August 2026

Artistic Vision

AUGUST

FEATURE

ARTISTIC VISION

Discover five standout creators and five art festivals. Take home blown and fused glass, illustrated vessels, botanical tea towels and local wooden maps. These artists showcase their impressive skills.

Hazelmade photo by Erin Gulling

Tell us what's on your mind.

Comments? Got something to say about an article you read in Akron Life? Or maybe you want to tell us about something great happening in the area. Send comments and suggestions to: Akron Life, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313, and please include your name and address. Or email them to editor@ bakermediagroup.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Send us pics of yourself with a copy of Akron Life, and end up on this page! Images and descriptions can be sent to editor@bakermediagroup.com.

TRAIL TRAVELS

Art Director Erin Gulling recently took a trip to Colorado’s Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre — and brought the April edition of Akron Life along for the ride! Here, she’s pictured outside of the famous Red Rocks Trading Post — where visitors can purchase souvenirs and memorabilia.

FOUNDER

Don Baker Jr [ 1940-2018 ]

PUBLISHER

Colin Baker

cbaker@bakermediagroup.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kelly Petryszyn

kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Cameron Gorman cgorman@bakermediagroup.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Xaverie Baker xbaker@bakermediagroup.com

ART DIRECTOR/PHOTOGRAPHER Erin Gulling

egulling@bakermediagroup.com

SALES

Bunny Lacey

Steve Tyson

Tyler Bohinc

sales@bakermediagroup.com

CIRCULATION

circulation@bakermediagroup.com 330-253-0056, ext. 104

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Natalia Griffiths

MARKETING INTERN Ava Branz

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Carlina Krajnik

Elizabeth Mayle

Sydney Stevenson

AUGUST 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 8 (ISSN No. 74470 57871)

akronlife is published monthly by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2026© by Baker Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed envelope and sufficient postage. Baker Media Group, LLC and akronlife accept no responsibility for unsolicited material.

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HAVE AKRON, WILL TRAVEL

{ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com }

Human Kind

JOURNALISM PREVAILS IN AN AI-GENERATED LANDSCAPE.

Recently, I read an article about Prism News, an AI-native publishing platform that operates over 200 niche publications nationwide. I have mostly stayed out of the AI conversation and tried not to dwell on what it means for publishing or local storytelling — but that one stopped me. Statistics show that about 57 percent of all web-based text has been AI-generated or translated through an AI algorithm, according to a 2024 Amazon Web Services research study. That is staggering. When this idea first started gaining traction a few years ago, I genuinely wondered what was going to happen to Akron Life. Now, watching how things have actually played out, I think we are stronger because of it. Trust in online media has cratered. Only 22 percent of people trust social media companies, according to Ipsos’ Global Trustworthiness Monitor. That number tells you everything. I was watching a YouTube video this week from someone I follow and trust. Something about his face and teeth looked off. I opened the comment section and realized he was being ripped apart for using an AI-generated version of himself. I lost some respect for him, and now I won’t watch anything he does that looks fake. It takes years to build a reputation and trust and seconds to destroy it.

Akron Life is built on trust and relationships. Readers call us, they email us — and we write back. Try getting a real human response from your favorite social media platform. I am more optimistic about local media right now than I have been in a long time. People are hungry for real stories, written with actual thought and fact-checking behind them. They want to see real photographs of their friends and neighbors, not AI-generated images.

AI has a place in the business part of what we do. But when it comes to the stories you read in these pages, we do it the hard way: real writers, real photographers, real conversations with real people in this community. We think you can tell the difference, and we think it matters. The trust our readers have in us is something we take seriously, and our commitment is simple: what you read here was written by a human being.

food and drink samples from premier vendors as well as local live entertainment.

Akron Executives golf outing

SIMPLE JOYS

Complete with globe lights, orange diner chairs, risograph art prints and birchwood accents, the retro-style Good Golly takes you back. “Our vision for Good Golly was to bring back the ice cream stands I grew up going to as a kid,” says co-owner Josh Roberts of the Kent spot that opened in May. Enjoy elevated takes on nostalgic favorites, like the Golly Dog ($4), an all-beef hot dog on a potato bun, topped with your choice of condiment. Try a Bavarian soft pretzel with cheddar cheese or stadium mustard ($4), or a Golly Softie twist of premium vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet in a cake cone ($3). “The orange sherbet is our very own unique recipe,” Roberts says. Also try its spin on the dirty soda trend. “The space is meant to feel nostalgic, welcome and a place that you just want to keep coming back to,” says Roberts.

123 N. Water St., Kent, 330-593-5011, goodgollykent.com

DILL DELIGHT

Test your skills in a greased pickle-tossing competition, a pickle-eating speed challenge and more in the Picklelympics during the fourth annual Akron Pickle Fest Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lock 3 Park. A collaboration between Oddmall — a unique art gallery and series of shows — and Akron Pickle, Pickle Fest is the perfect place to get a little silly. Attend the All Day DIY Pickle-Packing Party and choose from myriad veggies, spices and flavored brines for your own custom jar. Also shop for quality, handmade products from over 50 vendors, like the Akron-based Local Honey Glass. Enjoy an artisanal Henry’s Creamery ice cream, a black bean and roasted corn quesadilla from Avo-rrito and more. “Pickles are weird, awesome and delicious,” says Oddmall’s “Chief Oddball” Andy Hopp. “It seems like the perfect combination of unusual art, unusual food, unusual entertainment and wholesome family fun.”

Lock 3 Park, 200 S. Main St., Akron, oddmall.info

NEW PERSPECTIVE

Award-winning Japanese American artist Nick Lee’s “Eternal Flames” exhibition — at the Massillon Museum through Aug. 30 — features vibrant paintings of Japanese Americans he met during the 2024 winter Kakehashi Project, a cultural exchange program for Japanese Americans in Japan. Lee uses his art to better represent his community, as well as explore his heritage. “My artistic practice was deeply energized by my time in Japan,” Lee explains. “Through the Kakehashi Project, I formed a new community of Japanese Americans who inspired this series of paintings.” “Eternal Flames” displays eight large-scale pieces — including “Zach and Sachiko Off the Coast of Okinawa.” It depicts Lee’s friend, Zach, during their time on the island, where they stayed with a host family. “My intention is to accurately depict who these individuals are, in hopes their images could last forever,” Lee says.

121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, 330-833-4061, massillonmuseum.org

{ by Elizabeth Mayle, Good Golly photos by Natalia Griffiths, Akron Pickle Festival photo by Erin Gulling, “Zach and Sachiko Off the Coast of Okinawa” by Nick Lee }

{

Editor-in-Chief

| Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com, MapCuts photo by Erin Gulling }

Creative Outlet

ART BRINGS MEANING TO OUR LIVES.

Pulling into MapCuts’ Stow property, you see a home housing Little Oaks Market and a warehouse in the backyard. When art director Erin Gulling and I entered the warehouse, we were stunned by the large scale of the operation.

Eight massive laser cutters were in use, programmed to cut sheets of wood with multiple variations of map pieces – U.S. National Parks, U.S. professional baseball stadiums, tree markers and more. Stations throughout buzzed with employees hard at work on multiple orders — sanding, staining, gluing, finishing, framing and shipping. I was especially impressed by one woman, who pieced together topographic layers to signify rings of depth for lakes — and glued each layer, meticulously spaced by hand. What started with Matt Celek making one wooden map in his backyard workshop has morphed into a 20-plus employee operation fulfilling over 20,000 orders in about five years.

“We can’t keep up,” Celek says of the high demand from throughout North America for the travel, lake, city and other maps that can be customized. I learned about MapCuts when Akron Life reached out to festival organizers for suggestions of artists to spotlight in our art festival feature, which you can find on pg. 20. The scale-up is astounding, and it’s just one example of how these festivals can lead you to incredible discoveries of talent in our backyard.

We also visited April Couch’s Totally Tangled Creations studio. It’s a passion project for Couch, who mixes Zentangle with unique designs to create her own art style that she draws on bowls, trays, vases and more. She finally pursued her calling in her early 40s after stepping away from a long career in banking.

“It brings me joy,” Couch says. “There’s so much I could do with it.”

It was inspiring to see her work on a painted tray, drawing olives freehand without any preplanned sketches. It takes talent and confidence to do that. She loves meeting customers at Summit Artspace and at art festivals.

“People want to support people they know and people they care about. … They want to talk to the artists,” she says. “It’s very important to make that personal connection.”

When you go to festivals, ask artists questions about their process and inspiration, why they like their medium and more. Stories make the connection to art pieces deeper.

Akron Life had a booth at Fairlawn Fest July 11. It was nice to pass out issues and talk with festivalgoers about the magazine. Plus, recently, we got a voicemail from a subscriber who called to report that he did six or seven things in June that he wouldn’t have done without getting the magazine. To me, that is the biggest compliment. The magazine is a service guide — meant to get readers out to the places we share with the community and support local small businesses.

