From a tortoise conservationist to a ball python breeder, meet six exotic pet owners who are passionate about their impressive menageries. Plus, look out for our favorite exotic pet photos from readers.
Jake, Jennifer Manis and Maxx
photo by Erin Gulling
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{ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com }
REELED IN
OWNING FISH HAS OPENED MY EYES TO THE WORLD OF EXOTIC PETS.
It’s ironic that this year’s theme for the pets issue is exotic pets. We recently became fish owners. If it were up to me, I would never have done it. It’s not something I have any interest in. But, for Christmas this year, we bought our son, Bodhi, a fish tank. He went through a phase where all he wanted to do was catch bugs — and then his interest moved to fish. We went to Florida last year and spent time on the beach looking for sea creatures. The fish tank seemed like a good idea — and caring for and learning about the fish is pretty interesting
We ended up getting some small neon tetra fish and some African dwarf frogs. It is fun to watch them, and I am interested in the tank for about 5 minutes. Bodhi is interested for even less time. The problem is that he has moved on from fish. Now all he wants to do is try to get Amazon Alexa to talk to Google Assistant to see if they can carry on a conversation. It’s driving me bonkers.
Don’t worry, the fish aren’t left alone. My wife is the one who is really into them. We have now bought more fish and snails, and it’s a whole ecosystem. I was sold on the idea that you only clean the tank every few months, and it’s all pretty easy. But it seems like there is some fish tank overhaul going on every weekend — so I have to be involved in draining
water and carrying buckets. It’s not what I signed up for.
Owning pets is never easy. They require work all the time. I guess you could say fish are pretty low maintenance — but not no maintenance. I need a nomaintenance pet. Not sure if that exists. Well, at least I don’t have to walk fish or pay for boarding when leaving town. So, there’s that.
If it were up to my wife, we would be running a small zoo. Birds, fish, geckos — everything but snakes. We did have snakes in the office for a photo shoot. See our exotic pet feature on pg. 18. I will touch them, but I will not hold them. I don’t know if it’s a reptile thing or not. I think it would be hard knowing what they eat and that I can’t just open a container of fish food and sprinkle it in. Snakes require a level of commitment I’m not prepared for.
It’s fun to see other people really get into exotic pets. The stories in this issue show the dedication and passion people have for their animals, whether they’re reptiles, birds or something else entirely. I respect it, but it’s not for me. I will stick to our dog, Fudge, and the fish tank that I didn’t ask for — but somehow became my responsibility every other weekend. At least Fudge is happy to see me when I come home. Our fish just stare.
DUCK DAYS
Rubber duck lovers, get ready to meet the world’s largest. Mama Duck, the traveling 6-story-plus-tall inflatable, welcomes you to the student-led Ohio Rubber Duck Dash Festival Weekend April 23 to 25 in Cuyahoga Falls. Leading up to the fest and at it, spot four 12-foot patterned Giant Quacker ducks traveling throughout Hudson, Stow, Swenson’s Drive-In locations and more. The fest kicks off with the Cuyahoga Falls City School District All-City Art Walk April 23. Browse vendors and food trucks April 24 and 25. Don’t miss the April 25 Ohio Rubber Duck Dash race, in which approximately 10,000 rubber ducks, adopted by participants, are released in heats to conquer a 50-foot inflatable track filled with water. The top prize is $1,000. Put on by Woodridge Local Schools’ Six District Compact EntrepreNew Program students, proceeds support student entrepreneurship initiatives — so enjoy a quack-tastic good time for a great cause. ohiorubberduckdash.com
ARTS RESTART
After months of transformation, Summit Artspace reopened its galleries in March, revitalizing the historic Akron space with enhanced galleries, navigation and accessibility. Executive director Natalie Grieshammer Patrick says the nearly $1 million renovation, funded primarily by Summit County, the Akron Community Foundation and the GAR Foundation, includes a new storefront, enhanced entry system, accessibility upgrades and HVAC improvements for the building’s 30 resident artists. Celebrate its new look at the grand reopening party April 9. Enjoy live local music by Uno Lady and Rent for Cheryl, arts performances and activities, a DJ dance party with Brainwreck and food and drinks from the Green Dragon Inn to help usher in the arts hub’s fresh chapter.
140 E. Market St., Akron, 330-376-8480, summitartspace.org
Cute Cubs
Spot two fluffy, tan-colored, tiny mountain lion cubs frolicking inside the Akron Zoo’s former jaguar enclosure in the coming months. A new species at the zoo, these sisters are roughly 7 months old. Native to North and South America, they are currently acclimating to the zoo after being rescued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife from Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. One is named Neah, after Neah Bay on the peninsula, and the other is named Ozette, after the peninsula’s Ozette Lake — where there’s an archeological site for a historic Makah Tribe village. Look out for the adorable cubs, making their public debut soon.
{ by Jillian Flack & Dennis Farahani, cubs photo provided by Akron Zoo, duck photo provided by Ohio Rubber Duck Dash Festival, Summit Artspace photos by Erin Gulling }
{ Editor-in-Chief | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com, tortoise photo by Erin Gulling }
CLOSE COMPANIONS
PETS OFFER A SPECIAL BOND.
After glancing at aquariums and reptile tanks upstairs in Tom Arbour’s Tallmadge home, the Akron Life team went to his basement, where there are three African fish tanks and an enclosure containing a rare satanic leaf-tailed gecko. I knew he had tortoises, but I was expecting maybe one other tank — until he mentioned this room was just a foretaste of his collection. Then, we entered a spare basement bedroom and walk-in closet converted into a tortoise room. All of the walls are lined with large tortoise enclosures, some stacked on top of one another, and the closet is full of babies he breeds! He has 37 tortoises total and has bred over 100 babies, which he keeps, gives away or sells.
Meet Arbour and other interesting exotic pet owners in our feature on pg. 18. We introduce you to locals who love exotics, including a ball python breeder, an avid bird lover and a collector of tarantulas, lizards and snakes. Plus, get a preview of an animal education center that Animal Jungle Pet Shop is opening in Stow. A former conservationist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Arbour says some people are interested in exotic pets — but don’t realize the special attention and care they need. So, he advocates for responsible exotic pet ownership via YouTube.
“Have the resources and have lots of extra time to make sure you’re advancing the animals’ care as opposed to just wanting a bunch of new animals,” Arbour says.
