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West Side News & Notes



Akron mayor releases framework for community violence reduction

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has released a five-point framework for community violence reduction in Akron.
According to city officials, the framework is designed to communicate the city’s efforts toward violence reduction, identify key partners in these varied and ongoing efforts and inspire further community conversation. The framework paves the way for the mayor’s allotment of $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward youth and community violence prevention. City Council has not yet voted on how to spend those funds, city officials noted.
The five areas of focus include prevention, intervention and support, enforcement, partnership and advocacy, and community accountability. Officials added the five-point framework builds on the work of the Youth Violence Prevention Taskforce first convened in 2016.
To view the five-point framework for community violence reduction, visit akronohio.gov/framework.
“The rising level of gun violence we have witnessed over the past year is tragic and unacceptable,” Horrigan said. “Too many lives have been lost and too many families and communities left in grief and fear. It will take a whole-of-Akron approach to truly make a difference and reduce gun violence long-term. We will work with the community to address the root causes of violence, including unmet mental health needs and underfunded recreational and mentoring resources. We will also work across the criminal justice system to identify gaps, target enforcement to known hotspots and dangerous offenders, and advocate for state and federal policy that supports a safer Akron.”

 

Summit County celebrating Welcoming Week

SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County is celebrating Welcoming Week, an annual national celebration of refugees, new Americans and long-time residents, Sept. 10-19.
Sponsored by Welcoming America, a national nonprofit promoting inclusive communities, the theme for this year is “Belonging Begins With Us,” which aims to draw attention to the language barriers and cultural differences that impact the feeling of belonging among refugees and new Americans.
“We celebrate Welcoming Week as a way of bringing neighbors from different communities of the world together to build relationships and work together on shared goals right here in Summit County,” said County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “The welcoming of new residents is vital to our community, as they bring ideas, start businesses, serve in civic roles, work in critical conditions and contribute to the spirited diversity in our community.”
According to county officials, Welcoming Week has served as the annual campaign and celebration since 2012 to showcase the growing movement of communities striving to be more welcoming places for all, including immigrants. By fostering mutual respect and cooperation between new and long-time residents, Welcoming Week brings together people across lines of difference toward greater prosperity for all, officials added.
In 2015, then County Executive Russ Pry and County Council passed a resolution declaring Summit County a Welcoming Community, with the goal of creating inclusive policies and practices to help refugees and immigrants feel welcome, according to county officials.
Residents interested in supporting refugees may visit the International Institute of Akron’s website at www.iiakron.org.
A list of planned national events on Welcoming Week is available at welcomingamerica.org/initiatives/welcoming-week/events.

 

ReWorks’ Hazardous Waste Center seasonal closing date set

STOW — The last day of operation for ReWorks’ Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Center (HHWRC) this season is Sept. 30.
The HHWRC, located at 1201 Graham Road, accepts hazardous waste materials such as aerosol cans, automotive products, batteries, herbicides, household cleaners, oil-based paint, kerosene and more. For a full list of acceptable materials, visit www.summitreworks.com/hhw.
Facility users must be Summit County residents and material from businesses, faith-based organizations and schools will not be accepted.
ReWorks officials stated that historically the center sees an increase in visits upon opening in the first two weeks in June and upon closing in the last two weeks of September.
Opening day in 2022 is June 2.
ReWorks is the solid-waste management authority for all Summit County and provides programs, services and community outreach on waste reduction, recycling and other materials-management strategies. For more information, visit www.summitreworks.com, call 330-374-0383 or email talk@summitreworks.com.

 

Summit County fiscal officer notes changes in public records law

SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise announced that Ohio Senate Bill 4 has passed into law. The law expands the definition of a “designated public service worker” under the Ohio Revised Code to include emergency service telecommunicators, certain Ohio National Guard members, protective service workers, forensic mental health providers, mental health evaluation providers and regional psychiatric hospital employees. These individuals’ residential and familial information is now exempt from disclosure under public records law. The new law went into effect on Sept. 7.
Those who qualify may request to have their personal information removed from the Summit County Fiscal Office’s public internet records, general tax lists and duplicates, noted Scalise. Spouses of these individuals also may request to have their names removed from these records and be replaced with their initials as the name that appears on the deed.
The following professions are already exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Law, according to Scalise: prosecutors, bailiffs, Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigators, correctional employees, emergency medical services (EMS) medical directors, prosecuting attorneys, youth services employees, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, judges, magistrates, parole officers, peace officers, probation officers, Ohio Board of Pharmacy employees, county or multicounty corrections officers, community-based correctional facility employees, members of EMS cooperation physician advisory boards and federal law enforcement officers.
Scalise noted there is a procedure that must be followed to redact information from records. Those who want to have their personal and familial information removed must first submit a signed “Request to Redact Address” form to the Summit County Fiscal Office, located at 175 S. Main St., Suite 400. If applicable, spouses must complete the form titled, “Affidavit for Insertion of Initials.” To make this request, contact the Fiscal Office’s Recorder Division at 330-643-2706 or via email to summittreas@summitoh.net.

