Opinion

Windham’s PTO will be hosting a Back 2 School Bash for all Windham students on Thursday, Aug. 27 during Meet the Teacher Night.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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!

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.

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.