Growing up, my siblings had aquariums, and we had an iguana tank in our family room. We named the iguanas after the ghosts from the “Casper” movie. We didn’t have any other exotic pets after those ones. We had a miniature poodle for a few years, but I spent several of my adolescent years caring for guinea pigs. Mine was black and named Sabrina after the “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” TV show. My brother’s guinea pig was Pinky, named after the “Pinky and the Brain” cartoon. We also had Fluffy, Snowball and Hershey. My dad built them a three-story cage with ramps. It was fun for them but lots of work to clean. They aren’t very active, but we took them out periodically. We did photo shoots with props. We would use cardboard blocks to trace out a course with obstacles and drop food throughout to encourage them forward. They often just meandered. I’m glad we made an effort to interact and
get them out of their cage.
When I interviewed bird owner Jennifer Manis, I discovered that that’s what she does with her birds, Maxx and Jake.
“They do need daily care,” she says. “However much love you put into them, they’ll give back to you. If you just leave them and let them sit in their cage all day, that’s one thing. But when you get them out and interact with them, they’re fantastic companions.”
I enjoyed visiting Maxx and Jake and watching them perch on her and spread their wings freely in the house. You can tell they love being out. Jake talks and affectionately calls her mom. They truly care about one another. While exotic pet ownership looks different from that of a cat or dog, having an exotic pet is a big commitment — with a big payoff.
My friends’ pets recently passed away. You realize each moment with them is so special. It makes me want to hold my tuxedo cat, Tuna, closer. Whatever pet you might have, the pet issue helps you appreciate the meaningful bond and unconditional love that pets offer so generously.
the essential social digest
4/18 Neighbors in Nature
Drop by the Wildlife Conservation Center at Sippo Lake Park to learn about the relationship between people and wildlife. Find naturalist-led hikes, interactive stations featuring animal ambassadors, wildlife spotlight presentations and more. Plus, you can learn about practical ways to support and attract wildlife to your own backyard.
Sippo Lake Park, Wildlife Conservation Center, 800 Genoa Ave. NW, Massillon. 1-3 p.m. starkparks.com
photo provided by Stark Parks
Through 5/10 “A Meeting of Cultures: Fashioning North Africa”
This exhibit is the first of its kind in the world to focus specifically on contemporary fashion designers and influencers in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It broadens the scope of scholarship on fashion history. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. TuesdaySaturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/museum
Through 6/28 “LeRoy Neiman: A Keen Observer of Style”
Highlighting his early fashion illustration work, this exhibit on LeRoy Neiman showcases his lesserknown work as a fashion illustrator and explores its influence on his lifelong interest in capturing clothing, gesture and style of subjects. See 85 illustrations, many on public view for the first time. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. &
Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/museum
Through 6/30 “A Gift in Ink”
Peruse a selection of prints donated to the Kent State University School of Art Collection by the New York Print Club. Library, Michener Gallery, 1125 Risman Drive, Kent. Hours vary. kent.edu/galleries
Through 7/5 “Transfiguration: Rachel Libeskind and the Tiffany Window”
See a rare, restored stained glass Tiffany window, depicting the Transfiguration of Christ, alongside new work by artist Rachel Libeskind. These works speak in tandem to themes of transformation. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday noon-5 p.m., Thursday noon-9 p.m. Adult general admission $12, free on Thursdays. akronartmuseum.org
Through 8/23 “Sparkle: The Style and Jewelry of Aileen Mehle”
Browse the dresses and jewelry of widely syndicated society columnist Aileen Mehle at this exhibit. Designers she wore included Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Tiffany & Co. and more. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/ museum
4/1 “Fool” Moon Hike
Celebrate April Fool’s Day with nature-themed jokes while you hike the 2-mile Meadow Trail under a Pink Moon. Munroe Falls Metro Park, 1088 North Ave., Tallmadge. 7:30-9 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
4/3 & 4/4 Akron Antiquarian Book and Paper Show
Those interested in antiquarian paper, books and ephemera can gather to purchase items from Northeast Ohio dealers at this book and paper show, presented by the Northern Ohio Bibliophilic Society. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron. April 3 5-8 p.m., April 4 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Preview tickets $35, regular admission $8. nobsbooks.org
4/4 Easter Sip & Paint: Nora Fleming Edition
Enjoy a mimosa as you arrive at this spring-themed sip and paint. Indulge
in seasonal sweets and small bites as you design a mini Nora Fleming piece that you can take home with you. Each guest receives a coupon for 20 percent off any Nora Fleming purchase, valid through April 30. Gervasi Vineyard, the Villa Grande Ballroom, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 1 p.m. $52. gervasivineyard.com
4/4 Stan Hywet’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Families can enjoy egg hunts for those up to age 9, spring scavenger hunts for those ages 10 to 15, magic shows, balloon twisting, visits with the Easter
Bunny, an Eggspress ride and more. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. Morning session, 9 a.m.-noon, or afternoon session, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Member adult $10, member youth $14, adult $14, youth $18. stanhywet.org
4/4 Downtown Akron Sakura Festival
Held along the Towpath Trail in downtown Akron — including Locks 2 and 3, the James R. Williams Tower in Ohio & Erie Canal Park and more — this free festival celebrates Akron’s cherry blossom trees. Downtown Akron. downtownakron.com
4/4 Egg-stra Wild Egg Hunt
Hunt for eggs with your kids at the Akron Zoo. Enjoy crafts, photo ops with a Bunny and goodie bags following the hunt. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 9:30-11 a.m. Egg Hunter $18, member observer free, non-member observer $10, zoothing egg hunter $18, infants (under 2 years old) free but do not receive a treat bag. akronzoo.org
Art photo provided by
Gervasi Vineyard, Easter photo provided by Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
4/8 Mike Egan: Artist Lecture
Hear Spring 2026 Myers resident Mike Egan discuss practice and art at this lecture. Egan, a designer and artist, draws on influences such as tattoo aesthetics and spiritual iconography. The University of Akron, Myers School of Art, Folk Hall Auditorium, 150 E. Exchange St., Akron. 6-8 p.m. uakron.edu/art
4/9 Soup at Six: “The Freedom Train, Steam of Democracy”
