Barn Artist Returns To Mantua
Mantua - Local barn artist and historic barn aficionado Dr. Robert Kroeger will be returning to Mantua this fall. If you recall, the artist visited last fall to visit local barn owners and learn the stories behind the distinctive structures. Kroeger has recently released a book called ‘Historic Barns of Ohio’ through Arcadia Publishing. “I visited many barns,” Kroeger...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - As a result of the failure of Issue 6 this spring, the School Board discussed options and considerations for the district’s financial situation. Superintendent David Toth noted that the district has made cuts of over two million dollars over the last 5 years. In addition, the planned closure of the Crestwood Middle School stating next school year...
St. Joseph Church Ox Roast Fair Plans Well Underway
Mantua - Last year was a tough year for all of us, but we made it. St. Joseph Church in Mantua is hitting the ground running with the Ox Roast Fair, which is being held on July 16th, 17th & 18th. They’ll have a few changes this year and maybe some last minute changes as the Diocese of Youngstown...
Red Cross In Need Of Blood Donations
As the nation transitions to a new, hopeful phase of this devastating pandemic and people resume some of their normal activities, the American Red Cross needs your help to avoid a summer donation slump.Individuals of all blood types are urged to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine...
Rotary Awards Kim Marfy as 2021 Unsung Hero
Mantua - Each year the Rotary Club of Mantua honors an Unsung Hero. According to Rotary President Dean Olson, this is an individual who exemplifies the virtues of the Rotary organization. The person must demonstrate the ideal of service above self, seeks opportunities to assist others, maintains high ethical standards, and respect of others, and finally volunteers their time...
Mantua Historical Society Awarded OHRAB Grant to Preserve Historic Records
Mantua - The Mantua Historical Society will begin a project to improve the preservation and accessibility of its historical records through an inventory and the purchase of archival quality storage supplies. This project is supported in part by an award from the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, through funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), National...
New Mural Unveiled at Crestwood Intermediate School
Mantua - A new mural has been added to the wall at Crestwood Intermediate School, that artist Amanda Wascovich describes as “modern, whimsical graffiti.” The word ‘believe’ is larger than life and filled with images depicting sports, hobbies, foods, pets -- all images inspired by CIS students. “The idea of a mural started when our principal, Mr. Griffis, talked to...
Mantua Township News
Mantua Twp - At their last meeting, Trustee Chairman John Festa reported that the American Legion is planning a Memorial Day service at the Township’s West Lawn Cemetery at 11 am on Monday, May 31st. It was noted that the Crestwood band, the Scarlet Guard, would be in attendance, as well. For questions regarding the event, residents are encouraged...
Rotary Hosted Successful Sidewalk Spring Chalk Drawing Contest
Mantua - In what is becoming an annual harbinger of the season, the second annual Easter Chalk Drawing Contest took place over Easter weekend, when local amateur artists came out to help the season spring forth on local sidewalks. This is the second time the Rotary Club of Mantua has held the event. According to Rotary President Dean Olson, the...
A Night of Sunshine – Rotary Club of Mantua
Mantua - The past 12 months have been difficult for organizations that depend on fundraising to finance their community service. When the Crestwood Middle School Sunshine Fund approached the Rotary Club of Mantua to help make up for their inability to do their in-person events we sympathized, but said we too had to cancel our own fundraisers. Instead of...
Art Hits the Sidewalks in Mantua this Weekend
Mantua - To help make the holiday weekend more colorful, the Mantua Rotary Club will be hosting a sidewalk chalk competition on Saturday, April 3rd. The first ever, friendly competition takes place in front of the Crestwood High School from 1:30 - 3:30 pm, and provides aspiring chalk artists of all ages to come out and add their own...
Forage + Feather Welcomes New Owner Artisan
Mantua - When Forage + Feather opened its doors last August at the historic Mantua Grain building (4690 East Prospect), the shop provided visitors with the ability to browse among jewelry, body products, and home furnishings curated from over a dozen local artisans under one roof. Shop founders Tracy Fana and Hedy Laverdiere -- both artisans themselves, used their...
