WEST AKRON — Clara Hoffert, a senior at Akron Public Schools’ Firestone Community Learning Center, has moved from semifinalist to finalist standing in the National Merit® Scholarship Corp. (NMSC) scholarship program. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards, among other requirements, according to NMSC officials. […]
2022-03-17
Mini Monster Course opens at Akron Zoo
WEST AKRON — The Akron Zoo has partnered with Akron Children’s Museum to offer the Mini Monster Course through March 25 in the Komodo Kingdom building, courtesy of the Robert O. and Annamae Orr Family Foundation. The Mini Monster Course, pictured above, is a child-friendly obstacle course that includes a tunnel, balance beam, stair steps, stepping stones and more. There […]
Affectionate Howie, Star seeking togetherness
BRUNSWICK — Howie and Star are 2-year-old huskies weighing 35 and 30 pounds, respectively. The bonded pair like to keep close to their owners on the sofa and follow them around during the day. These atypical huskies enjoy human contact and are extremely affectionate, friendly and loving. They also are kid-, dog- and cat-friendly. They are looking for a family […]
Falls Council OKs tax-sharing plan with library
CUYAHOGA FALLS — Cuyahoga Falls City Council approved a revenue-sharing agreement with the Cuyahoga Falls Library March 14. According to the legislation, the agreement will allow the library to share the new property tax revenue generated by the South Front Street Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project. In December, Council approved the creation of a TIF area for the Testa Co.’s […]
Manchester Science Club plans litter pickup
NEW FRANKLIN — Manchester High School’s (MHS) Science Club will once again celebrate World Water Day March 22 by hosting a litter pickup at Summit Lake in South Akron. Manchester High School biology teacher Carrie Soful said World Water Day is designed to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and educate people on ways to protect it. This year […]
Norton district bus driver pay discussions continue
NORTON — The Norton City Schools Board of Education discussed pay for bus drivers March 14. Linda Lynden, speaking on behalf of fellow bus drivers, stated that bus drivers, who often work even in hazardous weather, are underpaid. She said drivers make a minimum of $16.37 an hour, with the highest-paid driver being a 20-year veteran making $19.87 per hour. […]
Officials hear concerns about fireworks store
SHARON — The Sharon Township Board of Trustees March 8 heard from Sharon and Charles Burgess, of Sharon’s Little Leapers day care center on Boneta Road, regarding concerns over the addition of S&J Fireworks at the former Rinky Dink building next door to their business. The Burgesses said they were not notified of the plans for the fireworks business and […]
Norton resident requests city pay for culvert repair
NORTON — Summit Road resident Brandon Ramirez appeared before Norton City Council March 14 to ask for help. Ramirez says the culvert running under his driveway collapsed during the last period of heavy rain, leaving him with a hole 9 feet deep and 12 feet wide in his driveway, barely enough room, he says, to maneuver his trashcans through to […]
South Side News & Notes
Manchester school board conducts routine business NEW FRANKLIN — The Manchester Local Schools Board of Education approved several routine items March 15. Those items included accepting bids for two 78-passenger buses and one 54-passenger bus, the summer reading proposal for the 2022-23 school year and accepting donations totaling $300. Also during the meeting, board President Joe Hercules announced trees have […]
Highland NMS semifinalists named
GRANGER — Highland High School National Merit Scholarship (NMS) semifinalists, who now advance to finalist standing, include seniors, shown above from left: Andrew Chand, Jackson Shaw, Drew Thomas, Emily Dunn, Brian Marasco and Jason Yen. According to school officials, to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, semifinalists must advance to finalist standing by meeting high academic standards and other […]
Trustees OK civilian investigator for police department
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Township Board of Trustees approved March 10 the creation of a part-time civilian investigator position in the police department. Police Chief Jack Simone explained the position will allow the Springfield Township Police Department to hire former federal officers to work in its detective bureau on a part-time basis as the State of Ohio makes changes to […]
Trustees approve portable storage shed revisions
COVENTRY — New regulations relative to portable storage containers are coming following a public hearing during the March 10 Coventry Township Board of Trustees meeting. Trustee George Beckham said both the Summit County Planning Commission and Coventry Zoning Commission recommended redefining portable storage sheds, and early drafts have been changed to eliminate name brands. Coventry Zoning Inspector Mike Harrison added […]
