DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron Public Schools (APS) may “tap the brakes” on fall reopening plans, go fully virtual and make ongoing decisions each grading period. During the July 20 virtual special meeting of the APS Board of Education, board members, administration and a union representative discussed the Reopen and Recover proposal. No vote was taken. The original plan, presented June […]
2020-07-23
West Side Cause for Celebration
Ronald McDonald House Akron DOWNTOWN AKRON — Ronald McDonald House Akron’s Red Tie Affair, its signature fundraising event, will be held virtually Aug. 3-8. The fundraiser will offer guests a unique opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at the programs, services and faces behind Ronald McDonald House Akron, including its 42 guest rooms, meal program and necessary services for pediatric […]
Sharon trustees learn details about small business grant
During a remote meeting July 14, the Sharon Board of Trustees heard about a new grant program benefiting Medina County small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trustee Kimberly Bolas Miller explained local businesses and nonprofit organizations in the county that have fewer than 50 employees could be eligible for a small business grant from the Medina County Economic Development […]
Leadership Akron selects Signature Class 37
AKRON — Leadership Akron encourages community participation to advance area residents’ involvement and impact through its Signature Program. Officials explained that over the course of the year, participants in the program develop a well-rounded perspective of the community to set the stage for further involvement as civic-minded leaders. The class spends a day each month focused on a sector of […]
Improvements continue at Cascade Valley Metro Park
WEST AKRON — River restoration work at the Valley View Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park, pictured above, is underway thanks to a $2.5 million award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Great Lakes Commission (GLC) Regional Partnership. Made possible through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, this funding is in addition to a previously granted $500,000 award […]
Revere student receives P.E.O. STAR Scholarship
BATH — The P.E.O. Sisterhood’s $2,500 P.E.O. Star Scholarship for this year has been presented to Keri Tomechko, a recent Revere High School graduate, during a virtual senior awards ceremony by Joyce Cunningham, Chapter AM-BV STAR Scholarship chair. Tomechko, pictured at right, was recommended for the scholarship by Chapter AM-BV of Akron, according to club officials, who added she plans […]
CVNP recreation past and present
CVNP — Northeast Ohio has great parks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Ohio let them stay open with the view that walking, hiking, running and biking in parks and green space are essential. The importance of parks isn’t a new idea. It is baked into the history of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). The story of recreation in […]
ASO offering new plan for 2020-21 season
DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Akron Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will offer a new plan for its upcoming season called the ASO Interlude Season — Akron Symphony’s Gift to the Community, which is designed to share free music throughout Northeast Ohio. “I’m tremendously excited about the Interlude Season,” said ASO Music Director Christopher Wilkins. “I do mourn the loss of a full […]
Revere board censures member
The Revere Local Schools Board of Education voted in favor of censuring board member Mike Kahoe during their work session July 14. The vote to censure was based on an incident that occurred May 31 in Vermilion involving underage people drinking alcoholic beverages. Kahoe, a 2020 Revere High School graduate who is 18 years old and was elected to the […]
Akron proposing new water meter system
DOWNTOWN AKRON — During the July 20 Akron City Council meeting, members heard a presentation from Service Director Chris Ludle in regards to a new water meter system being proposed for the city. Ludle said currently, there are 85,000 meters in the city and most of them are at least 15 years old. He said meters are read using a […]
Bath Center Building to shine brighter
At the virtual meeting July 20, the Bath trustees approved a contract that should soon have the Bath Center Building and its surroundings shining brighter to welcome visitors to the township’s administration building. The trustees approved a $46,923 contract with Speelman Electric Inc. for the Bath Center Building’s Exterior Lighting Replacement Project, which will consist of replacing exterior lighting around […]
Summit County death notices
Summit County Public Health has issued these death notices for the week of July 12 through July 18, 2020: Dale Adkins, Akron, 77, died July 1, 2020 Ardace Laverne Alder, Stow, 94, died July 14, 2020 Eleanor Louise Allen, Barberton, 103, died July 5, 2020 Marjorie Dell Aman, Akron, 80, died July 8, 2020 Michael Phillip Aus, Green, 50, died […]
