Community Resource Connect Event
Ravenna - On Friday, July 30, 2021, Portage County Housing Services Council is proud to present its second Community Resource Connect event. The event planning is a collaboration of staff from numerous agencies such as Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority, United Way of Portage County, Coleman Professional Services, The Haven of Portage County, Portage County Job & Family Services, PARTA,...
History is Made at Ravenna’s First Ever Fashion Tattoo Show
Ravenna - Why did the Flamingo cross the road? To show off her tattoos of course! That is exactly what Julie Semock, Master Piercer for War Horse Ink, did to display what she calls her “artwork collection” during Saturday’s Fashion Tattoo Show on N. Chestnut St in Ravenna. On her back on is a flamingo with ballet Pointe shoes...
Mental Health & Drug Courts Receive Funding
The Portage County Specialized Dockets for mental health and substance use disorders each received a $30,000 grant from Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services through the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County. Specialized dockets are particular sessions of court that offer a therapeutically oriented judicial approach to providing court supervision and appropriate treatment to individuals. Certified...
Magnolia Market Takes Root In Ravenna
Ravenna - If you have heard the buzz around town, there is a new event series in the making. Magnolia Market is a startup bi-weekly market that has a mission. The brain child of Pastor Norma from First United Methodist Church of Ravenna (FUMCR), and parishioners Kim Schwab and daughter Fallon Schwab-Davis, this looks to be a family fun-filled...
Historic diner back on the map
As of October 2023 Ravenna has welcomed the newest addition to the downtown area, The Horseshoe Diner. Woodie and Sue Goodnight, a salt of the earth couple, took over the vacant space in the Buckeye Mall to turn it into a place where you can “catch up with old friends and make some new ones.” The Horseshoe Diner had its...
Ravenna Midnight Madness Shopping Event Friday, November 26, 2010
Ravenna - Shopping on the day after Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be stressful. After more than 29 years as a family celebration in downtown Ravenna, Midnight Madness has proven it. It’s that time of year when local merchants stay open until midnight to welcome shoppers and diners. Some merchants will be serving light refreshments and be decorated for the...
Heart of a Helper: Salon NeXt hosts 5th Charity Open House
If we all give a little, we can all gain a lot. Whether it's to help feed the less fortunate or to put a warm jacket on child it gives a sense of accomplishment to our community to know our business owners find ways to help support local non-profits. Tina Reynolds, owner of Salon NeXt, recently hosted her 5th...
Annual Ravenna Raven Awards Ceremony To Be Held In September
Ravenna - The Annual Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce Raven Awards’ Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at the Ravenna High School Football Stadium. We are excited to make this NEW change of venue to our annual event while still honoring individuals and businesses representing the “best” of Ravenna in the areas of New Businesses, New Construction,...
Ravenna Chamber Expands Focus to Involve Members
Ravenna - Unique opportunities are in store for your store! Running a business can be difficult; it’s your dream and a headache all at once. The hours of hard work pay off when you see a happy shopper leave your place of business. But the second you have to deal with payroll, human resources issues or maybe just an...
Sidewalk Chalkers Inspire Hope with Messages
Since March we have all struggled, and unfortunately, some have felt the effects of the pandemic more significantly than others. “We are All in this Together” is a phrase that resonates and is meant to encourage comradery. But this is a Catch-22, because how can we support one another if have to social distance for safety? Brandi Smallwood and...
Popped! Art Space Opens in Ravenna
On a pleasant autumn night, some curious onlookers walked in and out of the newest form of entertainment to hit town: an art show, the first of its unique kind to open in Ravenna. Dozens of attendees meandered through the long white room as the scent of chocolate wafted in the air. They took notice and discussed the brilliant...
Reed Memorial Library Foundation Honors Junior Tuesday Club at Benefit
Ravenna - Many of my fondest childhood memories are from time spent at Reed Memorial Library - experiencing new worlds through literature and having my beloved librarians, Esther Cross and Louise Starling help me find books on everything from my favorite American Girl Samantha to the hound-dog children’s mystery series I loved so much. My mother, Darlene Scarlett, would on...
Earn your GED through the ASPIRE Program
Maplewood Career Center’s Aspire Program and the Adult Education Department have options for you to complete your high school diploma. The Aspire Program offers GED prep classes in the morning, afternoon, evening, or online to fit your schedule. We currently have classes at the Kent Library, Ohio Means Jobs, Opportunity Resource Center, or Maplewood Career Center all located in Ravenna....
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...
A Thanksgiving to be Grateful For…Midnight Madness
Ravenna - If you went to sleep the night before Thanksgiving with dread over not getting to celebrate the holiday with family then you are not alone. I woke up with apprehension at the idea of even getting out of bed. But then my dog licked my face and I smelled coffee brewing. I remembered my husband, Aditya, had...
