GREATER AKRON — “My name is Raine and I’m a real sweetie pie who is 5 years old and was taken from a puppy mill. I’m adjusting to my new life very quickly and am good with everyone — kids, dogs and cats. I require a secure fence and another confident dog in the home to help me transition to […]
2021-02-18
Rosita ready for new life
WEST AKRON — “Hi, my name is Rosita after the Sesame Street monster. I am cute like she is and a little spicy, too! I love soft voices, head scratches, catnip and treats. I am shy, only about a year old and would open up and grow to love deeply in a new home. I was found as a stray […]
McIntosh looking for adventures
TWINSBURG — “Hi friends! My name is McIntosh, and I can’t wait to find my forever family. I’m a 3-year-old pit bull terrier mix, and I love making new friends. I’m full of affection and goofy antics. I really enjoy going for walks and would be happy to join my new family for adventurous hikes. Perhaps you could be my […]
Link seeking companion
GREATER AKRON — “Hi, my name is Link! I am a sweet senior boy looking for a home where I can soak up attention, lounge around and eat yummy treats. I am declawed and 12-14 years old. I came to Paws & Prayers when my owner unexpectedly passed away, and I was in pretty rough shape but am now doing […]
‘Precious’ pet healing Bath woman’s heart
WEST AKRON — A visit to a local animal shelter is helping a Bath woman mend a broken heart caused by the death of her 12-year-old Great Pyrenees mix dog, Koko, to cancer Jan. 15. Bath resident Melissa Baccaire, a Cloverleaf Junior High School language arts teacher, said her veterinarian advised her Koko had to be euthanized immediately due to […]
Trustees revisit discussions on computer servers
SHARON — The Sharon Township Board of Trustees held a virtual meeting Feb. 9, at which township officials addressed a previous discussion about the township’s computer servers. At the Jan. 21 meeting, Fiscal Officer Christine Lawson said the township’s servers with Bay Pointe Technology need to be replaced or the township needs to switch to another vendor. She said Bay […]
West Side Business News & Notes
CDPS creates jobs to make masks, planning new carpentry school in Akron AKRON/CLEVELAND — Career Development and Placement Strategies Inc. (CDPS), a nonprofit organization that provides workforce and personal development programs to unemployed and underemployed residents in Northeast Ohio, has partnered with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to produce COVID-19 personal protection equipment (PPE) masks. Maurice Stevens, CDPS president, […]
Steven A. Mitchell
Husband, father, grandfather, small business owner and retired jeweler, Steven A. Mitchell, 79, was with loved ones when he peacefully passed away February 2, 2021. His battle with Alzheimer’s disease demonstrated his courage in facing life challenges with kindness and optimism. He was born in Fairmont, West Virginia to the late Stephen and Annalee Wasarovich. Steven would later move to […]
John Allen Shelby Snoderly
Local attorney, real estate developer and founding member of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy dies at 91. John Allen Shelby Snoderly passed away peacefully February 3, 2021. He graduated from Springfield High School, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Akron University (BS 1952) and continuing his Juris Doctorate in 1959 from the University of Akron. John entered the United States Air Force as a […]
Akron reveals online platform to increase homeownership
DOWNTOWN AKRON — The City of Akron is revealing a new online platform called Welcome Home Akron, which will focus on increasing homeownership in the city. According to city officials, Welcome Home Akron was created in conjunction with Tolemi, a data-driven government software company that focuses on housing and economic development strategies. This new property acquisition program comes in addition […]
License reinstatement program returns
GREATER AKRON — Area residents without a valid driver’s license have limited options when it comes to work. In order to address this issue, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is now offering the Reinstatement Fee Debt Reduction and Amnesty Program. According to Community Legal Aid Services Inc. officials, this permanent program is designed to assist people who cannot […]
Copley orders more road salt
COPLEY — With weather reports calling for heavy snowfall in the coming week, the Copley Township Board of Trustees approved an emergency $40,000 purchase of road salt from Cargill Inc. at the Feb. 9 meeting. According to Service Director Mark Mitchell, the township will be ready for it road-salt wise. “This gets us 550 tons,” Mitchell said. “We have another […]
West Side Education News & Notes
