December 2010

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Table ofCONTENTS

34

Making Spirits Bright: Holiday Cocktails to Get the Party Started

Julie Kropac mixes up some holiday fun. pg. 34

One übermixologist shares four festive cocktail recipes, from the classic Eggnog to the tasty (and adorable) Melted Snowman.

36

Fanning the Flames of Food Rivalry

40

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

44

Top Docs

Michael Symon settled two local restaurant rivalries on his TV show, “Food Feuds.” But did he get it right? Local chef Bev Shaffer investigates…

Lawrence and Cynthia Nixon keep holiday tradition alive by decorating the windows of the Polsky Building, using original animated displays from the ’50s.

On the cover: Top Doc Michael Forbes, Akron Children’s Hospital Photo by Shane Wynn

4

Akron Life & Leisure

Check out the 186 area physicians in 18 specialties who made the Best Doctors List in America for 2010 — along with six profiles of local Best Docs talking about their work, their play and their hope for a Browns Super Bowl win.

December 2010

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Akron Life & Leisure

0

I finally decided to pick something I loved to do — to inspire others to learn by teaching. Luckily, I received an assistantship with a university as a graduate instructor and was able to build my résumé while being a full-time student (again). I finished my master’s summer 2010 and was immediately hired with the university I’d been teaching at for two years.

Name withheld for publication Cleveland

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Abigail Keating’s perseverance is very inspiring [“You’re Hired!”

November 2010]. She and I took separate paths with our degrees, but I feel she’s really onto something with her article. When I was preparing to graduate with my bachelor’s degree summer 2008, I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I had a decent job that paid well, but (with the economy) the company I worked for was seeing drastic decreases in profit. I knew that even though I was making great money, I was also going to be one of the first people laid off.

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This cover story has got to be one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me. I love my article in the magazine — thank you!!! I was recognized in a meeting, too, and that was quite fun! My department and I bought out all the copies in the shop in the FirstMerit Tower — I think they need more!

Abigail Keating Akron From the Editor: Thank YOU Abigail — for being willing to share the personal details of your job search and for candidly discussing the professional challenges facing the Millennial generation. Our community needs young professionals like you. You’re our future — and we’re glad you stayed.

Comments?

Got something to say about an article you read in Akron Life & Leisure?

Send comments to: Akron Life & Leisure 90 South Maple St. Akron OH 44302 and please include your name and address.

Or, e-mail Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com We reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

Have Akron Will Travel

This picture was taken at the Ohio pillar at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. I accompanied Carl Springer, of Cuyahoga Falls, who served in the Merchant Marines from 1941 to 1945. Our visit was arranged by the Honor Flight Network, an organization that takes WWII veterans to Washington to see the war memorials and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What an awesome experience!

Cheryl Gray Akron

PADRAIG HARRINGTON PGA TOUR Player of the Year 2008

THE MAKING OF A LEGEND PADRAIG HARRINGTON and his Signature Moon Phase Flyback Chronograph. citizen-signature.com Barbara Mitchell visiting Long Beach, CA, in September. We brought a little “hometown” to share with our daughter, Alyssa. We practically wear out our copy of the magazine every issue. Thanks for a great publication.

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Departments and Guides

6 Letters

18

9 Publisher’s Page 10 Out & About Ladies Night Out!, The Halloween Charity Ball, The Summa Foundation Sapphire Ball, A New York State of Mind: Weathervane Playhouse, and Women of Influence Tea: Girl Scouts

18 Get to Know

22

Akron Civic Theatre Executive Director Howard Parr discusses what’s next for the landmark theatre and what actor would play him in a production of his life.

20 Akronite & Day Venue and Palate: December entertainment guide, art shows & exhibits, local restaurants and events listings, and featured holiday wine.

78

63 Healthy Tips Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium, but what’s most remarkable is the number of health issues its deficiency has been linked to.

64 Stop the Insanity Seven getaways to help you de-stress during December.

68 Women in Business: She’s the Boss Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men, but only 3 percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are female. Have women shattered the glass ceiling … or not?

73 Comparing Paychecks The mancession may be real, but women still earn only 81 cents to a man’s dollar.

78 Back to School These four seniors ages 61-95 are college students at the University of Akron — where they’re auditing classes without paying tuition

82 The Last Word Big changes are coming to Akron Life & Leisure!

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Don Baker Jr. Associate Publisher Colin Baker Creative Director Kathy Baker Moorhouse Managing Editor Georgina K. Carson Assistant Editor Abby Cymerman Contributing Writers Mary Ethridge Becca Gippin Doris Larson Nancy L. Nierman Bev Shaffer Graphic Designer William Teckmyer III Photographer Shane Wynn Office Manager Jackie Booth Sales Colin Baker Ben DiCola Carol Null Tim O’Connell Circulation Jessica Burkhart 330-253-0056 ext. 112 Akron Life & Leisure is published by Baker Media Group, LLC, 90 S. Maple St., Akron, Ohio 44302-1629. Copyright 2010 © by Baker Media Group, LLC, ISSN No. 74470 57871. 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 Akron Life & Leisure accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. Subscription rates: Continental U.S., One year—19.95, Two years—34.95. Call for Alaska, Hawaii or international rates. Single issues available by calling the circulation department. $3.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling.

Editorial, advertising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.

E-mail: gcarson@bakermediagroup.com, dbakerjr@bakermediagroup.com, sales@bakermediagroup.com. www.akronlife.com

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Publisher’sPAGE

Women in Business: Great Concept, No Backing

W

e tried to start a “Women In Business” magazine about 10 years ago, but we ended up publishing only a sample issue of 16 pages. The trouble wasn’t a lack of interest in the subject; on the contrary, our readers loved the concept and the sample. But unless you have the financial support of the advertising community, there’s really no way to continue publishing.

The idea for the concept first came to us when someone read the amazing statistic that there are more than 12 million women business owners in the United States. Now that’s a big number (at least for a publisher). That would mean there are more than enough potential subscribers and, you would think, more than enough readers to attract the attention of advertisers.

We set about doing our due diligence using a 100-point questionnaire that I’ve developed over the years of starting magazines. One of the questions is: Who are the readers? Well, that was easy enough. Thousands of women owned businesses right here in Greater Akron. We called on many of them and asked for their input, which gave us insight into the unique challenges that women face in starting, running and passing on businesses.

We also made presentations to local women’s business groups, including Women’s Network, to get their ideas and to stir up interest. We met with the local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, which is a nationwide organization based in Washington D.C. that provides information, networking and other resources to women business owners. We even held a focus group at a place out in Fairlawn, where participants provided feedback on our magazine concept as we sat behind a mirrored wall listening to their critiques. (It

was enlightening to hear what these women business owners had to say about us behind closed doors.) We also engaged the advice and services of business guru Norma Rist, who wrote a column for that sample issue.

We were successful in gaining the support of people and organizations, but the advertising community felt differently.

Another question on the 100-point questionnaire is: Who are the advertisers? We listed them and called on almost everyone to present our idea for a Women In Business magazine.

The main rejection I got from banks, health care providers, CPA firms, etc., was that they already reached that audience through their current advertising methods. Though I still liked the concept, we weren’t able to move forward with the magazine without advertising support (at least until our audience proved itself in terms of subscribers).

This month’s special section on “Women In Business” is derived from that experience nearly 10 years ago. Here, we’ve taken that concept and published articles on topics relevant to women in business, including interviews and advice from influential, knowledgeable business women in the Greater Akron area. I think you’ll be enlightened by the articles.

On another note, this is the last Publisher’s Page of the year.

When we come back after the holiday break, we start anew — and I mean literally. We’re taking all of the marbles that we’ve arranged so neatly over these last seven years and throwing them up into the air to land in a new, improved magazine for January. (Actually, we’ve put much more forethought into it than that, but you know what I mean.) Although change is never easy, I know that you’ll like what we’re doing.

From the staff of Akron Life & Leisure magazine and all of us here at Baker Media Group, we wish you the best of the holiday season.

Don Baker Jr. dbakerjr@bakermediagroup.com

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

9

OUT&ABOUT

Ladies Night Out! Coquette Boutique owner Carolyn Leibowitz 1 decided that the women of Summit County deserved a real night out, so she approached Ken Stewart, owner of Tre Belle, to close the restaurant for a private event, which included half-price drinks and pizzas. Incognito covered the event and took amazing photos to help promote the special evening. Coquette provided the fashion show, Sara Fraraccio styled all the models’ hair and Chanel did the make-up. All the businesses offered fabulous raff le prizes, including a portrait from Incognito, bottles of wine from Ken Stewart, a ladies night out at Coquette Boutique, perfume from Chanel and a Kerastase salon treatment from Sara Fraraccio Salon. The September event was a sellout, and another party was scheduled for Dec. 6 at Tre Belle.

2

4 3

5

1. Ken Stewart and Carolyn Leibowitz celebrate the success of a great night.

2. Models posing in front of the Lodge (left to right): Kathy Serpentini, Heather Carone, Brianna LaRose, Julie Sekeres, Kathy Petrenko, Becky Moreland, Dana Banks and Jane Allen 3. Marian Garrison in her Super Trash dress, making sure everyone’s having fun 4. Sara Fraraccio-Brebant styled all the models hair.

5. Dana Banks modeling a Desigual outfit

All Dressed Up & Somewhere to Go: The Halloween Charity Ball 1

The 7th annual Halloween Charity Ball took place at the Highland Theatre in West Akron on Oct. 29. Presented by the Greater Akron Professional Society, the event benefited the Rape Crisis Center, Open M Clinic and Summit Scholars.

