Ravenna will soon consider public comment on new wards
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Ravenna’s ward boundaries are one step closer to shifting as a City Council committee is asking the public to chime in on where each ward should begin and end.
Ravenna
Portage County youth group home changing operators
- Wendy DiAlesandro. It’s a well known journalistic truth: people stop reading when they see numbers. Would they still stop if they realized that each statistic represents a teenager’s daily life?
County roundup: Streetsboro considers Flock Cameras plus news from Aurora and Ravenna
- Roger Gordon. Streetsboro City Council has been discussing the installation of six Flock cameras at the major approaches to the city: along state Route 14, state Route 43 and state Route 303.
Volunteers and donations needed for Community RECESS Initiative
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Founded in July 2025, the Community RECESS (Recreation, Resources, Community Service Supervision) Initiative is the brainchild of Aaron Mitchell, who worked with community navigator Frank Hairston to gently help individuals and families in Ravenna Township’s Skeels and McElrath neighborhoods build a sense of community, secure needed resources and unleash their community spirit.
Ravenna to host two America 250th anniversary celebrations
- Adriana Gasiewski. The city of Ravenna will wish America a happy anniversary, inviting people to its America’s 250th Anniversary Community Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ravenna City Hall and America’s 250th After Party Concert at Sunbeau Valley from 7 to 9 p.m. July 11.
Ravenna needs volunteers for America 250 celebration in July
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Anyone interested in helping with the event should contact Clerk of Council Chelsea Gregor at 330-297-2155. With enough volunteers, people can take shifts and still go out to enjoy the celebration day.
Portage County plans Juneteenth celebrations throughout the weekend
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day, has been celebrated since 1866. President Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, but Portage County communities celebrated it before that and continue to do so.
How Portage County organizations plan an eventful summer
- Adriana Gasiewski. Cochairs of the revived Captain Brady Day Annette McMullen and Charlie Hall grew up attending the community festival at Brady Lake. McMullen recalled how the event was less centered around Captain Samuel Brady but bringing the then-Brady Lake Village community together.
Ravenna looks to put elementary school, high school on same property
- Savana Capp. In addition to the closures of West Park and West Main elementaries, Ravenna City Schools might be introducing another building change.
Towner's Woods getting new bathrooms, repaving and other upgrades
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Towner’s Woods is getting some updates, but they mean the park will be closed for the summer— and maybe longer.
County roundup: Safer roads in Ravenna Township, plus Aurora and Shalersville news
- Roger Gordon. On May 13, Ravenna Township Trustee Vince Coia and staff from the Portage County Engineer’s Office attended a virtual meeting with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to discuss some troubled intersections that travel through the township.
Around Ravenna: Multiple events to honor local military heroes
- Angie Reedy. Everyone is invited to honor our fallen soldiers and watch the Ravenna Memorial Day Parade from the porch of City Gardener & Florist at 329 N. Chestnut St. at 10 a.m. Monday, May 25.
Ravenna considers slowing speeds, buying parking lot and more
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Ravenna City Council members met May 11 to consider a number of items, including lowering speed limits on Main Street.
Community, school leaders ponder next steps after tax failures at the ballot
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Disappointed by May’s primary election results, school and city officials across Portage County know they have work to do before November.
Ravenna Parks and Rec plans Summer Celebration, concert and more
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Sun Beau Valley Event Center (formerly Sunbeau Valley Farm) will be the site of two events this summer, both hosted by Ravenna’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Kent schools levy passes; Streetsboro, Ravenna, and JFS all saw losses
- Rachel Abbey McCafferty. The Kent City School District got a decisive win in Tuesday’s election, as its 9.8-mill additional tax levy passed 3,125 to 2,225.
County roundup: Data centers still top of mind; Aurora, Ravenna, Shalersville and Streetsboro news
- Roger Gordon. The planning commission forwarded a resolution to Streetsboro City Council to put a 12-month moratorium on accepting applications for data centers and/or cryptocurrency centers.