The Portager

Shalersville trustees study data center noise levels

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:53:00 GMT

If there’s one point of agreement regarding a proposed data center campus in Shalersville Township, it’s that the installation would increase noise.

How much, and what kind, gets complicated.

Bitdeer Technologies Group, the Singapore-based bitcoin mining company, claims that the noise level at the property line of its proposed Shalersville campus would be under 50 decibels.

Shalersville Township trustees want solid data. On Aug. 18, they authorized a $9,000 contract with Thornton Acoustics & Vibrations, a Pittsburgh-based sound study company, to monitor ambient noise for a week in six to 10 locations across the township, some of them close to the Ohio Turnpike and some adjacent to the proposed campus.

“This gives us a starting point,” Trustee Jack Bias said. “We want to get a snapshot of our current noise levels so if the proposed data center goes in, we can see the changes.”

Thornton Acoustics will do more than just measure sound.

According to an Aug. 10 email company principal William Thornton sent to Bias, the firm will review Shalersville’s existing zoning code and documentation relevant to the proposed campus, provide technical guidance to develop and implement a “fact-based community noise ordinance” and review, assess, rebut and critique any noise studies or models the developer provides.

Bias said Thornton’s work should be completed before the township’s moratorium on data centers expires in early November. If it’s not, the trustees said on Aug. 18 that they would extend the moratorium for another six months if needed, he said.

How loud is too loud?

If successful, Bitdeer would construct a 15-building data center campus on land owned by Portage County developer Geis Companies near the Ohio Turnpike interchange. The data centers would consist of computers running around the clock, processing information in exchange for digital currency called bitcoin, now worth close to $70,000 apiece.

Bitdeer Industrial Chairman and Senior Project Manager Paul Hanson told The Portager on June 16 that the noise level already coming off the turnpike is about 55 decibels, equivalent to “a quiet office, moderate rainfall, or a running refrigerator.”

That same day, during a presentation to the trustees, Bitdeer officials said the data centers would add 52-56 decibels at the nearest homes without mitigation and 43-48 decibels at the nearest residential property lines with full mitigation, which they defined as 30-foot sound walls, earth berms and vegetation.

The trustees have repeatedly asked Geis reps for the source of their figures, but the company has not responded, Bias said.

A 2008 Ohio Turnpike Commission noise mitigation study states that homes near the turnpike experience 65+ decibels on a daily basis. That’s about the sound of a normal conversation.

Bias also noted that Geis' attorneys want the trustees to agree to a noise level of “10 decibels above existing” at the nearest residences. Seventy-five decibels would approach the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

That’s all day, every day, and it’s not what the trustees want.

“We would like to freeze the level where it’s at. We don’t want to add to it,” he said.

The trustees have the county in their corner.

“I want to see a noise level that is what it is today,” Portage County Regional Planning Commission Director Todd Peetz said. “They shouldn't be adding any noise to the neighbors. None. Zero.”

The Regional Planning Commission has its eyes — and ears — on what kind of uses belong in land zoned for light industrial use, Peetz said. The township’s current zoning code defines light industry as manufacturing that is “relatively clean, quiet, and free of objectionable or hazardous elements such as smoke, noise, odor, or dust.” It must operate and store materials within enclosed structures and generate little industrial traffic and no nuisances.

To Peetz, that means activity that cannot be heard, felt or smelled.

“You shouldn't hear noise coming out of the buildings,” he said, adding that just because Shalersville doesn’t have land zoned for heavy industrial use doesn’t mean the proposed 750-megawatt data center campus can be sited on land zoned light industrial.

The Regional Planning Commission, which on Aug. 12 tabled proposed tweaks to Shalersville’s zoning code, is expected to present what it deems acceptable language on Sept. 9.

Portage Residents for Responsible Development

Jessica Winchell, the force behind the Facebook group Portage Residents for Responsible Development, said her biggest concern with the proposed project is Geis’s plan, aired during the trustees’ Aug. 18 meeting, to install 300 diesel generators, each one capable of producing 2.5 megawatts of power.

If PJM Interconnection, the company that coordinates and directs the power Ohio Edison produces, should for any reason curtail or cut off power to the data center campus, those generators would kick in, she said.

“Bitdeer will turn on all 300 of those generators, and run them until PJM says there’s enough power to go around again,” Winchell said. “They will also have to test all of those generators on a regular basis.”

Despite Geis’s June 16 pledge that the generators would be in Level 4 (heavy duty) sound enclosures, they can’t be entirely sealed because they have to have ventilation to operate, Winchell said.

“Generators are by default very noisy. They don't get less noisy the larger they get, and these generators would be quite large. They would reasonably create quite a bit of noise,” she said.
Peetz agreed with Winchell’s assessment, saying it would be difficult to entirely mitigate the noise coming from the generators.

Around Ravenna: A family reunion 100 years in the making

Angie Reedy — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:37:00 GMT

It started more than 100 years ago when the three Bianco sisters arrived from Erice, Sicily, with their husbands, Antonina and Gaspar Bica, Rosa and Giovanne Bruno and Diaga and Paul Sgaraglino. This year, the descendants of those original three families gathered in the traditional way, with about 300 people in attendance at the festivities held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Ravenna.

At this year's reunion, breakfast was served at 8 a.m. and then the picnic, with set-up starting at 10 a.m. and Siciliano's chicken was a big hit. In traditional Italian style, the tables were loaded with wonderful food with everyone helping themselves.

On Ellis Island, immigrants were subjected to tough physicals and were often sent back if there were any signs of sickness. Names were shortened or changed for easier spelling, and entrance to the United States did not mean citizenship.

Brooklyn was the first home for many of these immigrants until Angela Cosintina spread the word that Ravenna, Ohio, was the place to go for work.

At that time, Ravenna was the crossing point of four railroads and the hub of much business. Many male relatives in this family worked for the railroads, while the women worked in the Cleveland Worsted Mills. Almost all families talked about how their parents spoke Italian between themselves or close friends, but children were encouraged to speak only English.

The families of the three couples got together on July 4 on Crown Avenue to celebrate a birthday, and as the families grew, they picnicked on Ohio Avenue, (then Sivy's Farm, which is where West Branch Dam is now) where they used outhouses, played in dirty water and played bocci after wonderful food.

As the group continued to grow, the reunion moved to Tower Lodge at John Tontimonia City Park in Ravenna and West Branch and has been held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Ravenna for many, many years. The date has always remained the Fourth of July.

Frances and Willie Kester celebrated their 75th year of marriage on July 11. Frances had 10 children. What a wonderful way to have a family reunion for 110 years. We should all be so lucky.

Ryan Kester was a big help getting this column together, and Brett Fairleg was the photographer.

Contact Angie Reedy at 330-297-7228 with your Ravenna news.

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 26-Sept. 1

Mike D — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:34:00 GMT

Hi folks,

The Portage County Randolph Fair is in full swing, so I’m including it in this week’s Setlist. Come on out and enjoy!

Aug. 27: Kid’s Day
- 5 p.m. Southeast High School Marching Band inside the the Main Gate
- 6:15 p.m. Windham High School Marching Band inside the Main Gate
- 7 p.m. American Steal at the Corner Stage
Aug. 28: With proper ID, free admission for senior citizens (over 60) & veterans
- 5 p.m. Rock N Country Cloggers in the Hubbard Building
- 6:30 p.m. Summit Up Cloggers in the Hubbard Building
- 7:30 p.m. KC & Company at the Corner Stage
- 7:45 p.m. Walnut Hills Cloggers at the Hubbard Building
Aug. 29: Family Day
- 1-4 p.m. SupaFun strolling the fairgrounds
- 7 p.m. Vinyl Arcade at the Corner Stage
Aug. 30: Final Day
- 3 p.m. Gospels Disciples in Song at the Corner Stage

And now, back to your regularly scheduled Setlist:

FREEDOM

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

Aug. 29: Impulse 8 p.m.-midnight

GARRETTSVILLE

Garrettsville Farmers Market 8119 Main Street

Aug. 27: Crazy James 4-7 p.m.

HIRAM

Aug. 30: Hiram Summer Concert Series at Reign Hadsell Park, featuring indie folk-groove band North Ingalls 5-7p.m.

KENT

Gigi’s Restorante & Market 210 S. Depeyster St.

Aug. 27: Dave Hermes 6-9 p.m.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street

Aug. 28: Jen Mauer & Joe Golden 6-9 p.m.

Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection

Aug. 29: Jon Mosey 10 a.m.-noon

MANTUA

Farmers & Makers Market at the Granary in Mantua, located in the Mantua Grain Building parking lot, 4690 East Prospect Street.

August 28: Singer-Songwriter & Guitarist Ava Leone, 4-7 p.m.

RAVENNA

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main St.

Aug. 28: Babies in Black 6-8 p.m.

Reed Memorial Library 167 E. Main Street

Aug. 30: Celtic Rush appearing in the outdoor pavilion 2-4 p.m.

ROOTSTOWN

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44

Aug. 30: Sunday Funday concert featuring Kelly Jeanne on the patio stage from 3-5 p.m. No ticket required.

STREETSBORO

Streets Tavern 9107 Route 14

Aug. 28: Twisted Toyz 8-11 p.m.

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route 14

Aug 29: Silver Springs (tribute to Fleetwood Mac) 9 p.m.-midnight

OPEN MICS/OPEN JAMS

KENT

Aug. 30: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster St. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m.

Sept. 1: North Water St. Brewing Co. 101 E. Crain Ave. Host: Mick Rogers. 6:30-9 p.m. Signups start at 6 p.m.

Sept. 1: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water St., Kent Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

Aug. 26: Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Ave. Hosts: BC Hudson, Jesse Carter. Open Mic/Jam. 7:30-10 p.m.

Aug. 26: Bell Tower Brewing Co. 310 Park Ave. Open Blues Jam. Host: Cleveland Blues Society. 6:30-9 p.m.

RAVENNA

Aug. 27: Tavs 106 E. Main St. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Aug. 30: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Aug. 26: Divine Food & Spirits 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30.

Aug. 26: CBG 503 Chestnut Blvd. Pickin’ Wednesdays: Bluegrass jam/open mic. Banjos, mandolins, guitars welcome 6-9 p.m.

Been There, Done That: Taking an old dog on long walks

Laura Nethken — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:33:00 GMT

Our camping season had gotten off to a rocky start, it rained just about the whole month of May and we dealt with catastrophic electrical issues in June. But we were finally pretty well settled into our new camper at our new campground and we had a three-day weekend coming up for the Fourth of July. Dave and I were really looking forward to it.

We had friends who were planning on staying at the campground that weekend and it was going to be great— and it started out that way. We all hung out for a bit, even the dogs got along OK. Our 13 1/2-year-old Beagle and our friends' 7-year-old Boxer decided they were just a couple of old guys and settled into their respective spots in the grass for naps.

All good. Our friends fished for a bit, and we even saw some fireworks off in the distance.
Then the sky opened up and it just absolutely poured rain. They scampered into their camper and we took off for ours. Dave and I and Cletus took refuge from the storm in our camper. It was a pretty forceful storm that included one giant clap of thunder. I never even saw the lightning. The lights went out for a split second and came right back on. All but the TV. OK, we'll figure that out tomorrow.

But we didn't. Our neighbor from across the street tried to help, but to no avail. Whatever in a TV makes it connect to an outside source no longer existed in ours. Just $68 later, we had a new smart TV. Way smarter than us. It took us a bit to find someone to help us get it working. And even longer for the old one to be removed from where it was mounted on the wall. We need different screws to get the new one on the wall. At least it works now.

Dave needs that TV. He gets up about 3:30 or 4 a.m. and I do not. He needs something to entertain himself for a couple hours, because that isn't going to be me until at least 7:30 a.m. Another problem solved.

We've been working on meeting people and making new friends. We left Cletus at home so we could attend the pig roast/luau. It'll be the same for the upcoming chili cook-off that I can't wait to take part in. Cletus isn't welcome at the food functions and we can't leave him in the camper. We did that once years ago and he tore up the screen in every window he could reach. It's OK, we don't spend the night on those days. And, he gets to come with us for the Easter Egg Hunt, I think he might be of some help with that event.

And it's not like poor old Mr. Cletus is missing out on all the fun. He loves to go for walks, so we try to go for at least one nice long walk every day he is at the campground. Dave follows along behind us in the golf cart. Sometimes Cletus forgets he's an old guy and just keeps right on walking, from the next smell to the next smell to the next smell. Then it's "Oh buddy, we're not going to be able to walk back." That's OK, we've got Daddy back-up.

Plus, our campground has a dog park. Nothing but a 20x20 chunk of grass fenced in. I lock the gate, take his leash off and let him decide what to sniff, what gets a second harder sniff and what gets peed on. He walks the entire perimeter and then criss-crosses for closer inspection. When he walks back to the gate, he's had enough.

Last weekend, our walk started out great over by the newly built beach and then he stepped in something green and sticky and then in some tiny gravel, which immediately stuck to his foot and got up in between his pads.

I pulled off as much as I could and we shoved him up on the cart. He must've been able to get off whatever might have been left by himself overnight because the next day he was up for a super long walk.

We were headed to Dave's sister's camper to see if her hubby would help us get our new fan in the gazebo. We were just in sight of the big road when they whizzed by on their cart, trash bags on the back. OK, they're headed for the dumpsters. So we did, too. Dave on the golf cart and Cletus and me walking along.

We could see them as they unloaded their trash and then headed for the office. OK, we'll catch them on their way back. And thankfully, we did. That was a really long walk for Cletus. We got him loaded onto the cart and took the shortcut home to our camper, while her hubby went to grab his ladder.

The fan is up and Dave has entertained himself with the remote, testing all six speeds and the reverse mode. Quite a nice gift from our friend. Now, all we need is some warmer Dog Days of Summer weather to justify using it.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 24-25, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:32:00 GMT

Catharine Currie Kuleck

Catharine Currie Vinall Knight Kuleck, Ph.D., Professor Emerita. Cathy was born 15 October 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Robert P. Vinall and Agnes Oleson Vinall. Her father, a Veterans Administration official, was transferred to Washington, D.C., soon after Cathy’s birth.

Golf cart rules might be coming to Garrettsville

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:42:00 GMT

Garrettsville a golf cart community?

Seems so. Village Mayor Rick Patrick and police Lt. Keith Whan both say they’re seeing more and anticipate an even greater uptick.

“If you're driving through town, it's not uncommon to see five or six golf carts on the road at any time. There's a lot of residents that have them and there seem to be more and more of them coming up,” Whan said.

Now, village officials intend to take advantage of a 2025 state law that allows golf carts on public roads as long as the posted speed limit is less than 35 mph and local governments — village or city councils — have ordinances in place allowing them.

Patrick and Whan envision legislation that would require cart drivers to be licensed and for the carts to be registered and insured. The carts will have had to pass all necessary safety checks, including being outfitted with seatbelts, turn signals and headlights, Whan said.

Admitting that golf cart traffic is more prevalent than problematic, Patrick said it is safer for everyone if the people operating them are old enough to understand the rules of the road. Whan agrees and looks forward to smaller, slower carts that have ‘Slow Moving Traffic’ triangles affixed to the back being off the road. Those are the carts most likely to present a potential hazard to other motorists, he said.

If village council authorizes legislation in the next month or so, Whan said police would observe a grace period through the fall, issuing warnings and impromptu education sessions instead of tickets. Those would start next spring, when the carts roll again.

Not ready to roll with the proposed changes is village resident Kim Polifrone. She said she and her dad had driven three and four-wheel golf carts around town for years and never heard any complaints.

“Now everybody’s getting upset about the golf carts, and I honestly don’t see a problem with it, because most of them that are riding around here are the bigger ones with the signals, the lights and everything, and everybody seems to obey the law,” she said. “I’ve never seen anybody driving erratically with them or anything like that. I’ve not heard of any golf cart accidents, either.”

Polifrone’s main concern is for elderly people, some of whom have mobility issues.

“It isn’t as easy for them to get to the store. My mother can get in her buggy and run down to Save A Lot and get a gallon of milk and come back and she doesn’t have to drive a car. She’s not as comfortable driving anymore as she used to be. She’s 87, so she gets into this thing and takes the sidewalks,” she said.

If the new law passes as drafted, the sidewalks will be off limits. Polifrone, though, thinks they are safer for kids and elderly people.

“They’re making something out of nothing. They’re really making it tough on people. It just seems like it’s one more way to control,” she said.

County roundup: Atwater Stuff the Truck gets most donations ever; plus Brimfield, Randolph and Suffield news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:41:00 GMT

Randolph

The 168th Portage County Fair will be held from Tuesday, Aug. 25, to Sunday, Aug. 30, at the county fairgrounds in Randolph. As usual, attractions will include animal shows, scavenger hunts, workshops, live music, games, classes, auctions, games and contests. Not to mention, a great variety of good eats, too. Grandstand events will include demolition derbies, tractor races, tractor and truck pulls and a Rough Truck Contest. Gates will open each day at 7 a.m. and will close at 11 p.m. For ticket information and more details, visit randolphfair.com.

Atwater

The Atwater Fire Department would like to thank the township residents for their generous donations of school supplies during their “Stuff the Fire Truck” event on Aug. 15. These donations are greatly appreciated and will certainly benefit the students and school. It was the fire department’s biggest collection of school supplies to date.

Mark your calendars now for the fire department’s Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 3. This annual event, held at the fire station at 6570 Waterloo Rd., kicks off Fire Safety Week. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Donations only are accepted for this event.

Upcoming dates: (all the following events are held at the Atwater Townhall)

Sept. 8 – Zoning office hours, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Zoning office hours, 5-6:30 p.m.
- Quarterly Financial Review meeting, 6:20 p.m.
- Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m.

Stay up to date on meetings/events by visiting the new Atwater Township website, atwatertwp.net, where you can also find the link to the Atwater Facebook page.

Brimfield

The Brimfield Zoning Commission approved a request to rezone a lot west of 1215 Howe Road from R-1 to I-C and sent it to the township trustees for their review. The trustees scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

The discussion surrounding data centers continues, including detailed restrictions that are needed in the draft legislation and narrowing down locations that are least impactful on township residents.

The next Zoning Commission meeting is on Thursday Sept. 10. A public hearing is set for 6:45 p.m. regarding Megan’s Way Out, and the regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

The Brimfield Board of Zoning Appeals met on Aug. 12. Three residential cases were granted variances, and one residential case was tabled until the next meeting on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. Waffle House was the only commercial case, and it was granted a 5’ variance for minimum lot width.

Suffield

The Portage County Township Association awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from a county high school who is going into the trades. The 2026 winner is Mitchell Adams, who graduated from Field High School last spring. Adams aspires to be an electrician apprentice doing commercial wiring.

“It’s a good thing the Township Association does,” Suffield Township vice Chair Jeff Eldreth said. “We need people who are going into the trades. I think it’s a good thing that we help out the trades because you’ve got to have somebody wire your house, you’ve got to have somebody build your house.”

One for the Books: Thrilling new true crime is out

Mary Louise Ruehr — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:40:00 GMT

Americans can’t seem to get enough of true crime. Books, podcasts and documentaries abound, and TV shows — even entire channels — are dedicated to accounts of crimes and court trials, and they’re more popular than ever. The books often make the nonfiction bestseller list.

“London Falling” by Patrick Radden Keefe is one of today’s bestsellers. In 2019, a 19-year-old man jumped into the Thames River in London, in an apparent suicide. Images of the event were picked up by London’s ubiquitous cameras. Why would this young man, Zac, commit suicide? Or was something more sinister at play here? Zac’s parents wanted answers, but they weren’t getting many from the police. The information surrounding Zac’s death came out in layers, revealing “a darker side of London” — a seedy and dangerous world of billionaires, drug lords, Russian gangsters, and violent criminals.

His family soon learned that Zac had posed as the wealthy son of a Russian oligarch. Did he know he was playing with fire? His mother said, “There is so much we are discovering about Zac — in his death — that was not true.” It was like trying to “piece together a jigsaw in the dark.” She said there was “this whole world we did not know about, this underworld that exists on our doorstep.” The people around Zac were involved in scandals, shoddy business deals, financial crimes, outright theft, and murder.

Zac’s father noted that “There had not been a single mention of Zac’s death in the papers,” which led him to wonder “if perhaps there might be some other, more exotic explanation, some deeper intrigue playing out behind the scenes.” Were the police merely incompetent, or were they hiding something? Why was the lead detective “maddeningly incurious”? One family member pointed out the obvious: “We’re all witnesses. Something very wrong happened here.” After doing his own preliminary investigations, the author admitted, “They were not wrong to feel the investigation had been mishandled.”

The book is an interesting combination of true crime, history, culture, biography and thriller.

“Catch the Devil” by Pamela Colloff covers decades in the lives of several men, focusing mainly on one particularly nasty con man and petty criminal. Paul Skalnik was a liar. He lied often — about his name, his past, his professions. He married nine women, sometimes not bothering to divorce the previous one. But all that was nothing compared to this: Once in jail, he lied about other prisoners. He would swear under oath that they had confessed their crimes to him, when they had not. Why? Because he was rewarded with time off or even freedom. And once his testimony at trial was on the record, it was nearly impossible to negate. He was a prosecutor’s best friend, because he could come up with exactly what they needed for a conviction, which is all they cared about. The truth exposes a corrupt legal system still in place in many places today.

Skalnik got away with most of his grifting because “Victims of fraud rarely turn to law enforcement for help. Many are too embarrassed or ashamed,” the author explains. “His ruthless opportunism, unbound by principle or empathy, allowed him to manipulate people and situations so deftly that he rarely had to pay the price others would. This proved to be Skalnik’s gift: a preternatural ability to avoid consequences.”

One case involved an almost-certainly innocent man, sent to death row based on Skalnik’s testimony. That murder case is covered here in detail.

“Murder in the Mountains: True Stories of Crime and Violence in Appalachia” by R.M. Cochran is a catalog of at least 18 crimes in and around the Appalachians. “True crime isn’t just entertainment — it’s social history,” writes the author. Here he mixes fact and folklore, including some unsolved mysteries and even ghost stories, in cases ranging from the Civil War (In 1863 in North Carolina, a Confederate officer and about 50 of his men tortured, beat, and killed men, women and children in a community suspected of aiding the North) to 2016 and the mass execution of eight members of the Rhoden family in Southern Ohio. Often crimes went unpunished because “The mountain code of keeping family business private and not talking to outsiders — even law enforcement outsiders — had apparently extended to protect whoever had committed” the crimes. Family loyalty, clan loyalty and distrust of authority closed the door to investigations. There were “situations where everyone knew who committed a crime, but no one would testify.”

Some of the cases recounted here include the Poison Widow of Kentucky, who “turned her kitchen into a laboratory of death”; the Hatfield-McCoy feud; several cases of the coal companies vs. miners who tried to unionize; a woman bitten during a church’s snake-handling ritual whose husband refused to get her medical treatment; and the Giggling Granny, who killed at least 11 people, including her own children, saying “Sometimes a mother has to make hard choices.”

The writing could be very pleasant, as when in January 1899 in West Virginia, “miners and their families huddled around coal stoves, trying to keep warm while the wind howled through the mountains like the voice of some ancient spirit warning of violence to come.” But I have to say, the author was very repetitive throughout — annoyingly so.

“Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood” by William J. Mann recalls what was probably the most famous unsolved murder in Hollywood history, the 1947 death of Elizabeth Short, 22. “Her nude, severed body, drained of blood, was discovered in a vacant lot in south central Los Angeles.” The author follows her footsteps during her final months, discovering what kind of person she was, the many people she interacted with, and who may have killed her. “Beth could be a bit of a con artist,” writes the author. She was very friendly and used her looks to manipulate men. “She’d become proficient at having meals bought for her,” and she never seemed to pay bills or the rent.

“The LAPD records and reports indicate some stupidity and carelessness on the part of some of the inexperienced officers who were working on the case,” Mann writes, and “Most of the records of the investigation remain sealed by the Los Angeles Police Department.” Why? Because the case went unsolved, conspiracy theories grew, aided by sensationalist newspaper stories that often printed misinformation, sometimes invented to sell newspapers, such as the nickname “Black Dahlia,” which was never attached to Short when she was alive.

We’ll probably never know the killer’s name. The author presents his theories, corrects much of the misinformation, and eliminates several suspects. He also provides general historic information and images of what life was like after the war. Warning: There are explicit details regarding the bodily remains and the autopsy report.

“Cave Mountain: A Disappearance and a Reckoning in the Ozarks” by Benjamin Hale begins in the Arkansas Ozarks in 2001, when a 6-year-old girl named Haley went missing for three days. After a huge search and rescue mission, she was found, claiming she’d been helped by a friend she met in the woods, another little girl who was her “imaginary friend” Alecia, who guided her to safety. Was she a ghost? If so, she could have been another little girl who was murdered in those mountains years earlier. That murder is covered in detail, with a long biographical look at a crime family that turned into a religious cult.

The book is a bizarre mix of crime reporting, local history, religious criticism, cultural references, memoir, and personal opinion. Part reads like a “Dateline” TV narrative, part like a cultural critique. The author interjects his personal notes and expounds on his theories of religion, politics and even Rembrandt’s paintings! He often uses obscure words, seemingly to show off his vocabulary. (I think he made up a couple of these words, as I couldn’t find them in the dictionary!) But some of the writing is interesting, as when he describes an old, forgotten church: “It’s halfway fallen into desuetude: sagging plywood ceiling with slanting diamonds of dishwater light falling on dust-furred pews.”

Happy reading!

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 21-23, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:38:00 GMT

Dennis Baird

Dennis Baird, 70, of Streetsboro, after a nineteen-month roller coaster ride with a glioblastoma, Dennis left us for his last great adventure on August 20, 2026.

Susan Renee Parker

Susan Renee Parker, age 63 of Mantua, passed away unexpectedly, Friday, August 21, 2026. Born February 14, 1963 in Medina, Ohio, Susan was the daughter of the late Elisha and Arbutis (Bryant) Parker.

Robert Douglas Maine

Robert Douglas Maine, age 71, passed away on August 18, 2026.

Ohio budget to help Portage County universities, community-driven projects

Adriana Gasiewski — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:38:00 GMT

On June 15, Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s 2027-2028 capital budget bill into law, awarding Portage County $32,007,287 for community projects and higher education institutions’ renovations, according to the budget.

Over 87% of that money will go to Kent State for building upkeep and other capital projects.

Overall, about $3.7 billion were awarded to projects and organizations across the state. Ali Smith, a senior project coordinator at Policy Matters Ohio, said that when adjusted for inflation, the budget is on par with past ones.

She emphasized that Portage County is a “really good snapshot of the overall capital budget, trying to really put money where people are actually going to see it.”

