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West Side News & Notes

8/30/2012 - West Side Leader
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By Staff Writer

Akron deputy mayor announces retirement

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth announced this week that he will retire Dec. 1 after 10 years on the job.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a year,” said Lieberth, of West Akron, who serves on Mayor Don Plusquellic’s cabinet.

He said he does not have any concrete plans for retirement but hopes to pursue his interest in creative projects. Lieberth has a background in both journalism and law.

“I’ve had a longtime interest in local history, so I intend to write about local history and speak about local history,” he said.

Lieberth joined the city in May 2002 and since that time was the driving force behind the creation of Downtown Akron gathering places Lock 3 and Lock 4, as well as the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival and the Lock 3 Summer Arts Experience.

He graduated from The University of Akron in 1969 and received a master’s degree in television from Syracuse University in 1970. He graduated from The University of Akron School of Law in 1977.

He added he’s also proud of his work chairing Akron’s successful efforts to be named an All America City by the National Civic League in 1995 and in 2008.

Lieberth said during the next 90 days he plans to transfer his responsibilities to other staff members. He added he does not know what the city will do as far as filling his position.

Lieberth is one of three current deputy mayors in the city. Two other deputy mayor positions are not filled, according to the city’s website.

Plusquellic said he knew Lieberth had been considering retiring this year. He said he’s not ready to discuss what might happen with his position but praised Lieberth for the role he’s played in Akron.

“He’s done a tremendous job in a number of areas, but the first one that’s more obvious to the average person … is Lock 3 and putting a focus on downtown,” the mayor said. “It’s the 10th year of Lock 3 and hundreds of thousands of people have visited there. He’s really the one that brought the focus that was needed.”

He added he hopes Lieberth will still be involved with the city in some way.

“He has a tremendous amount of talent,” Plusquellic said. “He has a place here as long as he wants it to be able to continue to serve and help the community become better.”

 

Neighborhood Assistance director holding office hours

DOWNTOWN AKRON — John Valle, director of Akron’s new office of Neighborhood Assistance, will host open office hours throughout the city in September.

Valle will meet with residents:

• Sept. 6 from noon to 2 p.m. at Reservoir Park Community Center, 1735 Hillside Terrace;

• Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kenmore Community Center, 880 Kenmore Blvd.;

• Sept. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Joy Park Community Center, 825 Fuller St.;

• Sept. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Mason Park Community Learning Center, 700 E. Exchange St.; and

• Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at Summit Lake Community Center, 380 W. Crosier St.

Residents who need assistance with any neighborhood questions, issues, complaints or concerns are encouraged to attend and speak with Valle, city officials said.

 

Norton seeking applicants for Planning Commission

NORTON — The city of Norton has a vacancy on the Planning Commission.

Mayor Mike Zita is seeking to fill the spot with an interested resident willing to serve on the commission for a three-year term. The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 6 p.m.

Applicants must be a Ward 1 resident and a registered voter.

Commission members are paid a small stipend per meeting attended for expenses.

Applicants should have some relevant background and/or experience in regards to this position. More information on boards and commission is available on the city’s website at cityofnorton.org.

Anyone interested in applying for the position should send a letter of interest and qualifications addressed to Zita to 4060 Columbia Woods Drive, Norton, OH 44203, or via email at annc@cityofnor ton.org.

For more information, call 330-825-7815, ext. 314, or email annc@cityofnorton.org.

 

United Way to allocate emergency funds

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Local emergency food and shelter programs are eligible to receive funding from the United Way of Summit County (UWSC).

The Summit County Emergency Food and Shelter Local Board, consisting of representatives from voluntary, governmental and religious sectors, will determine how to allocate $228,242 in federal funds that were awarded to Summit County for local eligible emergency food and shelter programs. According to the UWSC, the federal funds decreased 6 percent this year.

Officials added that the funds are to be used by eligible local service agencies to supplement and expand the capacity of existing emergency food and shelter programs in Summit County. Funds are not to be used for creating new programs.

Under terms of the grant, organizations receiving funds must be private, voluntary nonprofits or units of government; have an accounting system and conduct an annual audit by an independent accountant depending on the award amount; practice nondiscrimination; operate an ongoing program that has demonstrated capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; have computer and Internet access; and have a voluntary board if a private, voluntary organization.

The Summit County local board has distributed Emergency Food and Shelter Funds previously to 23 participating agencies, which provided more than 158,350 meals and 7,600 nights of shelter, paid 146 utility bills and provided 149 units of rent or mortgage payments, according to UWSC officials.

Eligible agencies must apply by 4 p.m. Sept. 10. For more information, call 330-643-5510.

 

Forum planned on artist live/work space

DOWNTOWN AKRON — A community forum on creating artist work/live space in Akron will take place Sept. 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Andrew Jackson House Ballroom, 277 E. Mill St.

The forum is sponsored by the University Park Alliance and Artspace, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating affordable spaces for the arts.

Sponsor officials said the purpose of the forum is to understand the potential to create a successful, affordable, self-sustaining arts development project in Akron.

The forum is open to all. Those who plan to attend should register by contacting David Robinson at 330-777-2071 or drobinson@upakron.com.

 

Library hosts awareness program for parents

WEST AKRON — The Northwest Akron Branch Library, 1720 Shatto Ave., will host the “Hidden in Plain Sight” exhibit for parents and other adults Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The program, coordinated by the police departments in Copley and Bath and presented with the assistance of the Akron Police Department and Summit County Councilman Frank Comunale (D-District 4), features a display that represents a teenager’s bedroom.

The exhibit aims to educate and enlighten parents by showing them how to recognize items that may indicate if a youth is involved in high-risk behaviors such as drinking, eating disorders and sexual activity.

No youths will be admitted to the exhibit, organizers said. The event is free.

For more information, call Comunale at 330-643-2725.

 

Kathleen Folkerth, Ariel Hakim and Maria Lindsay contributed to these reports.

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