I didn’t know about MapCuts until we began working on this issue, and I’m thrilled to share such a great business with our readers. There are so many possibilities for types of maps to gift, and customers say the maps are impactful. “I bought this for my husband to memorialize a place that’s very special to him; he was very touched and loved it,” wrote Cristina of Connecticut in an online review.

As you attend festivals this summer and fall, make it a point to connect with an artist and learn about their creations. You might find something meaningful to you and your loved ones.

8/9 Rhythm on the River Concert Series: Forecast

Head down to Cuyahoga Valley National Park for an installment of the Rhythm on the River series, featuring Cleveland-native band Forecast, as it performs a blend of funk, rock, reggae and instrumental jazz. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Howe Meadow, 4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula. 2:30-6 p.m. Free (reservation required).

photo by Kofi Amponsah, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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

Through 10/11 “Fashion & Feather: A Collaboration Between Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History”

On view at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, this exhibit, created in partnership with the Kent State University Museum and the Kent State School of Fashion, explores the history of feathers in fashion. Marvel at beautiful feathered hats, dresses and more while you learn about the birds behind the styles – cultural objects and ornithological specimens from the CMNH collection are paired with garments and accessories from the Kent State University Museum and contemporary student designs. This show explores the relationship between humans and nature. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults 19-60 $25-$28, youth 2-18, seniors, undergrads and military veterans $1821, under 2 free. cmnh.org

Through 10/31 “Inflection: An Immersive Art Installation”

From the minds of Pittsburgh-based artist Ian Brill and Akron-based musician Theron Brown comes a free audiovisual experience presented by Akron Soul Train as part of Curated Storefront’s Outside the Box shipping container installations at TrueNorth Akron. 110 N. Main St., Akron. Saturday 5-7 p.m. Free. curatedstorefront.org

Through 11/27 “A Legacy Revived: Exploring Stark County’s Rich Black History”

Reflect on the history of Black communities in Canton, Alliance,

Massillon and Waynesburg in this special exhibition at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum. This exhibit chronicles as far back as the early 1800s, when the first Black families arrived in Stark County. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton. Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m. Ages 2 and under free, ages 3-18 $15, adult $17, senior $16. mckinleymuseum.org

8/3-8/9 Medina County Fair

One of Ohio’s oldest county fairs, this fair features one of the state’s widest selections of food vendors, free local entertainment and heartpounding grandstand events. Medina Fairgrounds, 720 W. Smith Road, Medina. General admission $8 plus online fees. medinaohiofair.com.

8/6-8/23 “Macbeth at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens”

As part of the Ohio Shakespeare Festival, enjoy an outdoor performance of this classic tale of revenge and betrayal underneath the stars at one of Akron’s most

historic venues on select dates. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. $15-45 ohioshakespearefestival.com

8/7 Riley Green: “Cowboy As It Gets Tour”

Country star Riley Green is gracing the Blossom Music Center stage to perform his hit songs, joined by special guests Justin Moore, Zach John King and Hannah McFarland. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. $52 and over. livenation.com

8/7-8/9 Twins Day Festival

Seeing double? Stop by the largest annual gathering of twins in the world at the Twins Day Festival. Experience a weekend of twin-themed activities included a parade, a twins contest, a twins talent show and more. 9825 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg. Free. twinsdays.org

8/7-8/9 Lazy Daisy Music Festival

Let the good vibes bloom at the Lazy Daisy Music Festival, featuring

performances from the Clevelandbased JiMiller band and more. Along with live music, celebrate nature with nature trails, cliff jumping and gorgeous scenery. Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, 12001 state Route 282, Garrettsville. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Weekend pass $120 and over, early entry and weekend pass $145 and over. nlqp.com

8/8 Goodyear Half Marathon & 10K

A part of the Akron Marathon Race Series, this run kicks off in downtown Akron at the Goodyear Proving Grounds and finishes at the Goodyear World Headquarters. It’s great practice for the Akron Marathon in September. Goodyear Proving Grounds, 411 Seiberling St., Akron. 6:30 a.m. Free, registration required. akronmarathon.org

8/9 Akron Pickle Fest

Pickle games, pickle parades, pickle vendors and pickle tournaments — celebrate all things pickle at the fourth annual Akron Pickle Fest. Lock 3 Park, 200 S. Main St., Akron. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. oddmall.info

8/12, 8/19 & 8/26 Summer Serenades in the Park Bring chairs, blankets and a picnic to this collaboration between the Canton Symphony Orchestra and Stark Parks — the 12th annual Summer Serenades in the Park Concert Series. A small ensemble will play. Aug. 12 Canton Township, Faircrest Park, 1001 Faircrest St. SW, Canton. Aug. 19 North Canton Civic Center Gazebo, 845 W. Maple St., North Canton. Aug. 26 St. Helena Heritage Park, 123 Tuscarawas St. NW, Canal Fulton. Free. starkparks.com

8/13 Soup at Six: Follow the Drinking Gourd

Join Dr. Tameka Ellington, curator of Black History at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, and Suzie Dills, planetarium director, for an experience exploring the path of freedom seekers who used the Big Dipper and other astrological symbols to navigate their journey. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument

Drive NW, Canton. 6-8 p.m. $25. mckinleymuseum.org

8/13 Art After Hours

Dive deeper into the arts through hands-on activities and creative experiences that highlight exhibiting and resident artists. Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. 5-8 p.m. Free. summitartspace.org

8/13 That’s Life Starring Tony Sands: Frank Sinatra Tribute Concert

Enjoy the legendary music of Frank Sinatra, performed by acclaimed entertainer and tribute artist Tony Sands. Performing at venues across the country, Sands specializes in bringing timeless music back to life. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. gervasivineyard.com

8/15 PorchRokr Music & Art Festival

Stop by Akron’s historic Highland Square neighborhood for an area-wide musical event. Local musical talent performs on homeowners’ porches for a cozy, community-based experience.

Enjoy over 60 vendors and food trucks too. Highland Square, Akron. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Headliner performs 7:30-9 p.m. Free. highlandsquareakron.org

8/15 Dog Days of Summer Festival

Celebrate man’s best friend with your pup for a day of good food, music and activities. Hometown Bank Plaza, Downtown Kent. 142 N. Water St., Kent.

8/16 Goodyear Concert Band Summer Concert

Get your picnic basket and your lawn chair ready for an afternoon of music from the Goodyear Concert Band. Soak in the natural beauty of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens while unwinding to classical favorites. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Carriage House Courtyard, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 12:30 p.m. Non-member adult (18 and over), $21, non-member youth (3-17) $10, members 50% off of nonmember price. Registration required. stanhywet.org

8/18 Lindsey Stirling: “Duality Untamed Tour”

Experience the musical talents of

world-renowned violinist Lindsey Stirling — with special guests ARKAI and PVRIS. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 8:00 p.m. $67 and over. livenation.com

8/21 Akron Pride Festival 5K

Dust off your running shoes for the annual Akron Pride Festival 5K. The run starts and finishes at Canal Place, offering a scenic route of Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath. 200 S. Main St., Akron. 6:30 p.m. Free. akronpridefestival.org

8/22 Akron Pride Festival and Equity March

Celebrate all forms of love and the LGBTQ-plus community. In addition to the Equity March, enjoy food trucks, local and national entertainers and more. Downtown Akron, Main Street. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. akronpridefestival.org

8/23 Sip & Sizzle: Beef and Wine Pairing at Gervasi Vineyard

Stop by Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa for a delectable culinary experience with Gervasi’s awardwinning wines and a menu featuring short rib arancini, steak Caesar salad, orange chocolate cake and more. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Pavilion. 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 1-2 p.m. gervasivineyard.com

8/24 Mötley Crü e at Blossom Music Center

Bring out your wild side at Blossom Music Center for a performance by iconic rock band Mötley Crüe. Featuring lead vocalist Vince Neil, bassist Nikki Sixx, drummer Tommy Lee and guitarist John 5. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show starts at 6:30 p.m. $25 and over. livenation.com

8/25-8/30 Portage County Randolph Fair

A local tradition since 1858, the Randolph Fair features food from local vendors, a dog show and more for the whole family. Portage County Fairgrounds, 4215 Fairground Road, Atwater. 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Ages 9 and under free, ages 10-plus $10. randolphfair.com

8/27 Shot Thru the Heart: Bon Jovi Tribute Concert

Named after the band’s iconic tune, Shot Thru the Heart is a professional tribute band dedicated to honoring the legacy and music of Bon Jovi. Enjoy a high-energy and interactive music experience. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. gervasivineyard.com

8/28 Josh Groban at Blossom Music Center

End your summer with a special performance from music powerhouse Josh Groban. Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 7:00 p.m. $35 and over. livenation.com

8/28 & 8/29 Akron Pizza Fest

Feast on pizza from parlors from throughout the Akron area, selling both individual slices and whole pies. While dining, enjoy continuous live music, a corn hole tournament and more. Lock 3 Park, 200 S. Main St., Akron. Friday 5-11 p.m. & Saturday 2-10 p.m. Free. akronpizzafest.com

8/29 Kayak Fishing Tournament

Youth ages 8-plus and adults can enjoy fishing from a kayak and competing in this tournament. Bring your own poles and kayak — Stark Parks will provide a limited number of solo and tandem kayaks on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the event. Proceeds help to support a kayak vending machine at Deer Creek Reservoir. Deer Creek Reservoir. 14514 Price St. NE, Alliance. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. $25 registration fee. starkparks.com/fishing

8/30 Sip of Gervasi: A Tasting Event

Experience a culinary journey through Italy, complete with themed tasting stations of bites including threecheese tortellini, pizza fritta, tiramisu and more. Guests can also enjoy Italian folk and polka music and awardwinning wines. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. Slots available from 1-3 p.m. $49. gervasivineyard.com

Submit events on akronlife.com or email cgorman@bakermediagroup.com.