The state capital budget differs from the operating budget, as the operating budget funds items like childcare affordability, healthcare access and funding for public schools. The capital budget tends to fund long-term investments, while the operating one funds day-to-day expenses.

Kent State University

The budget awarded over $450 million to universities and colleges, with Kent State University receiving $28 million for renovation projects.

“Those universities and institutes of higher learning offer tons of community benefits, like they’ll work with high school students sometimes and do high school programming or offer their theater programs and music programs accessible to the community,” Smith said.

In the 2025-2026 budget, Kent State received $30.3 million to begin updates on White Hall, modernize its library’s elevators, work on critical deferred upgrades and enhance the internet technology network throughout campus.

The recent budget sees the university receiving $12 million for the White Hall project, $7 million for elevator modernization, about $4.8 million for deferred upgrades and about $3.6 million for network enhancements.

In addition, the university was granted $1,193,354 for HVAC replacement in Stewart Hall.

According to a Kent State press release, White Hall will be entering its third phase of renovations, which entails equipping classrooms with variable air volume HVAC systems meant to create quieter learning spaces.

Safer Futures

Among the community projects that were awarded funding in the budget was Safer Futures, one of Axess Family Services’ programs that provides support services like housing for victims of domestic violence.

Understanding how state funding can aid nonprofits, Mark Frisone, executive director of Axess Family Services, decided to apply to the capital budget with hopes of building a new Safer Futures’ headquarters.

“The current Safer Futures was the first stick of real estate we ever purchased in Portage County,” he said. “I remember the day that we bought and renovated what’s now the current Safer Futures — it’s probably been at least 30 years ago — and we thought we had died and went to heaven.”

Prior to moving to Kent, Safer Futures located in Ravenna out of a small duplex equipped to house two individuals on one side and staff on the other.

In recent decades, the organization has noticed an increase in individuals seeking aid, making a new facility critical to its operations. Through the state award of $150,000, Safer Futures is a step closer to creating its new building.

In addition, the organization submitted a million-dollar federal home loan bank application.

Frisone credited state Rep. Heidi Workman and former state Rep. Gail Pavliga for helping Axess receive funding from the budget twice. (Axess received funding for a facility in Ravenna under its former, pre-merger name in the 2025-2026 budget.)

“All thanks, it goes out to representative Heidi Workman who worked her magic in Columbus to make this capital award a reality,” he said. “I mean it simply wouldn’t have happened without her efforts in Columbus advocating for our project.”

Axess is still in the early stages of designing the new facility and choosing its location. However, Frisone said he wants it to have a playground, as a number of families with children often come to Safer Futures.

“In these situations, you can’t take your kid down to city park. It’s because a lot of times, these women have stalkers that are kind of looking, cruising around, looking for them,” he said. “They have bad actors in their life that are out to cause harm, and so it’s important that we keep everybody at Safer Futures as secure as we possibly can.”

Community projects

Another project being aided through state funding is the Streetsboro City Center Park Playground, which received $100,000.

In an email, Samantha Edgar, director of parks and recreation for Streetsboro, said the funding helped the city afford a park designed for children of all abilities.

The new park will include a ramped play structure, American Sign Language and communications panels, an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant zip line and swings and sensory-rich, ground-level play events.

Edgar emphasized how costs add up for these features and the playground’s rubber surface, making funding critical to bringing the playground to life.

“Fortunately, through the collaborative efforts and support of Senator (Kristina) Roegner, Representative (Steve) Demetriou and Mayor (Glenn) Broska, the city was awarded state funding to help bring this vision to life,” she said. “Their dedication and commitment to our community will help create a playground where children of all abilities can play, explore and connect, making it a lasting asset for Streetsboro families for years to come.”

Groundbreaking for the project will occur in early August, as the city eyes an early fall completion.

Rootstown Community Park and Playground was also granted $23,000 to build new pickleball and basketball courts at the park, Rootstown Township Trustee Joe Paulus shared in an email.

The township initially petitioned for $400,000 to create sidewalks and crosswalks on state Route 44 from Tallmadge Road toward I-76, as well as $113,906.25 to replace the old playground surface at the park, according to Paulus.

“Our Community Park has been improved on by mostly grant money, donated materials and donated work over the past six years,” he said. “We have had Eagle Scout projects and business employee beautification work days, as well. The folks at Gracie Fields, which abuts the Community Park, have been vital partners in this symbiotic relationship.”

Other projects and organizations that received funding include:

Portage County Fairgrounds was awarded $300,000 for improvements.
Garrettsville’s Curtains Up Theatre Project received $225,000.
Aurora Park was granted $1 million for improvements.
Freedom Township Community Park received $121,000 for improvements.
Shalersville Township Park was awarded $50,000 for enhancements.
Northeast Ohio Medical University received about $1.5 million for renovation projects.

Looking ahead

The next budget up for consideration will be the 2028-29 Main Operating Budget, which would fund things like Medicaid, public education, child care assistance and more, Smith said.

“So, I would say think about what great things in your community would you want this money to be spent on and then advocate for that, make a call, send an email — I think that’s definitely worth the time,” she said.

Because Ohio will elect a new governor in November, she anticipates the operating budget will be introduced in March 2027.

“The legislators demonstrated through the capital budget that they can work together and make some good decisions for our communities and make sure Ohioans in rural, suburban and urban counties all benefit,” Smith said. “We want to see them take that same kind of ethic into the main operating budget.”

Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to the next capital budget being signed into law in March 2027. Smith was instead referring to the Main Operating Budget, which will likely be introduced in March 2027. The name of the organization is Policy Matters Ohio, not Ohio Policy Matters.

Around Windham: Help Windham PTO fulfill every school supply list for the new school year

Nicole Sweet — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:36:00 GMT

Hello Windham Family!

August is such a special time in Bomber Country. Fall sports are gearing up, the excitement of back-to-school is in the air, and hints of autumn are beginning to show. More than just a change in the calendar, back-to-school season carries a feeling of anticipation, renewal, and possibility. As students head back to class after a long summer break, we welcome a new school year filled with opportunities, growth, and fresh beginnings. Many exciting things are happening in Windham; I look forward to keeping the community up to date with all the information I receive every month.

Windham Bombers PTO Back 2 School Bash

Windham’s PTO will be hosting a Back 2 School Bash for all Windham students on Thursday, Aug. 27 during Meet the Teacher Night. We are still seeking donations, however, due to the incredible generosity of our community and beyond, we will be covering ALL school supply lists for this school year for Windham Exempted Village Schools besides backpacks, lunchboxes and water bottles (we would recommend that families still get those).

Any extra school supplies that are donated will be used to help teachers get through the school year when they run out. You can also check out our Amazon Wishlist here on items we still need and they will ship directly to us: https://amzlink.to/az0YQHqoO35di. Thank you for your generosity.

Windham T-Mobile Million Dollar Grant Progress

We are incredibly honored to share that Windham Exempted Village Schools is one of 1,175 schools (almost 1,000 less than last year) nationwide to apply for the T-Mobile $1 Million Friday Night 5G Lights Grant to put a track on our football field. This isn’t a random drawing. Schools are chosen based on the strength of their story, the impact on their community, and the support shown by the people who believe in them. Now it’s our turn to show what makes Windham special.

This weekend, we’re looking for students, parents, alumni, coaches, teachers, local businesses, and community members who would be willing to be part of short videos sharing: 1) What you love about Windham 2) Why our students deserve a new track and field 3) How improved facilities would benefit not only our athletes, but our entire community for years to come.

Whether you’ve cheered from the stands, walked on our track, coached a team, or simply love this town, your voice matters.

If you’re interested in being part of this project, send Elena Sweet a message. Together, let’s show the judges what makes Windham more than just a school, it’s a family.

We are only two weeks into this competition, and Windham has already been named a weekly winner of $5,000. That means we are doing something right — and we have a real chance to take this even further. Watching our football coaches surprise the players and seeing them scream, jump and celebrate says it all. Then, our marching band got the news on the bus ride home and celebrated right along with them. This is what Bomber pride looks like!

But we cannot slow down now. This is only the beginning! We need to keep building our following on Instagram and X and continue showing T-Mobile just how badly Windham
wants — and needs — this win.

Follow Windham Athletic Boosters, share our posts, keep making your own posts, tag @TMobile, always include #entry and #FN5GL.

We have already made it this far — and we are just getting started. Let’s keep the energy high, keep Windham’s name everywhere and show everyone what this small but
mighty community can do. Let’s go Windham, keep posting, keep sharing, keep believing. T-Mobile #entry #FN5GL.

New Portage County Library Windham Branch Revealed

The Windham Library is returning in 2027, at a brand new location. We’re excited to welcome our community to a new Windham Branch location at 8950 Maple Grove Road (the old Farmer's Bank Building — right across from the Circle K. This branch is turning the page and opening a brand new chapter — bringing books, resources, events and community connections back to the neighborhood. We'll provide updates via social media as we start this exciting project. A new location. A fresh beginning. The same library you’ve always loved.

1974 Football Team HOF Induction

The WHS 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. The HOF is reaching out to the community to let as many players know about this honor, and who they can contact to be present that evening for the ceremony. If you were on that team, or have contact with anyone who was, would you please pass along word to contact Athletic Director Dougle Hankins at dhankins@windham-schools.org, or Principal Zack Burns at dburns@windham-schools.org.
And congratulations to that legendary team.

Windham Village Fun in the Sun

Mark your calendars for Sept. 12 starting at 2 p.m. for the annual Fun in the Sun. We’re looking for vendors and live entertainment to be part of this fun community event as we say goodbye to summer and welcome the fall vibes. If you're interested in participating, contact us: windhamvillageohvents@gmail.com or dmiller@windhamvillageoh.gov. Let’s make this a great day for the community with shopping, music, food, and fun for everyone.

Lions Club Sausage and Steak Dates 2026

Save the dates for the final upcoming Lions Club Sausage and Steak Booth weekends. September 11 & 12 and Oct. 2 & 3. Just $6 will buy you the best sausage or steak sandwich in Portage County. The trailer will be located on S.R. 303 in the parking lot next to Circle K. Open Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Windham Lions Club has been serving the Windham community since 1955.

I’m glad to help keep the Windham community informed. If you have something you’d like featured, please send it my way. The Around Windham column appears during the third week of each month, so please submit information by the week before. You can reach me by call or text at 330-283-2711 or by email at nks1024@icloud.com.

Thank you, Nicole Sweet

Documenters: Kent City Schools Board of Education meeting for Aug. 18, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:31:00 GMT

The Kent City Schools Board of Education held its last regular meeting before the start of the school year on Aug. 18, 2026, at the district office building. After a slight technical delay, Board President Alicia Crowe called the meeting to order.

In attendance were Board Vice President Rebekah Wright Kulis and members David Myers, John Avouris and P.J. Errera. Also at the meeting were Superintendent Tom Larkin, Assistant Superintendent Justin Gates, Treasurer Erin VanMeter, Director of Personnel Anthony Horton and Director of Business Services Jim Soyars.

Larkin immediately asked Crowe for a moment of reflection. He announced that the day prior, a Roosevelt senior passed away after a long battle with a medical condition.

Following that moment, Gates introduced the members of the board and school staff who were in attendance before the board approved the minutes of the previous meeting.

With some excitement, Larkin offered a reminder that 3,000-plus students would be starting their new classroom journey this week. He reminded the board that their next meeting would get them into the schools, as well. That meeting is set for Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at Davey.

VanMeter had, by her own admission, a very brief Treasurer’s Report. She first offered a financial report, but cautioned that it did not take into account real estate receipts, as those have not been received. Still, all members of the board approved the report. She next asked for approval to pay the district bills for July. The board approved the request with Kulis and Errera abstaining.

Next up was Horton, who asked for approval for a number of resignations, leaves, appointments, transfers and substitutes. This was unanimously granted.

The Five-Year Financial Forecast was the centerpiece of the meeting. VanMeter provided a very matter-of-fact look at the district finances, which she said will be hampered by the loss of $1.1 million in state funding and $202,000 in federal grants. She shared that there may also be a downturn in compact funding, but that was “TBD” as the members of the compact were still meeting to discuss options.

VanMeter said that the district could also lose an additional $67,000 in federal funding if the government followed through on its plan to no longer support Title 2 and Title 4.

All of this led up to a look at projected income and expenses.

“Our expenditures are outpacing our revenues,” she said. “We passed the levy, and it helps, but we are still facing state funding cuts.”

On its current trajectory, VanMeter said the district will need to cut $2 million next year.

“This will most likely come from purchased services,” VanMeter said.

She commended Horton for finding $500,000 in savings when replacing staff who retired and left, and she said she hoped that type of savings can continue.

“I wish I had better news, but we’re going to look at things, cut some stuff and see what we can do,” she said.

The next item on the agenda was to choose a delegate and an alternate for the OSBA Capital Conference business meeting. Errera volunteered and Myers stepped up as the alternate.

The board then approved a contract for Parent-Mentor Services. Gates said this contract is possible through a shared grant with Woodridge. Both districts are currently looking for individual grants for this service for the future.

Soyars presented the 2026-2027 bus stop list, which the board approved without comment. They also authorized Soyars to advertise for project bids when the work is estimated to be over $50,000. As an example, he cited the planned overhaul of the fire alarm system at Davey next summer.

Approval was also granted for transportation agreements with parents of students for whom it is not feasible for the district to bus to school and for a contract with a new vending machine company for the high school. The district will receive 25% of the net profits of that machine.

The board also unanimously granted approval to an agreement with Davey Tree that would enable the cross country team to run on their campus. Summit ESC was approved to provide specialized services for 20 days at Stanton, and a memorandum of understanding was put into effect with Rootstown for Title I services at St. Pats.

Next Horton asked for, and was given, approval to enter into contracts with Ashland and Liberty universities. These would enable students from those schools to be student teachers in the district.

Changes to North Mantua Street were the final item on the agenda. Larkin explained that the district had previously entered into an agreement with the city and Davey Tree for the widening of that road.

“It’s going to become a boulevard,” he said.

In order for this to happen, an easement is needed with school property. There is not a cost to the district for this work. Larkin explained that the city and Davey had secured almost all of the necessary funds and this was just an agreement to move forward. Approval was granted unanimously.

With no additional business to discuss, the meeting adjourned.

Documenters: Streetsboro City Council meeting for Aug. 10, 2026

Julie Erickson — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:30:00 GMT

Public Hearing Review

Before the regular City Council meeting, council reviewed proposed amendments to existing legislation during a public hearing.

T-8035: Amend Chapter 1155.0, Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements
T-8036: Amend Section 1103.02(a)(129), Rear Yard Definition

Both items were approved for placement on the regular City Council agenda under Introduction and Legislative Review.

Regular City Council Meeting

The regular Aug. 10 City Council meeting was called to order, and roll call was taken.

Present ward members: Marianne Glenn, Anthony Lombardo, Jen Wagner and Justin Ring
Present at-large members: Steve Michniak and Michael Lampa
Excused absence: Jon Hannan

Safety Committee Meeting

It was motioned and approved to exit the regular City Council meeting and the Safety Committee reconvened to discuss the following items:

T-8043: Accept a Dodge Ram truck forfeited as part of a plea condition.
T-8044: Donate dive equipment to the Portage County dive team.
T-8045: Authorize contracts to outfit the new command vehicle.

All three items were moved to the Aug. 10 regular council meeting.

Additional Safety Committee Discussions

The committee discussed restricting registered sex offenders from city parks and recreation centers. Following discussion, council determined that a proposed city ordinance should be prepared for review at the next regular council meeting, including examples of ordinances adopted by other cities.

Michniak led a discussion on arming selected city staff to help defend against armed attacks on city employees. After considerable discussion, and with the mayor stating he did not support the proposal, council agreed to explore additional layered security measures instead. The discussion noted concerns about city liability related to arming and training volunteer staff.

Service Committee Meeting

The following new business items were approved to move to the Aug. 10 regular council meeting without further discussion:

T-8046: Accept 2026 second-quarter updates.
T-8047: Authorize bidding for the police station roof replacement.
T-8048: RFQ for owner’s representative design review services.
T-8049: Removed from consideration because new copiers are no longer needed.
T-8050: Dispose of unneeded skate park equipment.

Special Finance Committee Meeting

The following items were moved to the Aug. 10 regular council agenda:

T-8051: Assign LayerZero TIF funds for reimbursement of public infrastructure costs.
T-8052: Authorize TIFs for Stainless Works and Gebhardt/O’Malia.
T-8053: Authorize a CRA agreement with Stainless Works/O’Malia.

Regular Council Meeting Reconvened: Citizens’ Comments

Ten citizens spoke against the installation of Flock cameras, and no speakers expressed support for the installation. Clyde Ream raised concerns about the extent of citizen monitoring that Flock cameras could enable. He asked council to consider the significance of a decision that could allow the monitoring of residents’ daily activities and activity patterns.

A Seasons Road resident responded to a comparison made at the prior council meeting between cell phone data collection and Flock camera data collection. In his view, residents choose whether to opt into cell phone applications, but they cannot opt out of Flock camera monitoring. He also expressed concern about the cost of the cameras and suggested that the city evaluate the value of the data collected.

Katie Scott spoke against the cameras based on data-security concerns. She stated that more than 50 significant vulnerabilities had been identified in the Flock system at the end of 2025 and remained verified as existing. She cited information from SimeonOnSecurity.com, noting that the site provides a detailed breakdown of those vulnerabilities. The city would be responsible for the management and protection of the gathered data as Flock only is responsible for the hardware. Scott said she works with AI every day as a programmer, and her concerns regarding the use of Flock cameras is all related to the data storage and the security built around who can access the data, how that data is then used and the liability the city would be taking on if security breaches occurred.

Police Chief Tricia Wain said many improvements have been made to the system and shared examples where crimes were solved with the use of data from Flock cameras. She also stated that Flock cameras have been around for 15 years and does not understand why now they are receiving so much criticism.

Michniak echoed her support of the cameras. The councilman brought up that cell phone use already supplies much data on people’s whereabouts, buying patterns and more. Even if the Flock cameras are voted down, technology is coming.

At this point, the decision was made to move directly to a vote on the Flock cameras. The vote was four against installation to two in favor, with Michniak and Wagner as the yes votes. The measure failed to pass.

Introduction of Legislation With a Statement of Emergency

The below all passed:

T-8043 Accept Forfeited Dodge Ram Truck
T-8044 Donate Dive Equipment to Portage County Dive Team
T-8045 Authorize Contracts to Upfit New FD Command Car
T-8046 Accept 2026 2nd Quarter Code Updates
T-8047 Go Out to Bid for Police Station Roof Replacement
T-8048 RFQ for Owner’s Representative Design Review Services [Frost Road]
T-8049 Go Out to Bid to Purchase Copiers
T-8050 Decommission and Dispose of Unneeded Skatepark Equipment
T-8051 Assign LayerZero TIF Funds for Reimbursement for Public Infrastructure
T-8052 Authorize TIFs for Stainless Works and for Gebhardt

First reading

T-8053 would authorize CRA agreement with Stainless Works

Second reading

T-8039 to approve residential CRA property tax exemption
T-8036 amend chapter 1103.02 (a) (129) rear yard definition

Third Reading

T-8037 Purchase of Flock cameras. Failed to pass.
T-8035 Amend chapter 1155 off street parking and unloading. Passed
T-8036 Amend section 1103.02 (a) (129) rear yard definition. Passed.

Reports/Communications from Departments/Boards and Commissions

The fire chief advised that in the past few weeks, there had been a few department responses to kitchen fires and residents should never leave items cooking on top of the stove unattended.

Wain shared that the past week, the new park opened and that the Brew and BBQ event was coming up.

The planning department, per Matt Miller, is working on improvements to the development approval process and the finance department shared that they are continuing work on the 2027 budget.

Mayor’s Report

Earlier in the regular meeting, the mayor swore in Todd Wolf following council’s approval of his appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The mayor also encouraged residents to attend the Brew & BBQ Bash over the weekend.

President of Council’s Comments

The president of council thanked everyone who attended the meeting and expressed appreciation for the comments shared by residents.

Council Members’ Comments

Council members thanked residents for attending the meeting and participating in the discussion. Lampa said he appreciated the private messages and phone calls he received from citizens regarding the Flock camera vote, adding that residents were “heard loud and clear.” Ring said he hoped residents would continue attending future meetings.

Announcements

The Brew & BBQ Bash was to be held Aug. 15 and the Ice Cream Social Aug. 16.

A Finance Committee meeting and a regular Council meeting will be held Aug. 24, beginning at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.

Rooted Ramblings: August is for Dahlias

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:29:00 GMT

Written by Nancy Polz, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer

Just as summer starts to wane, dahlias step in to show their spectacular blooms. Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America where their tubers were originally grown as an edible vegetable. At that time, the flower was unimpressive. Explorers took the tubers back to Europe where flower development was the interest rather than a food source. Dahlias are named after Swedish botanist Andrea Dahl. There are now more than 50,000 registered cultivars that are growing worldwide.

Dahlia flowers range in size from 2” (pompon) to greater than 10” (giant or dinnerplate), and 20 forms (such as decorative, cactus, ball, collarette, and more). Dahlias can be solid colors, striped, or multicolored.

In Northeast Ohio, the tubers of these sun-loving flowers can be planted directly into the ground after the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees. They can also be planted in pots or grow bags large enough to accommodate the numerous tubers produced over the summer growing period. Some dahlia plants remain short, but the majority grow to be 4’-6’ tall. Although these plants appear robust and strong, their stems are hollow and can break easily with strong winds.

Therefore, it is important to stake these plants, either with sturdy wooden or metal (conduit pipe, re-bar, or T-posts) stakes inserted one foot into the soil, or as growers with a large number of plants often use horizontal trellis netting or Florida weave (basket weave) to corral the plants and prevent them from falling over or breaking their stems.

Dahlia tubers will produce the exact flowers as the “mother” (original) tuber as will cuttings taken from the sprouts. Due to a basic eight sets of chromosomes and pollination, dahlia seeds will not produce the exact replica of the parent plant. Instead, a similar or totally different looking flower is created; thus, the result of 50,000+ cultivars.

As beautiful as dahlias appear, they do not come without challenges. Damaging insects such as Japanese beetles, thrips, earwigs, and slugs can destroy and disfigure the plants and flowers. Bacteria producing crown gall and leafy gall, and viruses producing dahlia mosaic disease and tomato spotted wilt disease will not only kill the plant but can spread to other plants with the same result.

Before treating and fertilizing dahlias, it is important to identify the issue. A soil test will determine the amount of nutrients and minerals in your soil, thus preventing over-fertilizing. Ohio soils tend to have a high phosphorous content (the “P” in NPK). Insects can be harmful or beneficial. It is necessary to identify the insects on the plants before any treatment, if necessary, should be done. When using insecticides, always read the label in its entirety and follow the directions correctly--” the label is the law.’

These gorgeous flowers can be enjoyed well into autumn when a killing frost will put an end to them. As a rule, in-ground tubers will not survive Northeast Ohio winters. Three choices are available: (1) dig and store the tubers till next spring (2) heavily mulch and take a chance (3) treat them as an annual and purchase new tubers for the next year.

For more information:

American Dahlia Society
Dahlia Society of Ohio
North Carolina Extension Toolbox - Dahlias
Dahlias Ohio State University Extension

Ohio State University Extension Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer program. As Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, our articles will never endorse specific products or companies. Questions/comments/suggestions/want to find out more/become a PCMGV: 330-296-6432 • OSU PCMGV web • portco.mgv.oh@gmail.com • FB PCMGV • PCMGV Speaker’s Bureau

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 19-20, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:28:00 GMT

Evangeline (Eva) Grace Bergey

Evangeline (Eva) Grace Bergey, 17, of Kent passed away Monday, August 17, 2026 at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She was born March 5, 2009 in Akron, Ohio to Caleb and Lianne (Evanov) Bergey. Eva was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Kent. Survivors include her mother Lianne Bergey (Michael Clifton), father Caleb (Victoria) Bergey, siblings Jayde Bergey, Lyla Clifton, Silas Bergey and Isaac Bergey, grandparents Lori (Wendy) Mirkin-McGee, Rhanda (Eric) Carlson, Richard (Jenifer) Bergey and Mike Evanov and many great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and her wonderful boyfriend Grayson Donohue. Eva was a shining light to all who knew her. Her smile lit up every room she entered. She was kind, loving, caring, and compassionate. She was an amazing big sister to all of her younger siblings. She was a friend to all animals, especially her beloved cat Yoshi and her dog Milo. Eva was a talented artist who loved to draw, color, and paint. She was an avid crafter as well and spent many hours working on crafts with her mom. Eva was very close with both of her grandmothers, whom she called Mimi. Eva was happiest at home chilling in her room playing music on her phone or when she was out with her friends having fun. She loved making videos with Jayde and her cousin Emma. She loved life and had so many dreams for the future. Eva was a precious angel, and her family deeply grieves her loss. Calling hours will be from 11 AM until time of funeral service at 1 PM Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Shorts Spicer Crislip Funeral Home Ravenna Chapel. Reverend Kristina Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Streetsboro. Condolences and memories of Evangeline may be shared with the family at www.sscfuneralhomes.com.

Nancy Lou Bishop

Nancy Lou Bishop, age 87 of Edinburg, gained her Angel Wings on August 18, 2026, at her home. She was born on April 23, 1939, in Creston, Ohio.

Peter "Pete" J. Vitucci

Peter J. Vitucci (Pete) passed away Monday, August 17th, 2026. He was a proud first generation American. He was born at home in Youngstown on May 5th, 1936 to Panfilo and Lidia (Pinciaro) Vitucci.

Around Randolph: The 168th Portage County Randolph Fair is coming

Sandy Engle — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:48:00 GMT

Get ready to celebrate with our county’s greatest show! The 168th Portage County Fair (Aug. 25-30) will be bigger than ever partly due to an increase of 4-H youth who are participating.

Seniors and veterans are free on Aug. 29 and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday admission is $5 before 3 p.m. Please consider bringing canned goods, dry cereal or other non-perishables to the fair to support our local RSA Foodshelf.

Congratulations to Dakota Ashley for being the Reserve Champion of the Portage County Fairs Fashion Review for her skirt making skills. Dakota, age 13, has been sewing for less than a year and this was her first 4-H sewing exhibit. You can view Dakota’s winning skirt in Ray Beech Hall at the Fair.

The RSA Foodshelf is accepting new clients who live in Randolph, Suffield or Atwater Township. Those who are eligible can now visit the RSA Foodshelf every 15 days. Call 330-628-1801 to make an appointment.

