J.A. Garfield Historical Society News
The James A. Garfield Historical Society held its annual Christmas party on December 13, 2021 in Cal’s II, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville with twelve members in attendance. President Debbie Smith was unable to attend but discussion on a number of topics circulated for later discussion. An interesting photo of the 1964 beard-growing competition brought out some interesting recollections and memories...
PCDL’s Holiday Hours
Portage County District Library (PCDL) will be closed on the following dates, in observance of the holiday season: Friday, December 24; Saturday, December 25, Friday, December 31; and Saturday, January 1, 2022. However, PCDL’s Digital Library never closes, and is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Visit www.portagelibrary.org and click on the Digital Library tab. Enjoy digital movies, TV...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The annual Christmas party of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary was held on December 13, 2021 at the home of Lisa Muldowney with a fine repast, featuring the legendary cheeseburger soup and an assortment of other delicacies. After the filling meal came a fun-filled exchange of “white elephant “ gifts. Among these were flags, a Nerf gun, B&D equipment, a plush...
2015 Crestwood Grad Jeremiah Fitzgerald Wins CLE Marathon
This past October, 2015 Crestwood High School graduate Jeremiah Fitzgerald took first place in the Cleveland Marathon. This was no small feat (no pun intended), even for someone who began his running career with the CMS and CHS Track and Cross Country teams. Fitzgerald continued running at the University of Akron, where he earned a degree in engineering while...
Give The Gift Of Music At PML
How many have passed the building, not knowing it is there? Even GPS lets you know “you have arrived” but, you seem to be in the middle of Route 44. However, look for the Portage Music sign, on the east side of Route 44, just north of the Route 303 junction, and turn in-you’ll be glad you did. The...
Message From Middlefield Mayor Garlich
Hello Middlefield Residents, I want to initially wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. I know personally, my time with family and friends has grown more precious. Social networking, that I often took for granted, is now special. I hope you use this holiday season to enjoy family and network with friends. We activated...
Portage Financial Wellness Fair Receives State Recognition
Ravenna – The Portage County Financial Wellness Fair, a free program held in November and aimed at helping area residents improve their financial lives, has been recognized by the Ohio Treasurer of State with a Compass Award for December 2021. The monthly recognition program commends organizations, programs, and individuals across the state who are working to guide Ohioans toward...
Garrettsville Hiram Rotary News
Community enhancement was the keynote of the December 6, 2021 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary club. First off was the discussion of the new bike racks (one is in Tom Collins’ driveway) to be arriving soon and to be installed by the village maintenance in both Garrettsville and Hiram. Second was the Santa Claus Project, wherein residents interested in having St....
Hiram Village News
Hiram - At a Special meeting, Council passed Resolution 2021-35, awarding a contract to Kimble Recycling & Disposal, Inc. for Recycling Collection Service. As a result, recycling service in the Village and in Hiram Township will occur weekly, each Friday beginning on January 7th, and ask residents to continue using the recycling totes provided by the County. Please note...
Scarlet Guard Earns Superior Rating
Mantua - At the last meeting, Superintendent David Toth acknowledged Crestwood High School Scarlet Guard for earning a Superior rating at the State Band Competition recently held in Medina. On a similar note, the District’s Nutrition Services team received a Super Star Award from the State of Ohio. The team, under the leadership of Director Jennifer Hirsch, served over 300,000...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The November 29, 2021 meeting of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary featured an informative and important presentation concerning a new program being organized in Portage County under the aegis of the Probate and Juvenile courts. Probate Court handles cases involving wills, guardianships and probation, among other things; Juvenile Court deals with legal cases involving individuals under the age of 18--dependency, abuse,...
Behind The Scenes: Ravenna Balloon-A-Fair
Festivals are a wonderful part of life here in Portage County. They bring people together, strengthen community ties, boost the local economy, and are downright fun. There is Art On Main, the Ox Roast in Mantua, Garrettsville Summerfest, numerous festivals in Kent, not to mention the Portage County Fair. Then there is the festival in a class by itself. ...
Riverside Railroad Club Holds Holiday Show
The Riverside Railroad Club will hold its annual Christmas display show Saturday December 11th and Sunday December 12th inside the Warren YWCA building at 375 N. Park Ave. The times of the show both days are 11 am till 3 pm. Admission is $3 per adult and children under 13 are always free. The show features several sets of...
Merry Middlefield — Grinch Style
Middlefield - Merry Middlefield is Saturday, December 11th starting from 8 am to 1 pm with the East Geauga Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast and the Christmas Craft Show from 9 am to 2 pm in the Cardinal High School Multi-purpose Room, Thompson Ave. The Grinch will be in the Multi-purpose Room at 11 am, children can come to visit...
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Kids of all ages will be thrilled to learn that Santa will be making a few stops in the area next Saturday, December 4th. The first Santa sighting will be in Hiram at 10:30 am when he joins the Kiwanis for family fun at their Pizza with Santa at the Hiram Christian Church Fellowship Hall (6868 Wakefield Road). The...