AKRON

PRIDE FESTIVAL

CELEBRATES 10 YEARS: A DECADE OF VISIBILITY, COMMUNITY AND COMING HOME

When Akron Pride Festival debuted in Hardesty Park in 2017, organizers hoped about 1,000 people would attend. Instead, more than 7,000 showed up, sending a clear message: Akron was ready for a visible, vibrant celebration of its LGBTQ+ community.

A decade later, Akron Pride has become one of Northeast Ohio’s signature Pride events, welcoming thousands of attendees, volunteers, performers, businesses, community organizations, families and allies each year.

“It just got bigger and bigger to where the park could no longer accommodate everyone,” says Brian Lamoda-Genêt, chair of Akron Pride Festival. “The growth reflects a community that continues to show up for one another.”

Over the past 10 years, Akron Pride has evolved from a one-day festival into a year-round movement that promotes inclusion, advocacy, education and community engagement. Along the way, it has strengthened partnerships, supported local businesses and created spaces where LGBTQ+ people can live authentically and be celebrated.

This year’s 10th anniversary carries special significance with the return of internationally acclaimed illustrator Jeffrey Fulvimari, an Akron native whose distinctive artwork has appeared in fashion, publishing and internationally recognized brands. His homecoming serves as a reminder that Akron is where dreams begin — and where there will always be a place to return.

As Akron Pride celebrates this milestone, it honors the volunteers who arrived before sunrise to build the festival, the performers who shared their talents, the sponsors and partners who believed in its mission, and the thousands of people whose presence transformed an idea into a lasting tradition.

The first decade was about creating visibility. The next will be about building legacy — ensuring every LGBTQ+ person knows they belong in Akron. Join us for the 2026 celebrations:

Akron Pride 5K: Friday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Akron Pride Festival & Equity March: Saturday, August 22, from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Here’s to the dreamers who started it, the community that sustained it and the future we will build together.

Happy 10th Anniversary, Akron Pride.

Artistic Vision

Discover five standout creators and five art festivals. Take home blown and fused glass, illustrated vessels, botanical tea towels and local wooden maps. These artists showcase their impressive skills.

by Cameron Gorman, Carlina Krajnik, Elizabeth Mayle, Kelly Petryszyn and Sydney Stevenson

UniqueDraw

In her Akron studio and shop in late June, artist April Couch sat at her desk to continue working on a wooden tray covered with white chalk paint and her drawings of a large flower and cherries. She used a fine-tip Identi pen to swiftly add olives until there were bunches. This piece is one of her Totally Tangled Creations — featuring her freehand ink drawings on bowls, vases and more.

“It helps me focus when I do this — literally, I leave the world,” says Couch from her Summit Artspace business. “I don’t think about anything except for where the next design or pattern is going to go.”

Growing up, the Alabama native-turnedAkron transplant was always drawing. But her high school counselor advised her to go into something more practical than art, so she got her degree in business administration and management from Baldwin Wallace University. For years, she worked in banking — but art remained her first love.

“At the bank, my calendar on my desk would be full of doodles,” she recalls.

After 17 years, she left the bank in 2002 to stay at home and raise her three kids. By the time they had grown up, she was substitute teaching and searching for a new path. In 2011, while shopping at Pat Catan’s, she saw a book about Zentangle. The art method involves using lines and dots to create drawings in a structured manner. She joined the Zentangle club at the Cuyahoga Falls Library.

“Zentangle is literally a step-by-step way to make a pattern … or a tangle,” says Couch. “It’s very meditative because what you’re doing is repetitive motions.”

In November 2011, the club did an art show that included her ink drawings on paper. By the time she made it to the show at the Cuyahoga Falls Library after church, 11 of the 12 pieces were sold.

“I’m crying, and I told my husband, This is what I want to do with the rest of my life,” she says.

She launched Totally Tangled in 2011, had a Canton shop in 2014 and 2015 and moved into Summit Artspace in 2016. She uses her degree to run it as a business, diversifying her products by printing her drawings on T-shirts, cards and more. Her art incorporates aspects of Zentangle along with her own designs to create a unique signature style.

“You’ll see a lot of what they call Zentangle patterns in my work, but you’ll also see flowers and leaves — ginkgo leaves and dogwood blooms and different things like that, daisies,” says Couch, adding that she also finds inspiration in architecture, fashion and more.

by Erin Gulling

She sources pieces to draw on from thrift and retail stores, garage sales and online sources, including one that sells her cedar burls. At Home Goods, she found a metal vessel that she sanded, covered with orange chalk paint, drew on and finished with a light satin sealer.

“You will see that flower in everything — that’s my signature,” says Couch, gesturing to a large bloom in the center of that orange vessel, which took her over 55 hours to complete.

“I put those on first … and then I do everything else organically around them.”

For her most popular pieces, she gets dried hard-bodied gourds from places like Amish Country and Pennsylvania, carves them out, smooths the inside with a ball

Photos

sander and then paints them. She adds elements to many — such as an oversized gourd she painted white, decorated with tribal pattern drawings and topped with woven pine needles, artificial sinew and a tassel leather belt. It took 85 hours to complete.

Her art shows highlight pieces spanning birds, eggs, pumpkins, vessels and more. See her at Ohio Mart Oct. 1 to 4 at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Also visit her at Summit Artspace during her business hours, Small Business Saturday and Artist Sunday Thanksgiving weekend — or as part of the new After Hours series Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 15, Nov. 12 and Dec. 10.

Although she didn’t pursue art until she was 43, she is thrilled to finally be living out her passion.

“I get to sit and do what I love doing as often as I want,” she says. “It takes me to my happy place.” //KP

Inside Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Studio 301, 330-294-1029, Akron, totally-tangled-creations.com

Ohio Mart

Set on the scenic grounds of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Oct. 1 to 4, Ohio Mart has become a fall tradition for many. “This juried artisan marketplace features more than 150 talented artisans from across the country, thoughtfully situated throughout the historic grounds and gardens,” says communications specialist Erica Hoosic via email. Spanning fine art, jewelry, home decor and more, shop from vendors like Kathy Arnold of AlpacaKid&Ewe, who makes adorable, needlefelted animals, and Susan Kurtz of Susie Kays Designs, who crafts handmade jewelry and 3D art pieces out of repurposed vintage jewelry, beads and textiles. Snack on bites from curated food vendors — and Stan Hywet’s famous gingerbread cookies — and sip beer and wine. Admission includes a self-guided tour of Stan Hywet’s Manor House and access to the Textile Arts & Artisan Show, which is presented by Stan Hywet’s Needlework Guild and showcases exceptional fiber artists and textile-based works. “It’s a full day of art, history, food and autumn beauty,” says Hoosic. //EM

714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org

Photo provided by Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Glorious Glass

In 2014, Maggie Wagner bought a blown glass vase from an art show. Proud of her purchase, she placed it in the center of her dining room table.

“My cat, Bruce, jumped up on the table and basically smashed the entire vase into a million pieces,” recalls Wagner, who, in her day job, manages environmental health and safety systems and compliance for Akron’s Babcock & Wilcox.

Trying to find a way to fix the broken vase, the North Canton-based Wagner stumbled upon the art form of fused glass — in which fragments of glass are melted together in a kiln. Using books and DVDS, she began to teach herself how to create colorful, eclectic pieces around 2015 — collecting kilns, tools and more.

“It’s fun after you’ve had a bad day at work, and you’re like, I want to just smash something, and I can take a hammer and literally take a bag and smash the heck out of glass and then use it to create something,” says Wagner, who now creates fused glass items such as platters, bowls and sink basins under Drat That Cat Glass — a name inspired by Bruce and the children’s book Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr.

Wagner starts by ordering from Portland’s Bullseye Glass, which sells compatibility-tested glass. It comes in many forms, including a powder form, stringers, or long cuts of glass in a noodle-like form, a salt granular form and more.

