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.
A 50th wedding anniversary party was held by Cliff and Denise Soudil on Oct. 4, 2025 – 50 years to the day of their wedding, Oct. 4, 1975.
Planes, trains and automobiles were part of a three-week vacation. Jack Trauth of Ravenna flew to London to visit his daughter, Karrie, and her wife, Angela. He and Karrie flew to Switzerland to meet his son, Jim, his wife, Mariana, and grandson Evan. Adding to the excitement of the outing were travel by a dual-gauge railroad, a cog rail, a zip line, a funicular (a cable railroad, especially one on a mountainside, where ascending and descending cars are counterbalanced) and a vintage paddle wheel boat.
Immaculate Conception Church will start its monthly spaghetti dinners Thursday, Sept. 18 in the church hall at 251 W. Spruce Ave. in Ravenna. Cost will remain the same: $12 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children under 3.
Junior Thursday Literary Club is having a 70th anniversary open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna.
The Portage County Historical Society will hold its annual Summer Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28. The Lowrie-Beatty Museum, Carter House, Strickland House, Log Cabin, Campbell Land Office, Ford Seed Store, Mahan Barn and Indian Village will all be open for tours. Visit the newly renovated Carter House and the new handicap-accessible entrance.
Clubhouse Brady Lake, 2036 Walton Road, will be hosting the Ravenna Lions Car/Motorcycle Cruise-In from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 19. The event is $10 per vehicle, but free for spectators, and features free hot dogs and chips and Bailey behind the bar. There will be raffle baskets as well.
Remember, because of Easter week, Immaculate Conception will be holding its monthly spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. April 24. The dinner will remain the same for eating in or taking out.
Don’t forget the Immaculate Conception monthly spaghetti dinner. It will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20 at the parish hall, 251 W. Spruce Ave., Ravenna.
Ravenna native Mary Jo (Dunlavy) Cross will return to Ravenna on Sunday, Feb. 23 and present a program at the First United Methodist Church in Ravenna.
The Salvation Army of Portage County’s annual Kettle Kick-off and Dinner will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the First Church of God, 237 New Milford Rd., Ravenna.
Fifty years ago in 1974, Mark Horsnell of Christchurch, New Zealand, came to Ravenna as an AFS (foreign exchange student). His host family was the Sam and Ruth DiPaola family.
I attended Erma Hoover’s 90th birthday celebration Aug. 11 at the Masonic Temple in Ravenna. It was such a lovely affair, with her friends and family attending. Erma was as gracious as ever and tried to speak with everyone there. She did a good job of it. Her family made all the delicious food, and there was plenty of it. Everyone had a great time.
Safer Futures is having its 14th annual “Hope in a Handbag” fundraiser. It will be held from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 228 Gougler Ave., Kent.
Karen Croop is thrilled to announce the grand re-opening of Karen’s Hair Design and Beauty Salon, now located in the Medical Arts Building, 6693 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna. Karen’s Hair Salon is the go-to destination for all your hair and beauty needs.
Karrie Trauth, born and raised in Ravenna, has received Freedom as Citizen and Shipwright of the City of London, UK.
Big news – Karen’s Hair Design is relocating! Karen is moving her beauty salon to the Medical Arts Building at 6693 N. Chestnut St., across from Maple Grove Cemetery in Ravenna. She plans to move when remodeling is completed around May-ish.
The Thursday Literary Club will be celebrating “100 Years of Reading 1924-2024” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11 in the Haymaker Room of Reed Memorial Library, 167 E. Main St., Ravenna.