Train curator David Ziegler teaches attendees all about the 1946 and 1976 freedom trains, which acted as traveling museums — featuring 26 galleries curated from throughout the United States. Soup, bread and a dessert are included. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton. 6-8 p.m. $25 per person, reservations required by April 2. mckinleymuseum.org
4/10 Friday Night Frogs
Take a night hike and search for frogs. Also learn about the roles amphibians take on in the world. Bring a headlamp or flashlight. Sand Run Metro Park, 1337 Merriman Road, Akron. 8-9:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
4/13 Med Spa Monday
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Vidhi Adlakha offers rejuvenation in Gervasi Vineyard’s spa on Med Spa Monday. Get Botox at this event. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. noon-3:15 p.m. Reservations required. gervasivineyard.com
4/16 Conservation in Action: Bats of Ohio
The first presentation of the Conservation in Action Series, this event features park biologist Marlo Perdicas discussing two decades of bat research — as well as the future of the species. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 6:30-8 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
4/17 Dancing Conversation: Creative Process in Nature
Facilitated by NCCAkron executive and artistic director Christy Bolingbroke, this discussion —with artists such as Dominic MooreDunson, Chris Coles and Monika “Bell” Bowman — explores nature as incorporated with the creative process. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 3:30-5 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
4/18 Second Annual Ladies Luncheon: “Mentioning the Unmentionables”
Attend a program on the history of women’s underwear, presented
Photo provided by Gervasi Vineyard
RENÉE FLEMING
by executive director Kim Kenney. This program features artifacts from the permanent collection. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton. 11 a.m. $30 per person, $25 members. Reservations required by April 9. Mckinleymuseum.org
4/21 Tuesday Musical: Soprano
Renée Fleming in “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene”
Famed soprano Renée Fleming performs in front of original films created just for her by National Geographic. See her sing the Grammy Award-winning 2023 composition “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene,” created by Fleming and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Fleming is a 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree and the winner of five Grammys, as well as the U.S. National Medal of Arts. E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $19 & up. tuesdaymusical.org
4/22 & 4/23 Broadway in Akron: “Stomp”
Experience the classic musical “Stomp,” in which performers utilize materials like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans to create an energetic, explosive show. E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $38.25 & up. playhousesquare.org
4/23-5/17 “Into the Breeches”
The show must go on! During World War II, while the men are away at war, a group of women — determined to continue their theatrical run — decide to mount an all-female performance of Shakespeare’s “Henriad” in this play. Greystone Hall, Henry C. Bishop Stage, 103 S. High St., Akron. Various times. $5-$35. ohioshakespearefestival.com
4/24 Coffee with the Curator
Hear Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens’ collections curator engage in a casual morning conversation with attendees. Learn about artifacts from the Stan Hywet collection, current displays in the Manor House and more. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10-11:30 a.m. stanhywet.org
4/25 World Tai Chi & Qigong Day
Open to all ages and skill levels, this class teaches the basics of these practices for the 18th year. It ties in with other events taking place across the world. Look for a livestream of the event on YouTube. Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center, 3486 S. Smith Road, Fairlawn. Free. ngenergy.us
4/25 Spring Wildflowers and Their Bees
Walk the ledges in search of specialist bees and spring wildflowers. Learn about the connection between flora and bees. Liberty Park, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 1-3 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/2 Hope Walk
Celebrate 20 years of the Stewart’s Caring Place Hope Walk by walking in solidarity with those affected by cancer. Choose from two locations. Both a fundraiser and a celebration of resilience, hope and support, the Hope Walk embodies the spirit of the community. Stewart’s Caring Place: Thomas and Lisa Manel Cancer Wellness Center, 3501 Ridge Park Drive, Fairlawn. 8 a.m.-noon; Sippo Lake Park, 5300 Tyner St., Canton. 8 -10 a.m. Individual walker package $25. stewartscaringplace.org
Submit events on akronlife.com or email cgorman@bakermediagroup.com.
Tai chi photo by Erin Gulling
AAF-Akron celebrated its 81st American Advertising Awards Feb. 27 at the Akron Civic Theatre. City of Akron Ward 9 councilperson Tina Boyes emceed the event. Tasting stations included bites from the Industry Kitchen & Bar, Saffron Patch in the Valley, Waterloo Restaurant & Catering and Big Eu’es BBQ. The event also featured Akron RubberDucks mascots, intermission entertainment by Comatose and desserts from Enticing Cakes. One hundred fifty professionals and students from the Akron, Canton, Kent and Youngstown advertising communities attended. Out of 158 professional entries, judges awarded 16 gold and 25 silver ADDYs that included Best of Show, five Judge’s Choice awards and one Mosaic ADDY. In the student category, 37 entries resulted in six gold and eight silver ADDYs, along with a student Best of Show and five student Judge’s Choice awards. Pritt Entertainment Group took home Best of Show for its 2025 open video done for Seattle Seahawks. Olivia Richardson, from Myers School of Art at The University of Akron, won Student Best of Show for her PBS Kids campaign. A Mosaic ADDY was awarded to TRIAD for CAIR–Ohio Impact Report done for the Council on Islamic Relations.
1. AAF-Akron board, photo by Cory Sheldon
2. Comatose, photo by Dale Dong Photography
3. Emcee Tina Boyes, photo by Dale Dong Photography
4. First Place AdverTaster Award winner the Industry, photo by Oberster Media
5. Liz Szczukowski and Daniel Kosich present first scholarship, photo by Dale Dong Photography
6. Mosaic winner TRIAD, photo by Ryan Shimko
7. Best of Show winner Pritt Entertainment Group, photo by Ryan Shimko
8. RubberDucks mascots with Waterloo Restaurant, photo by Oberster Media
9. Student Best of Show winner Olivia Richardson, photo by Ryan Shimko
Wild Side
Wild Side Wild Side
who are passionate about their impressive menageries. Plus, look out for our favorite exotic pet photos from readers.
by Kelly Petryszyn and Cameron Gorman, photos by Erin Gulling
From a tortoise conservationist to a ball python breeder, meet six exotic pet owners
Conservation in Action
When Tom Arbour was 6 years old, his grandfather took him to the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, where he was mesmerized by wildlife in a pond.
“You could just stand and watch painted turtles all day,” he says. “I told my parents when I was in first grade that I wanted a turtle.”
His parents happened to see a turtle crossing a road and brought it home. That began Arbour’s lifelong journey with exotic pets.