Photos by Erin Gulling

Maggie Wagner

“I start by putting it in the kiln, then use a variety of methods, including combing ... or dam it, slump it in molds, or I’ve even drilled holes in flower pots, elevated them off the kiln shelf and melted glass through them,” Wagner explains. “There’s so many different processes that you can use, but I have to use all the same glass in doing so.”

After the glass is fired — full fusing, which produces a fully blended, smooth piece of glass, is at about 1,490 degrees, while tack-fusing, which preserves the shapes and dimensionality of the different glass pieces, is at around 1,350 degrees — it’s cold worked using a diamond saw, vertical band saw or similar tool. This helps regain the desired shape of the glass. The glass is then fire-polished and slumped into ceramic or over stainless steel, creating a 3D shape.

Before making a full-size piece, Wagner crafts samples to try out different combinations of glass.

“It’s making little 1-by-1- or 2-by-2inch samples, or sometimes I’ll make little 4-by-4-inch bowls that I can then scale up to sink size of a 22-inch sink,” she says. “It’s about experimenting and not being afraid to fail.”

She remembers the first piece of art glass she created and was proud of — made in 2016, it was a flat, 16-inch disc that looked akin to a tortoise shell and was sold at the Akron Art Expo.

“It was really hard to actually let it go,” Wagner recalls. “I had basically taken strips of glass and tack-fused them, which meant I didn’t let them go completely liquid — I just let them adhere to the other layer underneath it.”

Now, Wagner sells her platters, bowls and other creations at festivals and through Don Drumm Studios & Gallery — as well as some jewelry items through her website. Find pieces made through techniques such as screen melt, which utilizes a baker’s cooling rack.

“I did one that looked almost like a sun, like a solar flare,” she says. “I put yellow in the middle, then I had orange and then red. I mixed it with white, and it gave a really kind of cool feeling to it.”

Find bottles, fused glass vessel sinks, cheese boards and more at Art-A-Palooza in Green Aug. 15 and the Canton Woman’s Club Holiday Boutique Oct. 2 and 3. Wagner recalls one couple who bought a royal blueand French vanilla- colored reactive platter and loved it so much that they requested a matching bowl.

“You always remember the people that really are really interested in your work,” Wagner says. “I love talking about it with them. … It makes it special.” //CG dratthatcatglass.com

Art-A-Palooza

Featuring over 60 art vendors in Green’s picturesque Boettler Park, Art-A-Palooza Aug. 15 is the perfect opportunity to check out the local fine art scene while soaking up the sunshine. Art-A-Palooza is community-focused, with artists who return year after year — like Nate Olinger of Olinger Tool and Forge, who does custom blacksmithing, makes metal wall art and more. Stop by the children’s activity tent for crafts with your little ones. Also enjoy acoustic performances from the Canal Street Ramblers and One String Short, or grab something to eat from one of six food vendors — including Ogarth’s Kitchen, which serves authentic Jamaican cuisine. “The setting makes it unique,” says Matt Kress, Green’s Parks & Recreation supervisor, “just very scenic and great views.” //EM 5300 Massillon Road, Green, cityofgreen.org photo by Kevin Guilmette

Good Times Good Times

Former NFL player Ernie Barnes (1938–2009) created some of the 20th century’s most iconic images of African American life. Best known for his dance scene painting, The Sugar Shack, featured on the 1970s hit sitcom, Good Times, this original exhibit offers a survey of his inspiring paintings across sports, music, and Black culture ... emphasizing joy, resilience, and achievement!

Ernie Barnes Family Trust

Images (clockwise top, left to right): Slam Before the Storm,

paper,

in. Saxophone Gesso, 1994. Acrylic

Bottom:

artist

in his studio. Photograph © Ernie Barnes Family Trust. All artworks Ernie Barnes. Courtesy of the Ernie Barnes Estate, Ortuzar and Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York. Photos: Dario Lasagni.

NoteworthyIllustrations

Susan Hazel Rich had to combine ink colors very carefully to come up with the perfect hues for her Blue Gentian design, to be printed on tea towels, greeting cards and more.

“Blue Gentian is actually our bestselling towel since it launched. It’s just a really stunning design,” says the founder and creative director of Hazelmade of the floral print, representing a flower found in Ohio parks. “It was the trickiest ink colors that I’ve ever had to mix.”

Founded by Rich in 2014, Hazelmade sells functional items such as tea towels, note cards and greeting

cards, all featuring whimsical, often botanical illustrations. Spring florals, lemons, poppies, herbs and more decorate goods.

Rich went to Kent State University, graduating with a degree in visual communication design in 2006. After school, she worked in branding, publishing and magazine design before starting her own branding company. She began working with product-based businesses — and, around 2014, realized she wanted to follow suit. Rich gradually began working on Hazelmade, in the evenings and on weekends, while

working full time with her clients during the day.

“I was creating these illustrations, scanning them in and just printing out the black outlines because I didn’t have money for the color ink cartridges, so I was coloring them in with colored pencils,” says Rich, “and then started selling the greeting cards, and everything just tumbles from there.”

By 2019, Hazelmade became her fulltime job, and in 2021, she opened a Hazelmade studio in downtown Kent. Rich’s creative process starts with sketching — it usually takes several sketches to create one piece of artwork.

“A lot of my work is these collaged motifs, where it’s like the farmers market, and there’s all these different elements woven together in this perfect pattern,” she says. “I’m actually individually drawing those pieces, so I’ll draw five to 50 carrots, five to 50 kidney beans and five to 50 radishes, and then I’ll refine and sort of select the one perfect carrot, and that’s all done by hand.”

Those drawings are scanned into the computer, and a collage is digitally pieced together. The pattern is printed out — then Rich uses tracing paper and a layering technique to refine the motif, by hand, into its final design. The design is scanned back into the computer and digitized through drawing each pixel and point in a design program, digitally colored and then, finally, screen printed onto fabric and produced on paper.

“We’re using a water-based ink, so each individual color is printed through a separate … printing process,” she says. “The yellow ink on the lemons has to be laid down first, and then the green ink of the leaves around the lemons is laid down through a separate ink process.”

Hazelmade’s cornerstone product is tea towels.

“What I like about designing the towels is that they’re really about the intersection of a sort of vintage nostalgic piece and also a modern aesthetic,” says Rich. “I’m borrowing elements from those stories that we have in our cupboards. The china pattern that everyone’s grandma had, the picking the strawberries in the summer because you live in the Midwest, tomato season and knowing the smell of tomatoes on the vine — all of that is what’s inspiring me.”

At markets such as Kent’s Art in the Park Sept. 12 and 13, find Hazelmade’s booth, selling towels and paper goods in prints including popular tomatoes as well as sardines. Hazelmade is in

Susan Hazel Rich

select stores nationwide. All goods are produced in small batches and quality checked by hand.

“I love that with Hazelmade, I get to dig into the details,” Rich says. “All of my production partners are other family-owned businesses. They’re often women-led, and they’re all right here in the Midwest.”

Customers find themselves moved by Hazelmade’s designs. One design, of a mason jar with flowers in it, was originally created around 2015, when the jars were on-trend. But, even after the trend passed, the design kept selling — so much so that Rich updated it.

“I was just at a market, and a customer said to me, When I look at this, with these particular yellow flowers in it, I can smell the well water,” she recalls. “What I create isn’t on its own particularly unique or special, but because I am so deeply interested in stories, memories and nostalgia … other people see that.” //CG shophazelmade.com

Art in the Park

Nestled within the verdant, tree-filled Fred Fuller Park, Kent’s Art in the Park features over 100 local and regional artists displaying photography, jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, woodwork and more Sept. 12 and 13. A juried show with prizes, Art in the Park features stunning pieces like Kent-based artist Jen Florentine’s expressive acrylic landscape paintings, Kent-based painter and photographer Ian Marshall Studios’ geometrically driven oil paintings and artist Janice T. Filipski’s Plank House Art Studio jewelry. Dedicated to budding creators in third to 12th grades, the Young At Art section features fresh, new talent. Also enjoy live jazz and folk music, hands-on craft demonstrations, food trucks and a silent auction in a picturesque setting along the Cuyahoga River. “Artists set up, not simply in a grid, but flowing within the park,” says Oliver Wuensch, the marketing and special events coordinator for the city of Kent Parks & Recreation Department. “Fred Fuller is the perfect setting, underneath the giant, old oak trees.” //CK 601 Middlebury Road, Kent, kentohio.gov

Photo provided by Kent Parks & Recreation Department

Photos by Erin Gulling

CatchingLight

For about 50 years, Bob Pozarski has been making glass into art. The medium has always fascinated him.

“As a kid, I would get in trouble for breaking glass. I’d hold it up to see the light refracted and play with lenses and prisms,” recalls the Akron resident and owner of Ohio Art Glass.

He taught himself how to create stained-glass artworks from books. After getting a degree in education from Kent State University, he opened Ohio Art Glass in 1976. He started using traditional decorative glass styles like Tiffany, Art Nouveau and more modern types of glass.