Reed Memorial Library Reopens Building – Limited services available
Ravenna - On June 15th, Reed Memorial Library opened their building to patrons once again. This phase of the library’s restart gives access to the building for limited services and limited capacity, following the Governor’s Responsible Restart Ohio Guidelines and complying with public health recommendations. “We know people want to use their library,” explained Library Director, Brian Hare. “but...
The Portage County Board of DD Hosts Trunk or Treat Event Oct. 27
The Halloween season may be particularly difficult for families of those with developmental disabilities because of social cues, disruptions in routine, loud sounds and costumes. On Oct. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ (DD) Happy Day Services Building, families in Portage County can trick-or-treat in an accessible and safe setting. “We...
Pinnacle Treatment Centers to Open Detox Wing at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center
Ravenna – Pinnacle Treatment Centers, a leader in providing accessible treatment for adult men and women struggling with substance use disorders, has entered into a lease agreement with University Hospitals (UH) Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio. The lease greenlights Pinnacle’s development of Recovery Works Portage, a third-floor detox wing at the hospital dedicated to comprehensive care for patients struggling...
Ravenna’s Halloween Walk 2019
Ravenna - Woody from Toy Story, pieces of Candy Corn with legs, Iron Man, Dinosaurs and Elves all roamed the streets of Ravenna looking for treats. They braved all the tricks of wind and rain that Mother Nature blew our direction. Jumping spiders, flying spirits and evil clowns lurked all over, setting off mixed shouts of joy and fear...
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...
Ravenna boys bowling hopes to carry momentum from their state tournament run
According to Ravenna boys’ bowling Coach Kelly Champ, her squad left the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament last season with a bitter taste in their mouths after finishing in 11th place. Despite graduating their top three bowlers, the Ravens plan to prove that last season was no fluke and enjoy another deep run to the...
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Conference Oct 30
The Portage Substance Abuse Community Coalition is hosting the Portage Substance Abuse & Mental Health Conference on Wednesday, October 30 from 9am-4pm at the NEW Center Ballroom at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown. A state update will be presented by Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Director Lori Criss and Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio...
Haven of Portage County’s Warming Center Will be Open During Winter Months
Ravenna - Those experiencing homelessness will have a place in our community to come in out of the cold this winter. The Haven of Portage County’s Warming Center, with the support of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Portage Community Chapel, will be serving those experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect by providing a safe and warm place to...
Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics to open in new Portage Health Center
Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics will move its recently combined Kent and Ravenna practices to the hospital’s new Portage Health Center June 2. The primary care office will be the first service to open in the new 29,500-square-foot health center, located at 2497 State Route 59 in Ravenna. The pediatrics practice will now be known as Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics, Portage. Additional...
Local Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday
In the 30 days that followed the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, 134,000 Americans enlisted in the military. The attack that prompted the United States to enter the war had a profound effect on Ravenna resident Vernon Roen, who at the time was a high school senior in a small town in Wisconsin. “I passed the flight...
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!...
The Magic of a Sensory Experience Comes to town for the 2nd Annual Taste of Ravenna
Ravenna - Come one! Come all for the greatest show around! And then be our guest and put our hospitality to the test! Ravenna is hosting the 2nd Annual Taste of Ravenna for the community to experience and learn what our city has to offer. Whether it be a nibble of a cupcake, a question to help you with...
Those in Need Deserve Hope Indeed
The food drive will benefit the Amelia DiGirolamo Center of Hope whose goal is committed to elevating the nutritional level of low-income citizens in Portage County where food pantries are not present. They offer hot meals at no cost 5 days a week and “typically serve 75-100 individuals per day.”
What sets this food drive apart from traditional ones is that instead of stopping at Thanksgiving or Christmas time, it will continue the collection of donations through the new year. People do not just eat during holiday times, they eat 365 days a year. Institutions like the Center of Hope can function thanks to charitable donations and funds to help those who have none.
Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society Meeting
May 4 The Portage County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will convene on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Portage County Historical Society in Ravenna, Ohio, featuring guest speaker Kelli Bergheimer discussing “Finding & Continuing Your Genealogy Education.” Bergheimer, a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild, will delve into various avenues of genealogy...
Ravenna bowling places fifth at MAC
Last year the Ravenna Ravens boys’ bowling team was blessed with depth. This year, the Ravens’ depth has been tested and they competed short-handed at the Metro Athletic Conference tournament, taking fifth place by knocking down 3482 pins, relinquishing their league title to Woodridge last Saturday at Spins Bowling Alley in Akron. “It was not where we wanted to finish...
