Today is Feb. 26, 2021.
- The weekend is here! Enjoy the sun today and a high of 45. It'll drop down to the high 30s tonight and maybe a drizzle. Rain and low 50s Saturday and Sunday.
- Ravenna VFW Post 1055 will have a fish fry every Friday from 5-7 p.m. until April 9. Only $10 for fish, shrimp or chicken. Call 330-296-9546 for takeout.
- Any book lovers out there? This issue is for you.
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Major announcement
Introducing: Portager Sports!
At The Portager, our mission is to be a catalyst for ideas and action that help Portage County thrive. One thing that makes up the fabric of our community is our rich local sports culture. From Mogadore to Southeast to Garfield to Streetsboro, we've got the best sports fans in Northeast Ohio.
And Tom Hardesty has been here for all of it. After a long career with the Record-Courier, Tom is back for round two with his new column for Portager Sports: Round Two.
- Tom's column is the anchor of our new weekly email newsletter. When you subscribe, you'll get exclusive access to Tom's column and a roundup of sports coverage in Portage County and across Northeast Ohio. As we grow, we'll add original local game coverage, box scores, sports features and more.
If you're a sports fan in Portage County, this is the only weekly newsletter you need. Read Tom's first column and subscribe!
Note: I was having trouble opening the link during production last night. If you can't load the link, go to theportager.com and click the sports tab, or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://www.theportager.com/sports
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Open government
The people spoke, but the commissioners didn't listen
 In a 2-1 vote yesterday, the Portage County commissioners voted to stop streaming live meetings. The decision comes after a wave of feedback in support of more accessible meetings.
- Despite over 100 emails from Portage County residents requesting the opposite, Commissioner Tony Badalamenti and Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett voted to end live video streaming.
- They cited poor audio quality as their reason.
Reporter Wendy DiAlesandro covered the story, and she did a great job presenting the facts of the situation objectively.
When it comes to open government, however, I'm quite biased. The GIF perfectly sums up what Badalamenti did with the scores of constituent feedback he received: dismissed it as spam. The commissioners' decision was unnecessary, anti-democratic and will make it harder for my team to provide you with local government coverage. Maybe you can tell I'm upset about this.
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Covid-19
The new Balto: some truck driver from Memphis
A large shipment of the county's vaccine supply was stuck in Memphis last week. It arrived safely in time for Kent City Schools employees to receive their first dose on Wednesday. The Kent City Health Department posted pictures of the gymnasium clinic yesterday morning.
More Covid news:
- One case of the UK variant of Covid has been confirmed in Portage County. The emergence of the variant "underscores the mitigation measures we've been doing all along," said Portage County Medical Director Mark Arredondo at the weekly press briefing yesterday.
- Kent State shared the fall semester plans for in-person classes, housing and vaccination in a university-wide letter on Tuesday. The plan hinges on vaccinations being widely available by the end of the summer.
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We're currently seeking launch sponsors for our new website! (Currently under construction.) Support locally owned news and reach thousands of Portage County's most active residents. Write to ads@theportager.com to learn more about advertising.
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One for the Books
Looking for a book that'll make you cry?
Portager book columnist Mary Louise Ruehr recommends The Four Winds, a Dust Bowl narrative about one woman's battle against poverty and the ever-present dust. But it isn't all tears.
"It will make you think, it will stir your emotions and in the end it will uplift your spirit."
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People doing good things
Drop by and grab a read from the 'Book Box'
When the pandemic prohibited in-person classes, Ashley Baglia's 6-year-old daughter Alexis found a way to share her newfound love of reading with the community. With the help of her grandmother, she set up the Book Box at the Rootstown Firehouse Grille and Pub, owned by her parents, where kids and adults alike can come and get a book for free.
Baglia said the box will be stocked at all times, so you don't have to replace the book you take if you don't want to. Stop by anytime to grab a book or donate to the box. (They sent us the picture above.)
More good people doing good things:
- Local State Farm Agent Eric Schlaubach, whose office is in Ravenna, donated over 40 fire alarms to the Rootstown Fire Department to supply to families who need them. (Submitted photo below.)
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Letter to the editor
Memorial Day is solemn, not celebratory
The Record-Courier is reporting that Streetsboro is ending its annual Memorial Day Parade, saying the meaning of Memorial Day has been lost. You know what? Despite outrage and pearl clutching, they are right. Unpopular curmudgeon season begins now, I guess.
Memorial Day is supposed to be about remembering and honoring the fallen. It often gets confused and lumped in with the intent of Veterans Day, honoring all service members, past and present. Memorial Day should not be the celebratory holiday that it has become, and the general spirit of a typical Memorial Day parade is far removed from the intent of the occasion. I appreciate a good parade as much as anyone. Lord knows, I’ve marched in more than my fair share.
Memorial Day isn’t about getting candy and a frisbee from your local animal rescue, or having people flex the engine power of their muscle car group. It’s about the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. It should be about them and their surviving families. Jimmy’s tee ball team can ride their bikes with the pinwheels taped to them down the street on July 4th, when the true celebratory parade should be held.
I’d be curious to hear what our other Portagers have to say on the matter.
Jeremy Streem, Kent
The Portager publishes letters to the editor from the community. You can submit to editors@theportager.com.
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News briefs
A Ravenna resident has a new book out
Local resident Michael Furness recently published the novel Harvesting Dreams set in a Depression-era Appalachian coal town.
The story is inspired by his father's tales of growing up during the Great Depression. Check it out here.
More news:
- Kent State's LGBTQ+ center celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Read more here.
- The Portage Foundation is accepting scholarship and grant applications until April 16. Go here to explore and apply.
- Kent State's virtual Board of Trustees meeting will be on March 10. The meeting is open to the public. Learn more here.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated $7,000 to furnish the family living area of the forthcoming Haven of Portage Homeless Shelter. You can donate to the shelter's completion by contacting Anne Marie Noble at amnoble@portagehaven.org or calling 330-990-4949.
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Whenever a new weekend comes, I think, "This is the one. This is the weekend I will do my taxes." And then I spend all my spare time reading books and watching movies.
But I did read a good one recently: This Life by Martin Hägglund. It has sharpened my worldview.
Thanks for reading. See you all back here Monday!
Ben
330-249-1338
ben@theportager.com
PS. Subscribe to the sports email before the first issue comes out Tuesday!
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Our mission is to help our community thrive.
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