“I made roses and irises, peacocks, parrots and countless cardinals,” Pozarski says. “I cut colored glass into shapes that fit like a puzzle, wrap each piece with copper tape and solder all the edges together.”

In the 1990s, he taught himself glass fusing from books. Then in 2000, he accepted an invite to a glassblowing class in Kent. His first piece was a small cup. He has learned more intricate glass skills and now teaches beginning and advanced glassblowing at Peninsula Art Academy. All these new techniques had the goal of using the new handmade glass in his leaded art glass windows.

Today, his windows incorporate myriad pieces of original blown and fused glass. Each year he makes a special window from the best homemade pieces.

His most recent, “Sun Worship 31,” features a beveled sun focal point. Having learned pottery at Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Pozarski created a mold out of stoneware clay for the sun’s face. He then filled it with gold glasses and fired it. A 1-inch-thick diamond is made from cast glass that’s been ground and polished into a jewel. A long piece of glass features a twisted, pulled cranberry-colored helix.

Bob Pozarski

A disc-shaped rondel features swirly orange-inside-purple Murrini, which is a challenging method that results in intricate patterns. To create it, three people worked with molten glass and stretched it out into 50-foot rods.

“For Murrini, we drip one color over another and pull it into long rods. We cut the rods into discs to reveal the colored patterns inside,” Pozarski says.

Another feature in the window has yellow, white and purple flowers fused to clear glass. Pozarski makes these pieces with his sisters at art therapy classes at his home. A threedimensional raindrop has swirls of purple, green and white.

“That started out as a chunk of fused glass. I blew it into a bubble, sliced it in half with a diamond saw,” he says.

These Sun Worship windows are his favorite pieces, as they showcase the scope of his skills that have taken five decades to perfect.

“I like the optical effects of thick glass,” Pozarski says, “the colors you get from lenses and prisms.”

Stop by his booth at Hudson’s Art on the Green Aug. 29 and 30, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens’ Ohio Mart Oct. 1 to 4 and E.J. Thomas Hall’s Christmas Arts & Crafts Show Dec. 4 to 6. Find blown cups, bowls, vases and more. A recent tulip vase featured fused glass butterflies, Murrini tulips and a 3D glass vine wrapped around it. He also sells popular glass orbs.

“You gather a blob of molten glass, roll it in crushed colored glass called frit, melt it all together and blow,” Pozarski says. “Twist it against the steel table to make it spiral.”

He loves to interact with festivalgoers and customers and may ask them to send a picture of their piece in its forever home.

“A lady called me up once, and said, Bob, I got up this morning, and there’s a big rainbow across my refrigerator,” he recalls of a leaded art glass piece in a kitchen. “It brings some joy.” //KP facebook.com/bobpozarski

photos by Natalia Griffiths

Summit Choral Society

The nationally recognized, award-winning Children's Choir Program provides a fun, nurturing and engaging environment where young singers build confidence, develop healthy vocal technique, learn music literacy and form lasting friendships for children Grades K-12. Join us this season and experience the difference that singing together can make. Learn more, explore our programs and register today at SummitChoralSociety.org.

140 E. Market St. Akron, Oh 44308 330-434-SING (7464) SummitChoralSociety.org

Art on the Green

Winding through the heart of historic downtown Hudson Aug. 29 and 30, Art on the Green is the city’s longest-running juried fine arts show. Sponsored by the Hudson Society of Artists, the first show was held in the early 1980s and included about 70 local artists. Now in its 44th year, the show has grown to 155 artists from multiple states. “Whether you’re looking for a grand statement piece of fine art or just want to find a unique handmade gift, you can find it at Art on the Green,” says festival chair Jane DiLullo via email. Shop from art categories including painting, sculpture, woodworking, metalwork, photography, fiber arts, glasswork, candles, gourmet food and more. Plus, grab food vendor fare. “A day trip to Art on the Green showcases fine arts and crafts, combined with the charming backdrop of small-town America at its best,” DiLullo says. //EM Downtown Greens, Hudson, hudsonsocietyofartists.com photo provided by Art on the Green

Place Maker

While his brother, Kyle, was living in Florida, Matt Celek decided to create a reminder of their family home in Cuyahoga Falls. He had a laser cutter, so he made Kyle a wooden map of their hometown. He enjoyed every bit of it — designing it, cutting it, staining it — and Kyle loved it too. Celek posted the map when he made it in 2020 and got a lot of interest, so he started selling more maps in 2021 — and MapCuts was formed. What began in his backyard workshop with just Celek has now scaled up to an about 22-employee operation on its own Stow property, fulfilling a staggering 22,000-plus orders to date. The maps can be customized, creating meaning for recipients.

“I get some videos where some people — they’ll be crying,” says Celek.

For the first two years, Celek was working 14-hourplus days from his garage, making wooden maps on one laser cutter. He expanded into a barn and then a front garage. Celek bought the Stow property for business use in 2023, which has a house featuring Little Oaks Market selling MapCuts and more artisanal

Matt Celek

wares, as well as a 2,400-square-foot production warehouse containing eight laser cutters.

Celek, Kyle and five others design maps using mapx.co, a design program recently launched by Celek that’s available for use.

“I downloaded all the GIS information and uploaded it to the cloud, so it’s all remote data,” says Celek, who has long been interested in ComputerAided Design, has a University of Akron business degree and is selftaught. “It goes faster.”

Always looking to improve, Celek also made a client proofing system. “I created some systems when we design it or somebody places an order, they’ll get an email and text,” he says. “We can drop the proof in the program that I have sent off automatically, they can click on it and proof it right online versus having to text and message us.”

The design is then loaded into LightBurn Software to program the laser cutter. It’s cut onto maple plywood from Keim Co. in Amish

Country. It gets sanded, stained with custom stains, glued together, sprayed with a clear coat, framed with a poplar frame from Keim and shipped to customers throughout North America.

MapCuts sells a wide range of options, including streetscape city maps, golf course or hole-in-one maps, wedding maps, housewarming maps and textured topographical maps of places like Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Sticky icon packs mark special locales.

“We’ll mark where their house is. Some people put where their favorite fishing spot is. We’ll put boat icons on it,” he says. “We’ll put their family name on it.”

Travel maps feature markers that can be added to signify places people have visited, including a U.S. National Parks map, U.S. professional baseball stadiums map and Ohio state parks map. Lake maps are the most popular option with layers portraying the depth of the lake, including the Great Lakes, Aurora Lake and Chippewa Lake.

Maps can become a sentimental memento, such as one daughter who got a map of the golf course her late father designed and a Portage Lakes one that served as a lasting memory.

“She bought a Portage Lakes map, and they threw her husband’s ashes out in the middle of the water, so they put a heart where the ashes are,” Celek recalls.

Shop Little Oaks Market to see his MapCuts showroom, where pieces range from 40-by-60-inch-tall park maps to small map magnets. Also find local vendors such as landscape paintings by Nancy Gregg Fine Art of Stow, Blushing Bark wooden flowers from Wadsworth, Ms. Takes By the Lake beach glass jewelry and more.

Stop by his booth at Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival at Hale Farm & Village Sept. 4 to 6 or Ohio Mart at

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Oct. 1 to 4 — you might see someone dressed as the Map Daddy mascot, which is a globe with a smiling face.

Started from a garage project and upscaled to a large production, MapCuts has grown into one of the top map makers. Celek still enjoys talking with customers at shows and hearing their stories.

“People will message us and tell us … the person was super happy for it,” he says. “They can give somebody that has everything already something that’s meaningful.”//KP

3473 Wyoga Lake Road, Stow, mapcuts.com

photos by Erin Gulling

Made in Ohio

Art & Craft Festival

Find everything from handmade housewares to freshly grown herbs and honey at the Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival at Hale Farm & Village Sept. 4 to 6. Renee Flynn, owner of Firestone Candles — candles made using slices of Brazilian agate and river rocks — created the festival. “It’s a celebration of the talent, traditions, flavors and creativity that make Ohio special,” she says. Take in wares from over 200 Ohio artists, such as metalsmith Gerald Smith’s GE Smith Design gemstone jewelry and Tracy Dawyduk’s Oddities in UpPsychling mixedmedia pieces. Plus, enjoy local food vendors and live entertainment, including a performance from the Akron Symphonic Winds Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. “This one-of-a-kind festival brings together the best of Ohio’s artisans, makers, musicians, food producers and historic craftsmen for an unforgettable day of discovery and fun,” Flynn says. //SS 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, madeinohiofestival.org

photo by Nancy Balluck

{ by Kelly Petryszyn, photos by Natalia Griffiths }

Man of Mystery

NOVELIST LES ROBERTS HAS WRITTEN AN IMPRESSIVE CATALOG OF WHODUNITS.

Mystery author Les Roberts has written around 35 novels — and still hasn’t stopped at 89 years old.

“When I sit down to write, I know the good guy. I know the bad guy,” says Roberts, who resides at Ohio Living Rockynol in Akron. “The rest of it comes to me as I’m going.”