The next Randolph Historical Society Meeting will be on Sept. 17, 6 p.m. at the Randolph Town Hall. This will be a joint meeting with the Country Piece-makers Quilt Club. Information about the 250th quilt square will be presented along with information about how quilts were used in the Underground Railroad to let freedom seekers know which homes were safe to visit.

The Randolph Fire Department Golf Outing is Sept. 12 at Paradise Lake country Club. The cost is $125 per golfer, which includes 18 holes, lunch, steak dinner, 50-50 entry, raffle entry, mulligans and more. To register or for hole sponsorship text or call 330-931-2961.

Randolph Home Furnishing, at 3991 Waterloo Rd., will be having their Girl’s Night Out on Sept. 17 from 4-8 p.m. There will be food trucks, numerous local vendors and live music. This is a great event to find unique gifts and savor local foods.

Randolph Public Library Events

Summer Family Storytime is every Weds from 11-Noon. This is suitable for children 5 and under.
The American War for Independence, Sept. 12, 11-Noon. Learn more about the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Storytime at the Park, Aug. 25 Noon-1 p.m. Held at Mila’s Hope and Rowan’s Dream Playground.
True Crime Club for Teens, Sept. 1, 3-4 p.m.
True Crime Club, The case of the Highway of Teas, Sept. 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Puzzle Hour, Sept. 3, 11 a.m.-Noon.
Randolph Book Club-Pachinko, Sept. 8, 5:30-7p.m.
The Science of Apples, Sept. 9, 3-4 p.m. for children & tweens.
Grandparents’ Day crafts, Sept. 10, 4-5 p.m.
Watercolor fun for children, Sept. 14, 4-5 p.m.
Young Adult Book Cub, Sept. 16, 4-6 p.m.

"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water or watching the clouds float across the sky is hardly a waste of time." John Lubbock.

For stories, events you want to share please contact Sandy Engle at 330-569-4801 or sandyengle83@gmail.com. Thanks!

Contract negotiations drag on at GE HealthCare in Aurora

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:42:00 GMT

About 130 employees at Aurora’s GE HealthCare facility joined IAM Union Local 1363 in January 2025, and they’ve been negotiating their first collective bargaining agreement ever since.

Their patience is running thin.

The union — officially dubbed the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers — represents about 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries across America.

Workers at the Aurora facility create coils for MRI machines that transmit critical imaging signals. The union alleges that the company has stonewalled “more than 18 months of contentious negotiations.” GE HealthCare has also repeatedly violated federal labor law, a press release states.

The IAM has sent letters to U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Jon Husted (R-Ohio), along with U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio), urging them to encourage GE HealthCare to bargain in good faith with IAM Local 1363. This outreach comes as Congress considers the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which aims to put stricter penalties on employers that refuse to negotiate first contracts in good faith.

The U.S. House passed the act on June 9. It now awaits Senate approval and, if passed, the president’s signature.

In letters to Moreno, Husted and Joyce, IAM Union International President Brian Bryant stated that, “despite consistent efforts by the workers and their bargaining committee, GE HealthCare refuses to meet to bargain on a regular schedule. It refused to provide any economic proposals until just two weeks ago — and those proposals were regressive, lowering wages below the employees’ current rates of pay, slashing PTO and increasing healthcare costs for the workers and their families.”

Montana Hayes, a production associate at GE HealthCare and member of the IAM Local 1363 negotiations committee, said in the news release that the union is not asking for anything extraordinary.

“We just want GE HealthCare to respect our rights, bargain fairly and recognize the value of the workers who make this company successful. After more than 18 months, it's time for the company to stop delaying and negotiate the fair first contract we've earned,” she said.

Meanwhile, the press release claims that GE HealthCare CEO Peter Arduini earns 241 times the median worker’s salary.

Echoing Hayes, IAM Local 1363 Directing Business Representative Tim Verlinden stated that GE Healthcare is shortchanging the very workers that make its success possible.

“No company that benefits from taxpayer dollars and posts billions in profits should be denying workers their annual raises while dragging out first-contract negotiations for more than 18 months,” he said. “We’re making sure lawmakers understand exactly what’s happening in Aurora, and we’re asking them to press GE HealthCare to stop the delays and bargain a fair first contract in good faith.”

The Portager reached out to GE HealthCare, which responded with the following comment:

“We are committed to serving our customers and their patients and fostering a supportive environment where our employees can excel, innovate, and help shape the future of healthcare.

“We have been bargaining in good faith and remain focused on reaching an agreement that provides competitive wages and meaningful benefits, while also supporting the long-term health of the business and our ability to serve patients and customers.”

Op-ed: One meal. One child. One family at a time

Op-Ed Contributor — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:40:00 GMT

By John Kennedy, Executive Director, Community Action Council of Portage County

2026 has been a challenging and difficult year for a lot of families in Portage County, with many living paycheck to paycheck, barely keeping up with the rising cost of, well, everything. But even in these trying times, it is important – and perhaps necessary – to celebrate some of the good that is happening, too.

For me, one of those moments came recently as the Community Action Council of Portage County wrapped up our annual Summer Food Service Program for children.

The Summer Food Service Program, or SFSP, was established to ensure that children from low-income families continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Child Nutrition Services.

Meeting the demand for child nutrition in Portage County is challenging, to put it mildly. Our county is heavily rural. Of our 504 square miles, approximately 80 percent—or about 395 square miles—is considered rural. That geography presents some very real logistical challenges, especially when you’re trying to make sure hungry children have access to meals across such a large area.

So we adapted.

Last year, the Community Action Council began a food delivery program through Innovation Food Services, which packs boxes containing breakfast and lunch meals and uses FedEx to deliver those meals every 10-12 days directly to homes in rural areas of Portage County.

In 2025, we delivered 30,180 meals through what is known as the “rural non-congregate” program. This year, that number jumped more than threefold—to more than 90,000 meals.

But the meal count only tells part of the story; the number of children served is another.

Last year, we served 276 children through the food delivery program. This year, that number climbed to 818 children—an increase of 196 percent. Think about that -- 818 children who otherwise might not have had reliable access to a nutritious meal during the summer.

And we adapted our traditional meal sites, too. In 2025, we operated 14 open / free meal sites throughout Portage County, concentrating our efforts in geographic areas with significant numbers of low-income children. This year, we added two more sites in Kent.

Once again, the numbers -- meals and kids served on-site -- tell the story.

We went from providing approximately 10,000 meals on-site last year to more than 11,000 meals this year. The average number of children served on-site also increased, from 317 last year to more than 425 this year. The Ben Curtis Foundation also chipped in, handing out Birdie Bags – bags containing nutritious food and snacks kids could take home – every week at many of our sites.

When you put the delivery and on-site programs together, the numbers are both encouraging and sobering.

This summer, the Community Action Council of Portage County provided more than 100,000 meals to more than 1,240 children.

While I am incredibly proud of that accomplishment, I am also sobered by what those numbers tell us about the need in our community.

Without USDA funding, we simply would not have been able to reach so many children. That support allowed us to put nutritious food on the tables of families who might otherwise have had to make an impossible choice between buying groceries and paying another household bill.

And those choices are becoming harder for more families. At a time when the rising cost of energy and fuel, groceries, and prescription medications continues to put pressure on household budgets, more families are struggling to make ends meet.

Some are going without adequate food. Some are going without air conditioning – our staff hear those stories every day. Some are putting off needed medications. And when families struggle, children feel it, too.

I tell people all the time that if you want an indicator of how things are going across Ohio—and, in many ways, across the country—look no further than Portage County. As Portage County goes, so goes the state. So goes the country.

That’s why I want to end on a good note. Because despite the challenges we face, there is a lot worth celebrating.

Here in Portage County, when we see a need, we try to fill it. When we see a wrong, we try to right it. We don’t always get it right; sometimes our solutions aren’t always perfect. I wish I could wave a magic wand and solve every problem — I can’t, just ask my wife, Marybeth!

But we can do something. We can deliver a box of nutritious meals to a child’s doorstep. We can open a meal site in a neighborhood where children need it. We can make sure a child doesn’t have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

And this summer, we did that for more than 1,240 children here in Portage County.

That’s worth celebrating.

One meal. One child. One family at a time.

Documenters: Brimfield Township Trustees meeting for Aug. 3, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:39:00 GMT

On Aug. 3, the Brimfield Township Board of Trustees held their regular meeting in trustee chambers. In attendance were Chairman Nic Coia, Vice Chairman Kevin Scott, Trustee Sue Fields, Fire Chief Craig Mullaly, Economic Development and Zoning Inspector Michael Hlad, Township Administrator Roy Mosley III and Road Superintendent David Rufener.

Coia called the meeting to order at 7 p.m., and then invited those in attendance to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

The first order of business was an approval of the minutes from the July 27 special meeting. Following that, members of the public were invited to speak.

Judy Mothersbaugh wanted to know if there was any update or follow-through on the rat problem in her neighborhood. She was followed by Doug Manley with J&J Plumbing. He wanted to address any concerns stemming from the recent installation of a water heater. Manley said he has fielded calls from unhappy residents and was aware of several social media posts questioning the work and the costs associated with it.

With no other residents prepared to speak, updates were offered from the departments. Mosley offered the police report, saying that on Aug. 16, the Fast & Furriest Car Show would take place at Field High School. Mosley also asked the board for approval to take on an easement at Joe’s Barbecue. He said the addition of a storm water drain there would address the water issues at the police department.

Mullaly then offered a report from the fire department and said they were currently looking at cost-cutting measures. Those include limiting purchases; stopping TV, newspapers and coffee at the station; limiting training; and limiting participation in the county teams. Mullaly also said they could look at selling their trailer fan, training car and Ford Expedition.

“With budget constraints, it’s worth considering,” Mullaly said.

Coia asked Mullaly what the cost benefit of these sales would be and Mullaly said he would need to get that detail. There was also a discussion on whether to restart some department equipment-service contracts. Coia asked if there was a benefit to the contracts or if the department could get by without them.

“Of course there’s always a risk, but what are you willing to pay?” Mullaly said.

Mullaly said he would be adjusting his schedule so he would be available more often to run shifts with the rest of the department. He also announced that the paperwork had been filed with the Board of Elections to run the November levy and that engine 1215 is running and now in service.

Next, Mosley offered an administrative update. He said that photos had been taken of two land parcels that will be placed up for sale on the GovDeals website. When those are live, the sale will be added to the township website, as well.

He also announced that the Summer Block Party and Cruise-In would be held Aug. 8 and that the POW-MIA observance event will take place at the gazebo on Sept. 18.

Mosley had two bids for a change in energy rates through NOPEC for the township. He said that either would help the township “realize significant savings.” There was still a third option that NOPEC would be providing in the coming days. Because of this, rather than make a selection, the trustees voted to empower Mosley to make a decision based on the three options when all were available.

Next, the trustees approved a motion to adjust the Brimfield-Tallmadge JEDD M&I allocations so that a minimum of 10% goes to capital improvements, while 90% can be used for vehicle-related needs.

A motion was then put before the trustees regarding whether a state hearing would be needed for a liquor permit for The Basement. The motion failed, which allows the permitting process to continue. The trustees then voted to approve the acceptance of a $2,000 grant from OTARMA.

Hlad offered a number of updates on zoning matters. Those included a scheduled public hearing on Aug. 7 regarding Appendix E of the zoning regulations and a public hearing on Aug. 13 for a Howe Avenue parcel rezoning proposal. Hlad said the Zoning Commission is still working on data center restrictions and, as such, plan on requesting an additional six-month moratorium in the fall. An item on the agenda regarding updates to zoning fees was tabled.

Rufener then offered a report for the Road Department. He said that test holes will be dug on Aug. 26 in Meloy Road to get ready for the pipes. Scope work was completed on Buckeye Boulevard, and Rufener believes the results show that they will need to replace the full stretch of pipe, from catch basin to catch basin.

He added that the road mowing is ongoing as weather permits and listed four projects that were recently completed: the Countryside catch basin, the Boydell pipe project, the Woods Trail berm work and ditches across four areas.

The department also replaced the benches at McGuire Park. Two of the original benches had been thrown into the lake and, when they were retrieved, they fell apart. The department had some aluminum benches in storage, so they replaced all of the benches in the park with those.

Rufener noted two new projects that needed trustee approval. The trustees unanimously approved a bid of $190,000 for work on Sanctuary View Drive and Willow Brook. Some of the cost of this will be paid by OPWC. Trustees also approved a contract with QCI in an amount just under $14,000 for the same project.

Coia then returned to a question from the top of the meeting and asked if anyone had an update on the rat issue. Scott said the health department wasn’t going to help and instead directed him to the engineer’s office. He has been waiting for a call back from them.

Fields then closed the meeting by asking if any resident had historical information on the Wyles family (namesake of the Wyles Development) and, if they did, she asked that it be shared.

At 7:52 p.m., the trustees entered into an executive session to consider the discipline of a public employee or official.

Documenters: Field Board of Education meeting for Aug. 10, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:38:00 GMT

The Field Board of Education held their regularly scheduled August meeting on the 10th at 7 p.m. Attending the meeting in the high school cafeteria were Treasurer Todd Carpenter, Board President Randy Porter, Vice President William Evans and board members Steve Calcei, Larry Stewart and Matt Slaven.

After calling the meeting to order, Porter led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silent contemplation. The board then moved on to the business of the night. First up was the approval of the meeting minutes from two June meetings: the 8th and the 30th. They were approved without discussion. The board also approved the night's agenda.

Porter announced that Superintendent David Heflinger would not be attending the meeting, as he was out of town. With no superintendent’s report, Slaven offered a legislative update. The only item of note, he said, was SB 19, which passed before the Ohio Senate went out on recess. This bill would attempt to help boost math and English proficiency scores.

Next up was the Superintendent’s Consent Agenda, which Porter proposed for approval. It consisted of contracts for certified, classified and supplemental positions, along with transfers, resignations and leaves of absence across the district. The consent agenda also held first readings for eight board policies and the second reading of four board policies.

Also in the consent agenda, Heflinger proposed the removal of school fees, excluding extra and co-curricular activities. He additionally asked for approval for contracts to purchase ELA books, for pest control services with A-Best Pest Control and with the ESC for special services.

The board unanimously approved the Superintendent’s Consent Agenda without comment.

Carpenter next asked for approval of the Treasurer’s Consent Agenda. It held the financial reports through June 30, 2026, and the district financial forecast through 2030. Slaven noted that the financial forecast indicated a decrease of $4 million. Carpenter said that was when the levy would cease to be active, and Slaven questioned when they would need to consider whether a new levy was needed.

“2027 would be the earliest,” Carpenter said.

With that, the board unanimously approved the Treasurer’s Consent Agenda without comment.
Porter quickly realized that there was a person in the audience who had signed up to offer a comment, and so he invited Jerri Walter to share her comments. She said that she worked the back concession stand and that they got water there from a hose coming from central. She wondered if there was a timeline for a permanent water hookup to that space. Porter offered to look into it.

This prompted another member of the audience to ask if there was an update on what was going to happen to central. Porter said that plans would be discussed soon.

And with that, the meeting was adjourned at 7:11 pm.

Documenter: Crestwood Board of Education meeting for Aug. 11, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:37:00 GMT

On Aug. 11, the Crestwood Board of Education held their regular monthly meeting at the central office. In attendance were Board President Kristen Cavanaugh, Vice President Bonnie Lovejoy and members Eric Hummel, Monica Stouffer and Dan Tillett. Also in attendance were Superintendent Aireane Curtis and Interim Treasurer Greg Slemons.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. and, following the opening business (roll call, Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the agenda), Slemons offered a look at the district’s five-year financial forecast.

“The forecast today is much better than what we presented in May,” he said.

Some of the numbers shared included a projected operating fund balance of $310,000 at the end of FY 2026. With a projected growth in revenue in 2027, the end balance that year is estimated to be $750,000. That number will continue to grow in 2028 to $1.035 million. At that point, revenue numbers will flatten out. He predicted that in 2030, the district “will need to pay close attention to their cash on hand.”

Following this presentation, the board took up, and unanimously approved without discussion, the evening’s consent agenda. Included in this were meeting minutes, financial statements, fund transfers and approval of the five-year forecast as presented. Also included was an agreement for visually impaired services, a memorandum of understanding with Akron Children’s Hospital and multiple employment and volunteer contracts.

Individually, the board also unanimously approved several contracts for educational specialists. Additionally, they took up a shared services agreement with Cardinal Local Schools. Curtis explained that new regulations require food service supervisors to have a college degree and this agreement would help both districts meet that employment requirement, while also sharing employment costs.

The board next approved the payment of $2,500 through a grant to Jennifer Hirsch. Curtis said this is part of a fully funded grant and would not cost the district anything. The payment is for Hirsch’s administration of the Feed Our Future program.

Russ Jones was approved by the board as the interim principal at the middle school. Jones was the former superintendent for Stow-Munroe Falls.

Next, the board approved a three-year contract for E-Rate to include “consulting and funding procurement.” They also agreed to enter into a contract with SPARCC. Curtis explained that the district is required to have a student information system and this is the one they are transitioning to. The transition won’t happen for a year, but the contract needs to be in place now. Cavanaugh added that once the system was up and running, it would take the place of other student and communication systems, which would present a cost savings.

Curtis then asked the board to approve the receipt of a PPG innovation grant in the amount of $1,000. This was unanimously given. This grant will help defray the costs of the Destination Imagination program.

The board then approved a schedule of course fees for the coming school year. The highest fee will be $25. The subject of fees carried on into the last item on the agenda, as well. The board approved the cost of athletic passes for the 2026-2027 school year. Adult passes will be $150 and student passes are $100. Curtis said they spoke with neighboring districts to get an understanding of what their fee structures are.

“I feel ours is pretty reasonable, especially because it’s good for the entire year,” Curtis said.

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 19-25

Mike D — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:36:00 GMT

Hey Folks,

I hope you all are getting ready for the 2026-2027 school year. Summer is once again slowly moving to the rearview mirror of 2026.

As fall approaches, outdoor shows/concerts are starting to dwindle. But there still is time to enjoy a few more before the leaves begin to fall and the cold north winds start to blow.

The weather looks to be quite nice this coming week, with highs in the mid to upper 70’s through next week. Perfect temps to enjoy a few more outdoor shows this summer.

Here is the Setlist for August 19-25. Hope to see you out and about!

Mike D

AURORA

Orchid House Winery 155 Treat Road

Aug. 25: Dave Hermes

MANTUA

Los Venados 11697 Route 44

Aug. 21: Two Kings Duo

NELSON

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park 12001 Route 282

Aug. 21-23: 90’s Fest 2026 (Flannel, Fuzz, Grunge, Alt-Rock, Nu-Metal). Click on link for details.

GARRETTSVILLE

Garrettsville Farmers Market 8119 Main Street

Aug 20: Dexter 4-7 p.m.

STREETSBORO

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route 14

Aug 22: Higher (tribute to Creed) 9-midnight

FREEDOM

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

Aug. 22: Jukebox Junkies 8 p.m.-midnight

ROOTSTOWN

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44

Aug. 23: Sunday Funday concert featuring Dustin Kines on the patio stage from 3-5 p.m. No ticket required.

KENT

Gigi’s Restorante & Market 210 S. Depeyster St.

Aug. 20: Art Michaud 6-9 p.m.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street:

Aug. 21: John Doe 6-9 p.m.

The Kent Stage 175 E. Main Street Only purchase tickets through kentstage.org or at Box Office on West Main Street. Alternative ticket vendors may be overpriced and/or invalid.

Aug 22: Ghalia Volt & Kent Burnside 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 23: Garrison Keillor 7 p.m. Doors open 6 p.m.
Aug. 24: The Wallflowers–Bringing Down the Horse: 30th anniversary tour with special guest Tyler Ramsey 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m.

Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection.

Aug 22: Celtic Rush 10 a.m.-noon

RAVENNA

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main St.

Aug. 22: Matt Coates 7-10

The Portage County Randolph Fair opens Aug. 25. Look out for daily live music:

Aug. 25:

6 p.m. The Waterloo High School Marching Band just inside the Main Gate.
7:30 p.m. Doug Kaufman Band Corner Stage

Open mics are an excellent way for aspiring musicians to gauge their progress as stage performers. Open mics also provide a great networking tool for current musicians who may need a temporary or permanent new band member for the projects they are involved in.

Here is a listing for open mics/open jams for the week of Aug. 19-25:

KENT

Aug 23: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster St., Kent. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m. (330) 678-4976

Aug. 25: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water St., Kent Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m. 330-673-1448

Aug. 26: Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Ave. Hosts: BC Hudson, Jesse Carter. Open Mic/Jam. 7:30-10 p.m.

Aug. 26: Bell Tower Brewing Co. 310 Park Ave. Open Blues Jam. Host: Cleveland Blues Society. 6:30-9 p.m.

RAVENNA

Aug. 27: Tavs 106 E. Main St. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Aug. 23: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Aug. 26: Divine Food & Spirits 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30. 234-334-4400 OPEN WEDNESDAY 4 p.m.

Aug. 26: Chestnut Beer Garden 503 Chestnut Blvd. Pickin’ Wednesdays: Bluegrass jam/open mic. Banjos, mandolins, guitars welcome 6-9 p.m.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 17-18, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:35:00 GMT

Matthew Jabin Secaur

Matthew Jabin Secaur, 49, passed away in Toronto, Canada on August 5, 2026 with his family by his side. Matthew was born September 8, 1976 to Jonathan Secaur and Diana Secaur in Kent, Ohio.

Matthew was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School and Kent State University. He received a Master’s degree in the History and Philosophy of Religion from Concordia University in Montreal.

While at Kent State, Matt majored in music and enjoyed every facet of it - both in school and out. Though his work life went in a different direction, music was a thread that continued throughout his whole life. From song writing and recording, to his senior recital, to directing several different church choirs, to his love of karaoke, to his beloved Upper Canada Choristers, music was at the heart of who he was and he loved almost every kind of music.

Throughout his time in college, he began to take an interest in technology. Although it was not his major, he learned about various operating systems. He learned through campus jobs, his own curiosity, and an almost instinctive awareness of what would be useful. His ability to learn independently - especially regarding information technology - set him on the career path he followed for his entire life. He had multiple tech jobs across several cities, always learning, always seeming to intuit what was coming next. His last and favorite job was as a Principal Technical Account Manager for Red Hat in Toronto. In recent years he had also begun giving lectures on things so technical his family seldom understood them. He enjoyed teaching and lecturing and we were all so proud of the way he became a leader in teaching highly technical material. His colleagues share how much they will miss his mentorship, his patience, kindness, and compassion. Matt was genuinely someone people wanted to work with and their office will not be the same without him.

He earned his Master’s degree in Montreal, not for any career advancement, but because he genuinely loved to learn and debate about the intersection of religion and philosophy and science. He had a questing mind that wanted to constantly be engaged. He enjoyed that time of learning and continued to use his knowledge to have in-depth conversations about almost anything.

Ten years ago he moved to Toronto and found his real home. It was there he was instrumental in working with a meetup group for people learning English as a second language. In the decade he lived in Toronto, he made and sustained many friendships. Matt’s closest friendships were deep and lasting - they were his found family.

Matt also loved to travel. He traveled solo, with friends, and later with his family. He traveled all over Asia and Europe. He was fluent in Canadian French. He believed that traveling made him more accepting, more well rounded. He was always looking for new places to check out - near and far - just as he continually looked for new intellectual terrain to explore.

He met his wife, Cerila Bilacaol, ten years ago. She transformed his life in the best way. Their devotion to each other was exceptional and Matt’s joy was overflowing, all the more so when Cerila’s daughter, Fiona Ibaseta, joined them in Canada. Matt and Fiona became true father and daughter of the heart. Her love for him, shown by her artistic gifts and cards, meant the world to him and he showed them off whenever he could. Matt’s life was vast and diverse but Cerila and Fiona were at the center of it. They were his foundation and his light.

He leaves his wife, Cerila and step-daughter, Fiona heartbroken by his loss. He also leaves behind both his parents, Jon Secaur and Diana Secaur, to grieve their son. Family who will also miss him includes step-mother Linda Idoine, brother Benjamin Secaur and his wife Kristin Wickless, and brother of the heart Robert Vavra. Matt also leaves his nieces Samantha Secaur and Lilac Secaur. He leaves more family in the Philippines, as well as cousins, aunts, and uncles. He had deep friendships with people who will miss him in the US, in Canada, and throughout the world. Matt touched so many lives.

A Service of Remembrance for Matthew will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 2:00pm. There will be calling hours from 12pm-2pm with light refreshments. The service will be held at the First Christian Church of Kent on the corner of W. Main and N. Mantua Streets in Kent, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada through their website mscanada.ca

Joseph John Cipriano

Joseph John Cipriano passed on August 16, 2026, at the age of 60, and was a resident of Ravenna, Ohio.

Corey D. Litsinger

Corey D. Litsinger passed on August 13, 2026, at the age of 62.

Jill Pamela Ross

Jill Pamela (Wise) Ross, 58, passed away peacefully at home on August 15, 2026, after a battle with cancer. Born in Rootstown, Ohio to Richard and Martha (Dill) Wise, she lived in the area most of her life.

Josepha A. "Jo Ann" Beres

Josepha A. "JoAnn" Beres, 77, of Streetsboro, Ohio, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2026, at University Hospitals in Cleveland, surrounded by the love of her family.

James Louis Nanassy

James (Jim) Louis Nanassy, age 79, of Ravenna, OH, passed away on August 14, 2026.

Jeffery "Jeff" Crane

Heaven got a little funnier when Jeffery “Jeff” Crane, 74, passed away on August 15, 2026.

Harvey R. Barnett, Jr.

Harvey R. Barnett, Jr., 90, passed away August 17, 2026. Born in Zanesville, he lived most of his life in the Akron and Kent area.

Gary Stone looks forward to serving Kent as new police chief

Adriana Gasiewski — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:21:00 GMT

When Gary Stone was 10 years old, his mother was driving down the New York State Thruway when a flat tire caused her to pull over and tie a handkerchief around the radio antenna.

Within five minutes, a New York state trooper came to their rescue and changed their tire.

“I watched him change the tire and I said, ‘Wow, that’s a really cool job. I want to do that someday,’” Stone said.

Having seen firsthand how police officers can make a difference, he was motivated to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“It always meant a lot to me when I could help people in some of their most difficult hours of their lives,” Stone said.

Now he is stepping into the role of Kent’s police chief, after being sworn in on July 13, following former Police Chief Nick Shearer's decision to voluntarily step back.

Stone’s new position serves as a homecoming for him, returning to the city where he first began his career in law enforcement as a criminal justice major at Kent State University.