About 700 attendees donned their best costumes — and helped to raise $16,000, which was split among the three charities.

1. Alison and Ryan Prudoff 2. Betsy and Ryan Hartschuh and Kristin Durian 3. Virginia and Marcus Obieu 4. Keri and Dave Ortopan 5. Kate Sass, Deb Costa, Terri Heckman and Leanne Graham

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Akron Life & Leisure

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3

2

December 2010

5

The Summa Foundation Sapphire Ball On Sept. 11, 2010, The Summa Foundation hosted the 10th annual Sapphire Ball at the John S. Knight Center. The elegant black-tie fundraiser provided a beautiful evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing and entertainment.

The event also included a special presentation of the “Innovation in Health Care Award.”

This year’s honoree was Dr. Bernadine Healy, for her significant contributions in advancing healthcare and developing health policy.

1

1. Dr. Vivian von Gruengien, M.D., department chair of Obstetrics/

2

3

Gynecology for Summa Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals and medical director of Women’s Health Services for Summa Health System with Dr. Bernadine Healy, recipient of the evening’s Innovation in Health Care Award 2. Sapphire Ball 2010 Chair Mary Ann Jackson with son Keith and

4

daughter-in-law Barb Jackson 3. Summa Health System President and CEO Thomas J. Strauss and wife Susan 4. Dr. von Gruenigen with Savannah Brinson and her sister

A New York State of Mind: Weathervane Playhouse 1

Women of Influence Tea: Girl Scouts

2

Girl Scouts of North East Ohio hosted its first “2010 Legacy of Leadership: Women of Inf luence Tea” in September at Portage Country Club.

1

On Oct. 2, Weathervane’s 2010 Gala: A New York State of Mind was held at the Playhouse featuring a performance by Tony Awardwinner Michael Rupert.

More than 160 guests enjoyed this Gala in four scenes, along with honorary chairs James and Maureen Kovach and gala chair Richard Worswick.

3

2

1. Mayor Don Plusquellic and John Hedges, Weathervane Executive Director 2. Tom Trotter and Martha Kaltenbach 3. Maureen and Jim Kovach (honorary

Candace Campbell Jackson and Mary Beth Carroll were honored as the most inf luential women in the greater Akron area. Awardees were selected on success in their industries as well as contributions to their communities. To mark the occasion, all of the women in attendance became honorary Girl Scout members.

chairs) and Barry Friedman as the Statue of Liberty

1. Karen Talbott, GSNEO board member; Mary Beth Carroll, vice president, Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement; and Patricia Kemph 2. Julie Grossi, GSNEO board member; Candace Campbell Jackson, The University of Akron vice president and chief of staff; and Daisy Alford-Smith, GSNEO chief executive officer

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

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Is Your Husband Hot? Nominate him for Greater Akron’s Hottest Husbands 2011 Think your husband is the hottest thing since George Clooney? Maybe he’s got the goofball appeal of Ashton Kutcher? The compassionate soul of Bono?

The megawatt hotness of Vin Diesel? The sexy dad vibe of Brad Pitt?

West Side Bakery: the winning couple receives a “lovers” dessert once a month for a year. $150 value

Old Carolina Barbecue Company: a basket with four sauces — Original Classic, Piedmont #5, Original Gold and Screamin’ Beaver, plus grilling utensils, grilling apron and a gift certificate to two Old Carolina Q-Schools.

Sara Fraraccio Hair & Beauty Boutique: Kerastase Deluxe Ritual Treatment, blow out, spa manicure and spa pedicure.

A few good men will be selected as Greater Akron’s Hottest Husbands — and entered into a drawing to win great prizes (for both him and his wife) from our sponsoring partners:

Indian Summer Tan and Retreat: couples yoga passes, five classes each. $100 value

$135 value

Taylor Made Jewelry: Chamilia Snap Bracelet with Murano glass bead, two sterling silver beads, and two sterling silver locks.

Visage Surgical Institute: gift certificate toward first Botox treatment. $150 value

$200 value

$100+ value

Winners will also be interviewed and photographed for the March issue of Akron Life & Leisure.

If you live in Summit, Portage, Medina or Stark counties, your hot husband is eligible.

Simply e-mail or mail us a head shot of your hubby, a full-body shot (keep it clean, please!) and a 100-word explanation about why your guy is the hottest.

E-mail: Editor Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com Snail mail: Akron Life & Leisure Attn: Georgina K. Carson 90 S. Maple St. Akron, OH 44302

Nominations must be received by Jan. 10, 2011.

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY

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Visit Taylor Made Jewelry this holiday season and put something in her stocking that she will really love!

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Do you need a break or know someone who could use a getaway?

Purchase your Christmas gifts now—give them a gift certificate to a secluded log cabin with Jacuzzi and fireplace in the heart of Amish Country. Offering sleigh and carriage rides, in-room massages, anniversary and birthday packages. We look forward to making your giftgiving hassle-free by designing a package that works for you.

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Don Drumm’s Holiday Show Visit this two-building gallery’s Holiday Show of Creative Gifts designed by 500 top American artists.

Pictured are pewter and glass night lights by Leandra Drumm, $48.

Holiday Hours: Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5

Don Drumm Studios & Gallery

437 Crouse St., Akron 330-253-6268 • Shop online: dondrummstudios.com

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

13

HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY

“Stop In and See Our New Holiday Gifts Including Mark Robert’s Fairy and Elves!”

The Interior Design Studio

207 South Court St., Medina 330-725-7623 interiordesignstudiooh.com

Pres

The Nutcracker Act II: Clara’s Dream Cuyahoga Falls High School

The Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet celebrates 35 seasons with a free gift to the community.

The Nutcracker Act II: Clara's Dream

12:00 p.m & 2:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 11 at noon and 2:30 p.m. at Cuyahoga Falls High School

Free Admission

Free Admission

Saturday December 11, 2010

InStyle Best Beauty Buys '10, '09, '08, '05 Best shampoo/conditioner for normal hair Kerastase Bain Satin and Masquintense "Among the pros the vote is virtually unanimous. They make hair super-soft and shiny without weighing it down."—InStyle Magazine

Sara Fraraccio Hair & Beauty Boutique 117 Merz Blvd. Suite 114, Akron 330-836-7219 • thesfsalon.com

DESIGNED TO DISTINGUISH Swiss made, with European styling and craftsmanship, Bulova Accutron is designed for the sophisticated consumer who appreciates Swiss watchmaking excellence.

Bulova Accutron is only found in fine jewelry stores.

Our gift to the community for 35 years of support!

Gasser Jewelers Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet 330-996-1100 • cvyb.org

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Family Owned and Operated

205 Third Street NW, Downtown Canton 330-452-3204 • gasserjewelers.com

Thoughtful gifts to give

Beautiful designs by Alex Sepkus Available only at Jewelry Art in Hudson.

Give the Gift of Warmth

Jewelry Art in Hudson

Give someone you love the gift of warmth. Take them on a multi-destination cruise or to a luxurious Caribbean resort.

A gift certificate from DreamMaker Destinations is the first step in creating that dream trip with memories to share forever.

116 N. Main St., Hudson 330-650-9011 • jewelryarthudson.com

DreamMaker Destinations Creating Unique Themed Travel to Exceptional Places 330-689-1920 • dreammaker.org

The holidays just got happier.

Whatever kind of space you need, PremierGarage is there to bring it to life.

We design alongside you, using the highest-quality floor coatings and cabinetry while installing it all with care. This season, transform your ordinary garage into a PremierGarage. Gift certificates are available

PremierGarage

1570 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron 330-922-4411 • premiergarage.com

Simply Stunning A brillant, orange sapphire is set with half bezels into a chunky, 14kt ring. The square bottom helps the ring stay upright, and adds a cool edge to the piece. To create your own custom CAD design, call for an appointment and let the fun begin!

Scott's Custom Jewelers 121 Ghent Road., Fairlawn 330-865-9595 • ScottsCustomJewelers.com

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

15

HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY

Handmade cookie plate $8, Custom Sewn Tablerunner $13.50

Get two gifts in one: one for the person on your list and the other, the gift of work for people with disabilities.

Visit us in Chapel Hill at the Gift Gallery kiosk Other locations: Barberton, Coventry, Cuyahoga Falls, Ellet, Twinsburg

Gift Gallery by Weaver

Save up to 80% off MSRP on world-class headphones, microphones, turntables, and more (overstocks, samples, seconds) at Audio-Technica’s warehouse sale.

Dec. 10, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Dec. 11, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Audio-Technica

330-634-8225 weavergiftgallery.org

1221 Commerce Dr., Stow 330-686-2600 • audio-technica.com

Through December 29 At Greystone Hall

Soft flannel Scandinavianstyle elf dolls, ornaments and Advent calendars will bring lots of comfort and joy this season.

Gift Certificates $30 Good for any performance of any play at Actors’ Summit.

Actors' Summit Yellow Creek Trading Co. 1685 Main St., Peninsula 330-657-2444 yellowcreektrading.com

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Akron's Professional Theater

330-374-7568 actorssummit.org

Thoughtful gifts to give

Your Signature Says A Lot About You Visit Taylor Made Jewelry this holiday season and put something in her stocking that she’ll really love...a Citizen Signature timepiece with 57 diamonds and mother-of-pearl dial.