His most popular series follows private eye Milan Jacovich in 19 fictional books set in Northeast Ohio.

In the 1960s, he moved to New York to pursue acting, and then moved to Los Angeles, where he spent 24 years writing TV shows, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Jackie Gleason Show and more. He was also the head writer and producer for Hollywood Squares.

“I knew movie stars. I would hang out with them,” recalls Roberts, who has also been a professional actor, singer, jazz musician, teacher and more.

In the 1960s, Roberts came to Cleveland to write for the Ohio Lottery’s TV show, Cash Explosion, and was enamored with the city after just two weeks of visiting it. Roberts left glitzy, sun-soaked LA for the gritty Rust Belt, moving to Cleveland Heights in the 1990s. He lived there for 19 years before living in apartments in Akron in the 2000s and then eventually moving into Rockynol in 2025.

Roberts came to writing mystery novels by chance. In the late 1980s, he was commissioned to write a movie — but changed directions after 30 pages.

“A little bug back here said, It’s a book, stupid. Do a book. So, I stopped and I wrote a book,” recalls Roberts, who has received many accolades, including the Sherwood Anderson Literary Award.

Called An Infinite Number of Monkeys, it follows an actor and

private investigator looking into who killed a millionaire.

It’s the first of six books in his Saxon series, based in LA. Roberts was inspired to create Jacovich after talking with an airplane passenger. The two met up later, and she discussed her brother, Milan. Roberts created the character of Milan Jacovich, making him a Slovenian American ex-cop-turned-private eye who loved kielbasa and Stroh’s beer.

“He’s very brave. I think in almost every book there are several funny lines,” says Roberts, who published a memoir, We’ll Always Have Cleveland “When I lived in Hollywood, I wrote for Paul Lynde, Buddy Hackett and Don Rickles. I know how to tell a joke.”

Roberts cultivated relationships with the police department and sheriff’s office, occasionally sitting down to ask questions and get in the mind of police officers and criminals. One of Roberts’ favorite Jacovich books is the fourth entry, The Cleveland Connection. It follows a granddaughter trying to track down her missing grandfather, who is Serbian. The plot revolves around the fictional rivalry between Cleveland’s Serbian and Slovenian communities. The Washington Post praised the book: “There’s an affection for Cleveland and an insistence on its ethnic, working-class life that gives vividness to the detection.”

Some links to Roberts can be found in that novel, among others — largely revolving around Jacovich’s character.

“It’s a lot about me and what’s going on in my life,” he recalls of Jacovich, who is divorced and has two kids who are seven years apart like Roberts. “I really did a hell of a job writing it.”

He’s also written a series on assassin

Dominick Candiotti, which consists of two published books, including the first, The Strange Death of Father Candy, about the death of Candiotti’s brother. Gumshoe wrote that the novel is a “volatile piece of bloody noir that is extremely fast-paced and highly engaging.”

His recent works include Temporary Man, a standalone about the mob, Bellamy, a novel with a female protagonist, and the Akron-set Less Than Yesterday, in which an ex-cop discovers that his girlfriend was found dead in the Gorge.

As he approaches his ninth decade, Roberts hopes to continue writing as long as he can. It’s what keeps him going and gives him purpose each day.

services:

• Respite Care

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CARE WITH MCGREGOR PACE

PACE provides a whole-person approach.

One of the benefits of McGregor PACE (Program of AllInclusive Care for the Elderly) is the significant reduction in stress it brings to participants and their families. Instead of managing multiple providers, appointments and fragmented services, everything is coordinated through one integrated care team. McGregor PACE operates five Adult Day Health Centers throughout Cuyahoga, Lorain and Summit counties.

This all-in-one program includes primary medical care, specialty services, rehabilitation, medications, personal care assistance, transportation and social engagement. This whole-person approach removes the burden of navigating a complex healthcare system and replaces it with a single, coordinated plan focused on individual needs.

For families, this means far less worry and day-to-day strain. Care decisions, medical updates and service coordination are handled by a dedicated team. The result

Call 888-895-PACE (7223). Learn more at mcgregorpace.org The PACE model of care includes a specialized trained team

are

to

is more confidence that care is consistent, responsive and aligned with each participant’s needs.

McGregor PACE also supports aging in place, allowing older adults to remain safe in their homes and communities. This familiar environment reduces disruption and anxiety while preserving independence. At the same time, proactive monitoring and early intervention help catch health issues before they become emergencies.

As Americans live longer and long-term care needs increase, McGregor PACE offers a reassuring alternative to institutional care. It combines medical excellence with coordinated support, helping participants live with dignity while giving families the relief of knowing care is fully managed, connected and focused on well-being.

Visit mcgregorpace.org/how-to-enroll to learn more about participating in the McGregor PACE.

Old World

Charm

MADDALENA’S DELIVERS FRESH, INSPIRED ITALIAN DISHES IN KENT.

“That’s the biggest thing for me — the pride that I have in my heritage.”

Mandy Yannucci

{ by Cameron Gorman, photos by Erin Gulling }

Each time the menu is adjusted at Maddalena’s Italian Ristorante in downtown Kent — every three months — staff members gather in the cozy 52-seat dining room to try new dishes. In July, that meant sharing bites of colorful caprese salad accented with sea salt and olive oil, as well as a dish with Italian sausage and carefully cooked mussels.

“I usually cry by the end of this,” says co-owner Mandy Yannucci, taking a bite of Insalata Mista, freshly prepared by co-owner and executive chef Emily Hansford.

Yannucci’s father was born in Sicily — the dishes conjure childhood memories.

“I grew up in a very, very ethnic household,” she says. “My grandmother used to make some dishes that really were Sicilian street food, and Emily has found and made some recipes that I would have as a child that literally bring tears to my eyes. It’s so nostalgic.”

Opened on July 1, 2025, Maddalena’s provides an experience that’s akin to stepping into an elevated version of a nonna’s kitchen. Meals are served on charmingly mismatched dishware, and photos of the co-owners’ family members hang in gold frames on the wall — including a picture of the restaurant’s namesake, Yannucci’s nonna, Maddalena. Even the green velvet barstools harken back to a green velvet couch in Maddalena’s home.

“I love dealing with our guests, especially first-time guests. I love to see their reaction to not only the aesthetic of the restaurant, but then when they get to try the food,” Yannucci says. “One thing that I hear consistently is that Kent needed a restaurant like ours for years.”

The idea for the restaurant — which serves antipasti, pizza, pasta and more for dinner, as well as antipasti, pizza and sandwiches for lunch — first came about over a lunch meeting three years ago. With almost 30 years of cooking experience, Hansford asked Yannucci if she would want to open an Italian restaurant together.

“I love the stress and the adrenaline of cooking, and I also love the constant research,” Hansford says. “It’s just a constant learning, growing experience for me.”

Maddalena’s dishes out genuine Italian eats, including wood-fired pizza from a visible oven.

“You get more flavor from the wood burning. You get some of that smoky flavor. And everything’s scratch made,” Yannucci says.

Order the beef, pork and pancetta meatballs, a menu staple. Chicken stock is reduced down until it’s in a gelatin form and then added in, along with cheese and caramelized onions and garlic.

“People come for the meatballs because they are so delicious,” Yannucci attests. “The sauce is amazing.”

Another enduring menu item is the margherita pizza, crafted using dough made daily, fresh mozzarella, tomato passata, fresh basil and garlic slices. New to the menu as of July is the Rigatoni Alla Zozzona.

“It is basically a hodgepodge of all the classic … Roman Italian pasta sauces,” says Hansford. “There is pancetta in there, there is hot Italian sausage, and then there’s a carbonara sauce that’s an egg yolk with Parmesan cheese in it. Very rich, a little spicy.”

Try the mussels — about a pound of mussels with mild Italian sausage, braised cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, onions, white wine and butter.

“This is so summery, fresh and light.” says Yannucci.

Also featuring mussels, as well as caramelized lemon, shrimp, chili flakes and arugula, is the Spaghetti Al Limone. Savor it with the with the Sicilian 77 cocktail — limoncello, prosecco, fresh basil and lemon sorbetto. Yannucci makes the limoncello from scratch.

Pair the Orecchiette Con Salsiccia, made with Italian sausage, roasted cherry tomatoes, basil pesto, pine nuts and burrata, with the Italian mule — a mix of limoncello, Campari, fresh lemon juice and ginger beer. Save room for scratch-made gelato in flavors like chocolate and vanilla, as well as rotating seasonal flavors such as blueberry cheesecake, hazelnut and pistachio.

“People definitely enjoy eating as they’re celebrating and having conversation,” says Yannucci. “With the Italian culture, for sure, eating is a big part of the culture … family time, you get together, whether it’s Sunday dinner or during the week, it’s time to share your day, talk, celebrate through food.”

Yannucci enjoys sharing her roots through the restaurant.

