Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
The Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary zoomed into discussion of their yearly fundraiser, the Reverse Raffle, deciding the NEW and IMPROVED format during this ?Wild? and ?Crazy? year at their meeting on September 21, 2020. Sponsors will be particularly key this year as the procedure moves to a hybrid situation, with actual tickets available from members (Get yours right away. Don’t miss...
Library Levy a Do-or-Die Issue on the November 2020 Ballot
While all eyes are focused on the 2020 presidential election on voting day, don’t lose sight of what’s at stake at the local level. In particular, pay attention to Portage County District Library Issue #31, appearing on the November 3 ballot. The survival of the county’s five branch libraries — including Garrettsville Library — could be at stake. Why is...
Windham’s Student Food Pantry is in the Running for the Neighborhood Assist Grant
Windham - Windham School’s Student Food Pantry is in the top 200 for a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant. The application was submitted by Crystal Hickman. On the application, Hickman stated, that the student food pantry focuses on meeting the needs of the students. They knew the kids had two meals a day during the week because they...
Governor DeWine Approves Order to Reopen Senior Centers
Six of the SCOPE operated Senior Centers in both Trumbull and Portage County are now reopening in October, thanks to the approval of the governor of Ohio. This state order only allows for a phased-in and limited capacity opening for senior centers. The State of Ohio set the following rules for center participants: If you are sick, stay at home and...
Streetsboro Quilt Guild’s 2020 Virtual Quilt Show
Streetsboro - The Streetsboro Quilt Guild, which turns 41 years old, is presenting a Virtual Quilt Show this year, which will take the place of our annual show. Despite the pandemic, quilters have been just as busy as ever, making quilts. Guild members would like to display their quilts to other quilters and to those who love...
Troop Sign-Ups October 4 for Local Boy’s Adventure Organization
Just when you thought the pandemic was closing more doors and keeping your kids from getting involved in activities outside of school, here comes Trail Life USA. This may seem an unlikely time to start a new boys’ club, but troop master Cody Snyder of Garrettsville explains, “Last year, a band of five local men took up the task of...
Change & Progress For Freedom Township
Freedom Twp - Change and progress are coming to Freedom Township. This fall more than just leaves will be coming down. Trees and shrubs will be falling too! Already a large tree at the site of the deteriorating stone arch culvert on Hankee Road has been removed. This was necessary to make room for the eventual excavation and replacement...
Jr. Cavs Youth Basketball is back at Garrettsville for the 2020 Fall season!
This league is for ages 3-15 and all skill levels. Each player will receive a NEW Jr. Cavs jersey and a ticket to a future Cavs game. We will be following all local and state guidelines for a safe return to play and hope to see you and the family soon! League Information: Registration is now open and will close on...
Portage County Senior Center Slated To Re-Open In October
The Portage County Senior Center is busy prepping for a scaled back opening tentatively scheduled for some time in early October. In the meantime, the United Way of Portage County provided $1,000 to help with all of the additional opening supplies that will be needed. The seniors are anxious for some kind of opening, while also being conscious of...
United Way Kicks Off Annual Fundraising Campaign for Needed Services in Portage County
Ravenna – Each year, United Way of Portage County (UWPC) hosts a workplace campaign to collect donations from those working and living in our community, so we can provide funding to over 40 programs and services. Our 2020-2021 Campaign Kickoff event – Unite at the Drive-In - will be held on September 24, 2020 at Midway Drive-In in Ravenna!...
State Farm teams up with Rootstown Township Fire Department to Serve Up Kitchen Safety
Rootstown - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm Agent Eric Schlaubach are teaming up with the Rootstown Township Fire Department to support Fire Prevention Week, an annual public awareness campaign promoting home fire safety. State Farm Agents are delivering Fire Prevention Week toolkits to more than 2500 fire departments across the country, including Rootstown Township Fire...
Middlefield Hosted Geauga Veterans and Sport Fest
Middlefield - Respect, honor, and support ran deep for veterans and first responders Saturday as Middlefield played host to the Second Annual Geauga Veterans and Sport Fest. The event was sponsored by Preston Super Store along with Great Lakes Outdoor Supply, Ohman Family Living and Blue Line Unlimited*. The event was to honor veterans, first responders and their families. The...
Barn Artist/Writer visits Mantua, OH
Robert F. (RF) Kroeger is a second-generation artist using the palette knife impasto painting methods onto Masonite or linen panels to preserve a memory of early American history with each barn he visits. Using the very wood from each barn he paints he makes frames for the paintings, giving them that rustic charm. In some cases, when the barn...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the last School Board meeting, which was held the evening after the first day of the new school year, Superintendent David Toth shared that nearly 1,300 District students had attended in-person class, while an additional 280 students attended school virtually. He thanked teachers and staff for their hard work in preparing the buildings and individual classrooms...
DMRC Supports Local Businesses
Mantua - Since Covid-19 has had a detrimental affect on small businesses across the nation, closer to home the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC) decided to put their own spin on the ‘shop local’ movement. This spring, the group voted to reactive their Small Business Grant program, offering $400 to help fund projects to promote businesses within the Village. Under...
