The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater
The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater
The independent news website of The Kent Stater & KSTV

KentStater
All content by Mark Oprea
George Lemons, Jr. in Kent Market II.

In midst of bargaining negotiations, student activists and unionized workers await pivotal decision

Mark Oprea
April 28, 2015
Hive Robbers

Rooted in ‘Room Eleven,’ Kent’s Hive Robbers’ third album gains local attention

Mark Oprea
April 21, 2015

A spring peak and a downfall, following seasonal change suicidal tendencies may rise in April, but support can be found year-round

Mark Oprea
April 14, 2015
Ray's bartender Angelo Cataldo, then junior exercise science major, pours a draft in Downtown Kent, Tuesday April 8, 2014.

Best Drink Selection: Ray’s Place

Mark Oprea
April 7, 2015
The Hulk cocktail prepared by the Loft on April 6, 2015. The Loft's signature Hulk was voted as the best cocktail in Kent, Ohio. 

Best Cocktail: The Loft’s “Hulk”

Mark Oprea
April 7, 2015
The Zephyr on April 6, 2015. The Zephyr was voted as the best bar in Kent, Ohio. 

Best Bar: Zephyr Pub

Mark Oprea
April 7, 2015
Kent State alumni Kat Kasee, Erika Knopsnider and Erin Duffy enjoy the $2 happy hour in Water Street Tavern on April 9, 2014.

Best Happy Hour: Water Street Tavern

Mark Oprea
April 7, 2015
Andrew Bastian, sophomore accounting major practices his interviews skills during a mock interview with College of Business career advisor Mike Morley during the Business Kickoff event. The interview station was the third of four stations available for students to particpate at.

‘Fake it until you make it’? Well, at least to a point

Mark Oprea
March 31, 2015
Vohn Murphy outside of Water Street Tavern in downtown Kent on St. Patricks day, March 17, 2015.

Fake St. Paddy’s Day, the other Irish holiday

Mark Oprea
March 17, 2015
Head chef of Sushi with Gusto Andrew Nun prepares a California roll and a veggie roll. Sushi with Gusto is located in the HUB in the student center and serves fresh sushi.

Let’s roll: Mastering taste in the sushi chef’s kitchen

Mark Oprea
March 10, 2015

Let’s roll: Mastering taste in the sushi chef’s kitchen

Mark Oprea
March 10, 2015
Robert Selvaggio, Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University.

Playing it by ear: A blossoming musician’s call to practice, practice, practice

Mark Oprea
March 10, 2015
Chrissy Motz

Kent State students takes the Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics

Mark Oprea
March 3, 2015
Keri Richmond

Fostering hope: Keri Richmond gives back with goal of helping 160 foster kids

Mark Oprea
February 24, 2015
Photo by Graham Smith

A wounded healer: Amanda Goodwin

Mark Oprea
February 18, 2015
Kent-based band Costley Ct. performs funk tunes for Mardi Gras at Water Street Tavern on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015.

Did you get your beads on Mardi Gras?

Mark Oprea
February 17, 2015
Rock band Harmonic Minors

Shedding hardcore pasts, local group finds solidarity in just rocking out

Mark Oprea
February 10, 2015
Courtesy of Sister Outsider Poetry

Poetry deepens the sisterly bonds

Mark Oprea
February 3, 2015
Jason Noble, owner of Groove-E-Juice in Downtown Kent

A snapshot of an e-cig seller’s double life

Mark Oprea
January 27, 2015
Steve Gilham, often known as "Steve the Omelet Guy" prepares an omelet at Eastway Café on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. For the past seven years, Gilham has been serving breakfast to thousands of students. "It's rewarding," Gilham said. "I connect with a lot of students. It makes my job worthwhile."

Eastway omelet guys crack jokes, eggs for a morning audience

Mark Oprea
January 20, 2015
Anthony Savatt, who has been hosting the weekly comedy nights at the Stone Tavern, begins the Stone Tavern's 200th consecutive comedy show Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.

The current state of Kent comedy: family, therapy and lots of Pabst

Mark Oprea
December 2, 2014
Acid Cats

Acidic jazz with a romping groove

Mark Oprea
December 2, 2014
Illustration by LaQuann Lee Dawson Jr.

Metal and ‘ThanksKilling’ mayhem on bill for local tavern’s holiday celebration

Mark Oprea
November 24, 2014
Submitted photo.

Akron indie-pop group eager to make new name for itself with more mature EP

Mark Oprea
November 18, 2014
Backburner relationships

Social media’s little secret: Backburner relationships in the digital age

Mark Oprea
November 11, 2014
Reggae Music

A Gumbo Gala: Reggae Meltdown celebrates the many strains of Island music

Mark Oprea
November 11, 2014
Erika Taylor, senior human development and family studies major, is an intern for the Head Start Program at Portage Learning Centers. For her latest project with the center, she hopes to gather at least 1,000 children's books for donation.