“All the pride that it brings me to be able to talk about the fact that my father was born in Sicily, and his family, they were immigrants here, that I’m first-generation American,” she says. “That’s the biggest thing for me — the pride that I have in my heritage.”

252 N. Water St., Kent, 330-593-5010, maddalenaskent.com

Co-owners Emily Hansford and Mandy Yannucci

CUYAHOGA FALLS

STROLL THE NEW RIVERLOOP

PARTY ON THE NEW PEDAL PUB REFRESHED CRAVE BRINGS BACK FAVES

Waterfront Refresh

CUYAHOGA FALLS’ NEW RIVERLOOP AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT THE CITY’S NATURAL BEAUTY.

There’s a bit of treasure in the Cuyahoga River.

“I hosted a gold panning event two summers ago,” says Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters, “and four people found gold flakes.”

The discovery inspired Walters to create Prospector’s Point, one of various stops on the city’s brand-new RiverLoop project — an attraction that will soon allow visitors and residents to stroll along the river on an upper walkway running alongside the lower, restored boardwalk area, encountering various educational and entertaining points of interest along the way.

“It’s going to talk about prospecting, and we are going to have these huge gold rocks that have glitter on them,” Walters says of the spot, which will include an informational sign and natural area for panning. “They’re going to sell the pans at the local stores.”

Slated to be finished by Labor Day, the

RiverLoop project is both rebuilding the lower boardwalk and adding a new upper walkway that will run from the Cuyahoga Falls clocktower to the intersection of Front Street and Oakwood Drive. It connects with Front Street at Broad Boulevard and Oakwood Drive to form a complete loop. The new 2,200-foot section of the loop has been under construction since May 2025.

“We knew we had to rebuild the boardwalk. It was made of wood, and it was very old and falling apart. ... I started looking around, walking around down there, and I said, Well, it’s going to be really nice to redo the boardwalk, but we’re missing an opportunity,” Walters says. “I saw an upper walkway that would give that same beautiful experience with full ADA accessibility, where you would still have the beautiful view, and it would form a continuous loop with downtown.”

The city has invested around $7 million in the RiverLoop, which was formed with community input. A city conceptual video takes viewers through a rendering of the new construction, which includes wide, accessible walkways with swirling patterns in the concrete, metal riverthemed railings, string lights crossing above the pathway, swinging benches and more.

Encounter about 10 points of interest along the RiverLoop. Walkers can learn about kayaking at Kayaker’s Cove — which will include a sign with photos and a kayak — and, at Eagle’s Bluff, the local bald eagle population. The area will include signs discussing their habitat and models of eagles.

Otter Overlook will boast a familysize swing to look out over the river, signs about otter habitats and models of otters, and the Sounds of the River area will invite visitors to appreciate the auditory marvels all around them.

Fishermen’s Pier will tell visitors about the health of the Cuyahoga and the fish that live within its waters.

“It’s not polluted any longer. It’s very healthy, and most of the native species have come back,” Walters notes.

“There’s all kinds of wildlife that a lot of people haven’t seen.”

A space with existing built-in seating along the riverbank will play host to a new RiverLoop stage, perfect for

{ by Cameron Gorman, photos by Natalia Griffiths }

Mayor Don Walters

{ by Kelly Petryszyn, photos by Erin Gulling }

THROW BACK

REDISCOVER BELOVED CLASSICS AT CRAVE ON FRONT STREET.

Crave has been a cornerstone in Akron since opening in 2001 in the Northside District — and its counterpart, Crave Cantina, opened in 2017, serving Latin-inspired fare in Cuyahoga Falls. After eight years of the Crave Cantina, co-owners Aaron and Dana Hervey felt the concept needed a refresh — so they looked to Crave’s rich history. “I kicked around the idea of some retro old dishes that we used to do and then it kind of took steam. … So it’s very much like Crave in downtown Akron, but the dishes have a little bit of a twist,” says Aaron, whose Akron location is now in the Bowery District. “This kind of took inspiration from some old menus from the early 2000s. … It was a fun way to put a spin on it.”

In early 2026, Crave on Front Street opened in the former Crave Cantina space. The Front Street menu has many favorites that have rotated off of Akron’s menu, which Aaron describes as eclectic and globally inspired. They brought back the bacon double cheeseburger soup, fried green tomatoes and blackened catfish po’boy. Some dishes on Akron’s menu got reworked from their original iterations, so Front Street brought back

the originals — such as baked goat cheese with Puttanesca sauce.

That includes the steak skewers, which are now topped in Akron with a chimichurri roja sauce — but were originally topped with a Guinness sauce. Front Street’s steak skewers ($16) go back to that sauce, in which Guinness is reduced for stronger flavor and combined with roasted garlic. That mixture is basted on chargrilled steak seasoned with Monterey, and it’s all served with smoked Gouda fondue.

“The big hit was bringing back that Guinness sauce,” says Raymond Trice, who is the head chef at Front Street and has worked at Crave for 12 years. “When you pair it with the fondue, it’s one of those melt-in-your-mouth things.”

A returning summertime classic, the Roma tomato salad ($13) melds Italian and Greek influences. Field greens are tossed in oil and balsamic vinegar and topped with red onions, Kalamata olives, quartered artichoke hearts, Roma tomatoes and feta. For an extra cost, finish it with a grilled protein.

“It all works well together. It’s salty. It’s zesty,” Aaron says. “The feta really pops in it, and it’s great if you add on chicken, steak or shrimp.”

“We can’t keep it in house because it’s that popular,” Trice adds.

Walleye has been on the menu in many different iterations, so Aaron told Trice to come up with his own way to reinvent it. Trice landed on coating a 6- to 8-ounce piece of walleye in crushed pretzels and dried potatoes, searing it and baking it.

The walleye pairs with Southernstyle grits, made by sauteing onions, adding cream and water to the grits, salt, pepper, cheddar and bacon. He created an Aji panca pepper sauce that also combines heavy cream and Modelo. It’s served with a house vegetable, such as snap peas.

“It came out, and it was like, Wow,” Trice says of the first time he cooked it. “It came out nice. That is our weekend seller.”

The drink menu has callbacks to Crave Cantina with a margarita and a paloma, but also plenty of Crave

Akron iterations such as the Crave Tini and the Smashed on Front Street bourbon cocktail. For warmer weather, try the Amalfi Afternoon ($14), which has Malfy blood orange gin, Aperol, Sicilian lemonade, lemon juice and honey.

“The drink was inspired by being on the Amalfi Coast drinking an Aperol spritz,” says Dana. “It shouts summer.”

Crave on Front Street has been a welcome addition for regulars who remember and miss beloved dishes over the years. That includes the grilled steak wrap — topped with cheddar, bacon and black pepper aioli — which evolved into a chicken wrap on the Akron menu.

“People who would come in here, if they knew the old Crave, they’d be like, I can’t get that at Crave anymore, but I can get it here,” Dana says.

2097 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-931-4119, eatdrinkcrave.com

Co-owner Dana Hervey

Give Local

FIND YOUR DREAM GIFT AT REVERIE.

Uncover a Sasquatch-themed glassware collection, burger-flavored dog treats or a cannabis cookbook. At Reverie in Cuyahoga Falls, you will not only leave with handcrafted gifts for your loved ones — you will leave chuckling.

“We often have people laughing throughout the store,” says owner and founder Kristin Hadari. “People will say they’ve had a bad day at work, and they come in here just to feel better.”

Meaning a state of being lost in your daydreams, Reverie is Hadari’s lifelong passion for creativity and community realized.

“I was always trying to find an outlet to express myself,” says Hadari, who was inspired by her grandmother — a seamstress who handmade dresses and other clothing.

Following several years of working for a corporate company, Hadari began experimenting with various artistic mediums, leading to the launch of her brands eleven:eleven and Itsy Bitsy Booty, which sold infinity scarves and infant clothing, respectively.

“Art was always present,” she says. “It was what I was going to listen to and what path that was going to take.”

After success at local markets and festivals, Hadari was in search of a home for her art — one that could platform other artisans as well.

“When I first looked at the location, there weren’t many places open on the street yet, but it was an energy that I could feel. It just felt right,” says Hadari. “It was electric.”

Reverie officially opened in 2019.

“The community here in the Falls has been so small business-oriented,” Hadari says. “We all share our challenges and our successes, and they’ve been very supportive.”

{ by Sydney Stevenson, photos by Natalia Griffiths }

Seven years later, the store has become a Cuyahoga Falls community staple, with another brick-and-mortar location in Medina.

“We want to make sure we have our eye on the prize and are connecting with the community,” Hadari says.

“We started an online shop, and we’re looking for growth there to capture some of that market and really try to capture people still shopping small while shopping online.”

Reverie functions as a marketplace where shoppers can purchase handcrafted products from independent artisans such as local business Three Bees Decor — which supplies many of Reverie’s wooden signs — and Colorado-based business Naked Goat Farms, which produces homemade spreads, including a peach habanero jam. Also shop for

stuffed animals, wine glasses, jewelry, tea towels and more. Overall gift categories include clothing, mugs, candles, bath and body wares, accessories, bar and kitchen items and home and office products.