Haute Bride Swarovski Crystal & Rhinestone Accessories Gift Certificates for the bride-to-be on your holiday gift list.

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Taylor Made Jewelry

219 N. Main Street, Hudson 330-655-1339 • AllBridesBeautiful.com

2492 Wedgewood Dr., Akron 330-733-8000 • taylormadejewelry.com

Christmas Cookie Trays

Order during December 2010 and get a one-year gift subscription for only $16.95 or two years for $24.

Delicious hand-made specialty cookies and festively decorated cut-outs for your holiday celebrations. Start a holiday tradition with cookies from The West Side Bakery. Visit us or ask us to deliver them as a special gift for someone.

Making Memories Sweeter

The West Side Bakery

Subscribe online at akronlife.com or call 330-253-0056

2303 West Market St., Akron 330-836-4101 • thewestsidebakery.com

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

17

Get toKNOW

By Georgina K. Carson Photo by Shane Wynn

Howard Parr Executive Director, The Akron Civic Theatre Aficionado, Malted Milk Balls

H

igh drama surrounded the Akron Civic Theatre at the start of the new millennium.

At the completion of the $22.5 million renovation and expansion project in 2002, a new operating model was put into place and worked pretty well for the first few years — but by 2007, debt from the renovation and less-than-expected revenues cast a dark shadow over The Civic.

Would the theatre survive, or would its story play out like a modern tragedy?

Searching for a new direction for the theatre, the Board of Trustees tapped Howard Parr (who’d been director of development and planning from 1998-2005) to be executive director in 2007. Parr and the Board then re-examined The Civic’s operations and, in an unexpected plot twist, worked with the city and county to successfully restructure its debt.

With a new operational plan in place — along with Parr — the theatre’s overall numbers in terms of revenue from ticket sales and attendance have been steadily increasing ever since.

What’s next for the landmark theatre? And just who is the real Howard Parr? That’s what AL&L attempts to find out…

Were there early clues in your childhood that suggested theatre would one day be such a big part of your life? No

early clues. I started in the entertainment business in college as a stagehand. The second concert I attended in my life was Cheap Trick, and I worked the show.

Are you a performer? (And singing in the shower does count.) Those who can, do. Those who can’t, present. I’m a

confirmed presenter.

What were you doing before you joined The Civic? I was

general manager of Ohio Ballet. Prior to that, I ran a 5,000seat arena in Danville, IL, and coordinated performing arts and concert programming for Western Illinois University.

What’s your favorite theatre concession snack? Malted

Milk Balls.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment as executive director? Re-connecting folks with the theatre by increasing the number and type of events. More than 80 percent of programming is community-based, and nearly every event involves some type of partnership with another organization. We’ve been able to increase the number of national attractions while maintaining a focus on the community-based stuff. I think that’s pretty cool.

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

What’s the biggest challenge facing The Civic right now? Dealing with maintenance issues related to an 80+ year-old building.

The Ultimate Garage... ®

Floor Coatings | Cabinets | Organizers

Who are you most proud of booking for y

the theatre? The October 2008 DEVO concert that featured performances by Chrissie Hynde and The Black Keys was awfully darn cool. Those three acts had never shared a stage in Akron or otherwise. I’m also pretty proud of our All Access program, which distributed over 6,500 tickets to various family-oriented events through a network of social-service organizations last year.

Who would you still like to book? Toby

Keith, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Tim & Faith, Brooks and Dunn reunion tour, Sugarland.

And if you had a time machine and could book anyone? Wild Oscar, the

most beloved Wurlitzer organist on the face of the planet. As best I can tell, Wild Oscar’s hands haven’t graced the keyboards of the Mighty Wurlitzer since the ’60s, but we still get folks asking if he’ll be playing before a performance.

What would surprise people about you?

I’m half Italian (Sicilian). The last name generally throws folks off.

What surprises you most about Akron

After

Before

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theatre audiences? I’m surprised by

makes it easy. By designing alongside you, using the highest quality materials,

something almost every show. Todd Rundgren sells more tickets here than any other city, 4,000+ people come down to Lock 3 every Friday of the summer, 10,000+ people show up every year to see Ballet Theatre of Ohio’s Nutcracker and 5,000+ show up to see Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet’s Fancy Nancy — when similar shows in markets twice our size don’t draw half of that. The list goes on and on.

and installing it all with care. Go ahead. Sit back and relax. Space is what

If you had an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it? Hanging with my

kids or watching something on The Food Network, most likely hosted by someone named Giada or Rachel.

What’s next for The Civic? We just signed an agreement with SMG — a company based in Pennsylvania that works with more than 200 public assembly facilities worldwide. The purpose of the agreement is to increase national programming, as well as improve the

you make of it. Make it your own. Make it last. Make it PremierGarage.™

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efficiency of our operation. I’m working on some events now for spring 2011 that would have never played Akron without this agreement.

If someone put on a production of your life, what actor should play you — and what actor shouldn’t? The first part is

easy — Jim Belushi. I think he’s great, and folks have told me I look like him.

I’d never want Brad Pitt to play me. I’m not trying to be mean or anything, but I just don’t think the poor guy is up to it.

December 2010

Know Someone We Should Profile Here?

Do you know someone with a really cool job? Or someone who’s just so cool personally that you feel cooler by association?

If so, e-mail Georgina Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

Akron Life & Leisure

19

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akronite&day

venue

December 11/13 The Snow Maiden

Through 12/5 “The Nutcracker” Presented by

Ballet Theatre of Ohio, this classic has become a treasured holiday tradition for families of all ages. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. $18-$40. 330-253-2488 Sundays through 12/19 John Smart House and Museum Tour and Fundraiser

This Victorian-style home will be decorated and open to the public for holiday tours. John Smart House and Museum, 206 N. Elmwood Ave., Medina. 1-6 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for kids under 16. 330-607-8811 Photo by Bruce Ford

Through 12/29 “A Christmas Carol”

A touring troupe uses mime, imagination, improvisation and storytelling to bring Scrooge’s redemption to vivid, musical life. Actors’ Summit, 103 High St., Sixth Floor, Akron. $17$30. 330-374-7568

L

Through 12/30 Deck the Hall “A Dickens of a Christmas Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens presents

Looking Ahead

1/7 5th Annual Firefighters Chili Challenge For a $5 donation to the Akron Children’s

Hospital Burn Unit, a guest can sample the wares of every chili chef on hand. Lock 3, Downtown Akron. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. lock3live.com 1/23 Zobapago This Akron-based band embodies

entertainment and education. For pre-schoolers and early elementary students. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 2:30 p.m. $8-$10. Children 18 and under free, but must have a child ticket, (When ordering tickets, give the number of children you expect to bring.) 330-253-2488 1/31 Cornel West — Diversity and Multiculturalism One of America’s most

provocative public intellectuals, Cornel West weaves together the traditions of the black Baptist Church, progressive politics and jazz. EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $4-$8. 330-972-7570

20

Akron Life & Leisure

its annual holiday event. Rooms in the Manor House will be decorated to portray Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron.

5 p.m.-8 p.m. on certain days. Call ahead. Tickets, $4-$16.

Children 5 and under with an adult are free. Student and member prices available. 330-315-3287 Through 1/1 97.5 WONE and The Akron Art Museum’s Who Shot Rock and Roll Photo Contest Local shutterbugs can share their best

rock concert photos in this online contest. See photos at www.wone.net.

Through 1/23 Threadbangers Ball: “CraftStock” Rock-Inspired Crafts Craft Akron

is offering Who Shot Rock & Roll-inspired classes. Create a tie-dye ensemble, a macramé belt or a beaded headband.

Learn how to convert old, worn concert T-shirts into a beautiful quilt. Craft Akron, 1478 N. Portage Path, Akron. $20-$60. 330-865-1100 12/1 2nd Annual Trunk Show This show includes many area artists and vendors selling animal, gardening and conservation gifts. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. 4-7:30 p.m. 330-375-2550 December 2010

12/1 Backyard Iditerod Learn about dogsled

racing with Shannon Miller of the Lazy Husky ranch. She’ll discuss her racing experiences, show gear used in racing and may even bring along one of her sled dogs. All ages welcome. Portage Lakes Branch Library, 4261 Manchester Road, Akron. 6:30 p.m. 330-644-7050 12/2 “Strange Powers” An intimate documentary portrait of indie rock icon and songwriter Stephin Merritt and his band the Magnetic Fields. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High, Akron. 7 p.m. Free. 330-376-9186 12/2-12/18 “A Tuna Christmas” It’s time for

the annual Christmas Yard Display Contest in Tuna, Texas.

It’s also time for a hoot and a holler as two men portray 22 of Tuna’s most outrageously loveable citizens. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron. $21. 330-8362626 12/3-12/5 Holiday Arts & Crafts Show This

beautiful handcrafted show has been an Akron tradition for nearly 30 years. EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $4.50 adults; $4 seniors; free for kids under 12.

330-972-7570

Perfect Your Figure 8s at Lock 3 Bundle up and head to Lock 3’s 10,000square-foot outdoor ice skating rink, the largest seasonal skating venue in Ohio. This familyfriendly downtown activity is a great way to get some exercise during the cold weather or keep the kids occupied during winter break. The rink is open until Jan. 30, Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Special hours: • Dec. 20 to 23, and Dec. 27 to 30, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), closed • Dec. 31, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

• Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), closed • Jan. 17 (MLK Day), 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission is free, and skate rental is $3 for adults, 18 and over, and $2 for children, ages 6 to 17. Lock 3 is surrounded by several parking decks and a surface lot. Free parking is available weekdays after 6 p.m. and weekends in all city-owned decks and lots.