During his time at Kent State, the North Tonawanda, New York native took courses pertaining to humanity, sociology, conflict, crime and corrections and even worked for the Kent State University Police Department in 1984.

After graduating from Kent State, he chose to begin his career as a patrol officer at the Lakewood Police Department because knew that he would want to take on leadership positions in the future and appreciated the department’s advancement opportunities. In Lakewood, he served as a patrol officer, accident administrator, sergeant, lieutenant and captain.

“I knew that I would eventually want a leadership position where I could supervise others, where I could have a say in departmental management, that I could work closely with the community, develop officers to bring out their best skills,” he said.

Kevin Fischer, Lakewood police chief, met then-lieutenant Stone as a patrolman in 1999, and recalled Stone being a mentor to everyone in the department.

“He was in a role here as administrative captain for the better part of 17 or 18 years, and he dealt with the jail a lot of times,” Fischer said. “Almost every time, somebody who’s come to jail is not having a good day, and Gary would always lend that empathetic ear. He was always willing to help whenever he could, within reason, and he was always willing to listen.”

Eventually, Stone and Fischer became friends, and Fischer would invite Stone and his family to his parent’s house on Christmas Eve. Stone’s friendly attitude and infectious personality led to him forming a friendship with Fischer’s dad, too.

“He’s the most genuine person I know. What you see is what you get. There’s zero fakeness in Gary — I think that attracts people towards him,” Fischer said.

Fischer took on the role of Lakewood police chief in the summer of 2023. Stone viewed his friend as a mentor and turned to him for advice about becoming Kent’s police chief.

“I just told him to be genuine, to be himself. He's a constant professional where he’s always represented the department very well, represents himself well,” Fischer said. “He’s intelligent. I just told him, ‘Be yourself. Don’t try to be something you’re not. You’ve got all the attributes to do it. Just go out and do it.’”

Following his advice, Stone applied for the position in February.

Why Kent needed a new chief

In an Oct. 15 memorandum to Kent City Manager Dave Ruller, Shearer requested to be demoted and take on the position of police captain. Shearer served as Kent’s police chief from 2020 to 2026, after starting at the department in 2008 as an officer.

“I’ve spent considerable time reflecting on my roles and the challenges we’ve faced. I feel that my skillset is more aligned with the role of police captain than it was with the role of police chief,” Shearer said in the memorandum. “This realization has been difficult, but it has also strengthened my resolve to continue contributing in a meaningful way.”

When the department announced that Stone would be Kent’s new chief, an Akron Beacon Journal article published the following week inaccurately reported that Shearer was stepping into his new role “following an undisclosed investigation that cleared him of any wrongdoing.”

Shearer’s Oct. 15 memorandum had followed the announcement of an employee being placed on administrative leave on Oct. 1. In an Oct. 22 written reprimand, it was revealed that the employee – not Shearer – had been under investigation for “spending his duty days surfing the internet for purposes not related to his duties.”

To fill Shearer’s vacancy, Kent began looking for an applicant with command-level experience, and it was highly recommended for them to have a college education and to have advanced police schooling.

Having served as a captain for nearly 17 years, holding a bachelor’s degree from Kent State and a master’s degree from Cleveland State University, as well as being a certified law enforcement executive trained at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 2010, Stone felt confident about his qualifications.

After the department announced Stone’s new position, Ruller said in an email that the city is “delighted to welcome Chief Stone to Kent.”

A Kent homecoming

Although he was happy to return to the city where it all started, he still had some nerves he couldn’t shake.

“It was really an unusual feeling walking into this police station for the first time as the chief. I got out of my car and took a deep breath and said, ‘Gary, you’ve done enough studying, reading and learning. Now, it’s time to put things to use in what you did,’” Stone said.

During his first weeks in Kent, he has already begun introducing himself to others and is intent upon learning everyone’s names, their goals, their experience and what changes they’d like to see.

Having helped foster an atmosphere of growth at Lakewood, Stone hopes to do the same at Kent and provide the city with outstanding police service.

“I want to bring out the best skillsets that we have in these members of this department,” he said. “Every member of the police department has a unique skillset and I want to tap into their skillsets and have them in positions where they can best serve the community.”

County roundup: Shalersville will dedicate Veterans Point, plus news from Aurora and Ravenna

Roger Gordon — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:20:00 GMT

Shalersville

A dedication for the new Veterans Point will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Shalersville Park. This marks a major milestone in the township’s ongoing efforts to honor local veterans and enhance community spaces.

Several Shalersville residents voiced their concern about the data center proposal Aug. 4 at a township trustees meeting. A moratorium remains in place, and no application for a data center has been submitted at this time.

Several township residents expressed disappointment regarding the condition of two homes located in the Red Fox development. One of the properties mentioned is in the process of repossession, which may affect the timeline for improvements.

A township resident raised concerns about Amazon, UPS and landscape companies stopping and parking in the roadway, creating hazards and making it difficult for motorists to pass safely.

She also reported four-wheelers driving on Cooley Road, contributing to safety and nuisance concerns.

A box culvert located at the corner of Diagonal Road and Frost Road is in need of repair. Township Trustee Frank Ruehr is meeting with the Portage County engineer to review the culvert, which is situated near gas, water and sewer lines, requiring careful coordination.

Several Shalersville residents expressed frustration that state Route 303 was chip sealed. Because 303 is a state route, maintenance decisions are made by the state of Ohio, not the township.

Bio-Med is moving from its site at the corner of state Route 303 and state Route 44. The township is actively seeking a new tenant(s). The school building will be available in the summer of 2027, opening potential opportunities for redevelopment.

City of Ravenna

The Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce “Vet Fest” 250 Year Celebration for veterans’ families and guests will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Ravenna VA Clinic at 6751 N. Chestnut St. This kid-friendly event will include live music, food and drinks.

The chamber’s Annual Golf Outing will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at Windmill Lakes Golf Course at 6544 state Route 14. The event includes:

18 holes of golf and cart
Hot lunch
Beverages
Steak dinner
Swag bag
50/50
Lots of prizes and contests

To register and for sponsorships, go to ravennaareachamber.com or email ryann@ravennaareachamber.com.

The Community Cup Challenge will be Friday, Aug. 28; Tuesday, Sept. 1; Thursday, Sept. 3; and Saturday, Sept. 5, at Chestnut Hills Park, City Park and Sun Beau. The Community Cup Challenge brings local businesses and organizations together for friendly competition, community pride and a whole lot of fun, from pickleball to archery to golf to disc golf to tug of war and more. Awards are based on participation and involvement, making this an event designed for everyone, not just athletes. For sponsorships and more information, visit ravennaareachamber.com or https://www.ravennaoh.gov/departments/parks-recreation/.

The chamber’s third annual hiring event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Reed Memorial Library at 167 E. Main St. No cost to participate. Lunch provided.

Ravenna Township

Two road projects in Ravenna Township will begin soon and should be completed by the end of September:

Paving in the Forest Ridge development by Perrin Asphalt at a cost of $173,044.
Chip-and-seal on Fairhill Drive, Hodgson Road, Longfield Road and Susan Road by Ronyak Paving at a cost of $45,983.

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Ravenna Township meeting hall at 6145 S. Spring Street. The blood drive is sponsored by the township trustees.

Aurora

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce David M. Benjamin Memorial Golf Outing will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Tanglewood Golf Club at 8745 Tanglewood Trl. in Chagrin Falls. The $175 fee includes 18 holes, plus cart, lunch, dinner, drinks, contests, prizes and more. Register now at allaboutaurora.com.

The Aurora Chamber Summer After Hour Series continues with “Liberty & Libations” from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, at The Curated Cottage at 311 E. Garfield Rd. Sip local, connect local and celebrate America 250.

The Avantor Bloodmobile will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at Avantor at 220 Lena Dr.

Aurora City Council approved a contract with RJK Roofing for a new roof on City Hall at a cost of $95,150.

Council approved a contract with ClearSpan at a cost of $34,126 to repair one of the city’s two salt domes.

Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin’s administration had recommended that the city of Aurora enter into a contract with Capitol Consulting Group at a cost of $60,000 to help the city secure state and federal grants for capital projects such as its new park and the Aurora Trail. City Council approved the administration’s recommendation.

The mayor’s administration is requesting to repair a 1999 fire engine used as backup at a cost of $40,000.

“It’s an important fire engine,” Womer Benjamin said. “It’s still in fairly good condition.”

Womer Benjamin’s administration is requesting that longtime Parks and Recreation employee Josh Famageltto be promoted to the position of parks coordinator. Famageltto would focus mainly on the new Aurora Park that is being built.

“Josh has been a great employee and is the leading candidate for this position,” Womer Benjamin said.

The 9/11 memorial program will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at Sunny Lake Park’s memorial garden.

On Sunday, Sept. 13, Aurora’s classic car show will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sunny Lake Park. Vehicles need to be registered at noon. Free to both participate and attend.

City employees and council members will be manning the concession stand on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Greenmen’s Homecoming game against Suburban League American Conference rival Twinsburg.

“People should stop by and say hello,” Womer Benjamin said.

Senior Life: Brainstorming senior programs we should have Portage County

Sally Kelly — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:19:00 GMT

Congratulations to the Crestwood community for their continuing support of their senior citizens. A senior citizens group has been meeting every Wednesday for several years and has recently moved into a space at the Crestwood Central Offices, 10880 John Edward Drive, Mantua. Their meetings will continue to be on Wednesdays in Room 114.

Their programming continues to offer SAIL classes (Stay Independent for Life). Different programs are offered each Wednesday.

For more information about their programming and how to become a member of the group, drop in any Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and talk with Lynn Lewis.

Another positive note for Portage County’s Aging population is the creation of the Senior Scoop. This is a newsletter created by the “50+ Portage Community Committee." This is the group who spearheaded the try for a Human Services Levy last May.

The initial Senior Scoop described how the group 50 Plus Committee was created, what their plans are for another try for a Human Services Levy this November, how Portage County became designated as an Age Friendly Community, what bus routes PARTA offers, the Summer Crisis Program (electric bills) offered by the Community Action Council and an article about the activities at the Streetsboro Senior Center.

The Senior Scoop will be a quarterly newsletter published by Portage County Job & Family Services. To get on their email list for this newsletter, contact AMY.HUNTING@JFS.OHIO.GOV. or call 234-233-5100. The newsletter is free.

Portage County recently gained the designation of an Age Friendly Community by meeting some of the requirements set forth by AARP and the World Health Organization. The process included a needs assessment and establishment of strategic plans based on the outcomes of the assessments.

The initial goal of Portage County was to establish a means of communication and resource calendars to make sure residents are informed.

If I had had any input into the senior needs assessment for their consideration (and I was not asked), I would have put a priority on a program to help senior citizens remain in their own homes ... not just for folks on limited incomes but on the general over age 50 population. And not just for the physical welfare of the occupants but for the upkeep of their homes … not just major projects but some things which a handyman could do.

We all know there are a number of assisted living and long term care facilities in Portage County. But, there are many of us who are aging but who want to stay in our own homes. But what happens when our spouse dies, or our physical limitations become more significant and we are unable to physically maintain our own home. Who is going to paint the wall in the kitchen where I splattered spaghetti sauce? Who is going to scrub the living room carpet where my dog peed? Who is going to fix that light in the dining room which continues to flicker, even when the switch is off? Who is going to pull the weeds in my flower bed, or rake the leaves this fall? Who is going to get on the roof of my mobile home to see how bad the leak is?

These are all minor chores which need to be done (and in many cases my neighbors would agree) but not big enough for a bank loan to fund, but they are things which will improve my happiness at home … where I want to live.

The only community I could find offering such a service is Aurora’s “Neighbor 2 Neighbor” program. Their description of the program says they offer assistance with ramps, installation and weatherization. They also offer the knowledge that these are your “neighbors,” and you can trust them.

I periodically get requests from area seniors who need these types of “handyman” services. These are not “big projects,” not really expensive projects, but are the little things that can help an individual living in their own home, and prevent little problems from becoming big problems, which could make it necessary for someone to have to leave their home.

For those of you who do not think this is a problem, did you hear about the retired nurse in Cleveland who was going to be arrested and taken to jail because her yard was a “huge mess.” Her yard was in such a condition because she was no longer physically able to do the work necessary to meet her neighborhood standards! Fortunately, a group of folks in another neighborhood heard the story and got together to do the neighborly thing … they cleaned her yard for her, and thus kept her out of jail.

Are there resources out there which I have not been able to find? If there are none ... maybe we should take a little initiative and look around to see who we can help!

Contact Sally Kelly with your senior news at 330-687-9501 or sentrip@yahoo.com.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 14-16, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:18:00 GMT

Greg A. Badalucco

Greg A. Badalucco, 61, of Ravenna, passed away in the comfort of his home with his wife by his side on August 14, 2026.

Anthony "Tony" Michael Mosca

Anthony “Tony” Michael Mosca passed away on August 11, 2026, unexpectedly, at the age of 52.

James R. "Ray" Boone

James R. "Ray" Boone, 75, of Ravenna, passed away Friday August 14, 2026 at his home with his family by his side. Ray was born July 1, 1951 in Salem, Ohio to the late Joseph V. and Helen A. (Hobbs) Boone.

Mary Ann Fyda

Mary Ann Fyda (née Blinas), 80, passed away August 10, 2026. She is survived by her spouse, Joseph, a sister to Paul Blinas and late brother, Raymond; her nieces, Suzanne Blinas, and Mary Jeanette; nephew Paul Christopher Blinas; brother-in-law, Robert Fyda; and her sister-in-law, Debra.

Shalersville weighs zoning changes to block data center

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:47:00 GMT

Emotions ran high during an Aug. 12 Regional Planning Commission meeting, when area residents once again packed Shalersville Town Hall to object to a proposed data center campus.

At issue is the plan of landowner Shalersville Holdings (an arm of Geis Companies) and Bitdeer Technologies Group to install a 15-building data center campus on 257 acres of Turnpike Commerce Center, located near the Ohio Turnpike interchange. Shalersville Holdings currently owns the land.

Concerned about the size and scope of the project, township trustees have been exploring their options for months. Since data centers are currently a “conditionally permitted use” in the township, Shalersville’s zoning commission recently submitted four zoning code amendments for the Regional Planning Commission to review.

Turns out those amendments didn’t make the grade. Deciding that they need additional work, the Regional Planning Commission tabled the matter. Its staff will recommend acceptable verbiage to the zoning commission in preparation for a Sept. 9 commission meeting.

Should the commission accept those recommendations, the proposal would make its way to the township trustees. They could — or could not — enshrine the amendments into Shalersville’s official zoning code.

The township’s moratorium on data centers ends the first week of November. If the proposed zoning amendments aren’t in place by then, Geis would be able to apply for the project as a conditionally permitted use. Lawfully permitted, the ultimately 15-building campus would proceed.

The zoning commission's proposals

Though Shalersville Township does not have any land zoned for “heavy industrial use,” the zoning commission recommended adding “any use with excessive power demand or excessive water use” to its definition of “Industry, Heavy.” The zoning code now defines heavy industry as a business that processes or makes materials or products mostly from extracted or raw materials; that stores flammable or explosive materials or uses them to make their products; or that engages in “storage or manufacturing processes that potentially involve hazardous or commonly recognized offensive conditions.”
Light industry, by contrast, would be defined as “not having excessive power demand or excessive water use.” The zoning code now defines light industry as manufacturing uses that are “relatively clean, quiet, and free of objectionable or hazardous elements such as smoke, noise, odor, or dust." They must operate and store within enclosed structures and generate little industrial traffic and “no nuisances.” They may produce small goods to be sold to the people who use them, rather than to another manufacturer.
The proposal also defined excessive power demand as “any use that has an aggregate monthly demand or peak load of greater than 25 megawatts, no matter what energy source or sources that demand or load may be derived from.”
Zoning codes being legal documents, the township zoning commission also proposed tweaks to Shalersville’s definition of “use.” They wanted it defined as “the principal purpose for which a lot (parcel), or contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise aggregated real property lots (parcels), and/or the main building thereon, is designed, arranged or intended and for which it may be used, occupied or maintained.” (Proposed new language in bold.)

Regional Planning Commission Director Todd Peetz and his staff noted that the first two proposed zoning amendments did not clearly define “excessive power use” and “excessive water” and that the word “excessive” should also be quantified in the third one. Peetz said the lack of specific language could lead to litigation, an outcome Geis Companies has already stated is certain.

Commission staff had no problem with the final proposal.

Additional concerns

In a separate interview with The Portager, Peetz outlined additional concerns. He pointed to Ohio law, which defines electric generating plants and associated facilities designed for, or capable of, operating at 50 megawatts or more as “major utility facilities.”

The Bitdeer project would be anticipated to draw 750 megawatts.

If the state calls a facility operating at 1/15th the capacity of Bitdeer’s proposed project a major utility facility, Peetz does not see how they or Geis hope to site it on land zoned light industrial. He said a facility operating at 25 to 50 megawatts may be more realistic.

Peetz also questioned potential noise concerns associated with the proposed data center campus. Peetz said Bitdeer “seems to think” it should be able to match the 55 decibels of noise already coming off the turnpike.

“We think 55 decibels may be a little high, especially at night time,” he said.

The company has stated its intent to erect some kind of noise barrier, but without a formal proposal or site plan, its form and effectiveness are anyone’s guess, he said.

Peetz stated his intent to continue meetings with Geis officials in preparation for the Sept. 9 commission meeting.

“We have a lot more work to do because some of the parties are not happy with what we’re doing,” he told meeting attendees on Aug. 12.

Massillon provides a roadmap

Peetz also referenced an Aug. 3 ordinance Massillon City Council authorized in which they defined and set regulations for large and non-large scale data centers, as well as defined computer data center businesses, electronic information services and data center equipment.

The city only allows data centers with a 25-megawatt capacity.

The ordinance states that all data centers must specify their projected use of electric, water and wastewater treatment utilities, specifying that site plans must quantify the capacity of incoming electric lines and how much of that capacity is already in use. Developers that plan to supply their own energy must have those proposals certified by an expert.

The local water provider must certify that the facility’s water use will not adversely affect other users, and the local wastewater treatment facility must likewise certify its ability to keep up.

Noise levels must be measured on both the parcel that holds the data center and the nearest residential zoned district, the ordinance states.

Massillon Mayor Jamie Slutz approved the legislation on Aug. 5.

How or if Massillon’s ordinance would translate to Shalersville is anyone’s guess.

Though it also fails to quantify the word “excessive,” Peetz said the ordinance could serve as a good starting point for Shalersville. It specifies certification by experts, requires 400-foot setbacks from residential neighborhoods, sets numerous standards and mandates follow-up inspections to ensure the companies adhere to them.

“Everything's to be determined. We don't have all the facts in front of us. We don’t have a site plan in front of us. There might be things they want to do that we just don't know about,” Peetz said.

The legal maneuvering begins

Shalersville Holdings does not intend to wait on the Regional Planning Commission’s, zoning commission’s or trustees’ pleasure. On Aug. 6, Regional Planning Commission staff received a letter from Shalersville Holdings attorney Joseph Miller of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, a Columbus-area law firm.

Miller stated that the proposed amendments exceed the township’s zoning authority. Since no property in the township is zoned for heavy industry, the proposed amendments “effectively ban any use with ‘excessive power demand or excessive water use,’ including any data center that may use greater than 25 megawatts of power,” he wrote.

Miller also took issue with the term “excessive” being undefined, stating that the township could “arbitrarily select which property owners use ‘excessive’ water and which do not.”

He characterized the proposed amendments as “not only illegal and unenforceable," but also exposing the township to legal action.

Also representing Shalersville Holdings, Roetzel & Andress attorney R. Todd Hunt on July 3 objected to aspects of the township’s existing zoning code and demanded they be repealed. Regional Planning Commission staff proposed revising the code to make clear that Shalersville retains enforcement powers if a conditional use certificate is violated.

That matter is now being reviewed by the county prosecutor’s office.

Assistant Portage County Prosecutor Brett Bencze weighed in separately, writing a May 6 email to Peetz that “there isn't much case law out there yet on how the courts will handle it.” He also raised the possibility of “constitutional, regulatory, and legislative action” and promised regular updates.

Streetsboro says no to Flock cameras

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:46:00 GMT

Streetsboro City Council on Aug. 10 rejected the use of Flock cameras, with several council members objecting to their accuracy, effectiveness and potential misuse.

Typically mounted on roadside poles, automated license plate readers, in this case units provided by Flock Safety, capture the image of the rear of a vehicle and its license plate as it drives away. With permissions in place, the information can be shared by local and federal agencies.

In a 4-2 vote, only council members Jen Wagner and Steve Michniak supported the $63,000 contract with Flock Safety. Wagner raised the spectre of being on the receiving end of a call from a distraught victim or friend or relative of a victim, while Michniak said there is no way to escape information that is already shared through national networks.

”I think your phone gives you so much more data than a Flock camera, and if it’s being dumped every 30 days, if it actually is, and it's not being stolen somewhere, I could support that,” he said.

Putting in a final bid for the camera’s use, Streetsboro Police Chief Tricia Wain said they are a tool police can use to solve crimes. She acknowledged concerns about the cameras, but said officers who are found misusing them are being disciplined and terminated.

The cameras track vehicles along roadways, not people walking in parking lots or parks, she said.

Council Member Mike Lampa said most of the residents he’d heard from were opposed to Flock cameras. Despite pro and con arguments, he cited his personal concerns about their accuracy and effectiveness and said many cities are reconsidering their use. Privacy, accuracy and government oversight informed his decision to reject Streetsboro’s use of the cameras, he said.

Fuerst Automotive: A local mainstay and a family legacy

Jeremy Brown — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:45:00 GMT

This article is a sponsor spotlight. Feature your business in The Portager.

Cliff Philen was repairing transmissions in Kent before Mitch Stout was born. Now, 45 years later, both men work in the same six-bay garage — Philen as the master drivetrain specialist, Mitch as the general manager who came home after two years rebuilding Rolls-Royces in Florida.

Fuerst Automotive of Kent, at 1005 W. Main St., features a state-of-the-art, six-bay facility and specializes in routine maintenance, tire care, diagnostics, transmission and engine repairs on almost any vehicle up to 14,000 pounds and 34 feet long. That includes RVs, duallies, Isuzu NPR cabover trucks and food trucks.

After nearly 40 years in business, owners Bob and Sheri Stout, along with their children, Mitch Stout, Amber Stout-Nebozuk, Kayla Stout, are still delivering automotive services in Northeast Ohio at their Kent and Broadview Heights locations.

“The people are phenomenal, the ownership is phenomenal, we have no drama, everybody comes to work with the same goals in mind, we have a good time and we put out a fantastic product,” Philen said. “I didn’t know what it was going to be like, but it’s been incredible.”

The company strives to be community focused. In the past year, Fuerst has expanded a program that began in their Broadview Heights shop: giving away cars. They’re now working with Freedom House, a shelter for veterans in Kent, to donate vehicles, and they’ve already provided two so far.

“I’ve always told my kids, first is community,” Bob Stout said.

The secret weapon

While other shops may offer similar services, they don’t have Cliff Philen. A Certified Master Drivetrain and Transmission Specialist, Philen has been working out of the facility on West Main Street since 1981, back when it was AWTI Transmission.

When Bob Stout and Family purchased AWTI Transmission in 2024 and renamed the business Fuerst Automotive of Kent, Philen decided to join the Fuerst team to continue providing his precision drivetrain expertise to the loyal customer base that he had made throughout the years.

Philen's credentials and history reflect his mastery of drivetrain and transmission repair. In his youth he worked on tractors at his uncle's farm, an experience that led him to enroll in the vocational automotive repair program through his high school. After graduating high school he landed a job at Ron Marhofer Chevrolet, but he soon realized that his ambitions exceeded the boundaries of a dealership, so he applied for an open position at AWTI Transmission and was hired by AWTI’s owner and master transmission technician Brian Forest.

Forest took Philen under his wing and taught him the art of transmission, transfer case and differential repair. Philen said Forest is a brilliant mechanic who emphasizes the role that physics plays in drivetrain repair. It wasn’t long before the two became TransGo research and development team members and for the next 20 years they collaborated with the TransGo team to create transmission solutions, all while continuing to perform drivetrain repair at AWTI Transmission.

TransGo is a California-based leader in automatic transmission valve body solutions. The company is renowned for engineering high-performance shift kits and reprogramming kits with a focus on tuneless hydraulic calibrations that fix common driveability complaints without requiring aftermarket software. For instance, TransGo shift kits improve shift firmness, reduce delay and address common internal wear issues.

“We were part of building that company because we did a lot of research and development for them. It was a lot of fun. We got to meet the [TransGo] guys that came out here from California, they spent some time with us. It was priceless information that’s very hard to get nowadays,” Philen said. “When they were designing a product, they would send us all kinds of things and we would test things, we would record data, and we would send things back to them. We were doing modifications and changes on units that people weren’t even thinking of yet.”

Philen is now solely dedicated to providing Fuerst Automotive with his drivetrain know-how. These days he’s training a young drivetrain apprentice named Adam Jewett, who Philen hopes will take his position when he retires. Jewett has already been working as a mechanic at Fuerst Automotive for five years.

Keeping it in the family

Mitch Stout, 31, is the general manager of both Fuerst Automotive locations, as well as a diagnostics technician and an automotive technician with a history repairing high-end luxury and exotic cars.

From an early age, he’d been trained by his dad to repair vehicles. While he was attending the vocational automotive program at his high school, he worked part-time at his family's business, Fuerst Automotive in Broadview Heights, starting in 2012. At that time, the Broadview Heights location was the only location of Fuerst Automotive.

After high school he continued to work at Fuerst Automotive in Broadview Heights until 2022, when he was offered a job at a Rolls-Royce dealership in Florida. He couldn’t pass it up.

“My dad and mom told me, ‘We don’t want to hold you back from an opportunity like this, and we don’t want to be the reason why you regret never having taken the opportunity,’ So I did,” Mitch Stout said. “I worked in Florida working on Rolls-Royces and McLaren's, Aston Martin, Bentley, all the high-end exotics and high-end luxury vehicles for two-and-a-half years.”

All the while, his dad was back in Ohio planning to expand Fuerst Automotive. Around 2024, Bob told Mitch the plan.

“I kind of missed home, then my dad calls up and he’s like, ‘Hey, we’re probably going to be buying a second shop. Want to come home?’” Mitch Stout said. “Yeah, I miss you guys, of course I’ll come home. So, here I am back at it since 2024, and we have a second location in Kent. I plan to be here the rest of my lifetime and hopefully my kids one day."