West Side Neighborhood Watch
WEST AKRON: On March 4, police responded to a report of shots fired at the intersection of Packard Drive and Lawton Street, where they found a rental scooter in the traffic lane of Lawton Street and located five shell casings nearby. Police investigated the theft of a vehicle from the sales lot of an automotive business in the 300 block […]
Local student band performs at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame event
CLEVELAND — The 2022 Tri-C High School Rock Off at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame March 5 included the band Not Dishwasher Safe among the 10 to compete in the first round of the competition. The band, pictured above, from left, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, includes guitarist Ben Goske, an eighth-grader at St. Hilary […]
Trustees receive road grant
BOSTON — The Boston Township Board of Trustees celebrated receiving another major grant March 9. Road Superintendent Dave Krusinski announced the township was picked to receive a $245,412 grant from an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) program that allotted $8 million in federal stimulus funding to townships for road projects. Boston Township was the only township in Summit County to […]
Summit County death notices
Summit County Public Health has issued these death notices for the week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, 2022 (continued from last week): Kathleen Hetrick, Youngstown, 78, died Jan. 12, 2022 Donald Dual Higgins Jr., Barberton, 67, died Jan. 26, 2022 Charles Huddleston Sr., Maple Heights, 91, died Jan. 6, 2022 David Deane Huff Jr., Hudson, 64, died Jan. 21, […]
Hoban defeated in state tournament
COPLEY — The Archbishop Hoban High School boys basketball team was defeated 63-46 by St. Edward High School in the regional final game of the Division I Boys Basketball Tournament at Copley High School March 12. Shown at near right, Hoban junior Jay Crable drives to the basket defended by St. Edward junior Cam Grant early in the first quarter. […]
Sweet April ready for new life
GREATER AKRON — April is a sweet, lovable 5-year-old girl. Her puppy-bearing days at a puppy mill are behind her. She is good with children, dogs and even cats. She will require another dog in the home and a conventional fence. Anyone interested in adopting April should visit www.goldentreasuresrescue.org. This information was provided by Gold Treasures Rescue.
Springfield BOE selects new superintendent
Plus, board changes upcoming levy ballot language LAKEMORE — The Springfield Local Schools Board of Education (BOE)approved hiring a permanent superintendent before a near-capacity audience at a special board meeting March 11. The BOE approved a three-year contract for Superintendent Shelley Monachino, who comes to the district from Tallmadge City Schools. Monachino, who is currently director of human resources and […]
Granger trustees revisit proposed CRA
GRANGER — During the Granger Township Board of Trustees meeting March 14, Bethany Dentler, of the Medina County Economic Development Committee, provided an update on the proposed community reinvestment area involving a new building at Akron-Medina Corporate Park II, located at 1113 Medina Road. Dentler said the nearly 36,000-square-foot building would bring more than 30 jobs to the area. She […]
SCPH leader brings good COVID-19 news to county
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda brought “happy news” to Summit County Council March 14. “The numbers continue to fall,” said Skoda. “Summit County is now in the green category, with 34.2 cases [of COVID-19] per 100,000 [people].” Skoda also said the positivity test rate for COVID is about 3 percent, and the death rate is […]
Schrop principal reports on student progress
Teachers also detail new social-emotional learning program at school LAKEMORE — The Schrop Intermediate School principal and teachers presented positive news to district officials at the March 15 Springfield Local Schools Board of Education meeting. Schrop Principal Lisa Vardan reported that although the state did not issue state report cards this year due to reduced testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Playful Miss Maple looking for family
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Miss Maple is a 2-year-old Shar Pei mix weighing approximately 50 pounds. She is a playful gal, and fetch is her favorite game. Maple, with her wrinkled, squishy and adorable face, likes to solicit attention. She is looking for a family and home to call her own. Her adoption fee is $94 and includes vaccines, deworming, flea […]
West Side News & Notes