During high school, he had a large collection of turtles, lizards, fish and one snake. For 20 years, he did wildlife conservation work for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Around 2016 or 2017, his kids were watching YouTube videos of pet reptile collections, and his desire for a large reptile collection was reignited.
“I told myself, I can’t watch these videos,” recalls Arbour, who had a few tortoises at the time. “If I do, I’m gonna go right back to where I was as a teenager, and now I have resources to live out my dreams as a kid — that’s how it started.”
Now, Arbour has 37 tortoises, including Speke’s hinge-backs, Western hinge-backs and Home’s hinge-backs, filling an entire room in his Tallmadge home. He breeds Home’s and Western hinge-backs. Named after “I Love Lucy” characters, a few came from a conservation organization and were previously living in the wild in Africa. Home’s hingebacks are now a critically endangered species, and Arbour strives to conserve them.
“The tortoise work is all about trying to keep these two species in the United States,” says Arbour of Western and Home’s hinge-backs. “I take in animals … give them good homes and then also try to breed them, so that we can continue having these creatures as pets.”
Tortoise egg and blue-and-yellow fish photo by Sprout Dickerson
Satanic leaftailed gecko
Tom Arbour
He’s designed tub enclosures to resemble the wild, ensuring there is plenty of UVB light, humidity and water, as well as African plants. He feeds them 20 to 30 types of plants and has introduced arthropods called springtails to manage the soil by consuming animal and food waste.
A walk-in closet is filled with tortoise babies. Over the years, he’s bred over 100 babies and keeps some, gives some away or sells some. He feeds them insects using tongs to forge a connection.
“They live so long. If you have an animal for 20 or 30 years, you have memories,” says Arbour, adding that he has had Brownie for 26 years — the longest of any tortoise he owns.
“Some tortoises are really friendly, and you can generate a real bond.”
Tortoises are far from Arbour’s only pets. He has several tanks throughout his home, housing animals such as Seymour, a painted turtle, two firebellied toads and a rare, prized satanic leaf-tailed gecko. Plus, he has over 300 fish, including three basement tanks containing African fish, like Congo tetras.
“I built that aquarium to just be able to chill and be in the moment and watch the fish,” he says.
His kids have their own pets too. Paige, 9, has Cheeto, a leopard gecko, whom she likes to hold. Brody, 15, has Blitz, a gargoyle gecko, and Miracle, a bearded dragon, who enjoys walking on a leash. Weston, 17, has Zelda, a bearded dragon, who often sits on his
Seymour
shoulder. Other pets include a pug, Max, and Finn, a Bernedoodle service dog.
Arbour has come full circle — and has his own reptile YouTube channel, TwoTurtleTom, sharing best care practices with his 6,500-plus subscribers and other viewers.
“I just really like turtles,” he says. “Some of us, we have this affinity for animals and reptiles, and it’s just encoded in our DNA. It makes us happy.” //KP youtube.com/@twoturtletom
Paige with Cheeto
Immersive Ecosystems
In the basement of a Kent home, a tiny rainstorm maintains the humidity of Australian water dragon Irwin’s enclosure. By pushing a button, owner Justin Crooks can summon a misting of water that douses the habitat.
“They’re more arboreal species,” Crooks says of the water dragon. “They’re usually either found underwater completely or high up in a platform, basking, hanging out, hiding. So, when he’s in his full enclosure — when he’s an adult, because these guys get pretty large — a good 50 percent of the bottom of his enclosure will be a filtered aquarium.”
Crooks has assembled an array of carefully constructed habitats to house his extensive reptile and tarantula collection. From lushly planted to arid, the enclosures each contain animals Crooks is passionate about.
“I’m most at peace in the woods or next to a creek, or in a creek or outside flipping stones or flipping logs, or just looking for things. So being able to bring that inside and have it within my space, I think is really cool,” he says. “I also really
Justin Crooks with leachianus gecko Kaiju
Blue-tongued skink Abe Froman
Western hognose snake Winnifred
enjoy being able to build ecosystems and see parts of the world that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Crooks — who works in environmental health and safety — constructed four of his current habitats to be bioactive, meaning that they have self-sustaining environments with natural waste management.
“You put in living plants, springtails, isopods,” says Crooks. “So, it’s a whole living ecosystem.”
Along with his water dragon, Crooks also owns mourning geckos, a Western hognose snake, a ball python, a leachianus gecko, an Antilles pinktoe tarantula, a Chaco golden knee tarantula, a bearded dragon, a blue-tongued skink, a pumpkin patch tarantula, a Brazilian blue tarantula, a desert rosy boa and more. His menagerie totals 18 — including four snakes, seven lizards and seven tarantulas.
“I have a balance between things that are arboreal, things that are terrestrial and things that are fossorial,” he says. “I like to be able to watch the tarantulas, the fossorial ones that are going underground and creating burrows. I like to watch the arboreal ones as they interact vertically. And same with terrestrial — just using that footprint and seeing where they go and what they do.”
Crooks’ first exotic pet was a bearded dragon he owned in seventh grade. His first current acquisition was Pachamama, the Chaco golden knee tarantula.
“Interestingly, I’ve always found tarantulas to be a little creepy, and I think why I wanted to get one is to learn about them, observe them,” he says. “As you spend time watching them and working with them, you kind of lose that fear and start gaining respect for them. And it really made me appreciate things that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Crooks extensively researched his animals before acquiring them — a process he enjoys.
“A big draw to keeping animals like this is that you have to understand them,” he says. “You have to do the research.”
Crooks’ ultimate goal, in terms of acquiring lizards, is to get a green tree monitor. Building a habitat for that animal would mean attaining what he calls his “holy grail.”
“I do get a lot of satisfaction and joy from just watching them interact with what I’ve put together for them,” he says. “It’s kind of like living in ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ show, or the ‘Wild Kratts’ or something — being able to exist and watch it in your own home is neat.” //CG
Bearded dragon Squirrel
Irwin
Into the Jungle
As an adolescent growing up in Streetsboro in the 1980s, Patricia Toshok used to walk to the site of a nearby zoo park, which had closed. She would envision her own version.
“I’d go there and sit, and I would just daydream about Pat’s Pet Palace,” recalls Toshok, who used to help at her uncle’s Northfield pet shop as a kid and a teen. “I always wanted to do a zoo-type thing.”