West Side News & Notes
Summit Metro Parks receives funding for Sand Run Metro Park improvements WEST AKRON — A portion of Sand Run Parkway and the jogging trail is closed to make the first in a series of grant-funded infrastructure and ecological improvements within Sand Run Metro Park. The closure began July 20 and will continue for approximately three months. According to Summit Metro […]
Fairlawn working to update trees throughout city
FAIRLAWN — Deputy Service Director Ernie Staten said the City of Fairlawn is currently working to update and improve all trees located on city-owned properties, while also attempting to earn Tree City USA status. “Our tree plan primarily deals with where trees are planted in the public right-of-way,” he said. “We wanted to put together a plan that shows we […]
Virtual West Akron African American 5K set for Aug. 1
WEST AKRON — Now in its seventh year, the annual West Akron 5K will have a new format this year and a new name. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the newly titled West Akron African American 5K will become a virtual event this year Aug. 1 with a primary focus on the health-related events that typically surround the race. “Last […]
Highland board hears proposed reopening plan
The reopening of Highland Local Schools for the 2020-21 school year was discussed at the Highland Board of Education’s virtual meeting July 20. Superintendent Catherine Aukerman presented a draft of a reopening plan, explaining all students will follow a hybrid plan for the first three weeks of the school year. She explained students will be divided into two groups that […]
Chalk It Up beautifying Downtown Cuyahoga Falls
CUYAHOGA FALLS — When COVID-19 appeared this past spring, many local event organizers canceled festivals and chalked it up to a lost opportunity, but in Cuyahoga Falls, leaders are using the pandemic experience to share art with the community. Abby Poeske, executive director of Downtown Cuyahoga Falls Partnership (DCFP), said her organization’s Chalk It Up initiative grew from the initial […]
STVM recognizes students’ achievements
DOWNTOWN AKRON — St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) presented various awards to graduates of the Class of 2020 recently. According to school officials, award recipients are nominated by fellow students and/or selected by faculty and earn the awards for a wide range of accomplishments. The awards and recipients include: • Valedictorian, for the highest GPA over four years: Natalie […]
Historic, 100-year-old mansion for sale
WEST AKRON — The Byron R. Barder House, located at 1041 W. Market St. and pictured above, is a Georgian Revival-style home built by architectural firm Harpster & Bliss in 1919 for Barder, president and general manager of Biggs Boiler Works Co., and his family. Restored by Braun & Steidl Architects Inc. in 1986, it then became home to the […]
Sons of Italy Lodge 685 awards scholarships
GREATER AKRON — The Sons of Italy Akron Lodge 685 recently handed out four scholarships to help students of Italian heritage attend college. The scholarships were funded by Guido and Rose Margida and Diane Evans in memory of Marian Paparone, The Toni Ross Gin Rummy Club and the Sons of Italy Akron Lodge. Scholarship recipients and their college of choice […]
South Side Neighborhood Watch
COVENTRY: On July 10, a Swartz Road man reported a Scioto Lane woman had photos of his Social Security and credit cards on her phone and he wanted them deleted. She told Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies she only had the credit card image and she had deleted it. Deputies responded to a dispute involving brothers at a Manchester Road […]
West Side Neighborhood Watch
WEST AKRON: Police investigated burglary reports July 14 in the 1300 block of Nome Avenue and July 19 in the 900 block of Cordova Avenue. On July 11, officers responded to a report of a man with a gun at a South Hawkins Avenue business. He left in a vehicle before officers arrived, but they stopped the vehicle near the […]
No More Abuse Virtual Walk Challenge unveiled
MEDINA COUNTY — Twelve Medina County organizations joined together June 18 to launch the No More Abuse Virtual Walk Challenge, set for June 15 to Aug. 30. These included the Children’s Center of Medina County, with Executive Director Rhonda Wurgler, pictured above talking to those gathered at the launch. Participants in this event are asked to donate to a local […]
Ohio & Erie Canalway awards grants
NORTHEAST OHIO — The Ohio & Erie Canalway Association (OECA) has awarded a total of $603,830 to 16 regional organizations for projects and programs within the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, which includes Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas counties. Recipients in Summit include: • Summit Metro Parks, $50,000 for the Freedom Trail Trailhead; • Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley […]
Dr. John Alan Fink
