G-H Rotary continues planning for memorial trail
On February 19, 2024, Presidents’ Day marked the gathering of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary at Cal’s II in Sky Plaza, Garrettsville. Rutherford B. Hayes would have seamlessly blended into the occasion. Plans are underway to invite the district governor for lunch on February 26, with confirmation pending. Owen Bass, the outgoing exchange student for next year, is set for his...
Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
The upcoming gathering of the Ohio Genealogical Society’s Portage County Chapter is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2024. The meeting will take place at the Portage County Historical Society, situated at 6549 N. Chestnut St in Ravenna, Ohio, commencing at 10:00 a.m. We are delighted to announce that Claude Custer, a distinguished member of the Atwater Historical Society from Atwater,...
Vivid Vibes Boutique offers free prom dresses
The price of the average prom dress has increased considerably since Sharon Carmichael, owner of Vivid Vibes Boutique, went to prom while attending the James A. Garrettsville school district. Hoping to enable every high school student to have the chance to attend prom, Vivid Vibes Boutique will offer a selection of free prom dresses and accessories beginning on April...
Streetsboro basketball seizes control in second half to dominate Akron Coventry
The Metro Athletic Conference banner may have eluded the Streetsboro Rockets boys’ basketball team this year, but they proved that they will be a contender for the foreseeable future. The Rockets capped off league play and celebrated senior night by storming back in the second half to beat conference rival Akron Coventry 67-43 last Friday evening at Streetsboro High...
20th Century Club explores local history
The Twentieth Century Club of Garrettsville convened on February 15, 2024, at the residence of Carol Smith, complete with valet parking. The purpose of the gathering was to delve into the history of inventions and inventors hailing from Garrettsville and its surrounding areas. Pam Montgomery, who initiated her research following the devastating Garrettsville fire, shared insights into the inventions...
Meet Local Author Amanda Flower
For avid readers, there’s nothing more exciting than getting the chance to meet an author you love. On Wednesday, February 28th at 6:30 pm, you can meet Amanda Flower, a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author at the Middlefield Library. Flower, who has written of over thirty cozy mystery novels, is a former librarian with fifteen years of experience...
Ravenna basketball falls to Norton, losing streak reaches 11
The Ravenna Ravens boys’ basketball team’s wait for another victory may take longer than expected. Ravenna’s skid reached 11 games when they were dominated 80-34 against Metro Athletic Conference rival Norton last Friday night at the James L. Coll Gymnasium. “We are struggling to finish games, win games and be competitive,” said Coach Marlon Jones. “Norton ended up winning the...
Crestwood wrestling comes up short in gritty dual against Hudson
If there was any doubt how much the Crestwood Red Devils’ wrestling team had grown since last year, they erased those concerns with a competitive dual against Hudson. The Red Devils took Hudson down to the wire before losing 42-31 in their regular season finale last Thursday evening at Mantua. “To see us compete and come down to that final...
We’re All Invited
Community Calendar Aspire Programs Mondays & Wednesdays The Portage County Maplewood Aspire Program will begin offering GED, Adult Diploma and ESOL classes at the Kent Free Library on Wednesday, January 3rd from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays during this time. Prospective students are required to first attend an orientation session prior to entering class...
Hannah Salgado captures fourth straight gymnastics state bid
Aurora Greenmen senior Hannah Salgado wants to end her high school gymnastics career the right way. She will get that chance after earning her fourth consecutive individual berth to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state gymnastics meet by finishing as the runner-up at the district meet, scoring 36.575 points last Saturday evening at the Berea-Midpark Middle...
Rockets wrestling finishes as runners-up at MAC tournament
It is almost impossible to win a conference wrestling tournament not having eligible wrestlers in three weight classes. The Streetsboro Rockets’ wrestling team almost pulled off the improbable, taking second place at the Metro Athletic Conference Tournament by crowning five champions to score 168.0 points last Saturday at Woodridge High School in Peninsula. “We were that close,” said Coach Mark...
Lady G-Men basketball takes down Bristol, end skid
Despite recording their first losing season in 12 years, no player on the Garfield G-Men girls’ basketball team has abandoned ship. The G-Men ended a seven-game losing streak when they defeated Bristol 42-32 last Thursday evening in Trumbull County. “You could just feel the energy from them,” said Coach Aaron Gilbert. “It was a different feeling throughout the game where...
Precinct Election Officials Needed
The Portage County Board of Elections is looking for civic minded citizens who would like to be a part of democracy in action and serve as Precinct Election Officials for the March 19, 2024 Primary Election. In order to be eligible, you must be a resident of Portage County, 17 years of age or older, be registered to vote,...
Aurora’s McCrae and Best earn Division II state diving bids
Aurora Greenmen senior Colten McCrae and sophomore Zach Best’s second time competing in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Northeast district meet turned out to be better than the first. McCrae earned his second consecutive Division II state diving bid when he won the Northeast District title by scoring a personal best 450.65 points and Best also...
Cardinal’s Spelling Bee was a F-A-M-I-L-Y Affair
Last month, for the first time that had been recorded in Cardinal Spelling Bee history there were three sets of siblings that competed in the district competition. The Lehr family had sixth grader Alexander Lehr and eighth grader Sydney to represent their family. “Xander” finished in the fourth round with the word “sewing,” while Sydney made it into the ninth round,...
