April Is Autism Awareness Month – Let’s “Light It Up Blue”
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Freedom Nelson Joint Fire District invite the community to join them as they “Light It Up Blue” for Autism Awareness Month ~ a fundraiser to benefit the Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community. Hiram Farm is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically...
Five Five Media Co Now Open in Mantua
Mantua - A new shop opened its doors recently in Mantua, though the occupants are no stranger to the village. Five Five Media Company, Holly and Matt Michelson’s photography and videography business has been in operation since 2011, so while this isn’t a new business, it’s definitely a new location, at 4690 East Prospect Street. Five Five has also carved...
Marching to the Beat of Community Need
Ravenna - On my drive home from running errands, I was thinking about what I would have for dinner. Leftovers. Would I throw something in the microwave? Would I cook a gourmet meal fit for a Queen? (If my feet weren’t too tired.) This is what people do on a regular basis plan what they’re going to have for...
WVFD Hires Grant Writer
Windham - The WVFD met for their regularly scheduled meeting via Zoom with one board member absent. The chairman of the board, Cindy Cale called the meeting to order and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The board approved the minutes and expenditures for the month of January before moving on to the chief’s report. Chief Rich Gano reported that there...
Mantua Quick Mart is Open For Business
Mantua - Peter Patel, shop owner, is no stranger to convenient stores. He owns and operates another Quick Mart in Ravenna. When the opportunity arose to purchase the former Circle K store in Mantua, Patel was happy to transform the chain store to an independent business. The former location had also been home to a Subway, leaving a void for...
Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary Report
Jennifer Bowen, from the Mantua office of Edward Jones Investments and a member of the Garrettsville Chamber of Commerce, zoomed in to present information on putting Performance into Perspective, as regards a family’s or an individual’s financial objectives. This leaned on the three R’s : Relevant, Realistic, Reviewed, when it comes to determining what is needed, what is the...
Thank You From The Portage County Senior Center
Dear Portage County 4H members, and friends of the community, I cannot express enough the happiness you have brought to our Portage County Seniors during our recent “Valentine’s/Birthday” drive-thru event. With the help of Portage County Extension 4H coordinator Ashley Hughey, you all really made a difference in the lives of our seniors. It’s no secret that the senior population...
Windham Township News
Windham Twp. - Windham Township’s year is off to a good start. The road crew is doing a fantastic job keeping the roads cleaned. The crew will install a culvert on Horn Road as soon as they can. The road supervisor, Brian Miller said they are keeping a close eye on the grit salt mixture to see that it...
Garrettsville Village Council News
Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on February 10th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, Assistant Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, Larry Beatty, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser and Tom Collins. Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, the meeting was held in person with no audience. The meeting was...
It’s Winter – So Where Are the Bees?
Honey bees overwinter in social togetherness inside their hives, keeping each other warm. But most bees are solitary or at least have a solitary part of their life cycle – how do they survive all alone through the deep freeze of Ohio winters? How can we help them hibernate so they’ll emerge ready to pollinate our crops and gardens? ...
Local Organizations Go Online To Raise Funds for Kids
Mantua - For many years, the Crestwood Middle School’s Sunshine Fund has helped students and families in crisis by providing things like clothing, class trip fees, and more. What originally began as a small-scale effort organized by CMS Guidance Counselor Lynne Morrison has been transformed, providing Crestwood families, local businesses, and community organizations with an opportunity to help students...
Home Instead In Search of Caregivers
Ravenna - At Home Instead, we believe that being a caregiver is the most special gift you can give to another. Aging seniors want to remain as independent as possible, yet their loved ones worry about their safety, emotional well - being and health. As a Home Instead CAREGiver - You will be able to not only help care...
Experience of Life Creates a Novel
Life. It is such a fragile thing and such a beautiful gift. Many people become parents not knowing what to expect and hoping the best for their children. Happiness, health, and that they know they are loved is what they pray for, but we never know which turn the road will take. In the case of the Furness family,...
Windham Board of Education News
Windham - The Windham Board of Education (BOE) met with one board member physically attending and the rest through video. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, President Mandy Berardinelli reported that the giving tree gave out help for 60 families during the Christmas season. The student food pantry will continue to supply food to those students in need. They...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their last meeting, Superintendent David Toth publicly recognized Food Service Director Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch and her Nutrition Service team for helping to support Crestwood students and their families throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Toth noted that the team served more than 300,000 meals to area families, both in school and via drive-through services from March through December...
Hiram Village News
Hiram - At their last meeting, Village Council passed several pieces of legislation. Among them, council approved Resolution 2020-33, a resolution submitting the question of renewing an existing tax levy to village voters. In addition, council also approved Resolution 2021-02, authorizing the Village Administrator to submit an application for the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) program for capital improvements to...