When you’re finished on the ice, stop inside to warm up with some hot chocolate, and take a look at the largest display of gingerbreadrelated items in the United States, along with the Akron History Exhibit and the Toy Marble Museum.

Looking for a place to host a winter birthday party or holiday office party? Rent the rink by calling 330-375-2877, or check out the Lock 3 website, www.lock3live.com.

12/3 Get on Up Northside, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 9

p.m. 330-434-0611 12/4 Getting Started in African American Genealogy Do you want to trace your African-American

family tree? The Special Collections Division presents a two-hour class for genealogy beginners. Meeting Room 1, Main Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. 10 a.m.-noon. To sign up, call 330-643-9030

Stop in for all your Holiday Gift Giving & Entertaining Needs!

12/4 Christmas in Candy Cane Land

Performed by the Adult, Children and Youth Choruses of Voices of Canton. Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 N. Market Ave., Canton. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets: $5 for children, $8 for adults. 330-455-1000 12/4 Do the Mu – Photography No registration

necessary for this photo composition class with Alexandra Nicholis and Jill Malusky. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. Noon-2 p.m. Free. 330-873-3408

207 South Court/Medina, OH 44 p. 330.725.7623/f. 330.725.13

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Akron Life & Leisure

21

Akron s Leading Properties

• 5,000 - 50,000 sf • New & adaptive reuse Jill Madden 330.374.9470 www.boomerang-llc.com

Learn about Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia Dr. Mody Al-Khalaf, director of cultural and social affairs at the Saudi Cultural Mission of The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Akron Roundtable speaker Dr. Mody Al-Khalaf Washington, D.C., will be the featured speaker at the Akron Roundtable’s luncheon on Dec. 9.

Dr. Al-Khalaf will discuss “Education and Development in Saudi Arabia: Women as Agents of Future Change.” With a Ph.D. in applied linguistics from Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University, she began her career as a linguistics professor. She’s also an advocate for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, has written for Arab News and is currently editor in chief of Almubta’ath, a monthly magazine covering a range of topics of interest to Saudi students in the United States.

The event will be held at the Quaker Square Inn at the University of Akron, 135 S. Broadway. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $15. For details, call the Akron Roundtable at 330-247-8682.

12/4 Midlife Chryslers Northside, 111 N. Main St.,

Akron. 9 p.m. 330-434-0611 12/5 Free Admission Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High

St., Akron. 330-376-9185 12/5 Shalom Sesame Chanukah Fair An

• Central business district • Convenient parking Tony Troppe 330.697.4619 www.1akron.com

afternoon of music, Chanukah activities, a taste of Israel, story time and the premiere of the new Shalom Sesame DVD series, brought to you by Sesame Street. Shaw JCC of Akron, 750 White Pond Dr., Akron. 2-4 p.m. $3. 330-835-0044 12/5 Handmade Greeting Cards This class is

for adults and teens. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. 2-4 p.m. $15; $10 for MassMu members.

330-873-3408 12/5 Kent State Stark University Chorus

Main Hall Auditorium, 6000 Frank Ave. N.W., North Canton.

3 p.m. 330-499-9600 12/5 Music of the Angels Featuring music director

Gerhardt Zimmerman and soprano Christine Brandes, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Umstattd Hall at McKinley High School, 232 17th St. N.W., Canton. 7:30 p.m. $20-$40.

330-452-2094 12/6 Holiday Tea Cathy Cowgill, from Cowgill

• Historic renovation • On-site parking Todd Ederer 330.620.0227

Flowers Inc., will make a Christmas arrangement, and a tour of the White House Gardens Exhibit will follow. Tea consists of beverage and breakfast sweets. William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Dr. N.W., Canton. 10 a.m. Reservations required. $10. 330455-7043

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

12/7 History Discussion Group: How Cold Was It? No reservations necessary. Massillon Museum,

121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. 330873-3408 12/7 Genealogy Photo Puzzle Bring a photo to enlarge and make a photo puzzle just in time for holiday gift-giving. Registration is requested. Stark County District Library, Lake Community Branch, 11995 Market Ave. N., Uniontown. 6:30-8 p.m. 330-877-9975 12/7, 12/14, 12/21 and 12/28 Mike Lenz

Northside, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 9 p.m. 330-434-0611 12/8-12/9 “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT”

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Spamalot is the outrageous new musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the film classic, “Monty Python and The Holy Grail.”

EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. $32.50-$52.50.

330-972-7570 12/8 Medieval Christmas Customs This class

is for adults and teens. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. 6-7:30 p.m. $20; $15 for MassMu members.

330-873-3408 12/8 Chanukah at the Mall Bring canned goods and help construct a giant Can Menorah; cans will be donated to local food pantries. Watch the menorah lighting, dreidel tournament, children’s choir, klezmer band and taste hot latkes. Summit Mall, 3265 W Market St., Akron.

6:30 p.m. Free. 330-867-6997

12/9 “No One Knows about Persian Cats”

Shot in secret and featuring extraordinary performances by real underground bands, this film follows a pair of young Iranian musicians, recently released from prison, on a mission to flee the country and take their rock band to Europe. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High, Akron. 7 p.m. Free.

330-376-9186 12/9 Wine and Shop Noto, 51 E. Market St., Akron.

330-990-4724 12/9 George Jones Country music legend on stage in

Akron. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $41.50-$57. 330-253-2488 12/10 Rhythm Syndicate Northside, 111 N. Main

St., Akron. 9 p.m. 330-434-0611 12/10 Red Sun Rising An up-and-coming Akron rock band debuts its new album. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $15. 330-253-2488

Holiday Concert Benefits Foodbank The Ryan Humbert Band will perform their 2nd annual Strung Out for the Holidays concert, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m., at the Akron Civic Theatre at 182 S. Main St. Non-perishable food, canned goods and financial contributions will be collected in the Civic lobby prior to the show and will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Humbert, a lifelong Akron/Canton native, and his 15-piece acoustic band will perform original songs, seasonal favorites and covers of songs

by The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, The Pretenders and more. He’ll be joined on stage by the JLTS gospel singers and a string quintet, led by violinist Michael Houff.

The audience is also invited to Ryan’s 30th birthday bash — featuring food, drinks, a DJ, dancing and cake — which will be held in the Civic lobby immediately following the show.

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Holiday Pops DEC. 17, 2010 I 7:30 PM E.J. Thomas Hall, The University of Akron

Tickets are $20 for reserved seats, $15 for reserved seats for groups of 10 or more, and $15 for general admission. You can purchase tickets at the Akron Civic box office by calling 330-253-2488 or through Ticketmaster at www. ticketmaster.com.

Guest Conductor Carl Topilow returns to lead the Akron Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a festive evening of traditional and contemporary holiday favorites. Includes a visit from Santa and free candy canes for the kids!

12/11 Mommy and Me Yoga This class is for

adults and children under 5. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. 1-2 p.m. $20; $15 for MassMu members. 330-873-3408

Concert Sponsor:

12/11 Teen Take Over Teens in grades 6-12 take

over the top floor of the Y. There will be food, time for friends and lots to do. North Canton YMCA, 200 S. Main St., North Canton. 7-9 p.m. $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

330-499-2587

T I C K E T S FROM $20 – $40* CHRISTOPHER WILKINS, MUSIC DIRECTOR

akronsymphony.org

* discounts available for seniors, students, & groups

CALL 330.535.8131 TO ORDER

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

23

Local Bands Play Holiday Get Down at Musica Highland Square’s Square Records has teamed up for the seventh year with Music Saves, its sister record shop in Cleveland, to spotlight four local bands in two shows. Representing the Rubber City are Low in the Sky and Relaxer, which feature band members from Party of Helicopters, Houseguest, Drummer and White Pines. Cloud Nothings and Herzog will represent the North Coast.

The Holiday Get Down is Dec. 17 at 10 p.m. at Musica (51 E. Market St., Akron), and Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern (15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland). Advance tickets are $5 at www.akronmusica.com.

12/11 Beyond Blue Northside, 111 N. Main St.,

Akron. 9 p.m. 330-434-0611 12/11 and 12/12; 12/18 and 12/19 Snack with Santa Make lasting memories feeding the

penguins, decorating cookies, creating a holiday craft and having a picture taken with Santa. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron. 9:30-11 a.m. $14-$25.

330-375-2550 12/11 and 12/12 Winter Farmer’s Market

Local growers display hand-crafted gifts representing the foods of the season, including fresh fruit, jams, jellies, honeys, herbs, soaps and hand-baked treats. The market is in the O’Neil’s basement next to Lock 3. Saturday, 11 a.m.5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. www.lock3live.com 12/11 and 12/18 3rd Annual Haymaker Indoor Holiday Markets Over 30 vendors selling

locally grown produce, baked goods, canned jams and jellies, flowers, decorations and ready-to-eat foods.

11 S. River St., Kent. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 330-678-5748 12/12 Jingle Jazz A jazzy celebration of the holiday season, featuring Joe Augustine, Jack Schantz and other talented musicians from the UA School of Music. EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 3 p.m. $5-$10. 330-972-7570 12/12 Holiday Pops Concert Featuring choruses from Hoover High School, Lake High School, McKinley Senior High School, Perry High School and more. Canton Symphony Orchestra, Umstattd Hall at McKinley High School, 232 17th St. N.W., Canton. $15, $20, $25. Discounts for seniors and students. 330-452-2094

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

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Starts 11/27 thru Saturday 12/18.