It took several years, but in 2017, Toshok opened Animal Jungle Pet Shop. It had different locations but is now only in Stow. Next door to her largely exotic pet shop, find an animal education center, which she is set to open in April. It builds on the education Animal Jungle already offers to its customers, who range from regional to out of state. The center is slated to host over 80 animal enclosures featuring mostly exotic animals like bearded dragons, giant marine toads, white tree frogs, olive pythons, boa snakes, an albino Burmese snake and others. Also find prairie dogs, African porcupines, micro squirrels, a three-banded armadillo and more. Plus, take in scorpions, beetles, geckos, tarantulas, a frilled dragon, European legless lizards, blue-tongued skinks and more.
Encounter special exhibits such as a tortoise island with Sulcata tortoises and red-footed tortoises, as well as a chinchilla island. The Lizard Lounge sitting area is set to host birthday parties with animal shows and special events like movie nights, turning it into a community space.
Staffers are planning to be on hand to give tours and tell visitors about the animals’ upkeep, behavior and background and to help people interact with the animals.
“People that want to get up close to reptiles and handle them — this is an opportunity to do that,” says Toshok, whose daughter, Adria, is the manager of Animal Jungle.
The center gives creatures from the pet store more spacious, permanent enclosures. Resident animals include Paul, an Asian water monitor lizard, and Alan, a black-throated monitor lizard, who
African porcupine photo provided by Animal Jungle Pet Shop
European legless lizards
Beetle
Scorpion
are both 6 feet long and grow up to 8 feet long. They’re getting 16-foot enclosures with running water, where they can swim. Also find Jolene, a 3- to 4-foot Argus monitor lizard. Staffers plan to take them out often, and guests can touch them or even feed them.
“We love all these animals. They’re very important to us,” says Toshok. “All these animals are going to live out their lives at this facility. It’s such a cool environment.”
Look out for several social, curious tegu lizards, which enjoy sitting on heated mats.
“They will walk up to you, and they want to be picked up. They’ll lay on your feet,” Toshok says. “I’ve got a couple of them at home, and when they’re out, they lay up on my couch.”
Toshok wants the center to raise awareness about reptiles and hopes to alleviate any apprehension people may have.
“I’ve raised some of these animals right from the egg or as hatchlings. It is amazing. I’ve witnessed the intelligence of some of these animals,” she says. “I’ve had to put two different locks on my Asian water monitor’s door because he watches and he learns how to open locks. I want people to see how smart these creatures are.”
She says her Animal Jungle customers are people from all walks of life, including doctors and lawyers who have huge reptile collections. Anyone can find excitement in the world of reptiles.
“People get obsessed with reptiles. Once people realize how rewarding they are and how easy they are, people really get into it,” Toshosk says. “That’s why I’m opening this to the public. I want people to have the passion and love for reptiles and open their minds to something different.” //KP 4972 Darrow Road, Stow, facebook.com/ animaljungleps
Monitor lizard
Chinchilla
Tortoises
Frilled dragon
Flock Together
Jennifer Manis loved her cockatiel, Ladd, so much that she didn’t think she had room in her heart for another bird — until she met a 6 1/2-week-old cockatiel at Sky Kings pet shop in Kent. During the 2004 visit, the little bird melted the hearts of Manis and her mom, Melody.
“We brought him home, and Ladd showed him the ropes,” Manis recalls of the bird they named Maxx. “It was pretty amazing. I’ve never really been around a baby bird. … That changed everything.”
Manis grew up in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood with parakeets, finches and cockatiels. Maxx made her realize she wanted birds in adulthood. She got Jake, a 2-month-old female Congo African Grey in fall 2006, and Athena, a 4-month-old female umbrella cockatoo, in spring 2007. Ladd died in 2008. After Manis’ cousin had health issues and could no longer care for her 2-year-old male Goffin cockatoo, Moe, Manis took him in in 2013.
Often, all the birds were out of their cages at once. “When I still lived at home, all four of them were together every night. It would be romper room,” Manis says. “Sometimes, birds would be flying this way and that way.”
Several years ago, Manis moved to an apartment in Akron’s Northwest neighborhood. She cares for Maxx and Jake, while her mom, who is retired, cares for Athena and Moe, who both require extra attention.
Maxx, Jennifer Manis and Jake
Manis refers to her and the birds as a flock that lives their lives together. While her birds come out during breakfast in the kitchen and after she gets home from work daily, Manis especially loves Sundays, when there’s more time for them to be out in the living room. Often, Manis relaxes on the couch while Maxx sits on her and Jake perches on a nearby stand, playing with toys.
“However much love you put into them, they’ll give back,” she says. “They’re fantastic companions.”
Manis loves seeing their unique personalities come out. She says Maxx has been sweet since the day he was born, and Athena is a “snuggle bunny.”
“She just oozes love,” says Manis, laughing. “If you’re feeling down and not having a good day, she’ll just get real close to you. It makes you feel better.”
Jake is the queen of talking, Manis says. She mimics Manis’ laugh and can carry on conversations, saying things like Go to work and My mom will be back
Moe requires a lot of patience from her mom. “He’s a screamer,” Manis says.
Now Maxx is 21, Athena and Jake are 19 and Moe is 15. Manis hopes to enjoy a long life with them.
“They mean the world to me,” she says. “These birds can live 40 to 50 or more years. So, I plan on being a little old lady with them.” // KP
Athena and Moe photos provided by Jennifer Manis
Sensational Snakes
Stephanie Davis and ball python
As a child, Stephanie Davis spent her time in the woods, catching anything that moved — especially snakes. Her mom designated a barrel behind their horse barn for Davis’ findings.
“She went out there the one day, and there’s like 50 of them in there,” Davis recalls.
Although her mom set them loose, it was the beginning of Davis’ lifelong passion. When she was 16, she bought her first captive-bred snake, a red-tailed boa. At 28, she went to a reptile show with someone she was dating at the time. The pair fell for a piebald ball python — a snake with a striking white-and-brownish pattern.
“We just fell in love. We wanted one, but at the time, they were two or $3,000,” she says. “We just started talking to people, and they’re like, Yeah, well, you can make this snake. It’s a recessive mutation. So, they said, You need to buy … a snake that carries this gene, a male and a female, and you can produce one.”
Since then, Davis has been breeding ball pythons, on and off, for about 16 years with her business, Daily Exotics. The New Franklin resident keeps some of the snakes she breeds and sells the others, putting most of the money she makes back into her business.
