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.
Events
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.
Around Garrettsville: Curtains up Theatre will celebrate 20 years with 'Phantom of the Opera'
- Jackie Loreta-Rinearson. The Garrettsville Curtains up Theatre is preparing for its 20-year anniversary. In celebration of this great accomplishment, they are celebrating with “The Phantom of the Opera” (non-musical version).
Around Windham: Congratulations and welcome to Mayor Terrie Altiere
- Nicole Sweet. Terrie Altiere was formally sworn in as mayor by village Solicitor Charles Gasior on Dec. 16. Mayor Altiere was appointed to fill the vacant mayoral seat and will serve in this capacity through Dec. 31, 2027.
County roundup: Mogadore seeks grants for sewer project, plus news from Atwater, Brimfield and Suffield
- Roger Gordon. Mogadore Village Council, partnering with Summit County and the City of Akron, passed legislation to authorize the village engineer to prepare and submit an application for grants from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Around Randolph: Wreaths Across America and carolers at the gazebo
- Sandy Engle. On Dec. 13, more than 40 students and many community members braved the frigid temperatures to honor the veterans buried in Hillside Cemetery. Students placed a wreath on the graves of each veteran.
County roundup: Hiram offers police management to Mantua, plus Freedom, Garrettsville and Windham news
- Roger Gordon. Village council has authorized Mayor Anne Haynam to offer a management contract to the Village of Mantua that would allow the Hiram Police Department to manage the Mantua Village Police Department on a temporary basis.
Last-minute events and sales around Portage County
- Lauren Cohen. All around Portage County, small businesses are hosting events and sales for the holiday season. Check out the list below for information on what’s going on locally that you may have missed.
Captain Brady Day will return in July 2026
- Wendy DiAlesandro. Captain Brady Day is back. Last held in 2007, it was a small neighborhood festival: local residents selling homemade crafts from card tables, a grainy slideshow of the village’s heyday as a tourist destination and other low-key attractions.
Around Garrettsville: Holiday events and a new children's book set in Garrettsville
- Jackie Loreta-Rinearson. The Garrettsville Branch of the Portage County District Library is sponsoring a performance of “Butternut Hill” to celebrate the holiday season.
County roundup: Santa visits and news from Atwater, Brimfield, Mogadore, Randolph and Suffield
- Roger Gordon. Seth Dowler was promoted to fire chief of the Village of Mogadore after three years as assistant fire chief. His first day in his new capacity will be Dec. 27. Dowler is replacing John Cain, who is retiring after 12 years as fire chief and an astounding 44 years as a fireman in the department.