A Night of Fire and Passion with Tango Buenos Aires Tuesday Musical presents Tango Buenos Aires on March 8, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Hall, The University of Akron. High heels will stomp, red fabric will swirl and a bit of South America will captivate audiences at this authentically Argentinean program of dance and music titled, “Fire and Passion of Tango.” From grand numbers of full company and musicians to intimate duets, Tango Buenos Aires members execute their movements with a precision, romance and intensity sure to dazzle. The ensemble has rapidly become one of Argentina’s great cultural exports, touring Asia, Europe and the Americas to critical acclaim. The Washington Post has praised the group’s “crafted swirling, fast-paced tapestries of movement, laced with proud postures and sensual couplings.” Founded in 1986, Tango Buenos Aires has been perfecting its choreography and artistic vision for more than 20 years. Emilio Kauderer acts as music director, and his compositions for Emmy, Grammy and Oscar winning productions have brought the strains of Argentinean tango to audiences worldwide. Ticket prices are $22, $40, $45, and group and senior discounts are available. Call the E.J. Thomas ticket office at 330-972-7570 or Ticketmaster at 800745-3000. Still need gift ideas? Buy someone a gift certificate to Tuesday Musical.

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December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

25

A Look Back at Buttons: First Night Akron Celebrates Its 15th Year

12/14 Garrison Keillor The host of “A Prairie

First Night Akron is celebrating its 15th year on Dec. 31st with not only its traditional First Night admission button, but also a commemorative 15 Year Celebration button. The 15 Year button was designed by freelance graphic artist Warren Becker, who chose an element from each of the previous 15 button designs and combined them into one design. The First Night Akron 2011 button artist — chosen by a committee of previous button artists — is María Alejandra Zanetta, a professor at The University of Akron. First Night admission buttons give access to 13 venues filled with more than 90 music, dance, theater, interactive and visual art performances and projects for all ages. The buttons are $10, and children under 10 are admitted free when accompanied by a button-wearing adult. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.firstnightakron.org.

Home Companion” delivers hilarious anecdotes about growing up in the American Midwest and the aging process, not to mention “late-life fatherhood.” EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $30-$45. 330-972-7570 12/15 The Musical Theatre Project: A Christmas Cabaret Don’t miss TMTP’s fifth-annual,

one-of-a-kind, cabaret-style holiday treat. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $25. 330-2532488 12/16 The ReBeats: A Beatles Tribute This

mop-top group performs songs in full Sgt. Pepper uniforms and have earned a reputation for entertaining audiences of all ages. Holiday mART also returns with handcrafted items for sale by local artists. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High, Akron. 7-9 p.m. Free; cash bar. 330-376-9186 12/17 Wanda Hunt Northside, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 9 p.m. 330-434-0611 12/17 Akron Symphony: Holiday Pops

Don Drumm 1997

Mark Soppeland 1998

Laura Ruth Bidwell 1999

Miller Horns 2000

Conductor Carl Topilow returns with his red clarinet to lead the Akron Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in holiday favorites. This special night for families includes a visit from Santa and free candy canes for the kids. EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $25.75-$46.75. 330-972-7570 12/17 Hawthorne Heights, with The Story Changes Musica, 51 E. Market St., Akron. 6

p.m. $10. www.akronmusica.com 12/18 Christmas Under the Stars starring Helen Welch Helen will be backed by her

Joan Colbert 2001

Michael Ayers 2002

Leandra Drumm 2003

Dan Cuthber 2004

fabulous quintet and two local outstanding show choirs: ETC and Miller South. Expect the usual cheeky British humor and a night of feel-good music. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $10-$20. 330-253-2488 12/18 Mo Mojo Northside, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 9

p.m. 330-434-0611 12/18 Akron’s 31st Tuba Christmas

Hundreds of tubas — many festively decorated — create Akron’s favorite holiday tradition. Interested in performing?

Contact founder and conductor Tucker Jolly at 330-9726641. EJ Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. Noon and 2:30 p.m. Free for audience; $5 for performers. 330-972-7570 Janice Troutman 2005

Martha Kaltenbach 2006

Jon C. Lund 2007

Linda Hutchinson 2008

12/18 Sounds of Sousa Band Holiday Show Marcus Neiman and his Medina-based band will

perform this holiday concert in the style of John Philip Sousa. Akron Civic Theater, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 2 p.m. $12-$22. 330-253-2488 12/19 Gloria In Excelsis Deo Featuring the

Canton Symphony Chorus. Canton Symphony Orchestra. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 425 Cleveland Ave. S.W., Canton. 3 p.m. Adults, $15; students and seniors. $10. 330-452-2094 12/23 Zach 2nd Annual Holiday Hullabaloo Northside, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m.

Liz Remmel 2009

26

Julienne Hogarth 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

Maria Alejandra Zanetta 2011

December 2010

330-434-0611

“Joseph” returns to Weathervane for 11th year The toe-tapping Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” has returned to the Weathervane Playhouse stage and runs through Dec. 19th. Directed and choregraphed by Sarah Bailey, with musical direction by J.T. Buck, this show spins the Biblical tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors.

The cast will be joined on stage by choirs from Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts (Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 19), a combined chorus from Ritzman Community Learning Center and the National Inventors Hall of Fame School ...Center for STEM Learning (Dec. 8-12) and Windemere Community Learning Center (Dec. 1418 and Dec. 19) Call for show times.

A local holiday tradition for 11 years, “Joseph” is suitable for general audiences and families of all ages. Tickets are $14, $12 for children 17 and younger, and $12 for groups of 12 or larger. For tickets, call 330-836-2626.

12/23 Last Minute Santa Shop Noto, 51 E.

Market St., Akron. 330-990-4724 12/26 Red Wanting Blue Barley House, 222 S.

Main St., Akron. 330-374-0925

it’s an

12/27-12/31 Winter Break Cooking Camp

Akron

tradition!

Sponsored by The City of Massillon Parks and Recreation Department, this weeklong camp is for children 6-12.

Massillon Recreation Center, 505 Erie St. N., Massillon.

10-11 a.m. $30 for Massillon Recreation Center members, $33 for Massillon taxpayers, and $42 for non-taxpayers.

An additional $15 supply fee will need to be paid to the instructor at the first class. 330-832-1621 12/31 New Year’s Eve Celebration Cocktail

and hors d’oeuvres reception, tapas-style dinner stations, open bar, hats, noise makers and party favors, midnight countdown, champagne and breakfast buffet. Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 7 p.m.-1 a.m. $119 per person plus tax, 21 and over.

330-929-3000 12/31 New Year’s Eve Party Tickets on sale now. Enjoy food, party hats and favors, music by the Vinyl Approach Band, a champagne toast at midnight, and the traditional televised ball drop from New York. Hotel packages also available. Galaxy Grand Ballroom, The Galaxy Restaurant, 201 Park Centre Drive, Wadsworth. 7 p.m. $99 per person. 330-334-3663

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thru 12/23

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DON DRUMM STUDIOS & GALLERY 437 CROUSE ST - AKRON : 330.253.6268 : DONDRUMM.COM December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

27

Art Shows and Exhibits

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Through 12/6 Visual Music: Northeast Ohio Photographers Look at Rock and Roll This exhibit captures the historically vibrant Northeast

Ohio music scene and is curated by local rock photographer and Cleveland Scene magazine staff writer Anastasia Pantsios. We Gallery, 20 N. High St., Akron. 330-252-0988 Through 12/11 23rd Annual International Exhibition View the works of mezzotint printmaker

Laurent Schkolnyk, contemporary artist Bernard Cathelin, abstract artist Aleah Koury and oil painter Paul Rowntree.

South African beaded jewelry will also be featured. Harris Stanton Gallery, 2301 W. Market St., Akron. 330-867-7600 Through 12/31 Kaleidoscope 2010 The Alliance for the Visual Arts in Akron presents this juried exhibition of work by its members. Summit Artspace Gallery, 140 E. Market St., Akron. Thursday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

Saturday demonstrations are free and open to the public. www summitartspace.org

Through 12/31 Kaleidoscope 2010

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A touring troupe of actors uses mime, imagination, improvisation, and brilliant storytelling to bring Scrooge’s redemption to vivid, musical life.

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Akron Life & Leisure

www.yellowcreektrading.com December 2010

Through 1/2 The Paleomorphic Series

by Cheri Mohn A series of paintings inspired by the

patterns exhibited by mineral on the microscopic level in natural and polarized light. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. Free. 330-873-3408

I M AG I N E T H E P L AC E S T H E Y W I L L G O .