“You’re constantly upgrading your collection to the genetics that you want,” she says.
Now, Davis has several ball pythons, along with a few hognose snakes. She’s converted one room of her house into a space for her reptiles. The colder side of their enclosures, she notes, should be 75 to 80 degrees. The snakes also require 50 to 60 percent humidity.
“All my snakes, except for a few, are on snake racks that are ran with heat tape and hooked to a thermostat to stay at a certain temperature, because with ball pythons, usually you want an area about 90 degrees, where they can digest their food,” she explains.
Ball pythons are very laid-back, she says. It’s easy for her to read their body language.
“If you know your animals and you watch your animals, they’ll tell you what they need,” she says. “They’re all just a little bit different.”
Breeding snakes has taught her patience.
“It’s a half a year process,” she says. “Being a snake breeder, you always pray to the odd gods. Because some of these combinations that you’re trying for … it might be anywhere from a 50 percent chance to a one in 128 chance.”
Still, she describes getting a new color, scale structure or pattern — also known as a new morph — as “the best feeling in the world.”
“You’re creating living art,” she says. “There’s so many different possibilities. It’s endless to mix certain genetics with other genetics and create something entirely new.” //CG facebook.com/designermorphs
The Humane Society of Summit County’s MABEL Mobile Veterinary Clinic provides free, accessible veterinary care to pets whose families cannot afford treatment.
Lizard Love
During the pandemic, Canton resident Sara Mehl’s 6-year-old daughter, Myra, saved up to purchase something she really wanted: A bearded dragon.
“At the time, we had two dogs, two cats, a bird and a horse. And so, my first thought was, We have a lot of animals, but we also love animals. We love taking care of them. We love learning about them,” Mehl says. “I thought this would be a nice experience, because this would be the first animal she got to pick out on her own.”
Prior to picking up their bearded dragon, the family thoughtfully worked to build the right kind of habitat, complete with lighting.
After they brought the lizard— now named Desert — home, they discovered that caring for him was unlike anything they’d undertaken before.
“We have to feed him live bugs, which we had never done that before,” says Mehl. “He has to eat certain greens and salads, and we have … specific dietary requirements for him that I felt was a fun challenge.”
When he first arrived, Desert was about 4 inches long. He’s now grown to over 18 inches.
“He likes to eat out of our hands,” Mehl says. “He certainly has a personality.”
Myra, now 12, does a lot of the feeding. She also makes sure Desert is taken out of his enclosure to experience different stimuli beyond his habitat in her bedroom.
“In the summertime … she will take him outside, and we have a little play pen for him outside, so he can actually get some real UV rays,” Mehl says. “She’ll hang out with her bearded dragon outside in the sun.”
Although bearded dragons are solitary animals and aren’t very active, Desert is playful.
“We would put him at the bottom of our stairs, and he loved jumping from the bottom stair. He would run all the way up the stairs,” Mehl says. “He just loved it. He would just happily bop up each step. … You could put him on your shoulder. He likes to kind of climb up, kind of hang off your shoulder, and he’ll just hang out there for an hour.”
Desert has a laid-back attitude and doesn’t mind being posed for photo ops — as Mehl did when trying to create a monthly calendar featuring him for her daughter.
“He kind of seemed amused,” Mehl recounts.
Bearded dragons are a good choice for someone seeking a pet they can see grow and thrive, Mehl says. They may be able to tolerate other pets, as Desert does with Mehl’s cats, who carefully spend time around him.
“He’s kind of a nice balance to the other animals that we have,” she says. //CG
photos provided by Sara Mehl
Desert
PicturePerfect Pets
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE EXOTIC PET PORTRAITS FROM READERS.
LEOPARD GECKO SONNY submitted by Michelle Fox
AFRICAN SULCATA TORTOISE PIPPIN submitted by Poppy Boyd-Cash
BEARDED DRAGON TUCO submitted by Jessica Vance
MEXICAN RED KNEE TARANTULA ELMYRA submitted by Anthony Fitzpatrick
BEARDED DRAGON ELLIE submitted by Tashmeen Huda
LEOPARD GECKO CHEDDAR submitted by Ashley Brooks
LEOPARD TORTOISE ORCHID submitted by Mary Oliver Bethel
BALLPYTHONSILVANUS
submittedbyEmilyandMatthewAngie
WHITE TREE FROG PEACH submitted by Josh Staraitis
MEDITERRANEAN HOUSE GECKO TOBIRAMA submitted by Emily and Matthew Angie
BALL PYTHON WINSTON submitted by Samantha Lapointe
JACKSON’S CHAMELEON NORMAN submitted by Samantha Lapointe
WHITE TREE FROGS MANGO AND KIWI submitted by Josh Staraitis
VEILED CHAMELEON CLARA submitted by Samantha Lapointe
REGAL JUMPING SPIDER CLAUDIO submitted by Ashley Leasure
Variety Vibrant
by Dennis Farahani, photos provided by Ohio’s Market Berlin
OHIO’S MARKET BERLIN TRANSFORMS THE AMISH COUNTRY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.
Tucked into the rolling countryside of Holmes County, Ohio’s Market Berlin offers visitors a shopping experience that blends antiques, handmade furniture and farm-style decor under one roof.
Owned by Abe Miller and managed by his business partner, Marvin Yoder, Ohio’s Market Berlin opened in 2022. But the story behind the market began long before its doors opened.
Yoder has spent most of his life working in the antiques world as a collector and dealer. Miller also built his career in buying and selling antiques. About eight years ago, the two joined forces in Berlin while operating Picker’s Antiques, their original Amish Country flea market.
When the building closed several years ago, the partners decided to continue their business in a new way. They built Ohio’s Market Berlin — and expanded the concept to include not only antiques, but also a variety of vendors and home decor products.
“When the flea market building closed, we moved to this location, into the Ohio Market building, which we built,” Yoder says. “At that point, we added a larger amount of vendors as well as more of our own new products.”
Today, the market features a carefully balanced mix of 30-plus vendors. Roughly one-third of the store focuses on antiques, while the remaining two-thirds are made up of new products sold by vendors and the market itself. Find vendors including Amish Country Soap & Candle Co., Dianne’s Jewelry, Miller’s Coins, the Cabin Store, House of Lace & Primitive Curtains and more.
Rather than filling shelves with common collectibles, Yoder searches for antique pieces that stand out.