The founder

Bob Stout has been the force that drives Fuerst Automotive ever since he and his wife bought the business in 1987, but it wasn’t without a lifelong passion for auto repair and lots of elbow grease that has made their auto care center thrive and spawn a second location.

His passion for automotive repair started in his youth, which led him to attend his high school’s automotive technician vocational program in the 1970s, where he participated in early job placement and was hired at Conrad’s Tire.

“When I started with Conrad’s Goodyear I was 16 years old. I started as a tire changer, oil tech,” Bob Stout said. “I started to get my certifications and started working on vehicles. When I turned 18 and graduated from high school they promoted me to a service manager, so I was actually running a six-bay shop at the age of 18.”

By the time he graduated from high school he was certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence to do brake, suspension and engine repair, although later in life he became a certified master technician.

In 1983 he married Sheri Stout. With his experience from running a six-bay shop at Conrad’s Tire, he figured he could run his own business, so he set up shop in his in-law’s basement in Parma and founded Interstate Towing, a one-truck towing company. He continued to manage Conrad’s six-bay shop, even towing for them, but he wanted to expand his towing business.

Bob and Sheri Stout were young and gumptious, and the tow truck business was growing, so Bob Stout hung up his job at Conrad’s and purchased Fuerst Garage from Ed Fuerst in 1987, a small three-bay garage in Broadview Heights. They bought three more tow trucks and ran Interstate Towing out of Fuerst’s garage for several years, but insurance on the business and the tow truck equipment was expensive, and they found that finding reliable tow truck employees was difficult, so Bob Stout shifted the business to auto repair and changed the name of the garage to Fuerst Automotive.

They had been renting the three-bay garage from Fuerst, but the auto repair business was going well for the Stout’s and they were outgrowing the small space, so they bought the garage across the street.

“It was called Auto Accents,” Bob Stout said. “That's when cell phones were coming about, and you couldn’t go into a phone store, you had to go into a facility and they actually had to install them in your car. So that’s what they were doing and they had the big boom-box radios — you know, that era, back in the late ‘80s early ‘90s.”

That location of Fuerst Automotive is at 8116 Broadview Road. No longer installing car phones, Fuerst is a full-service auto repair shop that has won four national awards for training and service through AC Delco, and has a BBB A+ rating.

Kent expansion

Bob and Sheri Stout moved to Stow in the early 2000s. Bob Stout was impressed with AWTI Transmission and its six-bay garage and bought it shortly after.

Now, Bob Stout has brought all of his children into the business and plans to hand it off to them when he retires.

His eldest daughter, Amber Nebozuk, has two master’s degrees and was a research librarian at University Hospitals main campus in Cleveland. Now she’s the office manager at the Broadview Heights location and handles Fuerst Automotive’s finances, bills and bookkeeping.

Kayla Stout has a bachelor’s in hospitality management and a minor in marketing from Kent State and was previously a guest services manager for the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Now she’s the office manager at Fuerst Automotive of Kent.

Kayla said Fuerst Automotive has a policy that emphasizes open communication with the customer.

“We pride ourselves on transparency and honesty, which is why we do digital vehicle inspections,” Kayla said. “We have tablets that take videos and photos, and our techs write notes with them when doing inspections, and they are coded green, yellow and red. Green means good, yellow means it’s something to pay attention to for the future and red means it’s a safety concern and we need to look at this now. Those will get emailed or texted to our customers, so they have full transparency, so if we tell them they need new brakes, we are actually measuring the brakes and putting that measurement in a picture alongside their brakes so they can see it. We’ll circle areas of concern, we’ll put arrows, we’ll put notes.”

Fuerst Automotive’s mission is to supply honest old-school service to its customer, as well as to engage with the community and give back, and for the Stout family business, that often means giving away a car to someone who needs one.

Wheels To Prosper

The Broadview Heights Fuerst Automotive location has a track record of giving away a vehicle in a charity program Bob Stout calls Wheels To Prosper.

“We would get a vehicle that somebody didn’t want to fix, purchase it for an inexpensive price, then we go through it and make it roadworthy, safe, reliable transportation,” he said. “I was on the advisory council for Cuyahoga County Career Center, so I would get the vehicle and we would actually take it down to the career center and let the kids do the work on the vehicle, and then it’d go over to the body shop at the career center and they’d do the body work.”

To find a home for the Wheels To Prosper vehicle, the Stouts post to social media and place ads in the newspaper to find nominees: people who put others before themselves and are too proud to say they need help.

After a nominee for the car is chosen, they put on a large party for them and present them with the car.

“They would come in and they wouldn’t even know why they were there,” Bob Stout said. “We would have the mayor there, we would have a lot of people show up. And then we’d present the car to them. A lot of tears, man. We would have the kids that actually worked on the cars at the career center come in, so they know what their vocation can do to help people.”

The Stouts are upholding that tradition of donating a car at the Kent location and are working with The Freedom House in Kent to find a worthy veteran that needs transportation. They started the program last year and recently donated another car to a veteran again this year.

“When you’re doing service in your community, you’ve got to give back,” Bob Stout said. “So we do a lot with the community, hence, we do a lot with the veterans.”

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 12-13, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:40:00 GMT

Anthony W. Kaminski

Anthony W. “Tony” Kaminski, age 61, of Ravenna, passed away August 8, 2026. He was born December 5, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio, to parents Stephen and Marie Molly (Minadeo) Kaminski.

Inger Olsen Salsgiver

After living a full life enjoying many wonderful years with her family, Inger Olsen Salsgiver was welcomed into Heaven by the loving arms of her Savior at the age of 91. She passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home with her family by her side. She was born in Reykjavik, Iceland on November 3, 1934 to the late Sigurgeir Kristjansson and Pernilla Olsen Monsdottir.

Sara Mae Norris

Sara Mae (Smith) Norris, 86, of Garrettsville, OH, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her loved ones on August 9, 2026. She was born on November 21, 1939, in Meyersdale, PA, to the late Harry and Sara (Ravenscroft) Smith.

Cleta J. Amedeo

Cleta J. Amedeo, 88, passed away August 10, 2026. Born in Cleveland, she had lived in the Akron/Tallmadge area most of her life.

Carole Sue Clark

Carole S. Clark, 83, passed away August 8, 2026. Born in Mount Vernon, IL, she had lived in Atwater area most of her life.

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 12-18

Mike D — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:56:00 GMT

Hey Folks,

Here we are kicking into mid-August already! I hope the summer has been filled with lots of fun and good live music.

This week I would like to recognize a band with over 55 years of contributions to the local music scene, the incomparable 15-60-75, aka The Numbers Band.

The Numbers Band needs no introduction to most local music fans, as their legendary performances in the Cleveland and Akron area are well known to many.

Led by Bob and Jack Kidney, with the great Terry Hynde on sax, and a rhythm section of Bill Watson on bass and Clint Alguire on drums, The Numbers Band delivers a sound as unique as can be created on this ethereal planet!

They will be playing Jilly's in Akron this coming Saturday evening August 15, 2026. 7-11 p.m.

Stop out and hear this local treasure!

Mike D

STREETSBORO

Aug. 15: BREW & BBQ BASH all day at Streetsboro City Park. Noon - 7 p.m.

Live music includes the alternative rock band End Rock and the Chili Peppers tribute band Hot Red Chili Peppers. Enjoy more than 50 crafters, a line up of BBQ pitmasters competing to be named this year’s BBQ Grand Champion, traditional food trucks, and more than 16 craft beer breweries.

Also appearing will be the St. Helen Unicycle Drill Team and Pure Passions Live Animals and Alpacas. Sponsored by Action Auto Body, Chainsaw Shari will do wood carving demonstrations and display her wood carvings. Kids will gravitate to games, face painting, Yo Big Bounce inflatables and The Foam Zone.

Admission is free but food and drink is not. Save on advance tickets bundles via https://brew-bbq-bash-discount-beer-sample-ticket-bundle-153000-copy.cheddarup.com

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route 14

Aug. 15: Moving in Stereo (tribute to Cars) 9-midnight

KENT

Aug. 15: Dog Days of Summer at Hometown Bank Plaza, corner Main and Water streets. Sponsor: Madonio Animal Trust, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting animal causes such as the Portage APL, Rose’s Rescue, the Portage County Dog Warden, Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, and Family & Community Services' Doggie Bags program. MAT also works with local veterinarians to support the care of less fortunate pets who require emergency services.

Besides providing pets and their people with an entertaining afternoon, Dog Days of Summer is a fundraising festival. Bring your hearts, your pets, and your wallet while you enjoy some of the area’s popular bands:

The DB Band 11 a.m.
Long Time Gone 1:15 p.m. (approx.)
Rio Neon 3 p.m.

Gigi’s Restorante & Market 210 S. Depeyster St.

Aug. 13: Nick Zuber

Nineteen 10 215 South Depeyster St.

July 18 In Like Flinn 5-8 p.m. on the patio if weather permits, inside if it doesn’t

Dan Smith Park Concert series 168 East Erie St.

Aug. 15: Hot Potatoes 6-8 p.m.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street

Aug. 14: The Brown Brothers 6-9 p.m.

Hometown Bank concert series Hometown Bank Plaza, downtown Kent

Aug 13: Van Sailin’ 7-9

Bell Tower Brewing Co. 310 Park Avenue

Aug. 15: Ava Leone 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection.
Aug 15 Mick Rogers and the Red Guitar of Truth 10 a.m.-noon

RAVENNA

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main St.

Aug. 15 It’s About Time Band 7-9 p.m.

AURORA

Orchid House Winery 155 Treat Road

Aug. 18: Diana Chittester

GARRETTSVILLE

Garrettsville Farmers Market 8119 Main Street

Aug 13: Crazy James

FREEDOM

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

Aug. 15: Two Docks Down

ROOTSTOWN

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44

Aug. 16: Sunday Funday concert featuring Ash Taylor on the patio stage from 3-5 p.m. No ticket required.

OPEN MICS/OPEN JAMS

Open mics and jams are an excellent way for aspiring musicians to gauge their progress as stage performers. They also provide a great networking tool for current musicians who may need a temporary or permanent new band member for the projects they are involved in. Here are some of the area’s upcoming events:

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Aug. 16: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Aug. 12: Divine Food & Spirits 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30.

KENT

Aug. 16: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster St., Kent. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m.(330) 678-4976

Aug. 17: Woodsy’s Music 118 E. Main St. Jazz jam session. Host: Chris Coles. 7-9:30 p.m. Open to community members and high school and college students interested in jazz. Chris provides a percussion and bass player.

Aug. 18: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water St., Kent Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

RAVENNA

Aug. 13: Tavs 106 E. Main St. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

Kent council member Turner hopes to return after long illness

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:55:00 GMT

Absent from his duties since March 18, Kent Councilman Robin Turner said he hopes to return to council meetings by the end of the month.

Speaking to The Portager from a rehab facility in Cuyahoga County, Turner said he had suffered a “serious illness” that left him with ongoing physical constraints. He said he hopes to be transferred to a Kent or Ravenna facility soon and to eventually return to his Kent home.

He said he had been feeling unwell since January, but had not monitored his health or managed the regimen needed to maintain his chronic conditions. After he failed to keep several medical appointments in early March, Kent police conducted a welfare check and called for medical assistance.

“I guess I tried to act like I was 25 and didn't have the maladies I do, but it caught up to me. Some people aren’t disciplined enough, and evidently I’m one of those. Hopefully I can learn. I'm paying a real price, one I would rather not have have to pay,” he said.

Born in Chicago, Turner and his family arrived in Kent’s south end neighborhood when he was 4 years old. He attended Kent State University for three years, then began a career in the weights and measurements section of the Portage County Auditor’s Office. He was also employed as a consultant for PARTA’s ride share program and helped keep Kent’s Union Baptist Church clean and in good working order.

Turner was first appointed to council in January 2008 after the death of long-time Council Member Bill Schultz, whom Turner considered a close friend and mentor. Having won the November 2015 Ward 3 council election, he returned to City Council in 2016 and was reelected again in 2019 and 2023.

Around Garrettsville: Help fundraisers for your local churches and theater

Jackie Loreta-Rinearson — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:54:00 GMT

The Knights of Columbus of St. Ambrose Church will host a steak dinner from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 at the St. Ambrose Church’s Hall, 10692 Freedom St., in Garrettsville. Enjoy grilled 10 oz. steak, (or a grilled chicken breast also available), potato, vegetable, salad, dessert and beverage. Cost is $25 per person or $45 per couple (eat in or carry out). For tickets, please make reservations by calling or texting Dave at 234-243-2999.

The Curtains up Theatre is collecting donations for bricks and auditorium chairs, name plates for their large fundraising mission— the new building on Main Street. For more information, forms or prices, visit the Curtains up Theatre’s website, curtainsuptheatre.com.

The Garrettsville Farmer’s Market is coming to the end of the season soon. Be sure to stop down on Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. until Aug. 27 on Main Street.

The third annual Zach Peterson Memorial Scholarship Car, Truck, Bike and Tractor Show is coming from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7 at the Nelson Ledges Race Course, located at 10342 S.R. 305 in Garrettsville. The gates will open at 10:30 a.m. for registration. If you need more information, contact info@zachpetersonmemorial.com.

The proceeds from this event are used for scholarships in Zach's name for students from the James A. Garfield, Windham & Crestwood School Districts who are entering the Automotive Technician Field.

The Garrettsville Oktoberfest will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 in downtown Garrettsville. Watch for more information.

For your information to appear in this column, contact Jackie at rinearson05@frontier.com.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 10-11, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:53:00 GMT

Donna Jean Mattmuller

Donna Jean Mattmuller (née Miller), age 98, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, in Anna Maria Nursing Home, surrounded by the love of her family. Born to Harold and Alice Miller, Donna grew up in a close‑knit family with her brothers Wallace, Russell, and John, each of whom shaped her early life with the same steady kindness she later became known for.

Donna graduated from Aurora High School in 1946 and went on to earn her B.S. in Education from Ohio Northern University in 1950. She devoted 18 years to the Aurora School system as a dedicated staff member, touching countless lives through her quiet strength, steady guidance, and unwavering belief in the value of learning.

She married the love of her life, Richard Mattmuller, and together they shared 62 years of partnership rooted in faith, service, and community. Donna supported Richard in all his endeavors-whether through his work with Aurora, Hope Lutheran Church, the Dahlia Society, or his years as Mayor and Councilman. Their shared commitment helped shape Aurora's growth and spirit for generations.

A lifelong and charter member of Hope Lutheran Church, Donna served in numerous roles over the years, always striving to grow as a Christian servant of God. Her faith was quiet but steadfast, reflected in the way she lived and cared for others.

Donna's dedication to her community was recognized through the Aurora Historical Society Lifetime Service Award in 2012 and the Aurora School Foundation "Friends of the Schools" Award, honored at the local, state, and national levels.

Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She nurtured her children-Ann (Tony, deceased), Karrenbrock, Dave (Dianna, deceased) Mattmuller, Steve (Michele) Mattmuller and Jack (Elaine) Mattmuller-with patience and devotion. She cherished her grandchildren Paula Broderick, Jonathan, Michael (deceased) Mattmuller, Jacqueline Mattmuller, John Matt Mattmuller, and Kate Allen, and delighted in her 11 great‑grandchildren. She is also the dear sibling of her sister Jane.

Donna will be remembered as a quiet, steady presence whose life was defined by service, faith, and love. Her legacy lives on in the generations she raised, the students she guided, and the community she strengthened.

Family and friends may gather for visitation at Hope Lutheran Church, 456 South Chillicothe Rd., Aurora, on Friday, August 14, 2026 from 11 am - 12 pm, immediately followed by a funeral service at 12pm. Interment will immediately follow at Aurora City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hope Lutheran Church at the address above.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.greenfuneralcare.com.

David M. Whipkey

David M. Whipkey passed on August 5, 2026, at the age of 75; born October 25, 1950, David lived in Ravenna, Ohio.

Inger Olsen Salsgiver

Simon Evan Snellenberger

With broken hearts, we announce the passing of Simon Evan Snellenberger, who fell asleep in death on August 4th, 2026, at the age of 48. Simon was a loving father and devoted husband, as well as a cherished son, brother, and uncle. Above all, he was a faithful servant of Jehovah God.

Donald G. Fink Sr.

Donald G. “Don” Fink Sr., 85, a longtime resident of Streetsboro, Ohio, passed away on August 7, 2026. In recent years, Don made his home at Brentwood Healthcare.

Roberta Sue Everson

Roberta Sue Everson, 88, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2026 at the Tamarack Ridge in Kent. Roberta was born on April 9, 1938 in Belington, West Virginia to her late parents Paul and Cleo (Chapman) Lantz.

Around Charlestown: Up close with nature at the Charlestown Summer Festival and Cruise In

Ruth Ann Bartholomew — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:38:00 GMT

Charlestown United Methodist Church invites you to attend Family Vacation Bible School Sunday Aug. 16 at 9:30 a.m. All ages will enjoy this mini VBS experience. The theme is "More Than Enough." You and your child will visit different stations where a story, craft, game, music and service project will reinforce the message that God provides for our needs and calls us to share generously with others. The morning will conclude with a complimentary lunch after which all children may visit our FREE school supply store. There is no cost, however, if you are able, please bring a non-perishable food item to help stock our CUMC Blessings Cupboard. The church is located at 6408 Rock Spring Rd. Ravenna.

If you didn't make it out to the 23rd Annual Charlestown Summer Festival and Cruise In, you missed a fun afternoon. The winner of the Grand Prize Raffle, which included a Blackstone Grill, a $150 Duma Meat gift card and grill accessories was Susan Robenstine.

Several children got to hold Outback Ray's large yellow snake named Sponge Bob. Others made free make it and take it crafts. Free book bags were handed out by Charlestown United Methodist Church. The DJ kept the music playing and gave prizes to winners of hula hoop and trivia contests while Fire Chief Randy Porter was "dunked" several times by lucky throws.

The Cruise In was well attended with 46 entries. The winner of the Best of Show, and $100 courtesy of Iron Ink Tattoos, was Eric Tancak with his 1950 Mercury 8.

Other winners were: Best Original/Restored/ Chet Wiley -1967 Chevy Belair 2 door; Most Unique/Jim Nanassy - 1923 Ford T-Bucket; People's Choice/ Bob Adamson - 1936 Ford Pickup; Best on 2 Wheels/ James Martin 1984 Harley XLS Roadster; Best Car 1900-1965/ Cliff Paugh - 1950 Mercury Coupe; Best Car 1966-present/ Fred Brucker - 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner; Best Truck1900-1965/ Larry Pennell - 1951 Chevy Truck; and Best Truck 1966-Present/ Pat Petit - 2002 Ford Lightning SVT.

The Festival, sponsored by the township Activity Committee in conjunction with the Township Trustees and the Charlestown Volunteer Fire Department, is a family friendly, free and fun event.

If you have any events, news or announcements to share with the community, please contact at ruthannbartholomew@yahoo.com or text me at 330-281-3723.

County roundup: Meet the candidates in Paris, plus news from Edinburg, Franklin and Rootstown

Roger Gordon — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:37:00 GMT

Paris

A “Meet the Candidates Day” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 at the Shearer Community Center at 9355 Newton Falls Rd. The candidates present will be:

Jenny Adams, candidate for Portage County Commissioner
Jeff Clapper, candidate for Ohio House District 72
Mike Roberto, candidate for Ohio Senate District 27

Organized by Paris resident Charles Garrett, the event will include personal introductions, a community discussion and an open Q&A session. Hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments will be available. Bring a dish to share if you like.

The Paris Township Trustees approved a $4,500 contract with Bickel’s Tree Service to remove fallen trees on McClain Road due to recent storms.

Per a request by the Portage County Prosecutor, the township trustees passed a resolution for the purpose of setting regular and special meetings.

“They said we needed to put that in place even though we do a good job of informing people when our meetings are,” township co-chair Dave Kemble said. “This is a resolution saying that we do that.”

The regular trustees meetings are at 6 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Shearer Community Center at 9355 Newton Falls Rd.

The fifth annual Paris Township Fire Department Car Show on July 25 was a rousing success. Little John from the big Chuck and Little John Show was the special guest. Seventy vehicles were judged. Trophies were awarded to the winners. The car show raised $784 for the fire department.

Franklin

Franklin proudly participated again in this year’s City of Kent Memorial Day parade and the Portage Board of Developmental Disabilities Touch-a-Truck event, continuing to celebrate the township’s community spirit and connection with its neighbors.

The Portage County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) is now open. CHaRM facilities provide outlets for materials that cannot go in curbside trash or recycling carts. Some of the acceptable items include appliances, scrap tires, cooking oil, plastic bags, electronics, paper shredding, automotive liquids, batteries and scrap metal. Portage County Recycling is located at 3588 Mogadore Road in Kent. Its phone number is 330-678-8808. Office hours: Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recycling Drop-offs are open 24/7. CHaRM facility hours: Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (first Monday of each month 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding federal holidays). Household hazardous waste: First Monday from 2 to 5 p.m. (excluding federal holidays). Prices (cash or check): TVs & CRT monitors $20, printers $10, tires $0.50 and farm tires $1 depending on size.

In its commitment to enhance community safety in the township, Franklin has recently added cameras to all three township parks for the safety of its residents and to help protect recent improvements made to the parks. The township trustees are applying for a Natureworks grant for a total rehab of the boardwalk at Chase Park.

The pickleball courts are open for use. Franklin Township qualified for the grant that made this new recreational amenity possible for township residents.

The new weather siren is installed and working.

Roadway improvement plans for 2026 include Westview, Woodway, Basswood and Thorndale.

Ravenna Road bridge: The Portage County Engineer has given the township trustees a schedule of 2026 and 2027 estimate for completion. Construction cost: $2,666,665.

Judson Road bridge is open. The deck and the outdated channel cross-bracing were replaced with new structural supports.

Franklin Township maintains the majority of roadways within the boundaries of the township. However, both Portage County and the state of Ohio are responsible for some of the roads within the township. If you have questions or concerns about these roadways, contact the appropriate agency. State of Ohio Maintained Roads – Contact ODOT District 4 at 330-786-3100:

State Route 43
State Route 59
State Route 261

Portage County Maintained Roads – Contact the Portage County Engineer’s office at 330-296-6411:

Brady Lake Road
Dawley Road
Diagonal Road
Ferguson Road
Lake Rockwell Road
Newcomer Road
Overlook Road
Ravenna Road
Redbrush Road
Summit Road

The Franklin cleanup crew has worked tirelessly unloading vehicles and trailers while efficiently filling four large dumpsters to the brim. This year marked the township’s fourth annual spring cleanup. Thanks to the positive response, the cleanup will return next spring.

The final wood chipping of the year will be the first week of October. If there is a storm with high winds that bring down many limbs, there will be chipping. Remember, this is for storm limbs and minor tree pruning.

Residents who are unsure if they need a zoning permit, a full list of fees can be found at franklintownshipohio.org.

The Franklin Township Trustees welcome residents to attend trustees meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month.

Rootstown

The Rootstown Endzone Club will host a community football and cheerleading kickoff to the football season with a picnic from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15 in the community park’s pavilions. Part of the festivities will be an Ed Ward benefit to help the former youth football coach who was injured and his family. Lunch (hot dogs) will be provided by the Endzone Club and there will be raffles and prizes. Donate to the picnic or raffle by calling “Pork Chop” at 330-221-4293.

The four pickleball courts and a full-size basketball court at Rootstown Community Park are near completion. The asphalt has been poured and the poles for the pickleball courts installed.

Next will be the fencing and painting the surfaces of the courts. The courts should be completed by early September. The township’s Joint Economic Development Districts funds will help pay for the project.

Edinburg

The Edinburg Township Trustees passed a resolution to purchase a used, but much newer, ambulance from a township in California. The new ambulance, which has much lower mileage than the current one, should be ready to roll by early September. The current ambulance will likely be auctioned off.

Kids were able to enjoy a bicycle obstacle course on July 26 at Edinburg Township Park. Helmets and other safety accessories were given to the youngsters. There was a really good turnout, and organizers would like to make this an annual event.

Headwaters Trail may continue into Aurora within the next few years

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:35:00 GMT

The Portage Park District’s recent expansion of Headwaters Trail isn’t the end of the line.

Headwaters Trail now connects Garrettsville, Mantua Village and Mantua Township up to Chamberlain Road, where it meets the 2.8-mile Aurora Trail.

Aurora has plans.

The city just completed a feasibility study for Phase 2 of Aurora Trail, which would extend north from 82 to Route 306. And they’re considering a third phase which would run northwest from Route 306 to Treat Road.

Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin characterized Phase 2 as complicated and expensive because it has to cross Route 306, and the hilly topography presents challenges. Installation wouldn’t come until 2028 at the earliest, she said.

Also presenting challenges is Phase 3, which would impact several residential areas along the right of way. That being the case, city leaders may consider alternative route options, Womer Benjamin said.

Aurora Trail runs along the former Norfolk Southern Railroad right-of-way. First Energy owns it, but Aurora enjoys a recreational easement that allows the trail to proceed. Aurora owns the corridor that stretches north of Treat Road to the Bainbridge Township Line, where Solon takes over.

Regardless of planned expansions, a gap between Mennonite and Diagonal roads in Mantua Township still exists. Portage Park District favors connecting the trails along the former Erie Lackawanna Railroad corridor, but that route would involve buying privately held properties. Since two of the property owners don’t want to sell, the trails remain separated.

The Portage Park District currently has no plans to connect the two trail ends but is exploring options, said Jennifer White, a spokeswoman for the district.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 7-9, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:34:00 GMT

Patrick D. Cavanaugh

Patrick D. Cavanaugh, born on January 22, 1933, passed away peacefully at home on August 6, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Donna Jean Mattmuller

Sept. 9 is the deadline to pay your property taxes; bills are in the mail

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:21:00 GMT

Portage County property owners: The county treasurer’s office is mailing out second-half property tax bills, and the deadline to pay is set for Sept. 9.

Taxpayers are advised not to submit their payments until they receive their updated bills or verify the exact amount they owe via the treasurer’s website at portagecounty-oh.gov. Submitting an estimated payment may result in an overpayment, complicating the refund process.

Why the delay? Ohio House Bill 186, passed in March, introduced, among other tax reform and relief measures, a new inflation cap credit that prevents increases in school district taxes from exceeding the inflation rate.

To accommodate the changes, the Ohio Department of Taxation (and Portage County) needed time to calculate and apply the credits to individual tax rolls and to update necessary computer software systems.