Dr. John Alan Fink of Bath, Ohio died on July 13, 2020 at the age of 65, after a 10 month journey with cancer. Dr. Fink was born on April 12, 1955 in Columbus, Ohio to Mildred Fink and Dr. Samuel Fink. He graduated valedictorian from Riverdale High School in 1973, where he was a standout athlete playing both basketball […]
Ohio Shakespeare Festival performing ‘entertaining’ show
WEST AKRON — For the first time in six months, live theater is available in Akron. The Ohio Shakespeare Festival is offering “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [revised]” through Aug. 9 on the grounds at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. The seats are arranged in a checker-board pattern, with four sanitized seats in each square. The seats are […]
Fairlawn man questions Copley-Fairlawn Schools’ leadership
To the editor: The dripping, pathetic irony of the Copley-Fairlawn [City] Schools Board [of Education] holding virtual meetings at the same time that Superintendent Brian Poe passes the buck, in the words of the West Side Leader’s stenographer [reporter] of “requiring face coverings for staff and students, however, have been trickier” is too unbelievable, even for a “Saturday Night Live” […]
Mustard Seed Market fundraising for Children’s Hospital
HIGHLAND SQUARE/BATH — Mustard Seed Market, with locations at 867 W. Market St. and 3885 W. Market St., is inviting customers to donate $1 or $5 at checkout to the Akron Children’s Hospital’s Crisis Relief Fund through Sept. 30. This fund, established to provide financial support for programs and services at the hospital, has identified the following top priorities: telehealth, […]
West Side Business News & Notes
Cutco Kitchen fundraiser sending kids to camp HARTVILLE — Cutco Kitchen, located in the Hartville Marketplace, offers kitchen knives, utensils and gadgets, in addition to flatware, cookware and sporting, hunting and pocketknives. The business, operated by Kevin Connor, is hosting a fundraiser to help send children of military personnel to summer camp. A portion of the proceeds from the sale […]
South Side News & Notes
Akron opens applications for Mayor’s Citizens Institute DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan opened applications July 16 for the 2020 City of Akron Mayor’s Citizens Institute class. According to city officials, the Mayor’s Citizens Institute, is a free, 10-week program designed to provide Akron residents with an inside view of city operations. This year’s class will be slightly different […]
Springfield schools release restart plan
SPRINGFIELD — Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Springfield Local School District is committed to safely returning students, teachers and other staff members to school Mondays through Fridays beginning late August. “We feel it is best to have our students, K-12, back in school five days a week,” said Superintendent Chuck Sincere. “I may not see their smiles because of […]
Lakemore working to reverse problems in Springfield Lake
Ditches, basins to be installed to slow water runoff LAKEMORE — While it is not the only entity with a stake in Springfield Lake, Lakemore Village actively is working to help rectify an ongoing situation in the body of water closed for recreational usage. At the July 20 Council meeting, Mayor Richard Cole gave an update on what Lakemore is […]
Coventry BOE approves reopening plan
During the Coventry Local Schools Board of Education (BOE) meeting July 15, members heard an update from Superintendent Lisa Blough about the district’s reopening plan. She said the district hopes to have all students return to school five days a week with guidelines and precautions in place. In addition, the district will offer a virtual academy, she added. During the […]
Manchester officials unveil setup for fall
Manchester Local Schools Board of Education (BOE) members heard an update on the district’s reopening plan for fall. During the July 16 meeting, Superintendent James Robinson said the district plans to bring students back to school five days per week with social distancing in place. He said students in third through 12th grades will be required to wear face masks, […]
Springfield district seeking emergency levy
LAKEMORE/SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Local Schools officials are asking residents who live in the district to support Issue 1, a 10-year, $3 million emergency levy on the Aug. 4 Special Election ballot. According to the ballot language, the levy, which is the only issue on the ballot, is estimated to average 7.7 mills. Treasurer Chris Adams stated the levy is expected […]
New Franklin Council OKs new city position
Resident receives commendation for bravery NEW FRANKLIN — New Franklin Council established the position of part-time service department administrative assistant at its July 15 meeting. Mayor Paul Adamson said the position will include both in-person administrative assistant duties and assistance with service department related finances, including overseeing budgets and purchase orders. “It is a technical job, with lots to do, […]