County roundup: Shalersville to create veterans memorial, plus news from Edinburg and Rootstown
- Roger Gordon. The grant will support the creation of Veteran’s Point, featuring a U.S. flag installation, benches and landscaping enhancements.
Events
Around Randolph: Spring Into Health event promotes farmers' health and safety
- Sandy Engle. On March 21, five visionary farmers will be presenting at the “Spring Into Health” event at the Randolph Community Center, located at 1657 State Route 44. This event is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of farmers and gardeners, and the intention is to instill hope and provide workable solutions.
Around Ravenna: New boutique event space opens in historic building
- Angie Reedy. Introducing The Yellow House in Ravenna, a boutique event space! The new owners, Regina and Matthew Heon, saw this old beauty and fell in love … soaring ceilings; French doors; long, sunny, wavy glass windows; big molding; marble hearths; and an original wood floor.
County roundup: Garrettsville considers JEDD; Freedom, Hiram, Mantua, Nelson and Windham news
- Roger Gordon. Brad Ehrhart, president of the Portage Development Board, spoke recently to Garrettsville Village Council about the village’s interest in perhaps at some point becoming part of a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) with other communities.
County roundup: Atwater requests solar and wind farm ban; Mogadore, Randolph and Suffield news
- Roger Gordon. The Portage County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Public Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 concerning recent township board of trustees resolutions that request the board of commissioners prohibit economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar farms within the townships.
Around Brimfield: Many ways to help feed your neighbors
- Shirley Mars. For over 45 years, the spirit of neighborliness has been alive and well in our community, as residents wholeheartedly lent support to the Brimfield Community Cupboard and created a legacy of caring for our own.
Downtown Kent to turn into student art gallery in March
- Adriana Gasiewski. While attending the 2025 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, Lesley Sickle, marketing coordinator of Main Street Kent, learned how in Delaware, Ohio, they displayed students’ artwork at local businesses for an entire month and started thinking about how Kent could pull off something similar.
Rootstown Lions Club Chili Cook-off a hit in its fifth year
- Abigail Kress. Community members and businesses across Rootstown Township came together for the Rootstown Township Lions Club 5th Annual Chili Cook Off.
County roundup: Hiram Village poster contest opens, plus news from Garrettsville, Mantua and Windham
- Roger Gordon. As part of a Village of Hiram Downtown Revitalization project, Hiram College students are leading a poster contest within the Crestwood and Garfield school districts.
How to enjoy your very own 3,000 acres in the Portage Park District this spring
- Savana Capp. The Portage Park District has two main goals: conserve the rich natural history of Portage County and provide opportunities for it to be appreciated and enjoyed.
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.
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.
Around Charlestown: Dale Nething honored with Distinguished Service Award
- Ruth Ann Bartholomew. The Portage County Farm Bureau recently honored Dale Nething with its Distinguished Service Award. Dale and his son, Don, are co-owners of Maplecrest Farms on Knapp Road.
Around Suffield: Chili cook-off incoming to fight the chill
- Pauline Persons. Suffield has quite a few activities scheduled for February!
County roundup: Rootstown prepares for America's 250th, plus news from Franklin and Paris
- Roger Gordon. The Rootstown Historical Society, in conjunction with Rootstown Township, is planning a festive celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4 at Rootstown Park.
County roundup: Windham holds off on housing question, plus Mantua and Garrettsville news
- Roger Gordon. The Windham Township Trustees held a special meeting recently regarding the amendment that the people brought about having a second dwelling on one parcel. The trustees voted to accept the zoning commission’s recommendation to deny that activity.