The Nominations for ‘Villager of The Year’ are in…
As we all dealt with the ever changing world of Covid in 2020, we saw the best (and sadly, sometimes worst) of people. Some just dealt with things, moved on and waited to see what was coming next, while others refused to just sit back and wait. Our community has some amazing people who set their minds to thinking outside...
Free Virtual Conservation Programs
If winter’s snow and freezing temperatures have you wishfully thinking ahead to spring, why not take advantage of some of the free opportunities for programs hosted by the Portage Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)? While Covid may keep in-person programs from happening, it won’t keep the SWCD from providing opportunities for local folks to learn, grow, and even...
Reed Memorial Library Open for Browsing
Ravenna - The Reed Memorial Library Board of Trustees recently voted to broaden access to library services, no longer requiring an appointment and making materials directly accessible once again. “We are going back to the “grab-and-go library model we adopted in June,” explained Library Director, Brian C. Hare. Library patrons are asked to keep their visits brief. Meeting rooms, study...
Child Find Awareness
Garrettsville - Child Find is an effort by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, to ensure all children from birth to 21 with disabilities are identified, located, and evaluated as required by the individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Ohio school districts, serving ages 3-21, work with Help Me Grow, serving children birth to...
Portage County Administration Building Reopens; Treasurer’s Office Remains Closed
Ravenna – Portage County Commissioners reopened the County Administration Building to the public beginning Jan. 25, 2021 from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. Offices under the direction of the Commissioners were advised to bring back staffing from when the COVID-19 pandemic moved operations remotely. Board of Commissioners President Sabrina Christian-Bennett advised citizens with business at county offices to...
Garrettsville Area Chamber Sets 2021 Schedule
Garrettsville - The Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors met in a hybrid manner on Wednesday, January 20th for the annual organizational meeting. The 2021 membership packets have been mailed and are due back by February 15th. If you have not received a packet, please contact the chamber at 330-527-2411 or visit our website at garrettsvillearea.com to download...
Portage CIT Officers of 2020
The Mental Health & Recovery Board is proud to announce the 2020 Crisis Intervention Team Officers of the Year awarded by the Portage County Police Chief’s Association: Officer Josh Bartholomew, Streetsboro PD; Officer Matthew Butcher, Kent City PD; Officer Scott Krieger, Ravenna PD. The officers were recognized for practicing the communication and de-escalation techniques they learned during their CIT training...
Portage County Health District starts vaccinating Portage County residents in Phase 1B
This week, Portage County residents aged 80 and older are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. To be placed on the Portage County Health District (PCHD) vaccine scheduling list, go to the PCHD website at www.portagehealth.net and click on the COVID-19 tab in the green banner at the top of the page. Residents who do not have internet access can...
2021 Sportmen’s Dinner benefits Haven of Portage County
The ninth annual Sportsmen’s Dinner will be held Jan. 30 at Portage Community Chapel, 6490 S.R. 14, Ravenna. This year’s event will be a hybrid event—both an in-person and virtual experience. We want everyone to experience the event in a way that works best for them. This event, for anyone who loves the outdoors, is an evening full fun with...
COVID-19 Vaccine distribution for Phase 1B populations to begin in Portage County
In conjunction with Ohio’s statewide efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Ohioans in Phase 1B starting the week of January 19, Portage County Health District and Portage County Emergency Management Agency are partnering to lead the vaccination efforts. The combined knowledge and decades of planning and training will allow us to continue to serve our community as we work...
Portage United Way Accepting Grant Applications for Income Focused Programs
Ravenna - United Way of Portage County (UWPC) invests funds raised during its annual campaign through a volunteer led review and recommendation process. Grant Review Volunteers engage in a process that matches community needs with evidence based best practices and program interventions. Volunteers review applications and make COVID-19 compliant site visits. They meet to select the most effective programs...
News From Mantua Village
Mantua - At their last meeting in 2020, Council approved Ordinance 2020-54, which amended Ordinance 2019-49, the “Mantua Village, County of Portage Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems Transfer Agreement” that was struck down by voters last year. This agreement has been amended, and “overwhelmingly approved by residents,” according to Councilman Matt Rosolowski. Council also approved Resolution 2020-55 a resolution authorizing...
Windham Trustees Select Burns as Chairman
Windham Twp. - Windham Township Trustees met recently with all trustees, fiscal officer and zoning inspector in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Fiscal Officer Casey Timmons, because the chairman of the board had not been determined before the new year. Brian Miller nominated Danny Burns as chairman of the board, with Rich Gano seconding the motion....
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At their recent organizational meeting, the Crestwood School Board elected Karen Schulz to serve as Board President and Kristen Cavanaugh to serve as Vice President in 2021. They determined that the board would continue the pattern of meeting monthly at the Crestwood Primary School building at 7 pm. In their first regular meeting of 2021, which was held...