Badgers wrestling topples Vikings, falls short against Pirates in tri-match
No matter how small the graduating class is, there is nothing quite like senior night. The Berkshire Badgers’ wrestling team dominated Villa Angela-St. Joseph 63-12 but lost 45-33 to Southeast on senior night last Thursday evening in Burton. “Villa Angela-St. Joseph was a good start-up match for us,” said Coach Dave Malkus. “Guys did not get the warm-up they needed...
Hiram mens volleyball goes 1-1 in tri-match
The Hiram College Terriers men’s volleyball team has worked hard to put last year’s mistakes behind them. Those bad habits came crawling back when the Terriers squandered multiple leads and were swept by Arcadia University 25-20, 25-19, 25-19 but rebounded with a 25-20, 25-14, 23-25 and 25-19 victory against Olivet College in a tri-match last Saturday at Hiram College’s...
League of Women Voters of Kent to host Face2Face candidate forum
Voters can ask questions of county-wide candidates in the contested Primary Election races at the Voters & Candidate Face2Face forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Kent on Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The forum, designed for small group question-and-answer sessions, will be held in Pierson Hall of Kent United Methodist Church, 1435 E. Main...
Get Well-Educated About Water Wells
Approximately 45 percent of Ohioans and nearly all (98 percent!) of Geauga County residents rely on groundwater wells to provide a constant supply of clean, safe drinking water. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become “well” educated by learning more about Geauga County’s groundwater resources and ways to monitor and maintain your well to safeguard your home’s drinking water...
Aurora gymnastics finishes as runners-up at Suburban League championship
For years the Aurora Greenmen gymnastics program has been bolstered by individual performers but lacked depth. This year, Aurora assembled one of its most complete teams and it showed when it took second place by scoring 139.45 points at the Suburban League Championship last Saturday at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School. “We were obviously hoping for the best, but we did...
Berkshire basketball pulls away from Cardinal, earns series sweep
It has been a while since the Berkshire Badgers boys’ basketball team reigned supreme against Geauga County rival the Cardinal Huskies. Berkshire dominated its Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division foe 66-35 to sweep the Battle of Kinsman Road series last Friday night in Burton. “It’s great,” said Badgers’ Coach Joe Montanero. “We have already won six of our last seven....
Aurora swimming advances six district qualifiers, girls send five
When it comes to the Ohio High School Athletic Association swimming postseason, Aurora Greenmen Coach Anthony Telerico is more concerned with the making sure his swimmers are in the best position to advance than team standings. Aurora achieved the best of both worlds as the Greenmen boys qualified six swimmers to the district meet to finish in fifth place...
Garfield G-Men wrestling captures MVAC title with six champions
The Garfield G-Men may still be finding their footing in the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference but have certainly left their mark in wrestling. The G-Men snagged their third MVAC team wrestling title in four years by crowning six champions last Saturday at Waterloo High School. “We did fairly well,” said Coach Dan Andel. “We were missing our 138-pounder and our...
JAG Music Program Shines at OMEA Contest
The Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Solo and Ensemble competition held on Saturday, February 10th at Barberton High School was a spectacular showcase of musical talent, with dedicated student musicians earning top ratings across every performance. Our student musicians, soloists and ensembles alike, delivered outstanding performances, and securing top ratings across every performance. Soloists Shine with Superior Ratings: The soloists took...
Youth Leaders Develop Positive Messaging & Drug Prevention Campaigns
Portage County high school students gathered in February to brainstorm ways to support their fellow students and to make their school environments more positive at the annual Youth Leadership Summit hosted by Townhall II and the Mental Health & Recovery Board. Portage County Commissioner Sabrina Christian Bennett was on hand to welcome the students from Kent, Ravenna, Rootstown, Southeast, Streetsboro,...
Rocket girls basketball soars past Comets, inches closer to league title
Only one win stands between the Streetsboro Rockets girls’ basketball team’s chances of winning a share of the Metro Athletic Conference banner. The Rockets moved closer to achieving their goal when they dominated league rival Akron Coventry 51-26 to celebrate senior night last Thursday evening at Streetsboro High School. “It puts us a step closer to one of our goals...
Red Devil girls basketball hits stride to trump Ravens
The Crestwood Red Devils girls’ basketball team could not have picked a better time to get hot. The Red Devils celebrated senior night by overpowering Portage County rival Ravenna 54-37 for their sixth win in the last seven games last Saturday afternoon in Mantua. “It was good,” said Coach T.J. Henderson. “It was really cool. Not all of the time...
Flockmasters 4-H Group Congratulates Newly Elected Members for 2024
The Flockmasters 4-H Group is pleased to announce the election results for its esteemed leadership positions for the year 2024. Following a rigorous selection process, we are thrilled to extend our warmest congratulations to the newly elected members who will lead our organization with passion, dedication, and integrity. The newly elected members are as follows: • President: Ben Pleva • Vice President:...
Portage Foundation Welcomes New Board Members
The Portage Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of several new board members as well as the election of a new board President. Joining the Portage Foundation Board of Trustees are four distinguished individuals who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the organization: Kamelia Fisher – Senior Director of Development and Engagement, Autism Society of Greater Akron Will Sumser,...
Los Venados Mexican Restaurant Grill & Cantina Now Open in Mantua
It’s hard to miss the new restaurant that opened at the busy corner of State Route 82 and State Route 44 in Mantua in December. You may not have known that the location is the third Los Venados location that’s popped up in Northeast Ohio in as many years. The first location in Orwell opened in September 2021. The...