 

ACCESS Shelter opens Royal Reading Castle

DOWNTOWN AKRON — ACCESS Shelter’s Royal Reading Castle opened Sept. 13 with a private ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Akron-Summit County Public Library Executive Director Pamela Hickson-Stevenson.
An open house for the public will take place tomorrow, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the facility, located at 230 W. Market St., offering an opportunity to explore the new castle-themed space designed to foster early literacy for children experiencing homelessness. Light refreshments and a tour of the shelter will follow. Reservations are encouraged and can be made at RoyalReadingCastle.eventbrite.com.
ACCESS is dedicated to addressing the plight of homeless women and children in the community through a Housing First approach, according to agency officials. The agency encourages the development of self-esteem and the attainment of self-sufficiency through its commitment to providing a holistic, safe and supportive environment, and through its programs of housing, advocacy and empowerment.
The Royal Reading Castle was built with funds donated by the Babcox Family Foundation and other ACCESS supporters, agency officials said.
“We can’t wait to share the castle with the families in shelter,” said ACCESS Executive Director Jackie Hemsworth. “We know that children that are read to regularly have a much higher chance of later success in school. ACCESS wants to set the stage for those opportunities.”
Donations to support ACCESS Shelter’s push for early literacy can be made at ACCESS-Shelter.org/donate.
Agency officials noted that throughout 2020 and 2021, ACCESS received hundreds of book donations for children to enjoy while at the shelter, and youth will be encouraged to select their favorite books to take with them when leaving ACCESS.
For additional information, contact Joy Raub, director of engagement, at jraub@access-shelter.org or call 330-376-0996, ext. 208.

 

Falls to celebrate National Public Lands Day with scavenger hunt

CUYAHOGA FALLS — The City of Cuyahoga Falls will host a citywide scavenger hunt Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day’s theme, “More Ways to Connect to Nature,” encourages people to go outside and enjoy public spaces.
The city’s hunt will span 12 city parks to encourage residents to explore these public spaces, officials said. Scavenger hunt sheets will be located at each of them, which include Babb Run Park, Galt Park, High Bridge Glens Park, Kennedy Park, Keyser Park, Lions Park, Linden Park, Oak Park, River Front Park, Trails End Park, Valley Vista Park and Water Works Park.
City officials stated the sheets will contain a question about each park and each correctly answered question will earn residents one entry into a drawing to win prizes donated by local businesses and organizations. All completed scavenger sheets must be submitted via a QR code link displayed at each park.
Trash bags also will be provided at each park site for anyone who may want to participate in cleanup efforts.
In addition, Akron Honey staff, in partnership with HiHO Brewing Co., will deliver a presentation on the importance of native plants and pollinators at 10:30 a.m. in the High Bridge Glens Park pavilion, located at 1817 Front St. The presentation will be followed by a cleanup in the park and surrounding area, with gloves, trash bags and trash grabbers to be provided.
Residents who take a photo showing their participation in any National Public Lands Day activity will receive $1 off a pint at HiHO Brewing Co. Sept. 25, officials said.
For more information, contact Bryce Pulley at bpulley@cityofcf.com or 330-971-8287.

 

Faith & Blue initiative coming to Summit County

A past Faith & Blue March in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is shown above. Thousands of Faith & Blue events will be held nationwide during the second weekend of October, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, with one taking place in Akron for the first stime Oct. 9. Photo courtesy of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office

DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Summit County Sheriff’s Office will host the county’s inaugural Faith & Blue event Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The University of Akron Fieldhouse, located at 289 S. Union St.
According to sheriff’s office officials, Faith & Blue is a national initiative with the goal of healing divisions and building bridges between law enforcement and the community through the connection of local communities of faith and houses of worship.
Thousands of Faith & Blue events will be held nationwide during the second weekend of October, officials added.
At a time when tensions and distrust between law enforcement and the public are at an all-time high, Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree said she believes that Faith & Blue is a unique opportunity to bring people together to engage with one another at a basic level and rediscover their shared backgrounds, beliefs and values.
Fun interactive events, contests and demonstrations are being planned in which the public, members of law enforcement and local faith leaders can participate together. There will be performances by local faith groups as well as interfaith prayer services.
Food will be available to purchase from local food trucks and vendors and Akron METRO RTA will provide free transportation to anyone displaying the Faith & Blue event flier. In addition, Summit County Public Health will host an on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Houses of worship, local police departments, community organizations and local businesses that would like to participate or support the event can contact Esther Thomas, director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the sheriff’s office, at ethomas@sheriff.summitoh.net or 330-643-2152, or chaplains James Allshouse or Glenn George at that number.

For more information on the Faith & Blue initiative, visit faithandblue.org.