Local Woman’s Mission to Help Kids
Mantua - Angela Smith of Mantua recently started an organization called iTELLsecrets. Her purpose is to help children learn the difference between good touches and bad touches, to help protect kids from sexual abuse. Strikingly, among cases of child abuse reported to law enforcement, 93% of victims knew the perpetrators; 34% were family members while 59% were acquaintances. Only...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Crestwood Distributes Food and Holiday Cheer
Mantua - A week or so before the final meal distribution before the Christmas, Jennifer Bujak-Hirsch, Director of Nutrition Services at the Crestwood Local School District had an idea. The Crestwood Local School District has provided over 300,000 meals since the pandemic began in March. And while local families have appreciated receiving breakfasts and lunches, she thought, after a...
Portage County DD Board Honors Hattie Larlham Employee with Community Service Award
Mantua – Hattie Larlham employee Maggie Wooten has been selected as a recipient of the Earl and Mary Lohr Community Service Award presented by the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This award recognizes high-performing professionals and engaged citizens in the developmental disabilities services field. Award recipients have a known reputation for providing exemplary advocacy, services or supports to individuals...
Mantua Township Trustee News
Mantua Twp. - At a recent meeting, Township Fiscal Officer Susan Skrovan noted that CARES Act funds must be used by 12/31/20, necessitating the need to have another meeting prior to the end of the year in order that invoices for applicable products and services could be gathered and checks issued prior to year’s end. Trustee Matt Benner noted that...
Mantua Celebrates Christmas in the Village
Mantua - This holiday season, shopping local is even more important, as area restaurants and businesses move forward amidst a pandemic. Local folks have appreciated the convenience of having access to small stores close to home during this strange year, appreciating that much of what they spend at local shops remains in the community. According to data gathered by...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the November Board meeting, District Treasurer Sarah Palm shared the District’s Five Year Forecast. In it, Palm noted that in Fiscal Year 2021, a revenue shortfall is expected. According to Palm, “This means that expenditures are expected to be greater than revenue by $374,231.” She also noted that based on current projections, by Fiscal Year 2025...
Mantua Twp. Trustee News
Mantua Twp. - At their last meeting, the Trustees discussed how the Township could better utilize Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. In addition to N95 masks, gloves, touchless hand sanitizer and soap, Trustees discussed the purchase of a new message board, and equipment to facilitate online meetings. Trustee Matt Benner reported gathering estimates to update lighting...
Martial Arts Ohio Opens in Mantua
“We are so excited to open Martial Arts Ohio in Mantua,” shared owner Jack Edwards. Program Director Jessica Globokar added, “As one of six new businesses in Mantua in recent months, we’re so excited to be a part of revitalization in Mantua.” They’ve worked incredibly hard to revitalize their current space, working “from the ground up” creating a welcoming lobby...
DMRC Auction Invites You to Experience Mantua
Mantua - Since 2007, the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC) has been helping to breathe new life into the historic Village. From small-scale projects like the addition of planter boxes and bike racks to providing matching funds in support of large-scale projects including the Mill Street extension of the Headwaters Trail, the south side sidewalk construction, and the downtown...
Crestwood School Board News
Mantua - At the last Board meeting, Crestwood School District Treasurer Sarah Palm shared the latest Revenue and Expenditure comparisons with the Board. She noted that the latest Revenue Comparison shows that District revenues are generally aligned with what was presented in the May 5th Year Forecast. She shared that in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, revenues are currently $20,141,208....
Local Farmers Provide Support & Hope
Ohio Relief Haulers, a nonprofit organization the aims to help farmers battle against natural disasters like flooding or fires, was begun in 2017 by Travis and Brittany Hamlin. The couple, who run the Hamlin Livestock Ranch in Rootstown, have farming in their blood; Travis is part of the multi-generational Derthick’s Farm in Mantua. As the couple cares for their young...