Copley High School CyberPatriot team finishes third in state COPLEY — Since 2019, Copley High School has offered the CyberPatriot program to students in grades nine through 12. Sponsored by Northrop Grumman, CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire kindergarten to grade 12 students to choose careers in cybersecurity or other […]
Fairlawn Council updated on road project
FAIRLAWN — At the Feb. 16 Fairlawn City Council meeting, Service Director Ernie Staten shared an update about the South Cleveland-Massillon Road construction project. Because of the recent wintry weather conditions, with the winds and low temperatures, the work has been paused, he told Council members. “You’ll see crews out there doing minimal things, but they’re just taking a pause […]
Woodridge girls bowling team’s season of highlights continues
CUYAHOGA FALLS — Head coach Tina Fleming said strong team chemistry has helped put the Woodridge High School girls bowling team on a winning path. “We are 8-2 in the conference and 10-2 overall. I am very pleased with the way the girls have performed this season,” Fleming said. “They continuously worked hard at practice and improved tremendously throughout the […]
West Side Neighborhood Watch
Editor’s note: Regarding area residents’ reporting of fraudulent activity related to receiving unemployment benefits that weren’t sought, police advise victims of this type of fraud to file a police report, contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ fraud hotline, notify their financial institutions and credit reporting agencies, monitor their credit and bank accounts […]
Board extends road department agreement with Peninsula
BOSTON — The Boston Township Board of Trustees approved Feb. 10 a one-year extension on the agreement with Peninsula Village to use the township’s facilities to house Peninsula’s road department. The agreement now runs through March 31, 2022. Peninsula Village Mayor Dan Schneider Jr. said the federal government sent an email rejecting the village’s request to allow the Valley Fire […]
Bath departments provide year reviews
BATH — At the Feb. 8 Bath Township Board of Trustees meeting, trustees began the process of reviewing the accomplishments of the township’s various departments over the past year. They heard 2020 reviews from the following three township departments: • Fire Chief Rob Campbell reported COVID-19 hindered many of the services the department usually provides, such as trainings, inspections and […]
West Side News & Notes
Akron Utilities Business Office drop box relocating DOWNTOWN AKRON — The City of Akron is relocating the drop box location for the city’s Utilities Business Office. According to city officials, the new location for the drop box will be at the Pry Building, 1180 S. Main St. The former location at the CitiCenter building will be sealed off and no […]
APS super delivers final State of Schools address
DOWNTOWN AKRON — In his final Akron Public Schools (APS) State of the Schools address, given virtually Feb. 11 before the Akron Press Club, Superintendent David James shared the district’s accomplishments under his leadership, the schools’ recent challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic and his vision for the future. James, who is retiring in June, began his career with APS in […]
Summit County death notices
Summit County Public Health has issued these death notices for the week of Jan. 3-9, 2021 (continued from last week’s edition): Loel Gregory Shook, Akron, 64, died Dec. 22, 2020 Jeffrey Lloyd Shue, Barberton, 64, died Dec. 27, 2020 Kimberly Anne Shull, Green, 62, died Dec. 29, 2020 Joseph Paul Shuman Jr., Copley, 80, died Dec. 30, 2020 Raymond Harvard […]
Falls man asks about opening of road
To the editor: When will Akron-Peninsula Road open? This road has been closed since November. The West Side Leader reported Feb. 11-17 [2021] [“Council learns of project setback”], Peninsula needs an estimated $810,000 to reopen the road. There seems to be no answer to where the funding might come from. I would think Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) would want […]
Bald eagles return to CVNP
CVNP — A pair of bald eagles has returned and is tending to its nest within the Pinery Narrows area in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP). Park officials stated this pair has nested in CVNP since 2007 and has successfully fledged 17 eaglets. To protect them from human disturbance, the area surrounding the nest tree will be closed through July […]
Grace House fundraising for hospice home
GREATER AKRON — After watching patients die alone and in undesirable conditions, two health care professionals decided to team up to ensure indigent, homeless and abandoned individuals at the end of their lives receive the humane care they deserve in their last days. Holly Klein and Cindy Browning, both hospice care nurses, partnered in 2016 to create Grace House Akron […]
South Side Neighborhood Watch
