Around Ravenna: Get to know your neighbors
- Angie Reedy. The Auxiliary of University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna is having its annual craft fair from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the hospital, 6847 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna.
Opinion
The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 5-11, 2026
- Mike D. Good morning, fans of all things music. Here we are rolling into the first week of August already. This week finds me with two nice gigs to play with the local band The Shootouts.
Been There, Done That: The garden is looking good
- Laura Nethken. Dave and I have been together for more than 40 years now and have had a vegetable garden for almost all of those years. Now that we're in our 60s, (holy moly, is that a thing?), the big 30x40 garden at the way-back of the property was too much. Our son built us beautiful 4x8 garden boxes right behind the house.
Around Brimfield: Good friends make you happier and healthier
- Shirley Mars. It never occurred to me that I would someday have a best friend who is 80 years old. Last weekend I found myself at her birthday party, along with over 200 of her other friends. It caused me to ponder on the importance of friends in our lives. When I searched the internet, I came across an intriguing study on friendship and happiness.
The Setlist: Portage County live music for July 31-Aug. 4, 2026
- Mike D. Of particular note this week is the BBQ & Blues benefit concert in the parking lot of Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St. This will feature the band The Back Alley Relics on August 2 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Rooted Ramblings: Plants get sick, too – behold the plant disease triangle
- Master Gardener Volunteers. What is wrong with my plant? I have asked myself this question so many times, I have lost count. My challenge became how to figure out a solution without killing the plant through what I thought was the right treatment. Behold, the disease triangle!
Baker: Lessons from a cherry tree
- Kathy Baker. On Friday, July 3, my husband and I were in downtown Kent with family, awaiting the annual fireworks display. At about nine o’clock, the weather suddenly changed. The wind whipped up and dark clouds filled the sky.
Around Edinburg: Plenty to do at the Edinburg United Church
- Cathy Klein. The Edinburg United Church will have two upcoming events for the community. First up is their Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.
One for the Books: Troublesome women
- Mary Louise Ruehr. I have some excellent novels and one nonfiction recommendation for you about women who changed lives or whose lives were changed by others. Three deal with women who have been mistreated by society because of “the America Plan,” our country’s eugenics program in the early 1900s.
Around Windham: Help the Windham Hall of Fame find the 1974 football team
- Nicole Sweet. The Windham High School Hall of Fame needs community help. On Sept. 18 at the football game that night, the 1974 Windham Bombers team of Coach Stan Parrish that reached the semi-finals of the state playoffs will be inducted as a team into the Hall of Fame.
Rooted Ramblings: Preserving summer herbs
- Master Gardener Volunteers. In July many herbs are at their prime and now is a perfect time to harvest and preserve them. If your herbs are abundant, try freezing them this year.
Around Charlestown: Lots of fun in the sun planned in Charlestown this summer
- Ruth Ann Bartholomew. The 23rd Annual Charlestown Summer Festival and Cruise In is Saturday, Aug. 1, from 3-7 p.m. at the Charlestown Township Park.
Op-ed: Data centers: The good, the bad and the truly ugly
- Op-Ed Contributor. “I cannot stress how frustrated people are with this topic,” Ohio Farm Bureau vice president Jack Irwin told Cleveland.com. Truer words on the topic of data centers have not been spoken and it has become the rare issue that seems to be uniting the left and the right.
Senior Life: Dealing with the heat and finding more discounts in the area
- Sally Kelly. July is here, and so is the heat. Do not forget to contact the Portage County Community Action Council to schedule an appointment to see if you qualify for the Home Energy Assistance Program. This program does not only provide assistance to help pay heating bills but also has money available for the cost of air conditioning.
Around Randolph: Waterloo starts a 'Digital Diet'
- Sandy Engle. Due to a desire to increase focusing, and social interaction skills, this fall all students and staff at Waterloo School District will be undergoing a 'Digital Diet.'
Varner: Duma Meats helps for a locally sourced potluck
- Simon Varner. If you’ve been keeping up with the column, you will know that my wife Jill and I have been expecting our first child. Well, the wait is over! Early in the morning on March 22, our baby boy was delivered happy, healthy and loud. Really, you should have seen the sunrise peaking into the room as it happened; it was beautiful.
Around Brimfield: Wear sunscreen (and check out The Village of St. Edward)
- Shirley Mars. There were days when we all wondered if summer would ever come. Well, it came. Summer is in full swing, and my advice…wear sunscreen! Some may remember that “song” from the late 1990s written by a man named Baz Luhrmann [yes, the director] entitled “Wear Sunscreen.”