Rodger G. Evans of Garrettsville, OH
Rodger G. Evans, 62, of Garrettsville, passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. He was born on July 22, 1959, in Ravenna, to Elton E. and Eleanor (Thrasher) Evans, Sr. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, and recently retired as a mail carrier at the Mantua Post Office. Rodger was the co-owner of the Garrettsville Cinema, and...
Get the scoop – virtually – on wildlife surveys in Geauga Park District
Research conducted by Geauga Park District staff will be on display this December during an informative virtual program hosted by Naturalist Linda Gilbert. All you have to do is register in advance in order to receive an emailed link for Research in Our Parks: Survey Results on Sunday, December 12, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Participants will join Naturalist Linda to...
Garrettsville Library’s Hybrid Book Club Meeting In-Person and via Zoom
The Book Discussion Club of the Garrettsville Library will meet in-person in the meeting room, with face masks and while practicing social distancing, and also via Zoom on Tuesday December 21 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Registration is required to attend this group meeting. Those interested in attending this meeting should register by using the “Upcoming Events” online...
Crestwood NHS Chapter Make Activity Bags for Local Hattie Larlham Residents
Mantua - The Crestwood High School (CHS) chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) recently assembled 60 activity bags for residents at the Hattie Larlham Center for Children with Disabilities, a local organization that also provides care and support throughout Ohio. “Most people think that the National Honor Society is just a collection kids who graduate with honors, but it’s...
Barn’s Storied Past Lives On
Ravenna - Gary Jones is the proud owner of a historic Mail Pouch Tobacco barn visible on State Route 88. The barn, which was originally built in 1906, still proudly extolls the Mail Pouch Tobacco message to, “Treat Yourself to the Best”. Mail Pouch Tobacco barns like this one are historic structures with one or more sides painted with...
James A Garfield Historical Society News
The James A.Garfield Historical Society met on November 14, 2021 in the historic Mott Building on Main St. in Garrettsville to discuss a variety of topics, among them : The annual Christmas party to be held on December 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Cal’s, Sky Plaza, Garrettsville, members responsible for their own meal; good time, good food, good heavens, come...
Portage County Job & Family Services Announces Upcoming Outage of Ohio Benefits System
Ravenna - The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has scheduled an outage of the Ohio Benefits system on Friday, December 3, 2021. The Ohio Benefits Worker Portal will be inaccessible on this date. As a result of the outage, Portage County and other counties throughout the state will be unable to process applications or reported changes on TANF,...
Crestwood Primary School Dedicates “Little Library” to Terri Lawless
Mantua - On November 11, Crestwood Primary School (CPS) held a dedication ceremony of a new “Little Library” box in memory of Terri Lawless, a former staff member who passed away earlier this fall. A true community effort, the Gilles family donated the materials and construction; the staff at CPS donated the funds to purchase a bench that reads,...
Portage Senior Center News
The Portage County Senior Center is holding registration for all Portage Seniors aged 60 and up who wish to join friends on December 8th, for their annual Holiday celebration. They are also holding an official “Ribbon-Cutting” ceremony to celebrate their new slate-topped pool table. The day’s events start early, with bingo to begin at 10 a.m., also a few...
On Small Business Saturday, Everyone Wins
For many hard-core shoppers, the thrill of Black Friday shopping ushers in the official start of the holiday shopping season. Others avoid the crowds and wait to find deals online on Cyber Monday, but that shopping shortcut may not be as productive as it’s previously been. That’s because current supply chain issues with labor shortages, material availability, and delays...
Midnight Madness Festivities Take Place Friday In Ravenna
For those of Portage County who do celebrate Christmas, how do you welcome in the Christmas Season? For many, it is putting up the tree and decorating the house. For others it is a day of frantic shopping to take advantage of the Black Friday sales. Still, there are people that begin the season with volunteerism and good deeds....
Windham Township Trustee News
Windham Twp. - The Windham Township Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting with all pertinent folks in attendance. The meeting was called to order. The trustees approved the minutes and expenditures for the month of October. There were no guests willing to speak, so they moved on to roads. Brian Miller, road supervisor reported that they did ditch work...
Mini Golf At The Library
Ravenna - If you were asked to list the activities you expect to do at a library, might the list include read and research? Most likely. Might it include Miniature Golf. Not likely at all. Yet, that is exactly what will be occurring at Reed Memorial Library on November 20 and 21. Intrigued? You bet this reporter is! The event...
Garrettsville Youth Football League Supports Military Vets
Garrettsville - On November 4, RJ Rettig, President of Garrettsville Youth Football League, presented a $400 check to Freedom House in support of local homeless veterans. With Veterans Day being observed November 11, Rettig said they wanted to make the donation as part of their patriotic duty. Freedom House is a nonprofit social service organization offering transitional housing at a...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the final Board meeting in October, Superintendent David Toth shared that the District’s first Career Fair had been held at the Central Administration office (at the former Middle School). Toth noted that several area companies were present, seeking employees and providing an opportunity for CHS students to ask career questions and find employment. The success for...