“What we focus on in the antique world is finding unique, hard-to-find items that you won’t find at just any other antique mall,” he says.
The same approach guides the selection of vendors. Ohio’s Market Berlin rents space to businesses that offer products shoppers won’t typically see elsewhere in the region.
“We’re always looking for those items that are not at every flea market or every store around Berlin,” Yoder says.
One of the most popular vendors inside of Ohio’s Market Berlin is Plain & Simple, a farmhouse-style home decor shop also managed by Yoder. The concept was designed to complement the antiques found throughout the market.
“We’re always looking for those items that are not at every flea market or every store around Berlin.”
- Marvin Yoder
“The vision was to bring home decor in a plain and simple farmhouse style into the market,” Yoder says.
While antique furniture and vintage items often form the foundation of farmhouse decor, modern accents are needed to complete the look.
Plain & Simple provides those finishing touches, offering items such as candles, artificial greenery and kitchen decor. Artificial flowers designed to match farmhouse interiors are among the shop’s best-selling items. The displays also change frequently throughout the year, keeping the selection fresh for repeat visitors.
“If you come in February and come back in May, it will not look the same,” Yoder says. “We change with all the seasons.”
Being open six days a week and year-round helps make Ohio’s Market Berlin a destination that draws shoppers to Amish Country all year.
“We get a lot of people who walk in and say they didn’t know there was anywhere around here you could buy this kind of stuff,” Yoder says. “They thought they had to go to Columbus or Cleveland. Instead, it’s right here.”
5916 County Road 168, Millersburg, 740-502-9825, ohiosmarket.com
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Should used plastic utensils be recycled or thrown away? Those trying to be good eco-citizens by answering recycled would be wrong. Due to their small size, they actually need to be tossed out.
“You and 88 percent of other people do not know that,” says Carter Hall, sales vice president for Waste Wars, a company within the Junior Achievement Company Program. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
Waste Wars is a card game that teaches players how to improve and protect the environment through proper recycling and composting, preventative measures such as turning out the lights when leaving a room and more. The game costs $10, and is produced, marketed and sold by a JA Company Program group based out of Canton’s GlenOak High School.
“Our teachers told us that it was more important to
find a problem, and when we found that 88 percent of the youth don’t know how to recycle and things like that — and we found many other stats that really surprised us,” says Waste Wars vice president Patrick Arway, “it showed us that teaching people how to help … would be a great step.”
Those behind Waste Wars have taken their message into local classrooms, where, through presentations and activities, they teach kids to be more ecologically mindful.
“We also sell our teacher packages, which is our main source of revenue from these schools,” says Nico Codispoti, Waste Wars chief executive officer. “We package eight games together for only $60.”
Launched by a group of businesspeople in 1919, Junior Achievement is an international organization that aims to teach students about business. The three pillars are work readiness, entrepreneurship
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT COMPANY PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO RUN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.
{ by Cameron Gorman, photos by Erin Gulling }
and financial literacy. Its JA Company Program does that by allowing them to run their own small businesses while in school. Students who are part of Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio take it as part of a semester- or school year-long business class in their participating school, taught by a teacher with support from a Junior Achievement volunteer.
“We are working through these programs to help students to develop the skill sets and the mindsets that they need to thrive in life,” says Joshua Lehman, president of Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio. “With the Company Program, it is an entrepreneurship journey. It’s a chance for these students to literally build a business over the course of a school year.”
The focus of Junior Achievement as a whole is economic mobility and opportunities for the students
it serves, says Jenn Scheeser, JA Company Program manager.
“We have other programs for younger students and all that are more about theory of entrepreneurship, but in this one, they actually form a company, come up with a product or service,” says Scheeser of the JA Company Program, which also involves classwork like worksheets and quizzes to supplement the experience-based curriculum. “They’re out there selling it. They are using presentation skills constantly. They are managing a bank account. They are managing financial documents. It’s all through that that they’re truly learning life skills.”
Participating JA Company Program schools this year include Akron Public Schools’ Ellet Community Learning Center, Barberton High School, North Canton Hoover High School, Aurora High School, Kent’s Theodore Roosevelt High School and more.
“The greatest value in this program is that it is real life and hands-on,” Scheeser says. “There’s a curriculum, where they study vocabulary and study methods and things like that,
Brave Minds bottom left clockwise: Brady Freeze, Gavin Black, Alexandre Pryor, Julius Stan, Brayden Kelly and Sean Rowland
Waste Wars bottom left clockwise: Nico Codispoti, Carter Hall, Amina Salem, Avante Cummings, Evan Negulis, Patrick Arway and Gabe Kostevic
and they do that in their classroom, but in most things, they truly learn the most by doing. They learn the fundamentals of building a business.”
Another JA Company Program company, Brave Minds, hails from Jackson High School near Massillon — and sells boxes of supportive materials for military veterans living with posttraumatic stress disorder.
“All of us, we’ve had veterans in our family,” says Gavin Black, Brave Minds vice president and chief operating officer. “My uncle was a veteran. My dad’s dad was a veteran.”
One group member knew a veteran who had served in the military for 10 to 15 years. After living with PTSD, he died by suicide.
“We really wanted to do something not only to impact us locally, we want to do it nationally,” Black says. “This could really impact and help people in the future.”
Boxes include a journal, a fidget pen, a shaker bottle, gym trial passes, a lavender aromatherapy satchel, a resistance band and more.
“We’ve done lots of research … we have a couple veterans that work at Jackson High School that we’ve talked to, so we really try to pitch that and talk about what steps we’ve taken and what we are trying to accomplish,” Black says. “Not only can you purchase our kit to give it to someone, you can buy a kit to donate it to someone.”
Junior Achievement alumni are 143 percent more likely to start their own business than the general population.
“These experiences are so hands-on, so realistic,” Lehman says. “It is helping them to develop these skill sets and mindsets that help drive economic mobility and opportunities.”
Whether students decide to start their own businesses after graduation — or just take the skills they’ve developed through the program into their careers of choice — the goal of the program is to help students thrive, Lehman says.
“Junior Achievement is a really good opportunity for anyone,” says Amina Salem, who does marketing and public
relations for Waste Wars. “Having business skills helps with any career.”
Codispoti says he would widely recommend the program.
