Streetsboro’s new City Hall will serve as a community hub - Jeremy Brown. The once-little farming community that has grown to become one of the largest industrial and retail centers in Portage County officially has its first city center.
Streetsboro’s new City Hall will serve as a community hub Axess Family Services uses $5M award to make lasting local change
- Wendy DiAlesandro. A year ago, Axess Family Services received an unexpected $5 million award from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, which is backed by multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez.
Rooted Ramblings: Wild bird landlord – sit, watch and listen
- Master Gardener Volunteers. On any random winter day, when our Portage County, Ohio, yards are frozen and barren, I pour my first cup of coffee and prepare myself for the hidden gems ready to fly down from the trees above. I am aware my yard has been awake and alive since daybreak. I’ve learned the birds’ rhythms and routines over time; my yard has become a safe space for them.
Op-ed: Winter preparedness in Portage County
- Op-Ed Contributor. Now that we’ve dug out from the latest snowstorm that barreled through the county, long-range weather forecasts suggest temperatures may finally climb above freezing next week.
Portage County obituaries for Feb. 4-5, 2026
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
New arts group aims to support creativity near Hiram
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Art enthusiasts in northern Portage County finally have a space to call their own.
Portage Developmental Disabilities board planning three months of awareness
- Adriana Gasiewski. The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities will begin celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a lineup of events starting in February, including the return of Limitless Art.
Around Ravenna: Warm up with these community events coming up this month
- Angie Reedy. The 39th annual Celebration of Lights was held in December at the University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, hosted by the hospital’s Auxiliary. It was a successful evening and the committee wants to thank everyone who came, donated money or helped in any way for their participation, and especially Shorts-Spicer-Crislip Funeral Homes for its sponsorship.
Portage County obituaries for Feb. 2-3, 2026
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
Get The Portager for free
Join over 7,000 people reading our free email to find out what's going on in Portage County.
- Three issues per week
- Be the first to know about new tax levies, community events, construction projects and more.
- 100% local
- We only cover Portage County. No distracting national politics or clickbait headlines.
Kent City Council appoints new Ward 2 council member
- Margaret Lennox. Eric Dreger is the newest member of Kent City Council. Dreger was selected by council to serve Kent’s Ward 2, which was left vacant when Jack Amrhein ran for — and was elected to serve as — mayor in November of 2025.
Around Brimfield: How to help your community, even when you're snowed in
- Shirley Mars. Ben Wolford’s thoughtful comments about “values that we should be able to agree on” reminded me of why I allowed him to talk me into reviving the Around Brimfield column a few years ago. Freedom, safety, respect, dignity, decency, diversity and seeing others as neighbors – I share those values and find comfort in knowing that most of The Portager readers share them as well. If we are to “hold the line” as Ben suggests, we cannot be complacent or naïve.
Documenters: Streetsboro City Council meeting for Jan. 26, 2026
- Noell Wolfgram Evans. Following the acceptance of the Jan. 12 meeting minutes, members of the public were invited to address the council. Ted Hurd spoke with great pride about the new City Hall, which he said “was always my dream to see.”
County roundup: Streetsboro opens city hall, plus news from Aurora, Ravenna and Shalersville
- Roger Gordon. Ravenna City Council voted to extend its moratorium on storage facilities six months before it considers allowing any more to go in.
Portage County obituaries for Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2026
- Staff Report. Remembering those we've lost in Portage County