New property tax statements should be arriving in Portage County mailboxes in the coming weeks. Property owners with mortgage escrow accounts are not required to take any action as their mortgage services will be managing the payments.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 5-6, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:20:00 GMT

Frank Hornyak

Frank Hornyak, 57, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Frank is survived by his loving wife Kaycee and their two dogs, Riley and Littles; his parents, Mike and Jane Hornyak of Kent; his brother Brian (Jennifer) Hornyak of Largo, FL and their son Drew; lifelong friend Bret Roberts; family in-laws from Indiana and Michigan and many other cousins and dear friends.

We will remember Frank for his fierce spirit, his amazing work ethic, his perseverance in getting the job done and most importantly, his love and loyalty to his many friends and family members.

The family welcomes all communication, sharing your experiences with our loving husband, son, brother and friend.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 10:00-11:00AM at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:00AM on Thursday, at the funeral home.

To Share a Memory, Send a Condolence, Light a Candle or Send Flowers, please visit the Tribute Wall at www.bisslerandsons.com.

Norma Jean Hinkle

Norma Jean Hinkle, 96 of Ravenna, passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at the Heather Knoll Nursing Home in Tallmadge. Norma was born on May 30, 1930 to her late parents Alva B. and Paulien (Whittam) Rice.

Historic St. Peter of the Fields church demolished

Jeremy Brown — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:41:00 GMT

After serving generations of parishioners, St. Peter of the Fields' historic church in Rootstown has been razed.

On the morning of July 2, Helmling Excavating of Kent began dismantling the old St. Peter of the Fields’ Catholic church building at 3487 Old Forge Rd. By the end of the day, the 158-year-old building was transformed into a pile of rubble and wood.

The building hadn’t been used for mass since 2006, when the parish had a new church building constructed adjacent to it. In 2024, St. Peter of the Fields merged with St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mogadore to establish the Saint John Neumann Parish. Regular services are still held at St. Peter of the Fields, as well as at St. Joseph. Father Kevin Bertleff is the administrator for the parish and presides over worship services at both churches.

Bertleff said the decision to have the church razed was due to the extensive cost of having the building restored, although several items were preserved and passed on to congregation members.

“I know there’s a rich history. The building means a lot to people and we’ve been trying to preserve that memory as best as we can, and so we’ve removed some of the stained glass and are preserving that in the current church hall. We’re going to be saving the bell from the bell tower, and we were able to do a little bit of an auction to allow family members to take pews out of the church, and so all of those have been distributed. The crucifix from the main church is currently installed in St. Peter Hall,” Bertleff said. “Everyone has been very pleased with that in terms of recognizing the grief that comes with parting with a building that has been around for that long, but also recognizing that the building isn’t built with mortar and bricks: the building of the church, that’s built of the people.”

The building had been in disrepair for many years due to flooding and water damage, and the congregation was in need of a larger house of worship, so a new church was erected and dedicated on the property in 2006. For a short time after 2006, the original church had been used for various events and celebrations, but was eventually condemned due to safety issues.

Alice Biltz has been attending what was St. Peter of the Fields church with her husband Gerald Biltz since 1975 and was present during the parish's transition to the new church.

“After we moved into the new church, we tried to use it [the original church] periodically. During Lent we would have services there, or during Advent; there were weddings. We had a historic committee and every fall we had some type of show. We had an art show where people brought their art things that were displayed in the historic church. We had people bring in their wedding gowns from their families and they were displayed. We had a quilt show one year, and we also had an antique roadshow; you could bring your antiques in and they talked about them and what they thought they would be worth,” Alice Biltz said. “Several different times, there were storms, electricity went out and water damage in the basement was the first thing. It just got to the point where we could not use the space anymore.”

Gerald Biltz grew up in the area and has attended St. Peter of the Fields church since his youth. He frequented his grandparents' 100-acre farm on Biltz Road in Rootstown, which he and Alice later purchased and still occupy.

He traces his roots back to Michael Biltz and his son George Biltz, who were two of the founding fathers of the church.

St. Peter Catholic Church, as it was originally called, was formed in 1866 by 18 German Catholic families who bought one acre of land for $100. The church was built in 1868 and served as a mission of St. Joseph Church in Randolph until 1898, when a rectory was built and the first pastor, Father John J. Boyle, arrived. The church was later renamed St. Peter of the Fields in 1941 by Father Robert Delmerge.

Shirley Riemenschneider, 92, has been attending St. Peter of the Fields church ever since she was baptized there in 1934, when she was three weeks old. Her father was Rudolph Biltz, the son of George Biltz.

She said the church installed custom stained glass windows that were brought from Germany around 1909 or 1910, and were partially paid for through the sales of garden seed packets by the congregation's youth. She remembers how the windows inside of the church made the interior seem larger than real life.

“When you walked into the entrance of the church, which would be the back of the church, and you looked towards the altar, as you went in, the ones [stained glass windows] you saw first were larger and they graduated smaller. There were three or four on each side, and they gradually got smaller towards the altar of the church, so that when you stood in the back of the church, it gave you the impression that the church was actually longer than it was, kind of an optical illusion,” Riemenschneider said.

The church was built using local timbers and sat on a stone foundation. Shortly after its construction, Boyle decided to have the men of the parish dig a basement below the church for an orchestra. It was a lengthy process that required the use of a slip scraper, a tool that resembles a shovel, pulled by a mule. The basement included a stage and an auditorium.

In the 1940s, during the holiday season, the church held turkey bingo in the basement to raise funds for the parish. A parishioner at the church raised turkeys, of which some were donated for the event.

“He’d bring the live turkeys in crates and they would put them in the stairway of the basement. It was a stone stairway and it was enclosed, and every time somebody would shout out bingo, the turkeys would gobble. Like a chorus, they would gobble, gobble, gobble, not knowing that was likely their fate for Thanksgiving day,” Riemenschneider said.

Riemenschneider remembers one year when the Duffy family won a turkey and took it home for their children to feed and attend to until it was scheduled to be slaughtered prior to Thanksgiving. When that day came, the children refused to let it become dinner, so it became the family’s pet instead.

As with many historic buildings, the former St. Peter of the Fields church had a character that can’t easily be replicated. The new church, however, features a variety of ecclesiastical artwork, a spacious interior and a multitude of windows that create a visual bridge to the outdoors.

“It is a shame that the church has to come down. I do regret it, as many do, but it served its purpose,” Riemenschneider said. “Those founding fathers, the early parishioners, it served them through the First World War, the Second World War, you know, hard times and good times. I loved the stained glass windows in the old church, but in the new church, you look out on that beautiful pastoral setting, and it’s quite calming and spiritual to look out and see the countryside. Hopefully, it will accommodate that parish for many, many years. It was a good thing to have that new church built when we did.”

Church clergy plan to have a memorial at the site where the original St. Peter of the Fields was located, but arrangements haven’t been made at this time.

Documenters: Ravenna Board of Education meeting for July 27, 2026

Noell Wolfgram Evans — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:40:00 GMT

The Ravenna Board of Education met in the Ravenna High School auditorium on July 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. In attendance were Board President Joan Seman, Vice President Pamela Nation Calhoun and members Patricia Dennison, Heather Rainone and Michael Wisniewski. Also attending was Ravenna Superintendent Benjamin Ribelin and Treasurer Kristen Plageman.

Seman called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. and then set up the evening with a roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence and a call for approval of the agenda. With no members of the public stepping forward to speak, the business of the meeting began with Plageman stepping to the podium to provide the five-year financial forecast.

The report started with a look at the groupings for the districts’ revenue and expenses. Forty-seven percent of the funds that come to the district are from taxes, 49% come from the state and just 3% come from other sources. When looking at expenses, 52% consist of salaries, 26% are from benefits, 15% are purchased services and 7% are other sources.

With this background, Plageman offered projections through 2031. Across the next five years, the district is projected to take in (in rounded numbers) $30 million in 2027, $30.4 million in 2028, $30.5 million in 2029 and again in 2030, and $29.2 million in 2031. During that same period, expenses are estimated to be $27.9 million in 2027, $29 million in 2028, $30.4 million in 2029, $31.7 million in 2030, and $33.2 million in 2031.

This means that the district will be operating with a surplus for two years, which will quickly turn into a deficit by 2031.

Plageman also updated the board on recent and pending state legislation that could impact these projects.

“There is an uncertainty at the state level,” Plageman said.

She also reviewed the cash balances for each of the years in the forecast and said “the district will be pretty close to a negative cash balance in 2031.”

With no questions or comments from the board, Ribelin offered the superintendent's report, where he shared that the “custodial staff is on schedule for the building changes.”

Seman next spoke about Maplewood. She said that they are increasing their offerings in welding, fire and EMT classes. She spoke about the popularity of the current welding classes as she said “this year, 70 students applied, but there was only room for 25.”

Next, Plageman took the microphone again to offer up her consent agenda. It consisted of the meeting minutes from the June business meeting and two July special meetings. Also on the agenda were donations. There were several POs to approve payment on and fund request transfers, as well as the establishment of new student club accounts because of the move of 7th and 8th graders to the high school building. These items were approved unanimously and without comment.

The board next took up several resolutions that had to do with the financial forecast, the fiscal officer certificate and appropriations for the coming school year. Each resolution was approved by the full board.

Also approved was a resolution to renew the contract with Full Spectrum Marketing for PR services. Other unanimously approved resolutions covered the student wellness and success plan and service agreements with ESC and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center of Akron.

Marla Boltz won unanimous approval to be a math tutor. William Calhoun’s contract to be an ISR Monitor was approved by the board, with Pamela Nation Calhoun abstaining from the vote.

The board also unanimously approved the renaming of district buildings. Brown Middle School will now be known as Brown Intermediate School and Ravenna High School will be now called Ravenna Junior/Senior High School.

Ribelin asked the board to approve the administrative salary index. He reminded the board that “the other three units were already approved.” This request passed unanimously and without comment.

Ribelin then put forward his consent agenda, which consisted of resignations, retirements, volunteer placements and hirings. This was approved by every board member. The board also approved a number of supplemental sports contracts for the year for coaches, managers and athletic workers.

William Calhoun was offered a contract to be an assistant football coach. It was approved by the board, with Pamela Nation Calhoun abstaining from the vote.

Seman then offered a list of important dates. Aug. 12 will be the Back to School BASH, Aug. 17 is Convocation Day, Aug. 18 is staff professional development, Aug. 19 is staff preparation and Aug. 20 is the first day for students in grades 1-9, while students in grade 10-12 will have their first day on Aug. 21. There will be a professional development day on Aug. 28 and the board will meet again on Aug. 31.

With no further business to conduct, the meeting was adjourned for an executive session at 5:40 p.m.

Documenters: Streetsboro City Council meeting for July 27, 2026

Julie Erickson — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:38:00 GMT

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. It opened with a prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the roll call with all council members present.

Before the regular council meeting, the Finance Committee met to review the city’s midyear financial position. Matt Miller, the city finance director, presented the review.

Key highlights from the city financial review included the following:

Credit card report: The report remains unchanged. The city received an increased credit limit, although it had not requested one.
June year-to-date financial report: The general fund has spent 46% of budgeted expenses and collected 54% of projected revenue.
General fund balance: Although the general fund was slightly lower in June, year-to-date revenue is up $800,000 from the $32 million beginning balance in January.
Personnel and benefits: In June, the city hired two new police officers, negotiated new medical rates and issued a dispatcher bonus.
Income tax revenue: The city collected $1.3 million in income tax revenue in June, its largest source of revenue. Withholding and residential collections are up, while net profits are down.
Payroll and year-end outlook: Payroll remains the city’s largest fund and is positive to budget. The city is also on target to meet its year-end income tax collection goal of $15 million.

Citizen Comments

No members of the public in attendance offered comments. With no citizen comments,

Council Member Michael Lampa asked to speak as a citizen and reported that the Friends of Streetsboro Parks, a 501(c)(3) organization, has decided to dissolve the fund. Remaining funds will be distributed as follows: a donation to the Friends of Pierce Streetsboro Library, a donation to the deer donation fund and the purchase of a bench in honor of Eileen Fitzsimmons, who started the fund. The bench will be placed in Thomas Heritage Park.

New Business

None.

The Finance Committee was adjourned and the regular City Council meeting was called to order.

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with a roll call conducted.

City Council members in attendance:

Ward Members: Marianne Glenn, Anthony Lombardo, Jen Wagner and Justin Ring.
At-Large Members: Steve Michniak, Jon Hannan and Lampa.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the July 13, 2026, public hearing on pools and hot tubs and the July 13, 2026, regular City Council meeting were approved as submitted.

Citizen Comments

Samantha Soloman, a Democratic candidate for state representative in District 35, introduced herself to council. She shared that she is a lawyer from Summit County and has worked with victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual abuse. She also noted her experience working across party lines to help develop legislation aimed at combating human trafficking.

Reports/communications from departments, boards and commissions

Fire Department: Fire Chief Rob Reinholz reported that there had been no fires in the past few weeks. He also noted that EMS responded to a call and performed a successful resuscitation. Tinkers Creek church again hosted Mud Day, and the Fire Department participated by bringing a tanker to help create the mud from a large pile of dirt.

Police Department: Police Chief Tricia Wain reported that two city officers will teach at the attorney general’s law enforcement training symposium. They will address sextortion, a special focus for the Streetsboro Police Department following the death of James Woods, who was a victim of sextortion. Wain also noted that the family will host a run/walk this weekend to raise funds for the foundation in Woods’ honor.

Parks and Recreation: Samantha Edgar reported that the department will break ground next week on the new playground. She also noted that preparations are underway for the Brew & BBQ Bash on Aug. 15.

Economic Development: Patrick O’Malia reported that he recently received a call from the Portage County Board of Commissioners and the state of Ohio asking for the city of Streetsboro to approve a continuance allowing the city to spend down its CDBG allocation for a period not to exceed Dec. 31, 2026. O’Malia then requested that council approve a motion authorizing the continuance and asked for a voice vote. The motion passed by voice vote.

Legislation Introduced

The following legislation passed after council voted to suspend the three-reading rule and declare an emergency:

T-8037: Amended the annual appropriations ordinance to provide additional funds; adopted as Ordinance 26-116.
T-8038: Accepted the amounts and rates and authorized the various tax levies as determined by the Budget Committee; adopted as Ordinance 26-117.
T-8040: Authorized an RFQ for design services for Frost Road improvements and authorized the mayor to solicit design plans; adopted as Ordinance 26-118.
T-8041: Authorized the mayor to enter into contracts without competitive bidding with various vendors for the Gateway Green sidewalk project, with material costs not to exceed $50,000; adopted as Ordinance 26-119.
T-8042: Authorized the mayor to enter into a contract with ODOT for the purchase of salt for the 2026-2027 winter season.

First reading

T8039 to approve a CRA property tax exemption.

Second reading

T-8027 would authorize the mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of Flock cameras. Citizens were invited to speak regarding the proposed purchase. A citizen expressed concerns about the proposed camera purchase based on his understanding of prior council discussions. He stated that he was uncomfortable with cameras monitoring public travel and noted that the cameras were originally marketed as license-plate readers. He also raised concerns that camera technology may now include facial-recognition capabilities and questioned what safeguards are in place to prevent improper searches of the database, citing incidents elsewhere that resulted in officer terminations.

The police chief stated that the city is considering stationary cameras intended to read license plates and related vehicle identifiers, such as bumper stickers. She also clarified that the cameras under consideration do not include facial-recognition capability. Wain further explained that the department thoroughly vets officers during the hiring process and that any officer who misuses collected data through unwarranted searches would be subject to discipline.

Wain then invited Kevin Kane, a representative from Flock Safety, to address specific questions regarding data audits, camera operation and safeguards intended to ensure proper use of the data gathered by the cameras.

A lengthy and heated discussion followed among council members regarding the proposed purchase and installation of Flock cameras. Ring spoke first and stated that he expected to be the only member voting against the measure, even though he believed it would pass.

Ring said Council should review the contract between Flock and the city before voting. He also stated that the city should establish clear policies and strict governance around this before moving forward, including who may access the data, which outside agencies may access the city’s data (his preference is none), who owns the data, whether the default 30-day data retention period should apply, how many searches are conducted and who conducts those searches.

Ring emphasized that complete transparency and strong legislative safeguards are needed in place first to ensure proper governance over the use of the data.

Michniak spoke out next in full support of the installation of the Flock cameras.

“I want to tell my friends out there that you have nothing to fear,” Michniak said. “This is not anything. Nobody cares about where you are going. You now have no expectation of privacy in public anyways; if I want to, I can follow you around all day long and not threaten you. I could drive behind you everywhere, write down your plate and then publish it on Facebook: you’re in public. You buy a license plate, it identifies your vehicle, that’s it. Yeah, Flock can look at damage on a car and this and that and the other, but when you go out in public, you are in public.”

Michniak summarized his remarks by stating the only ones affected by the cameras are criminals, and the data should be shared with all communities in the cause of safety and apprehending criminals. Ring again stated his biggest concern is use of the database and the timeframe for searchable database retention and the use of this camera is a government overreach. Additional council members and the mayor then voiced their support of installation of the Flock cameras.

Second readings continued with the reading of T-8035 to amend chapter 1155 off-street parking and loading requirements and T-8036 to amend a rear-yard definition.

Third reading

None.

Mayor’s report

The mayor expressed condolences to the city of North Royalton following the fatal shooting of its building commissioner, emphasized the importance of protecting city workers and added that measures are now being implemented to protect Streetsboro residents.

Michniak suggested providing training and authorizing select individuals within city departments to be armed. He stated that he would support legislation and council policy to address that issue.

President of council comments

None, except he stated that it was a good conversation around Flock installations.

Council Member comments

Michniak again urged council to consider arming certain city employees. Hannan had nothing further to add, but noted that he would miss the next regular council meeting on Aug. 10. Wagner thanked residents for speaking up at this meeting and acknowledged that community views on the Flock cameras are divided, with some residents strongly opposed and others supportive. She stated that this makes the decision difficult. Glenn agreed that the decision regarding the cameras will be difficult, but emphasized that council must do what is best for the entire community.

The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

Around Ravenna: Get to know your neighbors

Angie Reedy — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:37:00 GMT

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.
Mark your calendars. For more information, call 330-297-7971 or 330-296-4568.

As most of you know, Rev. William Kraynak, pastor of Immaculate Conception, left for a well-deserved retirement on Wednesday, July 1. I-C had a huge retirement party for him and it was well attended. The I-C holds 300 people and I know it was filled to capacity.

It was a wonderful party and all of his family was there, so we got to meet most of them. The Social Committee did a wonderful job of getting this all done.

Father Kraynak was also honored at Catholic Charities Voice of Hope dinner at Les's Ristorante in Warren on May 28. These charities help serve individuals and families across six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown.

While at the party at the I-C Hall, I ran into Rose Mary and Orlando Reyes and they wanted to share information about their family. They have three children, a set of twins, Sean and Erica, and a younger son, Orlando Jr. All three reside in Ohio, Sean in Ravenna, Erica in Tallmadge and Orlando in Kent, and all three are married, Sean to Lori, Erica to Reed and Orlando to Lindsey.

Erica's husband served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, from which he retired. They have two sons, Josh and Sebastian. Josh is a student at the University of Akron, where he will be a junior in the fall. Sebastian is 15 and will be a freshman at Tallmadge High School in September.

Sean works for Walmart. His stepdaughter's children are involved in band, cheerleading and soccer.

Orlando has two daughter, Clara, 14, and Eva, 11. They are both members of both basketball and soccer teams in their community.

Every year on the second Saturday after Thanksgiving, the entire family, including uncles, aunts, cousins and guests gather at the home of their grandparents to make cannoli. Everyone is assigned a job and 120 cannoli are made on that day. The cannoli are given to family and friends every year. This is the fifth generation of Rose Mary's family that is involved in this event.

The tradition started with Rose's grandfather, Pasquale Almerico. He was a baker by trade. He arrived in New York in the early 1900s and taught his children how to make the cannoli, as well as the filling. This tradition has endured for five generations and is expected to continue for many more.

Every year, Paul Moore from City Gardener and Florist has an open house on Memorial Day. He opens his shop for coffee and doughnuts. This year, we could all sit at his lovely circa 1890 home on North Chestnut Street. Everyone had a great time watching the parade. It was a beautiful day all the way around!

Contact Angie Reedy at 330-297-7228 with your Ravenna news.

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 5-11, 2026

Mike D — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:36:00 GMT

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.

I will be playing pedal steel guitar with them on Friday, August 7. The Shootouts will headline Lock 3 in Downtown Akron, OH, with special guest Rye Valley opening the show. Come early for food trucks! Free admission on the lawn, or ticketed reserved seating is available.

On Sunday, August 9, I will join them at the Sugardale Fan Fest in Canton across from the Football Hall of Fame Stadium. This is the last show of the four day festival that is being put on as a thank you to all the fans of pro football. It also coordinates with Lainey Wilson’s show at the stadium that evening at 7:30 p.m.

As always, if you own a venue, and want live performances you’ve booked included in this roundup, please email me at miked@theportager.com. I’ll want to know who you have booked, the date, time and any costs or restrictions. If you know of a venue that provides live music, please contact me and I’ll take it from there.

AURORA

Orchid House Winery 155 Treat Road

August 11: Nick Zuber

MANTUA

Los Venados 11697 Route 44

Aug. 7: 6-9 Boomer Trio

NELSON

Nelson Ledges Quarry Park (see this link for details)

Aug. 7-9: Lazy Day Music Festival (Jam, Tribute, Grateful Dead)

GARRETTSVILLE

Garrettsville Farmers Market 8119 Main Street

Aug 6 - Lisa Diemler

STREETSBORO

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route 14

Aug. 6 Ill Tempered (tribute to Alanis Morrisette) 9 p.m.-midnight

FREEDOM

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

Aug. 8: Bush Nelson

ROOTSTOWN

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44

Aug. 9: Sunday Funday concert featuring Chad Baker on the patio stage from 3-5 p.m. No ticket required.

BRIMFIELD

Aug. 8: Brimfield Block Party. Noon-6 p.m. at Brimfield Town Centre Plaza. Live music on the soccer fields, car cruise-in, food trucks, family-friendly activities and community fun. Hosts: The Villas at Wyles Farm Apartment Homes, Double O Developments and Brimfield Township.

KENT

Gigi’s Restorante & Market 210 S. Depeyster St.

Aug. 6: Julian Kimbrough 6-9 p.m.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street

Aug. 7: Stamper-Starr 6-9 p.m.

Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Avenue

Aug 8: The Dukes of Darrowville

Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection.

Aug 8: Oak Street Band 10 a.m.-noon

RAVENNA

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main Street

Aug. 8: Baker 7-9 p.m.

OPEN MICS/OPEN JAMS

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Aug 5: Divine Food & Spirits 2752 Hudson Drive. Host: Kevin Brosein. 7-9 p.m. Signups start at 6:30.
Aug 9: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

KENT

Aug 5: Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Avenue. Hosts: BC Hudson, Jesse Carter. Open Mic/Jam. 7:30-10 p.m.
Aug. 7: Woodsy’s Music 118 E. Main Street. Host: False Spring. 6:30-8 p.m. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Singer/songwriters, solo performers, small groups/bands welcome. Back line gear provided.
Aug. 9: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster Street. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m.
Aug 11: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water Street. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.

RAVENNA

Aug 6: Tavs 106 E. Main Street. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m. 330-719-3541

STREETSBORO

Aug. 6: Streets Tavern 9107 Route 14. Hosts: Marquee Roberts and the Other Guys. Solos, duets, bands welcome: all genres. 7-11 p.m.

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 3-4, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:34:00 GMT

Mary Catherine Newman

Mary Catherine Wortkoetter Newman of Ravenna, Ohio went to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Mary was born on December 8, 1958 in Bryan, Ohio to Richard and Wilma (McCann) Wortkoetter.

John A. Barnett

John A. Barnett, 91, of Garrettsville, Ohio passed away on July 30th, 2026 at Aurora Manor. He was born in Winslow, PA to the late Harry Barnett and Florence Strawcutter.

Jean Ehresman

Jeanne Ehresman, age 78, passed away on July 30, 2026, at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. She was born on October 9, 1947, in Ravenna, Ohio, to Grace and Robert Ehresman.

Barbara Merritt Pizzi

Barbara Merritt Pizzi, age 79 of Aurora, OH, passed away August 2, 2026. She is survived by her beloved husband, Nicholas G. Pizzi; loving son, Sean Merritt; cherished grandson, Beck Wulf Merritt; caring sister, Peggy Shunk; and many dear friends.

Hiram council member pleads not guilty to assault

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:06:00 GMT

After missing two court dates, Hiram Council Member Chris Perme pleaded not guilty July 29 to two misdemeanor charges of assault.

Portage County Municipal Court Judge MaryBeth Kiah also issued temporary protection orders for the two alleged victims and a personal recognizance bond for Perme.

According to a June 2 court filing with Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna, Perme stands accused of using his index finger to shove one victim, "pushing him off balance and leaving a red mark on his chest.” He allegedly grabbed a second victim “by his shirt and shoulder and pulled him,” then "repeatedly shoved his index finger into [name redacted], pushing him off balance,” the complaint reads.

The Portage County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the incident, lists Mason Joseph Mayoros and Adam Michael Wracher, then employed as Hiram firefighters, as “subjects” on its criminal case report. Hiram Mayor Anne Haynam is also listed.

Hiram Fire Chief Anthony Marotta did not immediately respond to The Portager’s inquiry as to whether Mayoros or Wracher remain associated with the HFD.

According to court records, the alleged incident occurred “on or about the 14th day of May” at or outside Hiram Village hall. The PCSO case report states that the incident occurred May 15. Perme was not charged at the scene, but the PCSO on June 2 filed assault charges against him.

Perme was set to be arraigned in Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna on June 24, but on June 22, his attorney, Robert Leach, advised the municipal court clerk via a fax that, in lieu of a court appearance, his client was entering a plea of not guilty “to any and all charges currently pending against him.”

Leach requested that a pretrial date be scheduled, but on June 24 visiting municipal court Judge Mark Frost ruled that Perme must appear in person for his arraignment. Frost set the arraignment date for June 30, but, citing a June 27 “serious medical event” that resulted in Perme’s hospitalization, Leach requested a continuance, aka postponement, until July 2 “at the earliest.”

The court granted “plus or minus 10 days,” then set the July 29 arraignment date. Future court proceedings will be handled by Portage County Municipal Court Judge Melissa Roubic.

Neither Perme nor Haynam responded directly to The Portager’s request for comment.

In a written statement to The Portager, Leach characterized his client as a respected and committed public servant who looks forward to continuing his role as a village council member.

Referencing the assault charges, Leach wrote that Perme “suffered a series of medical and personal setbacks several months ago, which unfortunately contributed to his current legal situation.”

