5/3/2012 - South Side Leader
     

Constant Companions, Doggie Day Care leader dies

GREEN — Rick Parson, Northeast Ohio regional manager of Constant Companions and Hattie Larlham’s Doggie Day Care and Boarding, died April 29.

According to his obituary, Parson, 52, was diagnosed with ocular melanoma in December 2008 and fought cancer after he lost an eye.

The Doggie Day Care program offers adults with disabilities jobs to help feed, water, walk and play with dogs boarded at the facility. The program won the Green Chamber of Commerce Impact Award in 2009.

Parson served on several boards, was president of Akron Executives’ Association and a member of the Green Chamber of Commerce. He also worked at Visiting Nurse Services.

Parson is survived by his wife of 23 years, Joyce; and their children Nick, Larissa, Sandy and Gabriel; mother, Patricia Parson; brother, Jeff; and sister, Shari, according to his obituary. 

A mass of Christian burial service took place today, May 4, at 9:30 a.m. at Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church, 2425 Myersville Road.

In his obituary, Parson asks friends to plant flowers in their gardens in honor of his love of the outdoors, or to make a donation to Constant Companions at 1402 Boettler Road, Suite B, Uniontown, OH 44685.

Division of Watercraft office hours extended

COVENTRY — The Division of Watercraft is now offering extended office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays through July 11 to enhance customer service for those people wanting to obtain their watercraft registration.

Those extended office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The office, located at 2756 S. Arlington Road, is also open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All watercraft must be registered to operate on Ohio waterways. Boat registrations are valid for a period of three years and expire on March 1.

In 2011, Ohio had a record 426,674 registered watercraft, marking a third consecutive year for a record number of registrations, according to Division of Watercraft officials.

Additional information on Ohio’s boat registration requirements and fees, education programs and other boating information is available online at www.ohiodnr.com/watercraft.

County issues reminder on Reverse Alert

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Summit County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is reminding citizens to sign up for the Reverse Alert emergency notification system.

The system communicates a warning in cases of severe threats to health and safety by sending emergency messages to email addresses, hearing impaired receiving devices, telephone lines (including cell phones) and text messaging systems.

Residents and businesses with listed telephone numbers in Summit County have already been included in the system, according to county officials. Through www.reversealert.net, residents also can include additional ways to receive the messages. On a personal profile, registrants can register locations of friends and family members that should receive alerts. All information will be kept confidential, according to county officials.

When a message is sent out, the receiver must confirm receipt of the message. If it is not received, the system will automatically try the other contact numbers or addresses, according to county officials.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this important service to the businesses and citizens of Summit County, and we encourage everyone to subscribe to this service if you have not already done so,” said Summit County Executive Russ Pry.

For more information, contact the EMA at 330-643-2558 or visit www.co.summit.oh.us/Executive/ema.htm.

— By Kathleen Folkerth

ADM Board seeks feedback

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADM) Board is seeking community input into its community plan, which it is required by law to update annually.

An essential part of the plan, which concerns alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services, is obtaining input from community members regarding service and treatment priorities and areas of unmet need, according to ADM Board officials.

Members of the community are invited to submit their ideas by taking a brief online survey found in the “News and Events” section of the ADM Board website at www.adm board.org. The survey can be accessed through May 11.

Once finalized and approved, the community plan will be posted on the website. The current community plan may be found on the Publications tab there.

According to ADM Board officials, the board contracts with a network of health care organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation support services for people recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness. The ADM Board also collaborates with communities in Summit County to provide educational activities aimed at preventing mental illness and addictions.

With leadership provided by a local board of directors, the ADM Board evaluates needs, plans services to respond to those needs and evaluates their impact. It is funded through a local property tax levy.

For information about the ADM Board’s services, call 330-762-3500. For 24-hour emergency assistance, call 330-762-6110 for a mental health emergency or 330-996-7730 for an addiction emergency.

— By Kathleen Folkerth

United Way elects new directors, officers

DOWNTOWN AKRON — During its annual meeting April 25, the United Way of Summit County’s (UWSC) members elected new directors and officers.

The 18 newly elected directors, whose terms will end at the annual meeting in  2015, are: Becky Alexander; Elizabeth Bartz, of State and Federal Communications Inc.; Stephen Charles, of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC; Frank Comunale, of Summit County Council; Larry Frank, of ComDoc Inc.; Martin Hauser, of SummaCare Inc.; Gary Hutchins, of Allstate Insurance Co.; Phillip Martucci, of Cuyahoga Falls City School District; Donald Moul, of Ohio Edison; Kathy Peterson, of GOJO Industries Inc.; Brad Schroeder, of YRC Inc.; Stanley Silverman, of The University of Akron; Donna Skoda, of Summit County Public Health; Albert Tusek Jr., of The Babcock & Wilcox Co.; Theodore Walter, of Fifth Third Bank; Jeffery Walters, of CBIZ/Mayor Hoffman McCann; Angie Wells, of GPD Group; and Pamela Williams.

The slate of officers for 2012-13 elected at the meeting were: at-large Executive Committee members — David Jennings, of the Akron-Summit County Public Library; Christine Amer Mayer, of The GAR Foundation; and Theodore Walter, of Fifth Third Bank; Labor Representative — William Crooks, of Tri-County Labor Council; Marketing Committee Chair — Thomas Welsh, of TM Welsh Consulting; Nominating Committee Chair — James Merklin, of Bober Markey Fedorovich; Community Impact Division Chair — Skoda; Community Impact Development/Priority Fund Chair — Williams; Administrative Committee Chair — Donald Corpora, of Akron General Health System; Strategic Planning Chair — Silverman; Public Policy Committee Chair — Martin Hall, of FirstEnergy Corp.; Secretary — Bruce Rowland, of Hagen Rowland Group; Treasurer — Richard Noechel, of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Campaign Chair — Nicholas Browning, of FirstMerit Bank; Vice Chair of the Board — William Feth, of AirBorn Electronics Inc.; Past Board Chair — Philip Cajka, of Audio-Technica U.S.; and Board Chair — Theresa Carter, of OMNOVA Solutions Foundation.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to companies and organizations that helped the UWSC exceed its goal and raise $11.3 million in 2011. Cornerstone Awards were presented to the two largest campaigns in Summit County, each with total giving of more than $1 million.

Receiving the award was The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for its total contribution of approximately $1.36 million, which was an increase of more than $82,000 from the previous year and the single largest increase in the campaign. Also earning the award was FirstEnergy Corp., whose contributions totaled about $1.18 million.

The UWSC also presented Chairmen’s Awards to nine businesses and organizations that exhibited extraordinary achievement, saw outstanding increases or ran successful first-time or renewed campaigns. These awards went to Akrochem, Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Bober Markey Fedorovich, Emerald Performance Materials, Fifth Third Bank, GOJO Industries, Revlis Corp., Stark & Knoll and State and Federal Communications Inc. The Wendell Willke Award, honoring the top campaign at a local law firm, was presented to Brouse McDowell.

— By Kathleen Folkerth

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