Akron Ohio News - Bath, Copley bringing residents together for festivals

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Bath, Copley bringing residents together for festivals

7/26/2012 - West Side Leader

By Kathleen Folkerth

Shown during last year’s Bath Community Day are, from left, Bath Gamma Garden Club members Karen Barta, Eileen Simon and Bev Cinovec with the handmade hats they offered for a donation.

Photo: Ken Crisafi

Laura Lea Frank and her daughter Kelly Hoefle, of Copley, are shown during the 2010 Copley Heritage Day.

Photo: Krista Galloway

BATH/COPLEY— Parades, music and more will celebrate community and history in the neighboring communities of Bath and Copley Aug. 4.

Bath Community Day and Copley Heritage Day will take place that day, giving residents and visitors the chance to enjoy old-fashioned festival events.

In Bath, Community Day is marking its 15th year, according to chair Nadine Clar.

“It’s one of those events that brings the community together,” said Clar, who is stepping down as chair after this year’s event after 14 years. “It brings people into our park. Every year I hear from somebody, ‘I’ve never been here before; I didn’t know we had this.’”

The day begins with the annual Bath Homeowners Association’s pancake breakfast at Bath Church from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The proceeds go toward Community Day, Clar said.

The annual parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Ken Stewart’s Lodge and heads south on Cleveland-Massillon Road to Bath Elementary School. This year, local Girl Scouts will participate as the event celebrates the 100th anniversary of the organization.

At noon, activities get under way at Bath Community Activity Center, 1615 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road. Clar said this year includes some new events, such as the Fairy Garden Contest. Gardeners are welcome to bring their fairy garden planters to the park that morning. Prizes will be awarded.

A photography contest is also being coordinated by the Bath Historical Society. Photos can be dropped off at the Bath Museum or brought to the park that morning. For more information, contact Angela van der Heyde at 330-666-8893.

The Wacky Container Contest will also take place again, with prizes for gardeners who use unique containers. Bath’s Best Pooch contest will take place at 2:30, with prizes for a variety of categories.

Music throughout the day will be provided by Instant Replay. Attendees will also enjoy a frontiersman reenactment, water ball fights with the Bath Fire Department, free inflatables and the historical society’s Country Fair, featuring the best in locally grown vegetables and flowers.

Clar added that this year will also include a petting zoo, balloon artist and caricature artist. Local author Lynda Durrant will also be on hand with her books.

Pizza, hot dogs, kettle corn and cold beverages will be for sale. Events are scheduled until 5 p.m.

For additional information, go to www.bathcommunity day.com or call Clar at 330-864-0805.

In Copley, Heritage Day is returning after a one-year absence thanks to the volunteer efforts of a group of residents.

Kathi Fundak Corathers, who serves as co-chair for the event, said Heritage Day has taken place most years since about 1976.

“It’s been such a longstanding tradition in Copley, a small core of us just wanted to get it going again,” Corathers said.

Since October, organizers have met to plan a day of activities that provides fun and activities for all, she added.

The day begins with a pancake breakfast at the Copley Fire Station from 8 a.m. to noon, sponsored by the Fire and Rescue Association. Also at that time, the Copley High School (CHS) PTSA will have a rummage sale at the high school, while Key Club members host a bake sale there.

A baking contest will be held at Copley Veteran’s Post, located at 3255 Copley Road. To enter, contact Carol Bowersox at 330-666-9308 for information. Baked goods must be dropped off between 9 and 11 a.m.

At 1 p.m. on Copley Circle, events get under way with a ceremony including a flag raising, invocation, a soloist from CHS’s choir and a firing of the Copley Cannon by state Sen. Frank LaRose (R-District 27), a CHS graduate.

Throughout the afternoon there will be children’s activities in front of Copley-Fairlawn Middle School, with inflatables, a dunk tank, face painting and balloons.

Copley Circle will be the site of dozens of booths with local service organizations, crafters and food.

Corathers said organizers are thrilled to have a parade scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. starting at Babcock & Wilcox, 3333 Copley Road, heading south on Cleveland-Massillon Road, then to Hammond and to Schoolcraft. The parade will end behind the middle school.

Heritage Day activities will conclude at 8 p.m.

For more information on events, go to www.copleyheritageday.com.

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