Student-sponsored book drive gives low-income children a ‘head start’

Mark Oprea
November 4, 2014
Submitted Photo

Coffee shop fills with Joy

Mark Oprea
November 4, 2014
Get Down Bandits

Americana guitar slinger and friends take on Akron music scene

Mark Oprea
October 28, 2014
"Bad Luck Brian" or Kyle

Face of ‘Bad Luck Brian’ owes online fame to good fortune

Mark Oprea
October 28, 2014

Mischief at midnight: Kent Halloween’s absurd night in costume

Mark Oprea
October 26, 2014
Marina Strah

Singer-songwriter Marina Strah gets the Seacrest bump

Mark Oprea
October 21, 2014
Survivor Girl

Buddy Holly Horror Show: Musica hosts annual ‘Slasher Sock Hop’ Saturday

Mark Oprea
October 21, 2014
Haunted Kent

Ghost Walk introduces locals to the characters of Kent’s haunted past

Mark Oprea
October 21, 2014
Submitted photo

Fox 8’s McCool returns to Kent State, this time with a sash

Mark Oprea
October 14, 2014
The Murders of Brandywine Theater

Review: ‘Brandywine Theater’ is a funny, psychotic romp — villainous puppets included

Mark Oprea
October 7, 2014
SuperMonkey

Alumnus turns marketing degree into rock’n’roll

Mark Oprea
October 7, 2014
Tim McCarthy, owner and founder of the Kent Zendo in Downtown Kent, focuses on practicing "minfulness meditation."

The art of mindfulness: a practice for some, study for others

Mark Oprea
September 30, 2014
Drama

School of Theatre and Dance perform 1930s comedy

Mark Oprea
September 30, 2014
Oktoberfest

Main Street Kent brings back Oktoberfest

Mark Oprea
September 30, 2014
Johnny and the Apple Stompers perform in Acorn Alley Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 as part of Kent's Rountown Music Festival.

Johnny and his Apple Stompers remind us pure country still exists

Mark Oprea
September 23, 2014
Marc Metzker makes a putt at the inaugural Frisbee Golf Tournament on the new Frisbee Golf Course. September 21, 2014.

Kent State’s disc golf course hopes to pull in community

Mark Oprea
September 23, 2014
Supplemental Instruction leader Maggie Evans asks students questions for a review quiz on biology and postulates in the Schwartz Center on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014.

SI leaders utilize playful, non-traditional group study methods

Mark Oprea
September 16, 2014
Starbucks barista Kathy Lovell has been working at Kent's Starbucks since 2006 after losing her teaching job. She is a familiar face to those who frequent the coffee shop.

Coffeeshop’s a stage for local barista

Mark Oprea
September 16, 2014
Dawn Lu / The Kent Stater Marina Strah, Senior Applied Communications major, performs at the Ohio's Got Talent competition Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Strah won the competition and was awarded a chance to record her first music video through Humble Heroz Productions company.

Humble Heroz proves ‘Ohio’s got talent’

Mark Oprea
September 16, 2014
Submitted Photo

Sixties-era ‘magic’ bus brings vintage vibes with new bands to Kent

Mark Oprea
September 9, 2014
Guitarist Bob Niederriter is the leader of a jazz trio.

For ‘refined’ flavor of jazz, locals turn to Bob Niederriter Trio

Mark Oprea
September 2, 2014
PARTA bus

PARTA bus routes leave students confused

Mark Oprea
September 2, 2014
R.J Wilkinson, Kent State Alum and Iraq War veteran, is beginning a project to preserve the stories of war veterans because too often veterans pass away with their stories left untold.

Kent State alum has vets ‘talk war’

Mark Oprea
August 27, 2014
Zach Deputy

Multi-instrumentalist Zach Deputy brings ‘beat-boxing dance party’ to Cleveland

Mark Oprea
August 26, 2014
 

Opinion: The great movie tie-in

Mark Oprea
April 29, 2013
 

Opinion: How young people get radicalized

Mark Oprea
April 23, 2013

Opinion: Power of Wiesel’s words undeniable

Mark Oprea
April 17, 2013
 

Opinion: Getting a little bit extra

Mark Oprea
April 7, 2013
 

Opinion: Social activism, or just social media?

Mark Oprea
April 2, 2013
 

Opinion: A new approach to old-school education

Mark Oprea
March 18, 2013
 

Opinion: Is it time for a change?

Mark Oprea
March 11, 2013
 

Opinion: Finding the ‘human’ in the humanities

Mark Oprea
March 5, 2013
 

Opinion: You wouldn’t steal a soybean…

Mark Oprea
February 25, 2013
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