Restaurant Impossible Returns to the Mill
Garrettsville - Most people remember that last fall, Robert Irvine and the Restaurant Impossible crew visited Garrettsville to help Garrett’s Mill owners Brian and Shelli Buchanan reinvigorate the struggling business. Prior to the visit, Brian was forced to return to his former job as a truck driver, while Shelli divided her time between the restaurant and her work as...
Windham Township Sets Fall Clean-up Days
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees welcomed Todd Peetz from Portage County Regional Planning at their most recent meeting. Peetz presented a plan to try to obtain a USDA Grant to bring broad band to the region. Lack of good reliable internet service is a problem for people trying to run businesses in the area, as the internet connections...
Garrettsville Council Applies for Diesel Grant
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on September 9th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Assistant Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty, John Chambers and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements the meeting was held in person with no audience, however Portage County...
GFN Joint Fire District Awarded Grant
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Freedom Nelson Joint Fire District has been awarded a FEMA grant. This grant was applied for by in-house personnel in March during the request cycle. FEMA has awarded us a grant to purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). The grant consists of $162,674.29 of federal funds and our share of $8,133.71. The grant will be used...
SR 88 & 305 To Become 4-Way Stop
Nelson Twp. - Starting September 22 ODOT will be changing the traffic pattern at State Route 88 and State Route 305 from a 2-way stop into a 4-way stop. The decision was made after studies using 2014-2018 crash data, verified that it averages 4 to 5 crashes per year, the majority being angle crashes resultant of drivers on SR...
Talk with Portage County Candidates at Face2Face Forum
Voters in Portage County will have an opportunity to talk virtually with county candidates in the general election during a Voters and Candidates Face2Face Forum on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m.-noon. The event sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kent (LWVK) is free and open to the community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will...
Functional Medicine Helps Patients Revive Health
Ravenna - “For typical doctors, functional medicine just isn’t on their radar,” Dr. Bill Blueter, a certified functional medicine practitioner, explained. “Patients are in the habit of going to the doctor every few months, where they hear their labs look great, but they return home and still feel unwell.” Once people understand that through functional medicine, our approach is...
Independence of Portage County Opens New Facility
Ravenna - We all want to feel respected and valued for who we are as individuals and what we have to offer society. Those with intellectual disabilities are no exception and the new center built and opened on June 24th by the Independence of Portage County, Inc. is specially equipped to help its clients reach their full potential. “We are...
Windham Village Council News
Windham - Windham Village Council met for their regularly scheduled remote Zoom meeting. Anyone interested in attending, contacted the fiscal officer prior to the meeting so she could send out an invitation link to join the meeting. The meeting was called to order with all but one council member in attendance at the meeting’s start. The one council member who...
Blue Jay Orchard Unveils New Look
Troy Twp. - Sandee and Joe Orlowski were interested in buying some land where they could raise their six children, share their faith, and teach them about agriculture. Though neither had experience in cultivation they felt prompted by God to bid when they learned that the Blue Jay Orchard, which is located near extended family, went up for auction....
The 2020 Geauga SWCD Rain Barrel Auction Begins!
The Geauga Soil Conservation District (SWCD) is proud to roll out the barrels of their 2020 Rain Barrel Yard Art Campaign! Through this creative community initiative, local artists transform 55-gallon recycled plastic barrels into beautiful, repurposed rain barrels! By collecting rooftop runoff for watering landscapes, lawns, and flower gardens, these decorated barrels help save water, alleviate flooding, and reduce...
Garfield Grad Earns Two Awards While Completing Marine Boot Camp
A Garrettsville, OH native who excelled in track & field at James A. Garfield High School has translated her skills to rare achievement in her military service. US Marine Corps Private First-Class Mariah Vazquez recently scored the highest in Physical Fitness and Combat Fitness of her company. PFC Vazquez scored 600 out of 600 points, surpassing 161 men and...
Mantua Village News
Mantua - At their last meeting, council met virtually with the two candidates who expressed interest in filling the open seat vacated by David Sluka. Members of Council had the opportunity to pose questions to the two residents, Tammy Meyer and Wes Collins, before convening in executive session to vote on the appointment. Tammy Meyer, who desires to serve...
PCDL on November 3 Ballot- Issue #31
Portage County District Library (PCDL) will be appearing on the November 3, 2020 ballot as Issue #31. The Library is asking for a 1-Mill, 10-year property tax levy to supplement its operating budget. At present, PCDL is one of the only systems in the area that relies solely on state funding. Because it does not currently receive any money...
The Great Geauga County Fair Becomes A Junior Fair For 2020
Burton - The 198th Great Geauga County Fair had a much different look this year as compared to recent years. Due to the governor’s orders, because of COVID, the fair had been scaled back to a junior fair only. This reduction took some of the “greatness” out of the event. Trying to keep it as normal as possible for...