Without referencing Mayoros or Wracher by name, Leach stated that they “were not harmed or injured in any way, nor did Mr. Perme exhibit any signs of anger, malice or ill intent toward either one of them before or during the unfortunate incident.”

He wrote that Perme’s health “has improved significantly" and that his personal issues have been largely resolved.

No court date has been set.

County roundup: Hiram rezones for Buckingham Place restoration; Freedom, Garrettsville, Mantua, Nelson and Windham news

Roger Gordon — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:43:00 GMT

Garrettsville

Garrettsville’s annual luncheon cruise aboard the Lady Caroline, a Garrettsville Summerfest fundraiser, will be on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The Lady Caroline is a four-deck, 120-foot-long ship featuring more than 15,000 square feet for passengers to enjoy. Three of her decks are fully enclosed and climate controlled. The sky deck features a covered bar and open views for sweeping panoramic sightseeing. Guests will cruise under historic bridges and experience the breathtaking view of downtown Cleveland’s skyline. The cruise will include a chef-created buffet luncheon.

After the cruise, guests will enjoy four hours of gaming at the JACK Cleveland Casino. The bus departs Skylane Bowling at 10 a.m. The bus returns to Skylane at 7:45 p.m. The cost is $140 per person. To reserve a seat and for more details, call or text Aaron at (330) 524-2646.

The annual Garrettsville Peach Social/Car Cruise – the final Car Cruise of the summer – will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Garrettsville Freedom Nelson Joint Fire District at 8035 Elm St. Peach pies, fresh peaches and bowls of peaches and ice cream will be on sale, as well as Domino’s pizza. Live entertainment will be provided by the Dennis Chandler Band. Must be a classic car or truck. Plaques will be awarded. Fifty dash plaques for the first 50 classic vehicle owners who arrive. This is a fundraiser for the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The village’s annual “Shop with a Hero” fundraiser will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the fire station. Included will be a car show. Money raised from donations will go toward the program in which police, fire and ambulance first responders will take children and their families shopping for the holidays.

Village of Hiram

Hiram Village Council has rezoned two properties in the village to allow for college properties to be sold and transitioned out of the institutional district. One of them will be a mixed-use property for a short-term rental in the former observatory, and the other is the historic Buckingham Place, which will be restored and become an agritourism site.

“Essentially, we’ve rezoned our conservation district, which is where farm land is in our zoning code,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “They’re going to be developing a little farm stand and an interactive farm experience over time. They’re restoring the old house, which we’re super excited about.”

The fireworks display originally scheduled for July 3 but cancelled due to inclement weather has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 7, which is Labor Day. The fireworks display will be held at the Hiram College athletic fields and will start at approximately 9 p.m. It will be a festival atmosphere with food trucks and live music. All are welcome.

Hiram Township

The Hiram Township Trustees passed a resolution, per request by the state of Ohio, that resulted in the development of a cybersecurity policy.

A brand-new flagpole and American flag have been installed outside the Township Hall at 6352 state Route 82.

Village of Mantua

he Mantua-Shalersville Area Chamber of Commerce will have a free picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, on the green space next to R44 Deli & Meats in the village of Mantua. Games and dunking booth: dunk a local celebrity! $10 for three throws, $25 for 10 throws, $50 for five minutes of unlimited throwing and $100 for a guaranteed dunk. Donations are welcome. The chamber sponsors three $1,000 scholarships to local students to continue their postsecondary education. All proceeds from this event will go toward the scholarship fund. The chamber hopes the fund itself can generate an additional scholarship or make these renewable.

A Mantua Village planning meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the R44 event space at 10675 Main St. The village is putting together a comprehensive plan to help guide it through the year 2050. Now is the time for residents to let officials know what they think is important and on which services or infrastructure tax dollars should be spent. All ideas are welcome and appreciated as the Portage County Regional Planning Commission helps guide the village through this process.

The next two Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, in the Martin S. Hura Lodge at Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St. and at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at Jake’s Eats at 4680 E. Prospect St. (upper room). Find out what exciting projects the DMRC will be tackling next. Input is needed. All are welcome.

Stop by the Portage County District Library’s Bookmobile at Buchert Park from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Aug. 5, Aug. 12, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. The Bookmobile is a traveling library, bringing the joy of reading and more right to neighborhoods. Best of all, it’s completely free.

The Rotary Club is the place for residents who want to help improve the Mantua community. The Rotary Club sponsors Safety Town at Crestwood School, among other philanthropic activities.

The meetings are open to everyone. The club meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first three Thursdays of each month at the R44 Coffee event space at 10675 Main St. The next three meetings are on Aug. 6, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20.

Grab a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area drink, enjoy the music and join in at a Farmers & Makers Market at 4 p.m. on both Friday, Aug. 14, and Aug. 28, at the Granary Building at 4690 E. Prospect St. There will be food, sweets, jellies and jams, honey, syrup, plants, goodies and more. Support the community and enjoy the summer harvest items.

Crestwood School Rally Night will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. Get ready to go back to school with a fun evening of children’s activities, concessions, a 50/50 raffle, vendors and music. Bring extra school supplies to contribute to the supply drive. For more information or to participate, contact Kim Krueger at kkrueger@crestwoodschools.com.

Free grilled brats and corn, a bounce house, corn hole and more activities for kids and kids-at-heart: the Community Corn & Brat Roast will be held at the Christ Lutheran Church, 10827 Main St., Mantua Village from 5-8 p.m. Aug 15.

The following events will be held in the Martin S. Hura Lodge at Buchert Park at 4810 E. High St. through Aug. 11 and at the Crestwood Central Offices at 10880 John Edward Dr. beginning Aug. 12:

Stay Active in Life (SAIL), Wednesdays, Aug. 5, Aug. 12, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26, 11 a.m. – A gentle exercise class to get the blood flowing.
The Crestwood Community Center’s (CCC) Lunch on Your Own/Bingo, Wednesday, Aug. 5, noon – Last meeting at the lodge. Bring a brown bag lunch or a dish to share and enjoy time with friends. Join in at 1 p.m. for just bingo.
Lunch and Education with the CCC, Wednesday, Aug. 12, noon – Lunch provided by Evan Webster from Anna Maria. At 1 p.m., the Ohio Center for Hope will talk about “Forgetfulness: What Is Normal?”
Join the CCC at noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, for a field trip to Boulder Crossing for a free BBQ lunch provided by Boulder Crossing. Meet at the Crestwood Central Offices. RSVP to crestwoodcommunitycenter@gmail.com so there is enough lunch.
CCC Lunch and Craft, Wednesday, Aug. 26, noon – Bring a brown bag lunch or a dish to share and enjoy time with friends. Join in at 1 p.m. for a craft: diamond dot butterfly ($4 to cover cost of supplies).

Mantua Township

The next fundraising dinner for the Mantua Restoration Society will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, at the Mantua Center School Gym at 11741 Mantua Center Rd. in Mantua Township.

Dine-in or carry-out. No charge, but donations accepted. Please consider giving what a comparable meal at a restaurant plus tip would cost. A variety of entrées provided, including one supplied each month from Main Street on the River. Several salads and a variety of desserts, including homemade pies. All food is home-cooked and donated by the MaRSI members: soups to casseroles to cornbread to salads and desserts. Light piano music provided by Steve Stork. Note: this is not a free community meal, but rather a fundraiser for the society, which helps provide funds for the restoration and upkeep of Mantua Center’s historic buildings and sites. For more information, contact Susan Pollard at (330) 586-8337.

Village of Windham

The Windham Police Department will host its annual Family Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the station at 9015 Maple Grove Rd. in the village of Windham with food, a dunk tank, a bounce house, face painting, games and emergency vehicles for the kids.

The Windham Historical Society will have a dedication ceremony for the brand new, free-standing clock on a pedestal recently installed on North Main Street from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, on the Windham Green. The historical society received a grant that was used to purchase the clock.

Windham Township

The freestanding columbarium for the Windham Township Cemetery should be installed by Sept. 1.

Freedom

The Hewins Road resurfacing project in Freedom is tentatively scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The chip and seal projects will begin later in the month.

The Freedom Community Park Boosters will host their car show and fall festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The August township trustees meeting was rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Nelson

The Nelson Township Trustees passed a resolution in June to extend the moratorium on AI data centers and digital mining centers another six months through Dec. 3.

Been There, Done That: The garden is looking good

Laura Nethken — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:42:00 GMT

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.

Dave and I supplemented our little garden spot by putting in fake grass carpet over the pea gravel that was constantly riddled with weeds. That looked awful. Now it's pretty and green. Of course, we bought the carpet in small batches for peanuts at yard sales. We also added a little portable fire pit. Dave had been wanting one for a few years now. A local store had them for about a hundred dollars. A decent enough price but I wasn't ready to pull the trigger. Good thing, too, because we found one in good condition for five bucks at a yard sale. Cool, we both win.

Of course, it would have melted our beautiful green carpet. It cost $52 for brick pavers to set our $5 fire box on. And we can't have too big of a fire because the plants in the garden boxes don't seem to care for it. It's like I could literally hear them screaming from the smoke. OK, we keep it small and make sure it's continuous flamage. No smoke.

We planted a little early this year, about mid-May, and all the plants seem to be thriving. Since we learned to rotate our crops, we've been having banner years. I made a list of just what we planted in each garden box back to the beginning in 2021. Easy to do since I take photos of the garden probably weekly every year. It's kind of to convince myself they are growing. They were this little, now they're this big, and now look what we've picked.

So what I learned from my annual pix is that for the first four years, we had things in the same boxes. Cukes did good here last year, do it again. Nope, bad idea. Different plants take different nutrients from the soil. We add some liquid fertilizer about every three weeks and a little potash. I thought it was pronounced Po-tash and was some kind of obscure vitamin for plants. Turns out it's pot-ash and I can scoop some out of Dave's little fire box. A good friend pointed that out to me and then laughed and laughed.

The beans are the first to produce this year. Shocker. Beans are the easiest thing in the world to grow. Now I know why we grew bean plants in third grade in 1973. Put a bean seed in a Styrofoam cup of dirt and in a week, you've got a bean plant. I put in seven rows of roughly 15-20 seeds per and we're picking every other day now. I cooked up 3 pounds of beans with my restaurant copycat recipe and it's time to pick again.

We stocked up on pint jars from yard sales so far this summer in anticipation of a bumper crop of tomatoes. We have a dozen SuperBush tomato plants, along with four Cherokee Purple, which supposedly grow tomatoes that weigh 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound each and have a purplish color inside and out. Bring it on.

We had such a plentiful batch of cucumbers last year that I thought we should learn how to make pickles this year. We bought pickling cucumber plants, but they didn't seem to do well at first. We lost three of the nine right off the bat. So, we bought nine more plants, but they're not specifically "picklers." If we pick them young enough, though, they're supposed to be OK. Time will tell on that. Now, if I could just get the chipmunks to let things ripen before they pick.

Portage County obituaries for July 31-Aug. 2, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:41:00 GMT

Vivian M. Riddle

Vivian M Riddle, 82, of Ravenna, Ohio, passed away on July 25, 2026. Born November 12, 1943, in Robindale, Pennsylvania, Vivian was the daughter of James and Edith (Boyle) Heffelfinger.

Mary Eva Krueger

Born in Gassaway W VA to Goff and Eva (Brown) Frame, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home. She was married on February 11, 1956 to the love of her life Keith Paul Krueger.

John T. "Tim" Kuk

John Timothy "Tim" Kuk, 73 of Streetsboro, passed away Wednesday July 29. 2026 at the Cleveland Clinic in Twinsburg, Ohio. On September 26, 1952, Tim was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the late John J. and Antonia K. (Meznarsic) Kuk.

Kay Eileen Sonneborn

Kay E. Sonneborn, 83, passed away July 30, 2026. Born in Akron, she lived most of her life in Tallmadge.

Life Discovery curriculum a win for local schools

Wendy DiAlesandro — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:29:00 GMT

A year after launching Life Discovery, most area school districts that signed on are calling it a good deal.

The curriculum was developed by Cleveland-area entrepreneur Fred Ode’s Education Revolution Association. As a former public school math and business teacher, Ode told The Portager he became “disillusioned” with the whole educational system.

Life Discovery focuses on emotional intelligence and self-discovery while exposing students to a wide variety of guests and life skills. Similar assessments and curricula have been available for decades, but Ode said ERA’s ultimately multi-year program will turn out teenagers who will have a better idea as to what they want to do with their lives.

He approached Summit County Educational Service Center Superintendent Joseph Iacano, who agreed to give the program a try as a year-long elective. It didn’t hurt that ERA offered to fully fund all program materials and to cover the teachers’ salaries for however many sections of Life Discovery they might teach.

When Iacano and ERA reps pitched the program last year to officials in Portage and Summit County, superintendents at James A. Garfield, Rootstown, Southeast and Waterloo high school schools in Portage County and at Manchester and Woodridge high schools in Summit County signed on.

The verdicts?

Rootstown

Rootstown High School offered Life Discovery to juniors and seniors last year and plans to offer the same curriculum for the 2026-27 school year. The district’s relationship with ERA is a win-win that provides students with an elective the district and its taxpayers don’t have to fund, district Superintendent Andrew Hawkins said.

Students who signed for the Life Discovery elective focused on interviewing skills and met with people from all walks of life, he said. Meeting business owners and people who had followed nontraditional paths or who had taken advantage of chance opportunities taught them that there are multiple ways to achieve success, however success may be measured.

“I think they enjoyed the class, the way it was presented and the fact that they were learning something a little different and actually went true to the name. Life skills was what they were taught and they had a lot of community involved, speakers coming in and a lot of input, so I think they enjoyed that piece of it,” Hawkins said.

To fine-tune the curriculum, Rootstown's Life Discovery teachers collaborated with representatives from other area schools that were offering the program and with ERA staff throughout the previous school year. They’ll meet again before the coming academic year begins. Teacher and student feedback will drive any curriculum changes, he said.

James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield Local Schools Superintendent Ted Lysiak also characterized Life Discovery as a popular class that will return in August.

“Students consistently identified the hands-on learning opportunities and interactions with BCI staff as highlights of the experience. Several commented that they enjoyed learning how fingerprints and ballistic evidence are analyzed, gaining a better understanding of the forensic process and seeing how science is applied in real-world careers,” James A. Garfield High School Principal Kathleen Kisabeth said.

Though ERA conceived of Life Discovery as a year-long course, the district is opting to offer it this year as a semester elective. The shift will allow more students to sign up, Kisabeth said.

Woodridge

Woodridge High School students will continue to see Life Discovery as a full-year elective, district Superintendent N’ecole Ast said.

“The program gave students another opportunity to explore their strengths, interests, future pathways and how what they are learning in school connects to what they may want to do beyond high school,” she said.

It’s hard for kids to speak with adults, especially in formal settings, but Life Discovery gave them the tools and confidence to do it, Woodridge High School Principal Albert DiTommaso said.

DiTommaso himself sat for an interview with a Life Discovery student who was new to the district and recalled being impressed at how well-prepared the student was.

“The only parts, at least as far as I could tell, that seemed ad-libbed were the follow-up questions. And, to be fair, I’m certain they worked on that aspect of interviewing, too,” he said.

All in all, DiTommaso termed Life Discovery a positive experience for WHS students, some of whom told him “it was stuff we can use” or “we learned how to be more confident.”

Bowing out

Two Portage County school districts, though, won’t be renewing their contracts with ERA.

Waterloo

Waterloo High School Principal Tyler Vallinger said the district’s decision to add sixth graders to Waterloo JHS triggered a “reworking” of teacher schedules and assigned courses. The Life Discovery elective, though popular with juniors and seniors, just wouldn’t fit, he said.

Southeast

Also exiting stage left is Southeast Local Schools. District Superintendent Robert Dunn said the decision to sever the district’s relationship with ERA, at least for the time being, was twofold.

First, even though ERA funded the two teachers’ salaries for the sections they taught, that meant those teachers were unavailable to teach other courses. District budgetary constraints forced the district’s hand, so the teachers were reassigned to other classes, he said.

Also, Southeast already offers freshman and senior seminars that mirror at least some of the Life Discovery content. ERA, though, would not allow the district to embed its content into the seminars.

“We did talk to the coordinators, to see if they would consider that, and they just weren’t going to fund that,” Dunn said. “It had to be a standalone class, and we didn’t have room, particularly next year, for a standalone class.”

Southeast High School offered two sections of the year-long curriculum to juniors and seniors last year, attracting about 50 students.

Should district finances recover to the point that renewing Southeast’s relationship with ERA becomes possible, Dunn said he would consider offering Life Discovery again.

Summit County ESC

Despite losing two school districts, Iacano calls the Life Discovery curriculum and rollout a success.

“We have been incredibly pleased with the collaboration between Summit ESC, the team at ERA and our participating districts,” he said. “The fact that most of our original schools are returning, combined with the anticipated addition of new districts, really speaks to the success of this pilot year. We truly believe the Life Discovery program is beneficial for both students and schools, and Summit ESC is proud to help facilitate it.”

ERA

Acknowledging that a year-long elective did not work for some school districts, ERA has restructured the course to include a semester-long format, Executive Director Tim O’Shei said.

ERA plans to develop multiple versions of Life Discovery, tighten the curriculum to eliminate redundancies teachers and students identified, provide additional tools for teachers to access and add instructional strategies teachers may use.

The nonprofit expects 14 districts to sign on this year, 10 of them in Ohio, he said. In Summit County, Coventry High School will join Woodridge and Manchester in offering Life Discovery as a 2026-27 elective. Manchester Local Schools did not respond to The Portager’s request for comment.

ERA did not provide The Portager with a comprehensive list of districts by press time.

Around Brimfield: Good friends make you happier and healthier

Shirley Mars — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:28:00 GMT

“A good friend is a connection to life- a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.” -Lois Wyse, author

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.

Over 85 years ago, Harvard University began a study, which is now the world’s longest-running research on happiness. The Harvard Study of Adult Development has scientifically proven that good relationships keep us happier and healthier. A few takeaways include the fact that friendship extends your lifespan. An analysis of 308,000 people found that strong social relationships boost survival by 50% and are a bigger health benefit than exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, or even quitting smoking. According to this statistic, my friend could easily live well past 100.

It was also scientifically proven that friends protect your brain as you age. “People in happy relationships in their eighties reported that their moods remained stable even on days when they experienced more physical pain. Their friendships acted as an emotional buffer.”

Another takeaway, “Your brain at eighty depends, in part, on the friendships you build today. But friendship doesn’t just protect your future self— it makes your present life dramatically better.” My friend is living proof of this fact. She makes my days brighter, and during difficult times, our connection has been a balm to stress and anxiety. It is a scientifically backed fact that good friends are vital to our overall well-being, and the secret to making and keeping friends is to BE a friend.

Brimfield festivals

Aug. 8, 12-6 p.m. — Brimfield Block Party and Car Cruise-in at Brimfield Town Centre Plaza. Sponsored by The Villas at Wyles Farm Apartment Homes, Wing Warehouse, and Double O Developments, LLC. The festivities include the opening of Wing Warehouse, car cruise-in, food trucks, live music and fun for the entire family.

Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — The Fast and Furriest Car Show held at Field High School. Sponsored by the Brimfield Police Department to benefit the K9 program, the event will feature K9 Donkey, food from Joe’s BBQ and Honey Girl Donuts, trophies, raffles, music and more.

Aug. 29, 6-11 p.m. — First ever Patio Party at The Event on Sunnybrook— Sponsored by The Big Red Community Foundation to benefit football in the Falcon community, the evening will feature live music by Tony Rio, cornhole tournament, fun and games, cards, food trucks, cash bar and more. Tickets are $30 per person, and the event is for ages 21 and over.

Tickets available at https://www.zeffy.com/.../patio-party-end-of-summer-bash

Brimfield Township trustee meetings

Held at Town Hall. All meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the township website at www.brimfieldohio.gov.

August 3, 7 p.m.
August 17, 7 p.m.

At the July 27 special trustee meeting, Trustees, Nic Coia, Sue Fields, and Kevin Scott unanimously passed a resolution to put a 1.95 mill fire levy on the November ballot.

Brimfield Township Zoning Commission meeting

August 13, 6:30 p.m. - The Zoning Commission will meet at Brimfield Town Hall for a Public Hearing. The meeting is regarding a proposed amendment to the Zoning Map. The proposed amendment is to parcel number 04-014-00-00-004-000 (lot west of 1215 Howe Road). The property is owned by Kat Real Estate LLC and is currently zoned R-2. The applicant, Gregory Hards, is proposing to rezone the property to I-C. The agenda and supplemental documentation for this hearing is available at https://www.brimfieldohio.gov/.../board.../zoning-commission. Please contact Kayla Nealon at (330) 548-1865 or knealon@brimfieldohio.gov with questions, or to submit comments to be read into the record. Please be advised that comments are disabled on legal advertisements for all provided testimony to be stated in front of the board and transcribed during the hearing.

Brimfield Lion’s Club

Aug. 8, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Soft plastics collection drop-off at Brimfield Methodist Church

Young At Heart Club

Aug. 10, 10 a.m. - Breakfast at Mike’s Place

Aug. 14, 4 p.m. – Corn Roast at Community Center – Cost is $5

Aug. 24, 10 a.m. – Breakfast at Mike’s Place

Portage County Recycle Center, 3588 Mogadore Rd, Brimfield – 330-678-8808

Aug. 3, 2-5 p.m. – Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Brimfield Branch Library

Aug. 3, 5-6:45 p.m. - Murder Mystery - A paleontological murder mystery dinner party for teens (ages 13+). Participants enjoy snacks, drinks, and a fun, interactive mystery to solve. Registration required; limit of 10.
Aug. 4, 5:30–6:45 p.m. - Your Vote, Your Voice - An educational session for adults and seniors covering the latest updates to Ohio’s voting laws.
Aug.5, 1–2 p.m. - A Girl with Scales Reptile Show - An interactive, educational reptile experience for all ages. Children and families can safely discover the wonders of reptiles. Registration required; limit of 30.
Aug. 7, 5–5:45 p.m. - Trivia Night! - A trivia showdown for adults and seniors. Participants can join solo or as a team to test their knowledge in a fun, competitive environment.
Aug. 8, 10:30–11 a.m. - Summer Storytime - For children 5 and under, featuring stories, music, songs and activities.
Aug. 11, 1–1:30 p.m. - Back-to-School Notebooks - Creative arts and crafts session for ages 6+, decorate a notebook for the new school year. Registration required; limit of 12.
Aug. 11, 5:30–6:45pm - Brimfield Book Club - For adults and seniors.
Aug. 12, 10:30–11 a.m. - Baby & Me Storytime - For babies (under 36 months) and caregivers.
Aug. 12, 1–3 p.m. - Learn to Crochet! For adults and seniors. All materials provided. Registration required; limit 8.
Aug. 13, 4:45–5:45 p.m. - Bingo! For adults and seniors, with prizes and friendly competition.
Aug. 14, 10:30–11 a.m. - Summer Storytime - For children 5 and under, featuring stories, music, songs, and activities.
Aug. 15, 2– 4 p.m. - Learn to Paint Miniatures - Arts and crafts workshop for adults to learn or improve miniature figure painting skills.
Aug. 17, 5–6:45 p.m. - Movie Night: "The Good Dinosaur" - A family-friendly movie night to celebrate the end of summer. Registration required; limit of 20.
Aug. 18, 5:30–6:45 p.m. - Genealogy with Roger Marble - For adults and seniors on genealogy techniques and tracing family roots.
Aug. 20, 1–3 p.m. - Puzzle Club - Social event for adults and seniors to work on challenging jigsaw puzzles together.
Aug. 22, 10:30–11 a.m. - Summer Storytime - For children 5 and under, featuring stories, music, songs and activities.
Aug. 22, 2–3 p.m. - Sweet Treat Saturday - Cooking workshop for tweens and teens (ages 9+), teaching how to make drinks, desserts, and treats. Registration required; limit of 6. Note: Some recipes may contain allergens.
Aug. 25, 4–6:45 p.m. - Dungeons and Dragons with Dave - An introduction and play session for adults to explore Dungeons & Dragons. Registration required; limit of 8.
Aug. 27, 28,29, All day - Craft Swap - Three-day event for adults and seniors to exchange craft materials and discover new hobbies.
Aug. 28, 10:30–11 a.m. - Summer Storytime - For children 5 and under, featuring stories, music, songs and activities.
Aug. 29, 2–4 p.m. - Reading Trophy Case - A DIY workshop for adults and seniors to build and decorate a mini bookshelf. Registration required.

For more details or to register, visit events.portagelibrary.org/events or contact the Brimfield Branch directly.

It is good to see Plato’s Closet now open, and the Brimfield Plaza is beautifully renovated and filling up with businesses.

Final thought: “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” -Marcus Tullius Cicer

Until next time. Got news? Share it by contacting Shirley Mars at 330-673-0241 or at mars@ohiomars.com

The Setlist: Portage County live music for July 31-Aug. 4, 2026

Mike D — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:19:00 GMT

Hey Folks,

Summer is flying by as we enter the last week of July. There is lots of great music coming up this week, and I hope you can get out and enjoy what our local scene has to offer.

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.

Check out their website - https://backalleyrelics.com/

Also, if you are searching for something going on in Kent on Saturday night, The Rare Birds will continue their first Saturday of the month slot at the Bell Tower Brewery on Aug. 1 from 7-9 p.m. The Rare Birds are led by vocalist Rod Buecher, with Bill Poston on percussion and Ari Raj Ghahremani on fiddle. It’s a fun band with great vocals and a laid back vibe.

As always, if you own a venue and want live performances you’ve booked included in this roundup, please email me at miked@theportager.com. I’ll need to know who you have booked, the date, time and any costs or restrictions. If you know of a venue that provides live music, please contact me and I’ll take it from there.

Stay safe, enjoy the warm weather, and see you next week.

Mike D

Aurora

Orchid House Winery 155 Treat Road

Aug. 4: Dolinar Spahija

Streetsboro

Streets Tavern 9107 Route 14

July 31: Darryl’s Road Crew 8-11 p.m.

Wild Eagle Steak & Saloon 9470 Route

Aug. 1: Rodgers & Co. (Tribute to Bad Company) 9-midnight

Freedom

Time Out Sports Bar & Grill 7160 Route 303

Aug. 1: The Breakups (Brittany Myers Run)

Rootstown

Dusty Armadillo 3147 Route 44
Sunday Funday concerts 3-5 p.m. on the patio stage. No ticket required.

Aug. 2: Emily Raff

Kent

BBQ & Blues benefit concert in parking lot of Kent United Church of Christ, 1400 E. Main St.

Aug. 2: The Back Alley Relics 5-8 p.m.