Through 1/23 Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 - Present The

exhibition features 163 works of photography and eight videos by over 100 photographers and videographers. Also featured are costumes worn by Phil Spector, Elton John, Tina Turner, Fred Schneider and Madonna. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High, Akron. 330-376-9185 Through 2/4 Shape Language Featuring the

Visual Art Foundations exhibit. Kent State University Stark, 6000 Frank Ave. N.W., Canton. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 330-499-9600 Through 2/27 Culture Revolution: Contemporary Chinese Paintings Featuring

works by four internationally renowned artists — Zheng Fanzhi, Wang Guangyi, Shen Jiawei and Hung Liu —this exhibit allows viewers a glimpse into the rapidly changing terrain of contemporary Chinese culture. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High, Akron. 330-376-9185 12/4-2/27 Between Two Worlds: The Photography of Nell Dorr No reservations

necessary. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way East, Massillon. 7-9 p.m. Free. 330-873-3408

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1 December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

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a palate

Our entire list of restaurants (and more) can be found on akronlife.com

akronite&day

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner A Alcohol available T Takeout available V Valet parking $ average entrees less than $6 $$ average entrees between $6-$10 $$$ average entrees between $11-$16 $$$$ average entrees are $17 or higher Information subject to change.

Please call ahead to verify location, hours and events.

Aladdin’s Eatery Nice atmosphere, charming outdoor dining area, tasty Mediterranean cuisine. 782 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-5350110; First and Main streets (Hudson) 330-656-0560 $$ L, D, A, T Arcadia Grille Authentic Italian cuisine with pasta and chops. Breakfast served Saturday and Sunday. A local favorite for more than 85 years. 321 Court Ave. (Canton: Downtown) 330-454-6055 $$ B, L, D, A Arnie’s West Branch Steak House Casual dining, specializing in steak, ribs and seafood. Closed Sundays. 5343 State Route 14 (Ravenna) 330-297-1717 $$$ D, A, T Barley House Menu includes hot and cold deli sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, soups and more. 222 S. Main St. (Akron) 330-374-0925 $$ L, D, A, T Beau’s Grille Upscale, well-regarded, innovative menu at the Fairlawn Hilton. 3180 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330-865-5577 $$$$ L, D, A, T Belgrade Gardens Famous for fried chicken and home-style cooking.

401 E. State St. (Barberton) 330-745-0113; 3476 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-896-3396 $$ L, D, A, T Bender’s Tavern Largest restaurant wine selection in Stark County.

Menu features seafood. 137 Court Ave. SW (Canton: Downtown) 330-4538424 $$$$ L, D, A, T Bialy’s At the Lakes American menu with lots of seafood choices. 493 Portage Lakes Dr. (Portage Lakes) 330-644-7177 $$ L, D, A, T Bianca’s Italian Ristorante & Lounge Traditional Italian, juicy steaks and fresh seafood. 4284 Beverly Hills Dr. (Brunswick) 330-225-0927 $$ L, D, A, T Bistro on Main House-made desserts, hand-cut steaks and fresh pasta.

Closed Sundays. 1313 W. Main St. (Kent) 330-673-9900 $$$$ L, D, A, T Blue Canyon Creative American cuisine in six nature-inspired dining environments. Sunday jazz brunch. 8960 Wilcox Dr. (Twinsburg) 330-4862583 $$$ L, D, A, T Bricco Unique pizza and pasta. 1 W. Exchange St. (Akron: Downtown) 330475-1600 $$$ L, D, A, T Caffé Gelato Italian coffee drinks, paninis, salads, soups, pizza, desserts and homemade Italian gelato. Live entertainment on weekend evenings.

506 S. Main St. (North Canton) 330-494-1123 $ B, L, D, T Capri Pizza Longtime Highland Square joint with pizza, pasta, wings and barbeque ribs. 810 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-762-9131 $ L, D, T The Chophouse Great steaks and seafood. 6041 Whipple Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-494-6758; 45 E. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330535-6410 $$$$ L, D, A, T, V Chowder House Café Salads, soups, sandwiches and clam chowder.

Bring your own wine and beer ($5 corkage fee). Open weekdays for lunch; Saturday lunch and dinner. Closed Sundays. 2028 Chestnut Blvd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-794-7102 L, D, T $$$ No credit cards 30

Akron Life & Leisure

Cilantro Upscale Thai and Japanese, extensive menu, fresh ingredients, hand-selected sushi and no MSG. Spice levels from 0 to 5. Eclectic atmosphere. 326 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-434-2876 $$$ L, D, A, T Coopers in the Valley American-style classics including soups, chili and BBQ ribs. Most entrées made from scratch. 1824 Merriman Rd. (Merriman Valley) 330-865-9510 $$ L, D, A, T Crave Creative comfort foods, slightly eccentric with bold tastes served up in a sensational setting. 57 E. Market St. (Akron) 330-253-1234 $$ L, D, A, T, V D’Agneses Tomato Grill Wide array of entrée choices. Sunday brunch.106 First St. (Hudson) 330-342-3771 $$$$ L, D, A, T D’Agneses Trattoria and Café Northern and Southern Italian cuisine made in-house with fresh ingredients. Specialties include chicken and veal saltimbocca and gorgonzola crusted grouper. 566 White Pond Dr. (Akron) 234-678-3612 $$$$ B, L, D, A, T Desert Inn Family-owned since 1970. Specializes in “Family Style” shish kabobs. 204 12th St. NW (Canton) 330-456-1766 $$$$ L, D, A Diamond Deli A local favorite with fat sandwiches and fresh soups. 378 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-762-5877 $ B, L, A, T Diamond Grille Akron’s oldest steakhouse, authentic 1950s-style décor, highly regarded. All steaks are hand-cut, and seafood is flown in fresh. 77 W. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-0041 $$$$ L, D, A No credit cards Dontino’s Restaurant Home-style Italian cuisine, popular community meeting place. 555 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. (Akron: North) 330928-9530 $$ L, D, A, T T Edgar’s Serves a variety of entrées, such as chargrilled grouper. Homemade soups, salads and starters. 530 Nome Ave. at Good Park Golf Course (Akron) 330-869-3000 $$$ L, D, A, T Firehouse Grill & Pub Watch sports and enjoy steaks, buffalo wings or crab legs. 1677 E. Market St. (Akron: East) 330-733-6279; 2727 Manchester Rd. (Akron) 330-848-2426; 581 Norton Rd. (Barberton) 330861-0300; 4809 State Route 44 (Rootstown) 330-325-0706; 76 West Ave. (Tallmadge) 330-634-9967 $$ L, D, A Fisher’s Café & Pub American cuisine. 1607 Main St. (Peninsula) 330-657-2651 $$ L, D, A, T Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Upscale steakhouse offering aged beef, chops, fresh seafood, salad and more than 100 wines by the glass. 4000 Medina Rd. (Akron) 330-670-5200 $$$$ D, A, T Fred’s Diner Well-known North Hill stop for breakfast and lunch. 930 Home Ave. (Akron: North) 330-535-3733 $ B, L, T FRESH – Healthy Café Upscale healthy options, quick-service setting. Smoothies, organic coffees, wraps, grilled paninis, wheatgrass shots, antioxidant drinks and more. 3265 West Market St. in Summit Mall (Fairlawn) 330-865-8133 $$ B, L, D The Galaxy Restaurant Diverse selection of dishes in a creative building. Fantastic desserts. 201 Park Centre Dr. (Wadsworth) 330-3343663 $$$ B, L, D, A, T Gasoline Alley Eclectic menu featuring pizza, salads, sandwiches and sauerkraut balls. 870 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-2670 $$$ L, D, A, T Gervasi Vineyard & Italian Bistro 55-acre estate, winery and bistro, outdoor seating, six-acre lake with resident swans and outdoor bocce

December 2010

The ‘3 Foodies’ Head to Montrose Hudson’s Restaurant recently opened a second location. Located at 3900 Medina Road in Montrose Center, Hudson’s is family owned and operated by industry veteran John Altomare and his two sons, J.J. and Kevin, chefs and graduates of the Culinary Institute of America. (They’re known as the “3 Foodies.”) The first location opened in Hudson in 2006. Both locations serve fresh, chef-prepared food in a comfortable, relaxed environment. Hudson’s Montrose location serves lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. To make reservations, call 330666-7777. For more information, visit www.hudsonsrestaurant.com.

courts. Committed to fresh ingredients and the locavore movement. Closed Mondays. Lunch Saturdays and Sundays. 1700 55th St. NE (Canton) 330497-1000 $$$$ L, D, A Green Diamond Grille & Pub Upscale dining without upscale pricing. Specializes in steaks and chops. 125 Second St. (Barberton) 330745-1900 $$$ L, D, A, T The Grill Room at Martin University Center Former members-only University Club. Casual upscale, sandwiches, salads and entrées. 105 Fir Hill (Akron: Downtown) 330-972-7711 $$ L, A, T Grille 39 Soup, salads, sandwiches, steaks, chicken, pasta and seafood.

Everything made from scratch, including the salad dressings. Meat is locally raised. 3939 Massillon Rd. (Uniontown) 330-899-1616 $$$ L, D, A Grinders Above & Beyond Family restaurant. Grinders, burgers, dinners, appetizers, homemade soups and pies. 1671 N. Main St. (North Canton) 330-497-4800; 3114 Whipple Ave. (Canton) 330-477-5411; 1820 W. State St. (Alliance) 330-821-6665; 404 E. Lincoln Way (Minerva) 330868-7824; 500 W. Main St. (Louisville) 330-875-9700 $ B, L, D, A, T Gus’ Chalet A North Hill institution, popular meeting place for Akron area politicos. Serves variety of dishes, from Greek favorites to standard American fare. 938 E. Tallmadge Ave. (Akron: North) 330-633-2322 $$ L, D, A, T Hattie’s Café & Gifts Serves as a training and vocational site for people with disabilities. Features coffee, homemade pastries, ice cream, soups, salads and sandwiches. 164 N. Main St. (Hudson) 330-655-0044; 520 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-535-1779; 60 S. High St. (at Akron Library) 330-762-0853; 166 S. High St. (at Akron municipal building) 330-

252-0556; 1 S. High St. (at Akron Art Museum) 330-376-9186 $ B, L, D, T Henry Wahner’s Restaurant An old favorite across from KSU. Complete German menu. German-style bar with beers served in ice-cold steins. 1609 E. Main St. (Kent) 330-678-4055 $$$$ D, A, T No credit cards House of Hunan Common favorites to spicy specialties. Oriental décor.

