English each had games of 94. Sophia Shaffer rolled a 96 game. Ryleigh Gough’s 120 game was...
Italian Garden Comes to Burton
Burton - Italian food is one of the most popular ethnic foods in America, and Tim Weiss knows how to make it. With over 15 years of experience, you might say Weiss has marinara in his veins. He started the Italian Garden Restaurant in Garrettsville in 1997. He eventually sold the business to spend more time with his wife...
Pinewood Derby and Arrow of Light Ceremony
Garrettsville - On January 19, Cub Scout Pack 4062 of Garrettsville held their annual Arrow of Light Ceremony and Pinewood Derby. Eric Schaefer and Talon Cline were awarded the Arrow of Light. The Arrow of Light award is the highest award available to Cub Scouts. It requires the Scout to have earned the Webelos Scout badge and eight activity badges....
Community Center Gets Its Start at Center School
Wikipedia defines community centers as “public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes.” Like many folks in Mantua Township, Ellie Monroe, a long-time resident, would like to see the historic Mantua Center School building effectively used as such by her community. But instead of sitting back and waiting...
J.A. Garfield Intermediate School Honor / Merit Roll for 2nd Nine Weeks
5th Grade - “All A” Honor Roll Colton Klatik, Jenna Conley, Nathan Pitsinger, Anthony Lunardi, Rayana Goodner, Noah Cornicelli, Michael Martin, Jesse Marderwald, Cassandra Finney, Madelyn Scirocco, Jacob Nottingham, Anna Morrissey, Lillian Oles, Ellie Frato-Sweeney, Noah Frato-Sweeney, Owen Cmunt, Nathan Phillips, Madison Vankirk, Phillip West, Mason Cebulla, Hannah Bittence 5th Grade - Honor Roll Irma Miller, Joseph Ball, Sara Kittle, Kya Fresch, Cameron...
Rotary Report
Garrettsville - More Family Week prep for the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary--Carolyn Miller, liaison with the Windham Schools, outlined her very thorough plans and procedures promoting all phases of the operation. She’s an organizer! Other facets of the festivities--recognition for couples married fifty years or more (seeking nominations), contests (and judging of same), prizes, sponsors, Fun Day activities--all came in for...
Local Organist to Perform First Sundays at Stambaugh Concert of 2013
The Sundays at Stambaugh series continues with local guest organist Vic Marsilio on Sunday, February 10 at Stambaugh Auditorium. Lunch will be provided by Fifth Season and will be served on the Concert Hall stage beginning at 12:15pm. Following lunch, Marsilio will perform a collection of Valentine’s Day songs on the E.M. Skinner Opus 582 pipe organ. Vic Marsilio is...
Board of Elections Approve Referendum
Windham - Last week, the Board of Elections (BOE) approved the Referendum Petition circulated by Windham Village Residents Bob Edwards, Jim Moore and Lloyd McPherson. The Referendum petition was filed in response to council’s passage of Ordinance 2012-50 that repealed the tax credit given to those who work outside of the village. The referendum needed 41 valid signatures from...
Assistant Chief Lawless Steps Down
Garrettsville - On January 13th, 1998, Gary Lawless was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Joint Fire District after serving in both the ranks of Firefighter and Captain under multiple fire chiefs. Gary has made the decision to step down from his role as Assistant Chief after fifteen years of loyal service to this department and our community....
Owner of Reinvented Welshfield Inn Gains National Attention
Troy - Welshfield Inn is a historic landmark, familiar to anyone who lives in the Portage/Geauga County area. It’s been an elegant family dining destination for generations, first established in 1842 as the Nash Hotel. But if you haven’t been paying close attention, you may have missed the fact that its owner is garnering lots of press, awards and...
Troop 112 Wins The 2013 Winter Events Catapult Event
Newton Falls - Congratulations to Boy Scout Troop 112 of Newton Falls, Ohio for Winning the 2013 Winter Events Catapult Event at Camp Stambaugh in Canfield! Every year Boy Scout Troops from all over the Greater Western Reserve Council gather to test the skills they have learned. First, patrols must build a sled made of wood and lashed together using...
Free Water Testing in Streetsboro
Streetsboro - Author James Fennimore Cooper is quoted as saying, “The air, the water and the ground are free gifts to man and no one has the power to portion them out in parcels. Man must drink and breathe and walk and therefore each man has a right to his share of each.” If recent developments in the area...
Iron Eagle Martial Arts of Mantua Celebrates One Year In Business
Mantua - As of January 2013, Iron Eagle Martial Arts of Mantua celebrated one year in business! They offer classes in Traditional Taekwondo and Krav Maga (an Israeli self-defense system focusing on hand to hand combat) for beginner and advanced martial artists and specialized self-defense seminars, as this is at the core of what they teach. Chief Instructor Steve...
Motorcycle Ohio Rider Education Registration Begins February 19
Columbus – The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Motorcycle Ohio Rider Education Program registration begins Tuesday, Feb. 19. Those wanting to learn how to ride a motorcycle or refresh their motorcycle safety skills may register at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov for one of the courses scheduled throughout the state from April through October. Nearly 200,000 motorcycle riders have been trained since the program’s...