Proceeds benefit the Nancy and Bruce Hansford NAACP scholarship fund. Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 children 5 and over. Family packs $50. Kids under 5: free. Call 330-673-9534 to donate or reserve tickets. The event will be moved to the UCC’s fellowship hall if it rains.

Water Street Tavern 132 South Water Street (See ad in The Portager. Thanks for supporting live music, Mike!)

July 31: Ringer

The Kent Stage 175 E. Main Street Only purchase tickets through kentstage.org or at Box Office on West Main Street. Alternative ticket vendors may be overpriced and/or invalid.

Aug. 1: Over the Rhine 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m.

Venice Cafe 163 Franklin Ave.

Aug 1: Xtra Crispy 8 p.m.

Kent Free Library 312 E. Main Street

Aug. 2: Peter Fletcher (classical guitarist) 2-3 p.m.

Bell Tower Brewing Co. 310 Park Avenue

Aug 1: Rod and the Rare Birds 7-9 p.m.

Haymaker Farmers’ Market on Franklin Ave, just north of the Summit Street intersection.

Aug. 1 Galgozy & Ingersoll 10 a.m.-noon

Ravenna

TAVS Bar & Grill 106 E. Main St.

Aug. 1 Mike Smith 7-10 p.m.

OPEN MICS/OPEN JAMS

Kent

Aug. 2: EuroGyro 107 S. Depeyster St. Host: Nick Fleming. 8-11 p.m.
Aug. 4: Kent Lanes: The 11th Frame 1524 S. Water St. Host: Jesse Carter. 7-9 p.m.
Aug. 4: North Water St. Brewing Co. 101 E. Crain Ave. Host: Mick Rogers. 6:30-9 p.m. Signups start at 6 p.m.

Cuyahoga Falls

Aug. 2: Bailey Road Tavern 2920 Bailey Road. Acoustic open mic. All skill levels welcome. Host: Wendy Darling. 7-10 p.m.

Twinsburg

Aug. 4: Sassy’s Bar & Grille 10755 Ravenna Rd., Ste. 7. Host: Billy Capuana. Open Jam 8-11 p.m.

Rooted Ramblings: Plants get sick, too – behold the plant disease triangle

Master Gardener Volunteers — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:18:00 GMT

Written by Elaine Harlin, Portage County 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!

The plant disease triangle was developed in 1960 by botanist Russell B. Stevens. It is a simple tool used to understand how plants get sick. The idea is that plant sickness needs three equal parts to happen:

Host: Susceptible plant

Pathogen: Fungi, phytoplasma, bacteria, virus

Environment: Air and soil temperatures, rainfall, humidity, soil moisture

Think of it like a fire triangle. A fire needs oxygen, heat, and fuel to burn. If you take one part away, the fire goes out. In the same way, if you change one part of the plant disease triangle, the plant will stay healthy!

I have used the disease triangle to help me understand what is happening with a sick plant to apply the right treatment so one of the three conditions of the disease triangle is eliminated. This means either kill the pathogen, correct the environment, or replace the host plant with a disease resistant plant variety.

I had a New England aster that was growing beautifully in my garden. It had grown to bushel size by August with blooms appearing in late July. We had a very humid and hot July, and I was watering the plant every night when it was cooler. By the second week of September the aster was half brown, almost dead! (See before and after pictures)

Using the disease triangle, I found my New England aster is susceptible to various fungi such as powdery mildew, and rust. They are also susceptible to various insects such as thrips and aphids which carry viruses that infect plants. I cut a sample stem from the aster and looked at it closely. I found rust, powdery mildew, thrips at various stages of development (from egg, larva, pupa and adult), and aphids. My poor aster was a hot mess!

My environment contributed to the fungi due to watering at night and having limited air circulation due to the aster being crowded by other plants. Out of my control but part of the environment, was the extreme heat and high humidity.

The next step was to determine how to manage the pathogen, change the environment, and/or find disease resistant plant varieties. Once you have determined what is affecting your plant, search the internet for management solutions such as, “rust fungus treatment on flowers at Ohio.edu.org” (See link below). Be sure to look for natural solutions for managing plant diseases whenever possible, as this will help to protect beneficial insects in your gardens.

In my case, the aster was too overwhelmed by thrips, aphids, and fungi to manage effectively. I decided to gently remove the entire plant wrapped in newspaper, then to a trash bag for trash removal day. Please note, you should NOT compost diseased plant material as the fungi, bacteria or virus can infect your compost.

Final tips: Know the botanical name of your plant, learn what your plant is susceptible to, and scout your garden often to find potential threats early on. Happy gardening!

More information:

Rust in the flower garden
Plants Get Sick Too!
Disease Triangle: Fundamental Concept for Disease Management

Portage County obituaries for July 29-30, 2026

Staff Report — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:17:00 GMT

Gloria J. Yeager

Gloria J. Yeager 80 of Streetsboro passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Grande Village Manor in Twinsburg, Ohio. Born on February 7, 1946, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Gloria was the daughter of John and Mary Hedwig (Soha) Lakus.

Gloria retired from the City of Streetsboro, where she worked with the Planning Commission and Civil Service screening. She also enjoyed careers as an Avon sales representative, Community Survey representative, and Welcome Wagon representative.

She is survived by her loving husband, James Allen Yeager; her son, Eric (Rowena) Yeager; her granddaughters, Mahlaina (Dillon) Wheaton and Mia Yeager; and her great-granddaughter, Emilia Wheaton.

Gloria loved spending time with her family, her two dogs and gardening. She had a passion for crafting and participating in craft shows, and she continued to enjoy creating jewelry for others until her final days.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Gloria's life for friends and family will be held at a later date.

Condolences and memories of Gloria may be shared at www.sscfuneralhomes.com.

Rebecca Anne Sferra

Rebecca “Becky” Anne Sferra, age 67 of Ravenna, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2026, surrounded by her family in her home. She was born May 29, 1959, in Boulder, Colorado, to parents Douglas and Anne (Meyers) Rice.

Kathryn Kristine Drnjevich

Kathryn “Kathy” Drnjevich, was welcomed into eternal life on July 27, 2026. Kathy, born October 28, 1951, to George and Kathryn Gribik of Ford City, Pennsylvania, was the fourth and final blessing to her mom and dad.

Robert Lee Hedrick

Robert "Bob" Hedrick passed away on July 26, 2026 surrounded by his family after a short battle with cancer. Bob was born on June 20, 1946, in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, to Eugene and Dorothy Hedrick.

Kathy Jo Deitch

Kathy Jo Deitch, 57, of Kent, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Cleveland Clinic Justin T. Rogers Hospice Care Center. She was born in Cleveland, OH on December 23, 1968 and was a 1987 graduate of Streetsboro High School. Kathy went on to earn an associate degree from Boheckers College and was employed as a typist & reviewer.

Ivan T. Vanscoy

Ivan T. Vanscoy, 89 of Streetsboro, Ohio passed away July 25, 2026. He was born February 14, 1937 in Elkins West Virgina to the late Ray and Eleanor Vanscoy.

Robert E. Miller

Robert E. Miller, age 95, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026. Robert proudly served his country in the United States Navy, and spent most of his working life in construction.

Ravenna will soon consider public comment on new wards

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:33:00 GMT

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.

Council’s Planning Committee will announce several public meetings during its Aug. 10 session. The idea is to listen to community members, while recognizing that the new wards must be fairly equal in population and cohesiveness, Planning Committee Chairperson Carmen Laudato said.

Council’s four ward council members must live in the ward they represent. Anyone who wants to run for election (or re-election) in the 2027 primaries must pull their petitions for candidacy in late December 2026 or early January 2027. The exact date has not yet been set, but knowing it will be, Laudato wants the maps finalized by the beginning of December.

“We want this to go through an entire legislative process,” she said. “That means three readings in three separate meetings and a public hearing where we take additional public comment. Obviously, that process takes time.”

The Portager first wrote about this issue in April, when council members realized that the city’s ward boundaries hadn’t been redrawn for more than 50 years. That’s a problem because, since 1953, state law has required city councils to redraw ward boundaries every 10 years, basing them on the most recent Census counts.

The wards “shall be as nearly equal in population as possible and composed of contiguous and compact territory, bounded by natural boundaries or street lines,” the law states.

Ravenna’s average ward population should be around 2,831 residents, League of Women Voters of Ohio Program Coordinator Trevor Martin told council in March. In Ravenna, though, Ward 1’s population is 2,203, ward 2 is 3,214, ward 3 is 3,827 and ward 4 is 2,079. That sets Ravenna's population deviancy closer to 62% than it is to the generally accepted 10% threshold, he said.

To right the decades-long wrong, council formed an ad hoc committee, one of whose members is Jennifer Mapes, a Kent State University assistant geography professor who teaches a variety of classes including Mapping, Space & Power and Urban Sustainability. She provided her colleagues with computerized (GIS) mapping software that allows them to explore as many map configurations as they wish.

The committee will ultimately submit the most-favored versions to City Council, which will choose which one it likes best. The map will then make its way to the Portage County Board of Elections, which will officially set the new precinct boundaries.

Kent’s new noise ordinance attempts to balance business, resident needs

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:21:00 GMT

Kent City Council’s latest amendment to the city’s noise ordinance decreases the hours outdoor music can be played in the city’s DORA.

Muffling the music has long had council balancing the interests of downtown business owners and their patrons with those of Kent residents who want a good night’s sleep.

At its July 22 meeting, council amended the city’s noise ordinance to state that outdoor music could only be played in the DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Kent’s previous ordinance had allowed outdoor music to be played in the DORA from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

The newest amendment will be effective for 120 days to allow council to determine if further adjustments are needed.

Council approved Kent’s first noise ordinance in December 2002, prohibiting anyone from making “any noise which disturbs, annoys, injures or endangers the comfort repose or health, peace or safety of persons of ordinary sensibilities.”

The 2002 ordinance did not reference Kent’s entertainment venues and predated the city’s DORA, which was not established until 2020. It did single out amplified or unamplified musical instruments, as well as other “electronic sound-producing devices” played at a volume that annoyed or disturbed people who lived or worked in the vicinity.

Kent’s DORA stretches toward the university, across the Main Street bridge to Park Avenue, along Franklin Avenue to Summit Street, along South Water Street to Lake Street and, crossing the Fairchild Avenue bridge, along North Mantua Street past Stinaff Street.

Police raise initial concerns

Fast forward to June 2023, when former Kent Police Chief Nick Shearer spoke to council members about KPD’s attempts to respect Kent’s vibrant music scene and residents who may not care for it, at least at certain hours.

“One person’s noise is another person’s beautiful music,” he said.

At the time, KPD operated on an unwritten understanding that the downtown business district was off limits as far as the 2002 noise ordinance was concerned, he said.

Should KPD receive a complaint, he said officers would visit the venue to ask for the music to be turned down or taken inside. He said he couldn't recall ever citing a downtown business for noise and in the previous year and five months could only find one complaint that could actually be traced to a downtown business.

DORA in place, council tweaked its noise ordinance to allow outdoor music to be played within its boundaries from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Council’s action was to be a 120-day experiment, but local legislators did not revisit the issue until March 2024, when they removed the 120-day clause and made the tweak permanent.

Noise carries to Ward 1

That seemed to work until recently, when council members noted on July 1 that the music refuses to stay put.

“A lot of people have contacted me because it's a particular issue in Ward 1,” Council Member Melissa Celko said. “The sound comes up in a particular odd way up into the ward area where we are. So Main Street, Pioneer and that neighborhood all over there, the sound resonates in a really close fashion.”

Echoing Celko, nearby resident and Council Member Ben Tipton told The Portager that, “there are nights that we have to shut our windows when we wouldn’t want to because it is so loud.”

Council once again asked the former police chief for his assessment and learned that KPD records dating from April 1, 2026, until July 1, 2026, tallied seven complaints: four from people who lived next door to Barflyy Retro Bar on East Erie Street, two from Dan Smith Community Park on East Erie Street and one from the Brewhouse Pub on North Water Street.

When Celko suggested that residents may be calling their council reps instead of local law enforcement, Shearer encouraged those reps to ask the complainants to contact law enforcement while the music was actually playing. Then, he said, police might be able to intervene.

Faced with finding a good balance between Kent’s entertainment venues and residents, council members agree the ordinance now in place may not be the last.

“Nothing’s ever going to be perfect, so we just got to keep tweaking and making it the best we can for everybody,” Council Member Jeff Clapper said.

Bridget Tipton, co-founder of Bell Tower Brewing at Park Avenue and Gougler Avenue, said she has booked less than a half dozen outdoor solo performers in five years. In any case, Bell Tower closes at 10 p.m., she said.

She acknowledged that she can hear the music at her West Main Street home near the Masonic Temple. Even so, she said, it must be possible to maintain Kent’s vibrant live music culture while respecting people’s repose.

That’s partially her brother-in-law’s job.

“Let’s see how this goes, and we’re willing to address it even more if necessary, but we are also balancing the needs and interests of those in downtown that are running businesses and the residents of downtown,” Ben Tipton said.

Baker: Lessons from a cherry tree

Kathy Baker — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:20:00 GMT

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. We grabbed our chairs and ran for the cars. As we scurried along, huge gusts of wind pushed hard against us. Just as we drove off, the rain began, pouring down in torrents.

When we got home a few minutes later, the car’s headlights revealed a totally different landscape than we had left an hour or so ago: a huge cherry tree at the edge of our property had fallen. Amazingly, it had not taken down the fence next to it–or our little barn, just beyond the fence. Somehow, the tree fell right between the two. It did tear our flagpole out of the earth; we could see the flags sticking out underneath the fallen branches. We were immediately filled with gratitude that so little damage had occurred.

Early the next morning, as my husband headed outside to begin the cleanup, my kids and their spouses, all of whom were in town that week, showed up to help. I was chief cook and “go-fer” for the crew.

As I kept everyone caffeinated, hydrated and fed, I noticed that all of us stopped, from time to time, to simply study the tree. This was partly to figure out how to cut it the rest of the way down; how to deal with the huge mess it had made. But for me, it was more than that.

It was a moment of gratitude and, in a way, awe. And also, a goodbye to a lovely old tree. I thought of the many years it had stood there, sheltering squirrels and birds, providing shade for other animals, including humans.

Several moments touched me deeply that day. The first was experiencing all of us together, working as one, in response to an unexpected predicament. Also, moments when one or another of us gently touched the tree, acknowledging its presence. Another was when my daughter opened her gloved hand to show us a tiny miracle: an acorn she found inside the remains of the tree. How wondrous it seemed, to think of an old cherry tree sheltering the seed of an oak tree.

Next, several deer, including a fawn, came out of the woods, walking calmly into the midst of a family of humans, undeterred by the earsplitting roar of the power saw. They stopped about six feet away and began munching on the pile of soft, twiggy branches that were the first to be cut off of the tree trunk. To me, even amidst all the noise and activity, their presence felt like a quiet prayer.

The moment that touched me most profoundly was our discovery that the tree, which had looked so healthy, had been dying from the inside out. Its interior was decaying, much of it hollowed out. Only when it had fallen was this revealed.

Now, I find myself reflecting on how quickly life can change, how large, graceful trees can fall in an instant. How homes and neighborhoods can be wiped out, due to fires or tornadoes or wars. How those we love can pass away just as suddenly, leaving us bereft.

I think of the people all around us who, unbeknown to us, are carrying despair, anguish, grief or loneliness inside. Like the cherry tree, they may look fine on the outside, so how can we help our sisters and brothers who may be carrying such inner pain?

It was a question that haunted me for years after losing my late husband, who lived most of his life with bipolar disorder. How could I know him so well, and yet not see that the disease was hollowing him from the inside out?

The answer, of course, is that we cannot always know what is deep inside a tree, or a loved one, or a stranger we pass on the street. Even if we do know, it may not be in our power to change it. But perhaps there are ways we can be more present to one another.

Study those around you. Touch one another. Reach out; be shelter to each other. Join with others to make a difference in the world. Create a personal environment that encourages and makes space for those who may be in need of help or support.

May those who carry heavy burdens step quietly out of the woods, and find peace, comfort and wholeness among us.

Portage County obituaries for July 27-28, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:19:00 GMT

Patricia E. Brunswick

Patricia E. (Tyson) Brunswick, age 83 of Tallmadge, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026. She was born January 25, 1943, in Durham, North Carolina, to parents William and Macie (Jones) Elliott.

Matthew J. Hite

Matthew J. Hite, 45, of Ravenna completed his earthly journey Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at UH Portage Medical Center with friends and family by his side. He was born July 2, 1981 in Parma, Ohio to Michael P. Hite and Maryann D. (Markul) Hite.

Robert E. Miller

Robert E. Miller, age 95, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2026.

Portage County Land Bank completes first sale through Welcome Home program

Staff Report — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 11:00:00 GMT

The Portage County Land Bank recently sold its first rehabilitated home through the Ohio Department of Development's Welcome Home Ohio program.

County roundup: Mogadore fire levy on the November ballot; Atwater, Randolph and Suffield updates

Roger Gordon — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:57:00 GMT

Mogadore Village Council passed legislation to put on the Nov. 3 ballot the renewal of an existing 3.5-mill tax levy with an increase of 1.23 mill for a total of 4.73 mills for the continuation of the full-time Mogadore Fire Department.

Around Edinburg: Plenty to do at the Edinburg United Church

Cathy Klein — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:56:00 GMT

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.

Portage County obituaries for July 24-26, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:44:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Kent UMC adds solar panels to generate 105% of its energy usage

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:32:00 GMT

Thanks to a timely decision by its Green Team, Kent’s United Methodist Church is now sporting a sizable solar array on six of its roof segments.

Updated: Late-night noise gets the go-ahead in Kent

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:30:00 GMT

Meeting in special session July 22, and with no discussion or debate, Kent City Council unanimously tweaked the city’s noise ordinance to keep the downtown music playing.

Portage County obituaries for July 22-23, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:28:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Portage County youth group home changing operators

Wendy DiAlesandro — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:55:00 GMT

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?

The Setlist with Mike D for July 22, 2026

Mike D — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:54:00 GMT

I hope you all weathered the heat and Canadian and smoke of last week. Here is the Setlist for July 22-28.

One for the Books: Troublesome women

Mary Louise Ruehr — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:46:00 GMT

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.

Portage County obituaries for July 20-21 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:37:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Hiram Farm expands with hydroponics and new public storefront

Jeremy Brown — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:58:00 GMT

Hiram Farm has grown leaps and bounds since it first opened back in 2009. At that time, a dedicated group of parents and professionals sought to start a program for adults on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities to give them a place to be in nature while learning real-world skills.

County roundup: Streetsboro considers Flock Cameras plus news from Aurora and Ravenna

Roger Gordon — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:51:00 GMT

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.

Portage County obituaries for July 16-19 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:42:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

New Mantua chief wants to outsource police dispatch

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:26:00 GMT

Six months after agreeing to handle police dispatch services for Hiram, Mantua is trying to shutter its dispatch center. The center runs round the clock even though Mantua Police Department officers are not scheduled from late at night to early morning.

Around Windham: Help the Windham Hall of Fame find the 1974 football team

Nicole Sweet — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:18:00 GMT

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 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:02:00 GMT

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.

The Setlist: Portage County live music for July 15-21

Mike D — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:41:43 GMT

Following recent scares, Kent police and schools team up for safety

Adriana Gasiewski — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:38:00 GMT

Following the recent May and April bomb and gun threats at Stanton Middle School and Longcoy Elementary, the district is extensively reviewing how these situations were handled. Leaders are updating safety plans during the summer and anticipate hosting more theoretical drills with faculty throughout the school year.

Around Garrettsville: Pride and Prejudice opens next month

Jackie Loreta-Rinearson — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:35:00 GMT

"Pride and Prejudice," performed by Curtains up Theatre, runs Aug. 1, 2, 7 and 8. Thank you to the sponsors: Ryser Insurance, Middlefield Carter Lumber, Jeff Rinearson Health Insurance, and Sarchione Chevrolet.

Portage County obituaries for July 13-14 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:34:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

New court date set for arraignment in case involving Hiram Council Member

Wendy DiAlesandro — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:27:00 GMT

Facing first-degree misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an alleged mid-May incident involving two village firefighters, Hiram Council Member Chris Perme has a new court date.

County roundup: Portage County celebrates America 250, plus news from Edinburg, Paris and Rootstown

Roger Gordon — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:26:00 GMT

The fifth annual Paris Township Car Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Shearer Community Center at 9355 Newton Falls Rd. The car show will benefit the Paris Township Fire Department. All makes, models and years are welcome.

Around Charlestown: Lots of fun in the sun planned in Charlestown this summer

Ruth Ann Bartholomew — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:25:00 GMT

The 23rd Annual Charlestown Summer Festival and Cruise In is Saturday, Aug. 1, from 3-7 p.m. at the Charlestown Township Park.

Portage County obituaries for July 10-12 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:24:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Legislative update: Workman serving on bipartisan Joint Data Center Committee

Savana Capp — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:12:00 GMT

A Portage County politician is helping shape the conversation around data centers at the state level.

League of Women Voters event focuses on fight against data centers

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:11:00 GMT

Data centers took center stage in Kent July 6 as Jessica Winchell, the moving force behind the now 2,600-member Portage Residents for Responsible Development, spoke at a Monday forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Kent.

Portage County obituaries for July 8-9, 2026

Staff Report — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 01:09:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Curtains Up Theatre in Garrettsville is working to build its own theater

Jeremy Brown — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 09:11:00 GMT

After nearly 20 years of using James A. Garfield High School’s facilities to stage performances, Garrettsville’s Curtains Up Theatre is in the early stages of purchasing a property at the corner of Windham Street and High Street on Buckeye Block in Garrettsville to build its own theater. The theater would be on the second floor of the building with space for retail on the first floor.

Op-ed: Data centers: The good, the bad and the truly ugly

Op-Ed Contributor — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:54:00 GMT

“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 — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:53:00 GMT

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.

Portage County obituaries for July 6-7, 2026

Staff Report — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:52:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

The Setlist with Mike D for July 8, 2026

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 02:19:00 GMT

I hope you all had a nice 4th of July weekend, stayed cool, and were some of the lucky ones whose power remained uninterrupted. It was a scorcher at the Kent Heritage Fest, 94 degrees at show time. We still had a nice crowd, and with the help of some fans (physical ones…) we were able to play a nice show for the folks who braved the heat to hear us.

County roundup: Hiram hosts Declaration of Independence reading; news from Garrettsville, Mantua and Windham

Roger Gordon — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:22:00 GMT

The village of Hiram will join the America 250 reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 at the Historical Society Century House in Village Park at 11617 Garfield Rd.

Around Randolph: Waterloo starts a 'Digital Diet'

Sandy Engle — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:18:00 GMT

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 — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:16:00 GMT

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.

Portage County obituaries for July 3-5, 2026

Staff Report — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:15:00 GMT

Remembering those we've lost in Portage County

Around Brimfield: Wear sunscreen (and check out The Village of St. Edward)

Shirley Mars — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:30:00 GMT

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.”

How Portage County nonprofits fund themselves to help others

Wendy DiAlesandro — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:25:00 GMT

Nonprofit organizations have to keep their doors open and services running with uncertain revenue, much of it arriving at the end of the year, said Axess Family Services Executive Director Mark Frisone. People feel generous during the holiday season, or maybe they’re looking for a tax break.

Rooted Ramblings: Weeds as friends

Master Gardener Volunteers — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:24:00 GMT

Weeds are "plants in the wrong place," but they can provide immense benefits to your garden's health, local wildlife, and even your kitchen. While aggressive invaders still require management, many common weeds actively work to improve your soil, feed essential pollinators, and offer medicinal or nutritional value.

The Portager

Shalersville trustees study data center noise levels

How loud is too loud?

Portage Residents for Responsible Development

Around Ravenna: A family reunion 100 years in the making

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 26-Sept. 1

FREEDOM

GARRETTSVILLE

HIRAM

KENT

MANTUA Farmers & Makers Market at the Granary in Mantua, located in the Mantua Grain Building parking lot, 4690 East Prospect Street.

RAVENNA

ROOTSTOWN

STREETSBORO

OPEN MICS/OPEN JAMS

KENT

RAVENNA

CUYAHOGA FALLS

Been There, Done That: Taking an old dog on long walks

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 24-25, 2026

Catharine Currie Kuleck

Golf cart rules might be coming to Garrettsville

County roundup: Atwater Stuff the Truck gets most donations ever; plus Brimfield, Randolph and Suffield news

Randolph

Atwater

Brimfield

Suffield

One for the Books: Thrilling new true crime is out

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 21-23, 2026

Dennis Baird

Susan Renee Parker

Robert Douglas Maine

Ohio budget to help Portage County universities, community-driven projects

Kent State University

Safer Futures

Community projects

Looking ahead

Around Windham: Help Windham PTO fulfill every school supply list for the new school year

Windham Bombers PTO Back 2 School Bash

Windham T-Mobile Million Dollar Grant Progress

New Portage County Library Windham Branch Revealed

1974 Football Team HOF Induction

Windham Village Fun in the Sun

Lions Club Sausage and Steak Dates 2026

Documenters: Kent City Schools Board of Education meeting for Aug. 18, 2026

Documenters: Streetsboro City Council meeting for Aug. 10, 2026

Public Hearing Review

Regular City Council Meeting

Safety Committee Meeting

Additional Safety Committee Discussions

Service Committee Meeting

Special Finance Committee Meeting

Regular Council Meeting Reconvened: Citizens’ Comments

Introduction of Legislation With a Statement of Emergency

First reading

Second reading

Third Reading

Reports/Communications from Departments/Boards and Commissions

Mayor’s Report

President of Council’s Comments

Council Members’ Comments

Announcements

Rooted Ramblings: August is for Dahlias

Portage County obituaries for Aug. 19-20, 2026

Evangeline (Eva) Grace Bergey

Nancy Lou Bishop

Peter "Pete" J. Vitucci

Around Randolph: The 168th Portage County Randolph Fair is coming

Randolph Public Library Events

Contract negotiations drag on at GE HealthCare in Aurora

Op-ed: One meal. One child. One family at a time

Documenters: Brimfield Township Trustees meeting for Aug. 3, 2026

Documenters: Field Board of Education meeting for Aug. 10, 2026

Documenter: Crestwood Board of Education meeting for Aug. 11, 2026

The Setlist: Portage County live music for Aug. 19-25

AURORA

MANTUA

NELSON

GARRETTSVILLE

STREETSBORO

MANTUA

Farmers & Makers Market at the Granary in Mantua, located in the Mantua Grain Building parking lot, 4690 East Prospect Street.