12 E. Exchange St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-1888; 2717 W. Market St. (Fairlawn Town Centre) 330-864-8201; 18 Public Square (Medina) 330722-1899 $$$ L, D, A, T, V Ido Bar & Grill Home of the beloved Ido Burger. An Akron tradition since World War II. 1537 S. Main St. (Akron: South) 330-773-1724 $$$ L, D, A, T Iris Restaurant American eclectic food. Seasonal menu and daily specials. Exceptional American wines offering good quality and value.

Closed Sundays and Mondays. 228 Fourth St. NW (Canton: Downtown) 330-313-1519 $$$$ L, D, A Ken Stewart’s Grille Widely recognized as one of Akron’s finest.

Upscale, eclectic cuisine. Emphasis on steak and seafood. 1970 W. Market St. (Akron: West) 330-867-2555 $$$$ L, D, A, T, V Ken Stewart’s Lodge Casual, Adirondack-style atmosphere, eclectic cuisine. 1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-8881 $$$$ D, A, T Ken Stewart’s Tre Belle Italian atmosphere and authentic cuisine.

Specialties include an antipasto bar, big drinks and an extensive wine list.

1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-9990 $$$ D, A, V, T Lanning’s Restaurant Elegant dining atmosphere with a beautiful view. More than 150 types of wine. 826 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-1159, 330-864-2553 $$$$ D, A, T, V Larry’s Main Entrance English-pub style, burgers of note. 1964 W. Market St. (Akron: West) 330-864-8162 $$ L, D, A, T The Leopard Eclectic menu with American, Asian, French and Italian influences. Features seven-course chef’s table, prix fixe. 600 N. Aurora Rd. (Aurora) 330-562-2111 $$$$ D, A, T, V The Lockview Traditional American favorites. Fresh menu with spotlight on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. 207 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-252-5128 $$ L, D, A, T Luchita’s Authentic Mexican cuisine with a four-star rating. Voted No. 1 by Scene magazine. 36 Park Lane (Hudson) 330-655-0059 $$$ L, D, A, T, V Lucia’s Steakhouse Fresh seafood, signature garlic butter-topped steaks, Italian favorites and Lucia classics, like homemade crab cakes or cubanella and long, hot peppers. Closed Sundays. 4769 Belpar St. NW (Canton: Belden Village) 330-492-9933 $$$$ D, A Luigi’s Restaurant An Akron icon. Open late. Serves superb Italian cuisine, salads and award-winning pizza. Voted Best Pizza and Best Italian Restaurant by Akron Life readers in 2004, 2006–2009. Party trays and sheet-pan pizzas available with 24-hour notice. 105 N. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-2999 $$ L, D, A, T No credit cards Maize Valley Winery Sample wine by bottle or glass. Taste 100+ types of cheeses. Appetizers and sandwiches served daily. Full dinner menu on Saturday evenings. 6193 Edison St. NE (Hartville) 330-877-8344 $$ L, D, A Mandarin House Mandarin-style cuisine is an interesting change from traditional Cantonese food. 3201 State Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-929-8157 $$ L, D, A, T Marcelita’s Southwestern atmosphere, guacamole made fresh daily, authentic Mexican fare. 7774 Darrow Rd. (Hudson) 330-650-1121 $$ L, D, A, T Mariachi Cocos Mexican restaurant and cantina with daily happy hour. 1682 Merriman Rd. (Akron: Merriman Valley) 330-836-1167; 10333 Northfield Rd. (Northfield) 330-467-6655 $$ L, D, A, T Mary Coyle Strong pasta selection. Six-time winner of Pasta Yule’s Best Red Sauce. Known for endless ice cream options. 780 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-253-1511 $$ L, D Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub Attentive, friendly service. Large, eclectic menu, cozy atmosphere and live music. 5005 Rockside Rd. (Independence) 216-525-0770; 8870 Darrow Rd. (Twinsburg) 330-405-3663 $$ L, D, A, T Medina Steakhouse & Saloon Old-fashioned décor turns this once stagecoach stop into an open, casual place for food. 538 W. Liberty St. (Medina) 330-723-2853 $$ L, D, A Moe’s Hip, intimate atmosphere featuring a diverse chalkboard menu that changes weekly. Martinis, cocktails and extensive selection of wines by the glass. Closed Sundays. 2385 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-6600 $$$$ L, D, A, T Mr. Zubs Deli New Highland Square deli at the Matinee features hot and cold sandwiches named after movie characters, cream cheese spreads, salads and sides. Open late-night. 812 W. Market St. (Akron) 330-252-0272 $ L, D, T

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During the month of December, purchase a gift card for $100 and receive a $20 gift card free! That’s right. Purchase $200 and receive a $50 gift card free! Purchase $300 and receive a $75 gift card free!

Dining Room

Sports Bar

Wine Room

Experience dining like never before at the Galaxy Restaurant, where exquisite cuisine and a relaxing, one-of-a-kind environment are just the beginning.

Unwind in a casual atmosphere with 27 televisions including flat screens at every booth.

In the cozy surroundings of our wine room, you can choose from a variety of wines and taste the latest creations from our kitchen.

201 Park Centre Dr., Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

330.334.3663 • 877.659.0054

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Ms. Julie’s Kitchen Opened by Akron native and author of three vegan cookbooks. Specialties include salads, whole grain-foods and spelt flour waffles. 1809 S. Main St. (Akron) 330-819-3834 $ B, L, D, T Mustard Seed Market Café Located on mezzanine overlooking unique natural foods market. Menu reflects same strict standards as the market, with naturally raised meats, free-range poultry and foods free from artificial flavors, colorings and preservatives. Full bar, juice bar and espresso.

Live music on weekends. Sunday brunch. 3885 W. Market St. (Montrose) 330-666-7333; 6025 Kruze Dr. (Solon) 440-519-3663 $$$ L, D, T New Era Restaurant A mainstay of the Akron area. Heavenly paprikash and other Hungarian favorites. 10 Massillon Rd. (Akron: East) 330-784-0087 $$ B, L, D, A, T The New Peter Shears Downtown New York City atmosphere.

Upscale with small, intimate rooms and muted lighting. Families and children welcome. 427 E. Tuscarawas St. (Canton: Downtown) 330-5888300 $$$$ L, D, A, T Nick Anthe’s An established tradition in Akron’s North Hill. Halibut is a favorite. Steaks, lamb chops and rack of lamb are also popular. 1008 N. Main St. (Akron: North) 330-929-6425 $$$$ L, D, A, T December 2010

Northside L saloon. All-organic menu. Live music six nights a week. Attached to Northside is Snook’s, an intimate jazz lounge featuring fine wine and spirits.

111 N. Main St. (Akron) 330-434-0611 $$ L, D, A, T The Office Metropolitan bistro and lounge with eclectic ambiance and timeless decor. 778 N. Main St. (Akron) 330-376-9550 $$$ L, D, A, T One Red Door Decadent menu featuring gourmet pizzas, share plates such as bacon-wrapped roasted dates, and burgers. Closed Sundays. 49 Village Way (Hudson) 330-342-3667 $$$$ L, D, A Pancho’s Southwestern Grill Tex-Mex, Southwestern chicken specialties, charbroiled pizza, steaks and seafood. 4325 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-896-1991 $$ L, D, A, T Papa Joe’s C and steaks. 1561 Akron-Peninsula Rd. (Merriman Valley) 330-923-7999 $$$ L, D, A, T Piatto Novo Authentic Italian fare including steaks and seafood, coupled with a breathtaking view of the Cuyahoga River, make this a must-do experience.1989 Front St. at the Sheraton (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-920-7530 $$$$ L, D, A, V Akron Life & Leisure

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Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre 2007 Fumane di Valpolicella, Italy The Allegrini estate is based in Fumane di Valpolicella, just north of Verona in Northeastern Italy. Since the 16th century, the Allegrini family has been handing down grape-growing and wine-producing traditions, and the Allegrini represents the highest expression of Valpolicella wines — with their Palazzo della Torre Veronese being one of the true gems of the entire region.

This blend of 70 percent Corvina Veronese, 25 percent Rondinella and 5 percent Sangiovese is a smooth, full-bodied cru made in an innovative ripasso style. After the harvest, the grapes from the Palazzo della Torre vineyard follow two different paths: 70 percent of the grapes picked are vinified immediately, and the remaining 30 percent are left to dry until the end of December. The fresh wine made at harvest is then blended with the fermenting juice of the dried grapes, initiating a second fermentation, and rendering a more highly concentrated and complex wine.

Allegrini affectionately refers to Palazzo della Torre as their “baby Amarone,” but it offers remarkable value compared to a true Amarone. Deep ruby-red in color, this wine is brimming with notes of dark, dried cherries, blackberries and hints of dates and mocha.

It pairs well with full-flavored pasta and risotto dishes, roast poultry and chorizo. It’s also excellent with hard and semi-hard cheeses.

