Today I’m excited to introduce our first milestone with the launch of our improved website along with Portage County’s first locally owned online discussion board, the Portager Forum. You now have a friendly and free place to comment on the news, share your events, give feedback to our team and debate local topics.
The Aurora Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Annual Holiday Luncheon celebrating the 2025 Person of the Year and Business of the Year will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5 at the Bertram Inn & Conference Center at 600 N. Aurora Rd. These honors recognize the remarkable achievements and significant contributions made by local individuals and businesses.
- Shirley Mars. Those driving through the recently renovated Brimfield Plaza may have noticed a storefront’s windows filled with festive Christmas trees adorned with beautiful Hallmark ornaments.
- Savana Capp.
Streetsboro’s Ward 4 Representative Lisa McDaniel submitted a letter of resignation on Nov. 5, ahead of a move out of the city. At its Nov. 24 meeting, council voted to have a familiar face step into that spot: Justin Ring.
Unanimous approval was also provided for entering into a service agreement with Southeast Local Schools for the services of an ELL tutor, the establishment of an Indoor Track and Field Club at the high school, and the purchase of a new van for the transportation of special education students.
The Garrettsville Curtains up Theatre is happy to announce that its 20th anniversary production, “The Phantom of the Opera” (non-musical version), by Gene Traylor with permission from the Dramatic Publishing Company, will feature five performances in January 2026.
We had a few weeks to kind of settle in at our new camper, new site and new campground. We are very much looking forward to our new adventures in the spring. In the meantime, campground season is over and we are back at home, doing the usual end of summer juggling game trying to fit all of the doubles into just one household.
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
Tucked into the rural countryside of Rootstown is the home of Rodhe Sport, a shot put-, hammer- and discus-throwing facility, where Olympian and inventor Justin Rodhe coaches world-class throwing athletes and handcrafts training gloves used by professional athletes around the world.
- Kathy Baker.
You’re about to receive a thanksgiving gift. No, I didn’t forget to capitalize the “t” in “thanksgiving.” This gift has nothing to do with turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie or spending a day with your favorite (or not-so-favorite) relatives. The gift being offered to you, by several authors and philosophers, including myself, is even better than that. In fact, it’s priceless.
After public comment concluded, Amrhein and council members honored Sue Nelson of Sue Nelson Designs for her contributions to Kent’s community. Nov. 19 was declared Sue Nelson Day to honor her retirement.
Errera was unanimously elected and immediately sworn in. Errera thanked those in attendance and quickly cast his first vote, which was an approval to move the board into executive session.
- Roger Gordon.
Rootstown’s annual “Light It Up” event will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 by Town Hall at 3988 State Route 44 and the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ at 4022 State Route 44, right in the center of town.
- Staff Report.
Remembering those we’ve lost in Portage County
Nearly a month after removing former Mantua Police Chief Joe Urso from his post, village council on Nov. 18 received a petition calling for Mayor Tammy Meyer’s resignation.
0.10. A tiny tenth, but a huge headache for Portage County Water Resources Director Dan Blakely.
- Nicole Sweet.
Hello Windham Family! November is National Gratitude Month. Gratitude is an active process of acknowledging goodness and recognizing its source. There is so much to be grateful for in Windham.
- Cathy Klein.
This month, the Edinburg Ohio Historical Society attended a self-publishing class held at Books a Go Go in Ravenna.
Is there any better holiday meal than Thanksgiving? A meal made delicious because many of the most popular Thanksgiving dishes contain foods that originate in the Americas.
Food is a basic human need. Yet here in Portage County, many neighbors still struggle to keep their pantries full. We’ve all seen the food drives and we’ve all read the statistics, but numbers alone can feel abstract. We wanted to meet the people doing the work— and understand what it actually takes to relieve hunger in our own backyard.