“Everything right now in the world is a business,” he says. “If you don’t want to go into business, that’s OK, but it’s also a great way to learn teamwork, which is a part of everything, of course. And so, there’s so many different skills you can learn, like talking to people, talking in front of people. It’s invaluable.” jaofnco.ja.org
Summer CampsDIRECTORY
WALDORF FOREST SUMMER CAMPS
Weeks of July 13, 20 and 27 for Ages 3.5-12
Spring Garden Waldorf School’s Forest Summer Camps offer prekindergarten to elementary children immersive days of playing, exploring and learning on 16 acres in Copley. Campers will enjoy forest, creek and meadow hikes, nature-based projects, observation, adventure and play with no more than 12 other campers. It’s led by experienced school teachers. Each week is designed to foster curiosity, confidence and joyful connection with the outdoors.
1791 S. Jacoby Road, Copley, admissions@sgws.org, 330-666-0574, sgws.org/camp
SUMMIT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AKRON, OHIO
Fridays, June 5-Aug. 28
Join us for Farm Fridays, every Friday June 5 through Aug. 28, to see ewe on Mutton Hill and learn about history. Free programming will begin at 10:30 a.m. It is open for preschool through second grade students, and the theme for 2026 is America250. Each week will look at different Akron and Summit County history highlights of people, places and things.
Great Big Acting Camp: June 8-12 in West Akron / So Ya Wanna Be An Actor?: June 22-26 in Wooster / K.I.D. Camp: July 6-17 in Barberton / Great Big Acting Camp: July 27-31 in Hudson
Our summer drama camps pack a crazy amount of fun into one week. Students are immersed in the magic of theater and bring their active imaginations to life. All camps are staffed by experienced, professional actors and directors who love working with kids and bringing out the best in them. Each camp is designed for a specific age group, ranging from elementary to high school students. Check out what’s on the schedule this summer and make sure to register soon.
1671 N. Main St., North Canton, 330-497-4800; 3114 Whipple Ave., Canton, 330-477-5411; 1212 W. Maple St., Hartville, 330-587-4280; 1820 W. State St., Alliance, 330-821-6665; 404 E. Lincolnway, Minerva, 330-868-7824; 500 W. Main St., Louisville, 330-875-9700
$$ L D
Guiseppe’s Pizza
14 E. Caston Road, Akron, 330-644-8842; 5642 Wales Ave. NW, Massillon, 234-258-4800
7 Merriman Road, Akron, 330-762-7555; 1203 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-922-3663; 2914 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-836-7662; 1450 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-0904; 155 Lincoln Way W, Massillon, 330-833-8800; 5000 Portage St., North Canton, 330-244-4212; 9406 state Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-422-8010
$$ L D
Rose Garden Restaurant
2033 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-706-6630
$$ L D
Rosewood Grill
36 E. Streetsboro St., Hudson, 330-656-2100
$$$$ L (Fri/Sat only) D
Russo’s
4895 State Road, Peninsula, 330-923-2665
$$$$ D
Saffron Patch in the Valley 1238 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-836-7777
$$$ L D
Sakura
3900 Medina Road, Akron, 330-670-0288
$$$ L D
Samantha’s on Portage 4954 Portage St. NW, North Canton, 330-499-9700
$$ B L D
Sammie’s Bar and Grill
498 South Ave., Tallmadge, 234-678-8334
$$ L D
Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria 6738 Center Road, Valley City, 330-483-2000
$$$ L D
Sarah’s Vineyard 1204 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-8057
$$ L D
Sérénité Restaurant & Culinary Institute 538 W. Liberty St., Medina, 330-952-2611
$$$$ L D
Shawarma Bros. 1808 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-334-3996
$$ L D
Sisters Century House
123 S. Canal St. S, Canal Fulton, 330-854-9914
$$ B L
Skyway Drive-In Restaurant 2781 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-836-2806
$ L D
Social at the Stone House 824 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, 330-809-0461
$$$$ L D
Spennato’s Italian Ristorante 9415 Olde Road, Northfield, 330-468-8688
$$$ L D
Stricklands Frozen Custard
2890 Sand Run Pkwy, Fairlawn, 234-3129740; 2629 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-8498; 9070 State Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-626-2750; 1879 E Main St, Kent, 330-552-3044
$
Swensons Drive-In
658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, 330-928-8515; 40 S. Hawkins Ave., Akron, 330-864-8416; 4466 Kent Road, Stow, 330-678-7775; 40 Brookmont Road, Montrose, 330-665-1858;5815 Wales Ave., Massillon, 330-833-5454; 1558 N. Main St., North Canton, 330-499-9494
$ L D
Table Six Kitchen & Bar 6113 Whipple Ave NW, North Canton, 330-305-1666
The Wine Mill 4964 Akron Cleveland Road, Peninsula, 234-571-2594
$$$ L D
Winking Lizard Tavern 3634 Center Road, Brunswick, 330-220-9944; 5710 Fulton Drive NW, Canton, 330-497-1133; 79 Springside Drive, Copley, 330-644-1780; 5111 E. Aurora Road, Macedonia, 330-467-6200; 2175 E. Maple St., North Canton, 330-470-6460; 1615 Main St., Peninsula, 330-467-1002
$$ L D
Wise Guys Lounge & Grill
1008 N. Main St., Akron, 330-922-3006
$$$$ L D
Wolf Creek Tavern 3044 Wadsworth Road, Norton, 234-571-4531
$$$$ L D
Yours Truly
36 S. Main St., Hudson, 330-656-2900; 3725 Medina Road, Medina, 330-722-5800
$$ B L D
Please send any changes or corrections to kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com.
{ by Drew Berkshire, photo provided by Summit Memory/Akron-Summit County Public Library }
Off to the Races
NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, CIRCA 1946
In its heyday, Ascot Park was known as the “biggest little race track in America.” Located in what was then Northampton Township, the three-quarter-mile track was built in 1923. Ascot Park featured grandstands and a clubhouse. The most notable race was the Ascot Gold Cup, which was considered Ohio’s oldest continuously run stake race. Established in 1941, it was a signature 2-mile horse race initially featuring a gold-plated trophy with a $400 purse. Later on, the race was worth $15,000. Ascot Park changed ownership and hosted everything from motorcycle races to the circus. In 1976, as part of a training exercise for local firefighters, what remained of the deteriorated grounds was burned down. Today, head to Northfield Park for live harness racing and simulcasting. There, the excitement of racing lives on.