“We really try to be personalitydriven — finding that gift that you’re like, Oh, that’s that person,” she says. “Humor is a big part, and then obviously we’re handmade focused.”

Hadari also works firsthand with businesses to create original products only sold at Reverie. One of these businesses is the Social Dept., located on the same street as Reverie, which produces custom T-shirts for the store. Snag one that says “I’d Love to But I Have Plans With My Cat,” complete with the Reverie logo, or one with the Cuyahoga Falls map coordinates.

“We do try to partner with a lot of local artisans to customize what we make, so it’s a little bit of us and a little bit of them,” she says. “[We] really like to collaborate, because I think that makes very unique, one-of-akind pieces.”

Cuyahoga Falls native and general manager Madison Marshall is proud of the area’s tight-knit community.

“We all support each other on the street. I walk into any other store, people are going to know me, and I know them,” she says.

Hadari hopes that Reverie — and shopping locally — can help people relate more closely to one another.

“The experience of feeling like you made a connection,” she says, “is really the difference maker.”

2152 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 330-212-3303, reveriegifts.com

Owner and founder

Kristin Hadari

FUN ON WHEELS

{ by Cameron Gorman, photos by Erin Gulling }

FRONT STREET PEDAL PUB BRINGS THE PARTY TO DOWNTOWN CUYAHOGA FALLS.

Playing high-energy music and flashing LED lights, the new Front Street Pedal Pub is hard to miss as it makes its way through Cuyahoga Falls.

“A lot of people wave at us,” says co-owner Armand DiDonato. “It’s kind of contagious — people see us having a good time, and our passengers having a good time, and they light up, their faces light up, and they’re not even on the bike. So, it’s been super cool to see the reaction from the city.”

An open-air multi-person bike vehicle, the Pedal Pub is centered around a bar and lined with barstools — each complete with a set of foot pedals. Passengers can pedal to help power the vehicle, which is equipped with an electric assist system, as they enjoy outdoor bring-your-own wine and beer, as well as music — all with an ever-changing scenic backdrop.

“You get to see different aspects of the city,” Armand says of traveling on the Pedal Pub, which runs two-hour tours with stops. It travels from around HiHo Brewing Co. to around Moe’s Restaurant, spanning an about 1-mile stretch.

“You see different business types, landscapes, you see different groups of people out and about.”

Armand and his wife, Nikki, first got the idea for the pub after riding a similar party bike at Oktoberfest in Cincinnati.

“It was very interactive, you’re very close and intimate with a group of people, the music playing — it kind of feels like a party bus,” Armand says. “We just had pure fun and didn’t really even look at our phones.”

The couple thought a similar business would be great for Front Street.

“I said, You know what? Just for kicks of it, I’m gonna ask the city if it’d be something they would entertain or allow us to do,” Armand recalls. “They were super excited about the idea, so we just kept taking those next steps. … The city’s done a great job with the downtown here, so we just thought it would be added fun to the area.”

Front Street Pedal Pub opened for business in early June. Now, private rides, in which the entire Pedal Pub is rented out, are available — as well as public ones, in which single customers or small groups of riders can join others for a spin. It operates rain or shine, except for during inclement weather.

“The canopy is covered, and even in the wintertime, we bought clear curtains that’s gonna wrap around the bike, and we’ll have heaters in the middle of it, so that way we’ll try to do some Christmas-themed stuff,” Armand says.

Up to 14 riders — the bike has 10 pedaling seats and four nonpedaling ones — can also choose to hop off, usually at two points of interest, to grab DORA drinks. One popular stop takes riders near Burntwood Tavern, allowing them to choose from options also including Cashmere Cricket and the Workz. Other stops include Tiki Underground and HiHo Brewing Co. Kids will love a spot behind Pav’s Creamery, where they can also patronize Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop and Metropolis Popcorn.

“Some of them have done little partnerships with us,” Nikki notes.

“HiHo, they do $1 off your first pint when you come in. We have wristbands, and Tiki does $1 off of drinks.”

The Pedal Pub is a perfect choice for those celebrating birthdays, graduations, bachelorette parties and more. On private rides, guests can choose their music.

“People love to do karaoke,” Nikki says. “Get a fun group of people, and it kind of makes its own fun. … Get a good playlist ready and then just be ready to have a good time.” Pickup and drop-off: Sheraton Suites, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-236-3870, frontstreetpedalpub.com

Co-owners Nikki and Armand DiDonato

CUTTING EDGE

Those looking to live in the heart of Cuyahoga Falls’ bustling downtown scene can find housing, dining and more on South Front Street — currently being revitalized by the city of Cuyahoga Falls and redeveloped by Testa Companies.

“Front Street in general has been in high demand since the city took out the pedestrian mall and opened up vehicular traffic, giving the spaces along Front Street exposure that they haven’t had since the ‘70s,” says Joel Testa, CEO of Testa Companies.

While North Front Street (north of Broad Boulevard), Testa says, was a mix of commercial and retail buildings, South Front Street held more opportunity.

“The south side had some brownfield sites, some industrial properties, larger portions of land that were better suited to redeveloping for housing and for restaurants,” says Testa. “Our vision for Front Street was that South Front Street would predominantly be culinary and residence.”

For Testa Companies, the revitalization of South Front Street started in 2012, with the completion of the Watermark building, a mixed-use new development that was the first new construction on South Front Street since the building of the Sheraton Suites in 1989.

The project consisted of ground floor retail spaces, restaurants, offices and bars — as well as three floors of apartments for those 55-plus and a top floor consisting of market rate loft condos. The Watermark includes Testa’s Butcher & Sprout, a farm-to-table restaurant with a great patio; Mattioli’s Pizza, a pick-up and delivery only Italian restaurant featuring ingredients from Italy; the Watson, a hidden speakeasy celebrating the golden age of invention; and Oak & Olive, a speakeasy with the full Mattioli’s menu. Oak & Olive, the Watson and Butcher & Sprout boast new cocktail menus this August.

The second Testa Companies project on South Front Street was Riverwalk, featuring businesses such as Hibachi Japan, Boss ChickNBeer and Vivo Beauty Bar. The development includes space for both retail and housing.

Testa Companies’ latest development in the area

is the Glens. These townhomes range from a twobedroom with a home office/den at 2,040 square feet to a four-bedroom with a rooftop patio at 2,724 square feet. Sales start at $415,000 and leases start at $4,200 a month.

“Watermark was designed architecturally to bridge the gap between the Sheraton and the existing architecture in the Falls, whereas Riverwalk brought a California Asian modern architecture,” Testa says. “The Glens plays up on that a little bit with continuing that modern Californian style.”

When the Glens is finished, it will contain 51 threestory townhomes with two-car garages. The first four units are already completed, and the first resident has moved in. The next four-unit building is currently under construction. A partial grand opening is slated for the second half of August.

Plus, the city is currently beautifying South Front Street, redoing the streetscape by improving lighting and sidewalks, installing landscaping and more — set to be done by Labor Day.

“The street aesthetics needed upgraded to match what we had done on the northern two blocks,” says Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters.

Next to the fire station, the area adjacent to the city-owned parking lot will become Pedal Park. It will feature seating, a solar-powered charging station for e-bikes, a bike repair station, decorative bike racks and more. Walters also describes a large, lit arch that will welcome drivers entering from Broad Boulevard to the south end and more.

“The idea of walking down a street that’s got sidewalks that are clean and wide and level and don’t heave and have landscaping and trees with lights in them in the evenings and underground utilities … flowers and baskets hanging from poles with banners on them, all of that creates a sort of sense of space that is enjoyable,” Testa says. “It’s incumbent on cities to invest in those streetscapes, and fortunately, Cuyahoga Falls saw that value.”

The Glens has units available for sale or lease. Contact 330-819-0090 or cassietesta@ testacompanies.com or visit testacompanies.com.

SOUTH FRONT STREET’S REDEVELOPMENT IS BRINGING FRESH LIFE TO THE AREA.

{ by Carlina Krajnik, photo provided by Summit Memory/ Akron-Summit County Public Library }

Enduring Masterpiece

AKRON, 1995

Painted in 1971 by acclaimed Akron artist Woodrow Nash on the exterior of Akron’s Wooster Branch Library, this mural — celebrating Black leaders Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X — was restored by Nash, pictured here, in 1995. The branch became Odom Boulevard Branch Library, which was renovated and expanded in 1999. It prompted Nash to re-create the mural with a redesign to add abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who famously delivered her landmark “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech at the 1851 Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron. Opened in May 2024, the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza, at the site of Truth’s speech — challenging the exclusion of Black women from the women’s rights movement — is anchored by Nash’s sculpture of Truth. Visit truthstatue.org/donate to help ongoing efforts to educate the community and support the future of equity for all women.

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