Leadership Akron accepting program applications GREATER AKRON — Applications to participate in Leadership Akron’s Signature Program and Diversity on Board Program are now being accepted. Organization officials stated the Signature Program unites area leaders for a transformative 10-month journey of learning, collaboration and inspiration to broaden their community impact. The Diversity on Board program offers leadership development, education, coaching and […]
Akron City Council hears park improvement details
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Improvements to two parks in the City of Akron will soon get underway. During the March 14 Akron City Council meeting, members heard details about planned improvements to Kerr Park in Akron’s Ward 4 and Jewett Park in Ward 10’s Middlebury neighborhood. Both parks were winners of the 2021 Akron Parks Challenge and each will receive a […]
West Side Pets News & Notes
Fundraiser to benefit Medina County SPCA MEDINA — The Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) 17th annual Animal Affair Dinner Auction event is scheduled for April 29 at Blue Heron Brewery & Event Center, 3227 Blue Heron Trace. This event will include a social hour and viewing at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m., […]
Masks now optional in Akron Public Schools
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Akron Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Christine Fowler-Mack announced at the March 14 Board of Education meeting the district has moved from a mask mandate to mask-optional status. “We still recognize the need to be very health conscious and to be preventative in our practice,” she said. “Our signs that you will see going into our buildings acknowledge […]
Robeks owner offers healthy food, civic pride
FAIRLAWN — Kit Arn entered the smoothie business in 2010 after 30 years in the wine industry. He said that while his products have changed, his thoughts about the most important part of owning a business have not. “I wanted to be that guy who, when kids work for me, 10 or 15 years later they say, ‘I worked for […]
SCPH brings good COVID-19 news to county council – South
DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda brought “happy news” to Summit County Council March 14. “The numbers continue to fall,” said Skoda. “Summit County is now in the green category, with 34.2 cases [of COVID-19] per 100,000 [people].” Skoda also said the positivity test rate for COVID is about 3 percent, and the death rate is […]
South Side Neighborhood Watch
COVENTRY: Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies responding to an abandoned vehicle left in a construction zone on Interstate 77 March 1 had it towed to an impound lot. Firefighters and deputies responded to a fire at a Dorwil Drive residence March 2. The fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported. A Winimac Avenue woman gave deputies video surveillance of […]
Peninsula Village Council honors longtime club
PENINSULA — Peninsula Village Council honored a club dedicated to beautification of the community at Council’s March 14 meeting. Mayor Dan Schneider Jr. presented the Peninsula Home and Garden Club with the village’s first Community Organization Recognition Award, which Council approved in January. According to village officials, the club consists of 35 members, was established in 1935 and is known […]
West Side Education News & Notes
Project GRAD Akron hosting March GRADness DOWNTOWN AKRON — Project GRAD Akron (PGA) will present its eighth annual March GRADness fundraiser April 4 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St. Project GRAD Akron, in partnership with community partners, has provided programs, supports and scholarships for underrepresented students to help them achieve success from kindergarten through […]
New Peninsula Council members eager to serve
PENINSULA — The two new members of Peninsula Village Council bring experienced leadership and youthful energy to the table. Council selected Douglas Steidl and Jennifer Verbic to fill the two vacant seats on Council in January. The vacancies came after Council members Mike Kaplan and Chris Weigand chose not to seek re-election and no one else submitted petitions to be […]
Ohio Department of Commerce advisory: Claim Your ‘Gold’ This St. Patrick’s Day
New online portal makes claims easier than ever (COLUMBUS, Ohio)— The Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Unclaimed Funds is making it easier than ever to find your pot of gold, cash, property, and more. The Division of Unclaimed Funds guards more than $3 billion in unclaimed money and property belonging to Ohioans, which they are working diligently to return […]
Ohio State Highway Patrol advisory: Operation CARE Spring Break/St. Patrick’s mobilization
COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is joining forces with law enforcement throughout the country to focus on traffic safety and crash reduction during the Operation CARE Spring Break/St. Patrick’s Day Mobilization. The initiative began Saturday, March 12, and will continue through Sunday, March 20, at 11:59 p.m. Ohio has continued to see an increase in fatal crashes over […]