- To get into the holiday spirit, I found a few stories set during the Christmas season.* Mostly, I was looking for heartwarming and cheerful, and mostly, I found it. Some of these are short and sweet, so I’ve included the number of pages in each.
- I bet you finished that line. During a Portage County winter, most of our trees and herbaceous plant life slumber until the arrival of spring.
- One of the best parts of the holiday season is finding a gift that brings lasting joy to the recipient. If you have a gardener in your life, there are a number of great options to consider, from tools to plants to garden décor. But how do you find the right gift for that special person? Here are a few tips that might help narrow down the choices.
- The Suffield United Church of Christ held their Annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in August. The relay ran from 6 p.m. to midnight.
- The government shutdown is over and SNAP benefits are “alive” again, but I know that for some of us, that does not resolve our need for additional food. In Portage County, individuals can call 211 (Portage County information and referral services) and register for one of our county’s food pantries.
-Ben Wolford 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.
- 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.
-Jackie Loreta-Rinearson
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.
-Laura Nethken
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.
-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.
-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.
-Master Gardener Volunteers
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.
-Op-Ed Contributor
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.
-Letter to the editor
Regarding the recent letter supporting the termination of former Mantua Police Chief Joe Urso, several of the stated claims are factually incorrect and contradicted by publicly available records, state administrative rules, and Mantua’s own documented history. For the sake of accuracy and community understanding, I want to clarify the record.
-Letter to the editor
After reviewing a recent public statement, I believe it is necessary to correct several inaccuracies and clarify factual information.
-Sandy Engle
Nov. 9-15 was Ohio Soil Health Week, and throughout Ohio there were events to honor the soil. Surprisingly, within a spoonful of soil there are more living organisms than there are people currently on this planet. As we enter this season of delicious festivities, may we be grateful to the farmers and soil microbes which make our food nutritious and tasty.
-Letter to the editor
I think that the Village of Mantua Mayor and Council made the correct decision regarding ex-Police Chief Joe Urso. The following are some of the reasons I agree with the five council members who voted to terminate Chief Urso: