Ravenna girls basketball unravels in fourth quarter, loses to Cloverleaf
The Ravenna Ravens girls’ basketball team played three strong quarters of basketball but it still was not enough. The Ravens came undone in the fourth quarter, losing 69-40 against Metro Athletic Conference rival Cloverleaf last Friday evening in Lodi. “The girls played hard,” said Coach Courtney O’Donnell. “We have to play all four quarters and we have to find the...
Portage County ends 2023 with 19 fatal crashes and 19 related deaths
Portage County Fatal Crash Review Board held a quarterly meeting on January 12th. There were no fatal crashes that occurred during the months of October through December, 2023. In 2022, one fatal crash occurred during the same three-month period. In 2023, there were 19 fatal crashes and 19 related deaths in Portage County. The fatal crashes occurred between January...
Ravens tennis takes fourth at MAC tournament
Even with a young team, the Ravenna Ravens boys’ tennis team’s perseverance continued to propel them to success. The Ravens finished in fourth place at the Metro Athletic Conference tournament by scoring 27 points last Wednesday at Ravenna High School. “We still have new players and relied heavily on our singles players to help us get a lot of points...
Portage County DD Limitless Art Show continues to expand
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder but for the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities, it is easy to give each piece of art submitted to the Portage County DD Limitless Art Show a stamp of approval. In its continuing effort to provide support to those with developmental disabilities, the social service organization based in...
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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 Little Wine… And A Ghost or Two…
Ravenna - Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Or a glass of good wine? Or some local history? Maybe some live music? If any of those appeal to you, then Ravenna has just the place for you! Located at 234 West Main Street in the historic section of downtown Ravenna, the West Main Winery and Brewery is a...
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...
Join the Chesty Puller Young Marines in Ravenna
The Young Marines, a national youth organization, invites adults and youth to join the Chesty Puller Young Marines in Ravenna, Ohio. Units are led by dedicated adult volunteers who mentor and guide youth members. It is through these caring adults that Young Marines learn leadership, community service, honoring veterans, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines, a national...
PCRPC conducts Open House for Ravenna City Plan Updates
The Portage County Regional Planning Commission’s designs on building a better City of Ravenna remain fluid. The PCRPC hosted an Open House to receive feedback from residents to update their living document last Wednesday evening at Ravenna High School. “The word comprehensive means all-inclusive but it is a legal document,” PCRPC Director Todd Peetz told the audience. “If something is...
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 baseball jumps on John Hay for third straight victory
Getting off to an 0-7 start did not bode well for the Ravenna Ravens’ baseball team but they seemed to have turned things around. Ravenna shut out John Hay 12-0 in to run winning streak to three consecutive victories last Saturday afternoon at Ravenna Rotary Field. “It is always good to get a streak going,” said Coach Lee Lovejoy. “This...
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...
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...
Woodland Wednesdays: Oh Deer, is that Oak Wilt?
Many factors contribute to forest economics, but managing forest health is key to the potential value of your woodlot. Join us for an in-person Woodland Wednesdays program on February 21st at 6:00 pm at the VFW Post 1055, 6000 New Milford Road, Ravenna, OH 44266 for “Oh Deer, Is That Oak Wilt?” This program will provide an update on...
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Book Review at YMCA 1st & 3rd Mondays OUTLIVE The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD Share a stimulating hour exchanging impressions & opinions at our book review & discussion, 10am, the 1st & 3rd Mondays each month. Presented by Dr J Patella: A manifesto on living better, longer, challenging conventional medical thinking, revealing an approach to prevent chronic...
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,...
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....
“Joy Had by All” at Ravenna Rocks Concert
Ravenna - A cool breeze lofted through the historic district of Meridian and Main Street. The amplified echo of a guitar hovered in the air as listeners nodded their heads to the pulse of the beat and silently lip-synced their favorite songs as the band played on and on. It was a great evening for music enthusiasts, corn hole players...
A Primer on the Ohio Canals, featuring the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal
The Portage County Historical Society will present a Primer on the Ohio Canals, featuring the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal on April 23rd at 2pm. Guest Speaker David A. Neuhardt was born near the Miami & Erie Canal in Sidney, Ohio, and lived for many years just a block from the route of that canal in downtown Dayton. He has been...
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. ...
Grant applications for critical needs focused programs in Portage County are being accepted
United Way of Portage County is accepting grant applications for critical needs-focused programs serving Portage County. The deadline to apply is Feb. 16. United Way of Portage County 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....
Board of Elections Needs Precinct Election Officials for August 8th Election
Ravenna - The Portage County Board of Elections needs registered voters to work as precinct election officials for the August 8, 2023 Special Election. Without precinct election officials we simply cannot hold elections. Precinct election officials make sure our elections are fair, honest, and conducted according to Ohio law. Precinct election officials open and close the polling place on Election...
Portage Foundation Appoints Heidi Johnson as Community Engagement Manager
The Portage Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Heidi Johnson as the organization’s new Community Engagement Manager. In this role, she will work to advance the Foundation’s mission to foster community relationships, promote philanthropy, and impact causes in Portage County. Johnson brings a wealth of experience in community development and engagement, making her a strong fit for the...
Susie K’s Cafe and Tea Room
Ravenna - It was a typical Wednesday, and this reporter had errands to run. Okay, it wasn’t too typical for North Eastern Ohio in March - it was a beautiful day! Rather than driving to multiple locations, the price of gas combined with the weather to encourage me to park downtown and do my errands on foot. I am...
Ravenna High School Honors Civic Program
Ravenna - Good things continue to happen at Ravenna High School. Last week we saw the Day of Service, when all the students turned out to help the community in various ways. What a success it was! While checking out the students working downtown, this reporter noticed a QR code at the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce, on a...
Date Night At The Library
Ravenna - Date night at the library? Really? Sounds rather boring! Well, maybe not. If your library has been transformed into a miniature golf course and serves delicious appetizers and wine, sounds like a fun date! Saturday, November 20, Reed Memorial Library did just that. It was Date Night, Ladies’ Night Out, Bro Night, call it what you will-it...
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Book Review at YMCA 1st & 3rd Mondays OUTLIVE The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD Share a stimulating hour exchanging impressions & opinions at our book review & discussion, 10am, the 1st & 3rd Mondays each month. Presented by Dr J Patella: A manifesto on living better, longer, challenging conventional medical thinking, revealing an approach to prevent chronic...
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,...
Haven of Portage County Ribbon Cutting
Ravenna - A few months ago, this reporter wrote an article about the Haven of Portage County, and how it was progressing. At that time (November of ‘21) the building facility was still in the process of finalization. Wiring was in place for the computer stations, but there were no computers yet. Beds were there for the future ‘guests’...
Are Interested in Becoming an Ohio State Master Gardener?
Ravenna – The Ohio State Extension Office in Portage County is set to host their annual Master Gardener Training class starting August 31st, 2022. Classes this year are typically every Wednesday morning from 9AM-12:30PM Aug 31st through November 2nd 2022 with a few exceptions. A full schedule of the class and more information can be found at https://go.osu.edu/2022portagemgv. If you...