Editor’s note: Regarding area residents’ reporting of fraudulent activity related to receiving unemployment benefits that weren’t sought, police advise victims of this type of fraud to file a police report, contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ fraud hotline, notify their financial institutions and credit reporting agencies, monitor their credit and bank accounts […]
South Side News & Notes
IBH Addiction Recovery rebranded COVENTRY — The IBH Addiction Recovery Center, a provider of drug and alcohol addiction treatment, has a new name, logo and website. IBH officials stated the word “center” has been removed from its name to focus attention on the programs and results rather than a place where those things occur. The new logo signifies the core […]
Coventry trustees approve fire union contract
COVENTRY — The Coventry Township Board of Trustees approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the township fire department union during the Feb. 11 meeting. The agreement with the union, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2286, includes a 3 percent wage increase over the course of the three-year period and no changes to benefits. “We are happy that […]
Trustees promote police officer
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Township Board of Trustees approved the promotion of Police Department Officer Kristofer London to sergeant, effective Feb. 22, at the Feb. 11 meeting. According to Police Chief Jack Simone, London will fill the vacancy left by the recent promotion of Denise Moore to captain. He has been with the Springfield Police Department since 2012. He has […]
Manchester super retiring in July
NEW FRANKLIN — Manchester Local Schools Superintendent James Robinson is retiring July 31 following 48 years with the district. He made the announcement during the Feb. 16 Manchester Board of Education meeting. “It has been my privilege to serve,” said Robinson, who has served as superintendent for the past seven years. “There are a lot of good things going on […]
Green boys swim team focused on postseason
GREEN — Head coach Mike Lazor said the Green High School boys swim team is fortunate to have “a great deal of senior leadership and swimmers with big meet experience.” “There is a great amount of swimming experience on this year’s boys team,” he said. “The team has outstanding leadership and excellent examples for our underclassmen. We are blessed with […]
Springfield district closing Young Elementary
LAKEMORE — For financial reasons and in response to declining enrollment, Springfield Local Schools is closing one educational building and implementing cost reduction measures for the 2021-22 school year. At the Feb. 16 meeting, the Board of Education officially authorized the closure of Young Elementary School in Springfield at the conclusion of the current school year and the redistribution of […]
Summit County officials working to remove lead from homes
SUMMIT COUNTY — Since 2013, Summit County has received $5.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund lead removal in local homes to help prevent serious health conditions in children caused by lead exposure, according to county officials. Officials stated the county’s Department of Community Development and Summit County Public Health (SCPH) have worked together […]
Torchbearers reduces membership fees
GREATER AKRON — Torchbearers, a volunteer-run organization founded in 2003 to strengthen the connection between Akron area nonprofits and emerging leaders, as well as to further efforts to attract and retain emerging leaders in Greater Akron through various programming, is enacting a “pay what you’re able” format to its membership model in 2021, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the […]
Village remains attentive to lake health concerns
LAKEMORE — Lakemore Village officials continue to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to address illicit discharges impacting the health of Springfield Lake. At the Feb. 16 Lakemore Council meeting, Village Administrator Tracy Fast told Council she is “more than willing to enforce the village’s illicit discharges ordinance to the highest extent” with anyone found in violation to face a […]
Operation Christmas Child receives 8 million shoebox gifts in U.S.
To the editor: Despite a global pandemic, residents throughout [the] Akron OH Area Team shared the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season. At curbside drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child, generosity of donors across the U.S. resulted in more than 7.8 million shoebox gifts collected in 2020. Combined with those […]
South Side Real Estate & Home News & Notes
Manufactured home tax bills being delivered SUMMIT COUNTY — Summit County Fiscal Office officials announced first-half 2021 manufactured homes tax bills were mailed out Jan. 28 and are due March 1. Property taxes are deferred for military reservists who are on active duty, with applications for this available by calling 330-630-7226 or at fiscaloffice.summitoh.net. Payments can be made: by mail […]