It retails around $19.99 and can be found at many Akron area retailers, including West Point Market, 750 ML, Regency Wine Store, Wine Reserve of Medina, Papa Joe’s, Riverside Wine & Imports, and select Acme and Buehler’s locations.

Falesco 2008 Est! Est!! Est!!!

Montefiascone, Italy This historic wine has a remarkable story dating back to the 1000 A.D., when Bishop Fugger was traveling from Germany on a mission to Rome for the coronation of Henry V. The Bishop sent his quartermaster ahead to each town to look for inns with great food and excellent wines. When the quartermaster found the “right” inn, he would write “Est” (Latin for “This is it!”) on the walls. He was so impressed with Montefiascone (just outside of Orvieto) that he wrote “Est! Est!! Est!!!” — each time adding an exclamation point. The Bishop agreed. In fact, he liked the city of Montefiascone so much that he ended up spending the rest of his life there. (But he didn’t make it to the coronation!) For centuries — on the anniversary of the Bishop’s death — the locals poured a cask of Est! Est!! Est!!! on his grave in celebration of the notoriety he brought to their wines. This is a delicious white wine, and it’s just as good as the story! It retails for $9.99.

Writer Rick Rodger is a manager at Heidelberg Distributing Company, and writer Rob Hawk is a regional sales manager at Wine Trends, Inc

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Prime/93 Formerly Anthes’. Appetizers, specials, hand-cut and aged steaks, chops and fresh seafood. Chef-driven restaurant. Entertainment on weekends. 4315 Manchester Rd. (Akron: South) 330-644-2239 $$$$ L, D, A, T Raj Mahal Traditional Indian cuisine with excellent lamb and chicken curry dishes. Daily lunch buffet. 2035 State Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-926-0795 $$$ L, D, A, T Ray’s Place The area’s largest selection of foreign and domestic beer in the bottle and on draft. 135 Franklin Ave. (Kent) 330-673-2253 $$ L, D, A, T Russo’s Chef from former Liberty Street Brewing Co. flexes his culinary muscles with unique cuisine featuring Cajun and Italian influences. Finedining atmosphere. 4895 State Rd. (Peninsula) 330-923-2665 $$$$ L, D, A, T Rusty Nail Casual atmosphere serving quality steak, seafood and chicken.

7291 State Route 43 (Kent) 330-673-2297 $$$ D, A, T Saffron Patch Features fine Indian cuisine including tandoori chicken, ginger-seasoned yellow lentils and garlic naan. 1224 Weathervane Lane (Akron) 330-836-7777 $$$ L, D, A, T Sarah’s Vineyard Sample high-quality wines, appetizers, sandwiches and desserts in the tasting room, on the deck or in the butterfly garden.

Open Wednesday-Sunday. 1204 W. Steels Corners Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-929-8057 $$ L, D, A Skyway Drive-In Restaurant A West Akron tradition. Drive-in burgers, fast fare. 2781 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330-836-2806; 951 E. Turkeyfoot Rd. (Green) 330-896-9350; 3296 Medina Rd. (Medina) 330721-8561 $ L, D, T Stew Pot Kitchen Serves soups, stews, slow-cooked meals, beerflavored brats and more. Menu changes daily. Weekly specials offer unique flavors and pairings. Closed weekends. 30 N. High St (Akron: Downtown) 330-376-7839 $ L, D, T Swensons Drive In Voted best cheeseburger in America. Signature burger is the Galley Boy. 658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. (Akron: North) 330928-8515; 40 S. Hawkins Ave. (Akron: West) 330-864-8416; 4466 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-678-7775; 40 Brookmont Rd. (Montrose) 330-665-1858; 5815 Wales Ave. (Jackson Twp.) 330-833-5454; 1558 N. Main St. (North Canton) 330-499-9494 $ L, D, T Taste of Bangkok & Sushi Bar Run by brother and sister duo.

Menu includes curries, noodle dishes and hand-rolled sushi. Variety of lunch specials. 514 E. Exchange St. (Akron: University Park) 330-252-2270 L, D, T 3 Point Upscale casual American dining with a gourmet twist. Hand-cut steaks, pastas, and fresh chicken and seafood. Craft beers from around the world, boutique wine list. 45 E. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-5356410 $$$ L, D, A, T, V 356th Fighter Group World War II-theme restaurant, casual fine dining, locally owned and operated. 4919 Mt. Pleasant Rd. (North Canton) 330-494-3500, 800-994-2662 $$$ L, D, A, T Totally Cooked To Go Market Adjacent to the catering offices.

Casual comfort food menu that changes weekly. 2730 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-923-9964 $$ B, L, D, A, T Trackside Grille at Quaker Square Train-themed restaurant with three actual railroad cars inside. 135 S. Broadway St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-4541 $$ L, D, T Urban Eats A variety of specialties, including Asian chicken wraps, paninis and “the best little Mexican pizza you’ve ever had.” Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. only. 51 E. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-310-7135 $ L, A, V Vaccaro’s Trattoria One of the area’s best-kept Italian secrets. 1000 Ghent Rd. (Montrose) 330-666-6158 $$$$ L, D, A, T VegiTerranean Akronite and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde’s award-winning restaurant. Deliciously indulgent gourmet vegan fare with a modern Italian flair. 21 Furnace St. at Northside Lofts (Akron: Downtown) 330-374-5550 $$$ L, D, A, T, V Waterloo Restaurant Eclectic menu. Famous for the Waterloo Big Apple and French onion soup. 423 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron: South) 330-7735158 $$ B, L, D, T West Side Bakery In addition to cookies, pastries and cakes, the bakery also carries a variety of breakfast items including scones, muffins and yogurt parfaits. Sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups served at lunch. 2303 W. Market St. (Akron: Pilgrim’s Square) 330-836-4101 $ B, L, T Whitehouse Chicken A Barberton tradition. 180 Wooster Rd. N. (Barberton) 330-745-0449; 1948 Portage Trail (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-9456555; 1941 Triplet (Ellet) 330-784-3000; 4195 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330896-5644; 137 East Ave. (Tallmadge) 330-633-4001; 199 Great Oaks Trail (Wadsworth) 330-335-6000 $$ L, D, T No credit cards

Please send any changes or corrections to gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

The story of rock is told from the perspective of those who helped GH¿QH LW ² WKH SKRWRJUDSKHUV December 2010

www.AkronArtMuseum.org

Akron Life & Leisure

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By Becca Gippin Photos by Shane Wynn

The French 75

Making Spirits Bright Holiday cocktails to get the party started It’s that time of year — when you’re most likely to be hosting a party with friends or family (and, mostly likely, in need of a drink).

Get your party started with these chic holiday cocktail recipes, ranging from classic to contemporary. Our mixologist, Julie Kropac, is an annuities wholesaler who spent the better part of her 20s on both sides of the bar, refining her palate. Kropac bartended at Akron’s Double Olive (now Johnny J’s) for many years and also at the Velvet Tango Room in Cleveland. Here she creates four fun drinks, perfect for a fashionable holiday fete.

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

The French 75 was created in Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1915 and named after the 75mm artillery gun, which, like the drink, packs a punch.

The drink is traditionally made with gin, but we borrowed our recipe from the Velvet Tango Room, where it’s made with brandy.

Yield: 8 servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 1 hour (includes chilling) Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup water 1/2 cup brandy 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 (750-ml) bottle well-chilled champagne Julienned lemon zest for garnish Note: Brandy syrup can be chilled up to 1 day.

Preparation: Heat sugar and water in a small, heavy saucepan over medium heat to make a syrup, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Cool. Combine syrup with brandy and lemon juice. Chill until cold. Add 2 tablespoons brandy mixture to each champagne flute. Slowly top off with champagne and add lemon zest garnish.

The Melted Snowman

This little guy is as delicious as he is adorable. Your guests are sure to be impressed.

Yield: Makes 1 drink Prep Time: 5 minutes Ingredients: 1 oz. Absolut Vanilla 1 oz. Creme de Cacao (clear “white,” not dark) 1 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liquor Splash of Clear Creme de Menthe or clear peppermint schnapps (optional) 1 small strip of sliced orange zest (for garnish) 2 coffee beans (for garnish)

Preparation: Put the martini glass in the freezer (do not moisten). Combine all ingredients, except orange strip and coffee beans, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake it till it hurts — and until ice crystals have started to form. Strain into the well-chilled martini glass from the freezer.

Add 2 coffee beans and orange zest strip for Frosty’s face.

Eggnog

Eggnog literally means eggs inside a small cup. It has been suggested that eggnog started in Ancient Rome, but it’s probably safe to say that no one really knows who mixed the first eggnog. This particularly recipe is courtesy of the Velvet Tango Room.

Yield: 10 servings Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: 6 eggs 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg + more for garnish 3/4 cup brandy 1/3 cup dark rum 2 cups heavy whipping cream 2 cups milk

Glögg

Preparation: Chill everything before starting, for best results. Beat eggs until frothy, and then beat in sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Slowly stir in brandy and rum, then add cream and milk. Microplane more nutmeg on top of each glass. Serve eggnog cold and right away.

Note: Use leftover eggnog the next morning on French toast.

This Nordic version of mulled wine is traditionally served around Christmas with gingerbread. The holidays are a perfect time for decorating glassware and using unique garnishes, so we crushed the gingerbread to rim the glass.

Yield: 8 servings Prep Time: 1 hour

Ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar + more to your taste 2 bottles dry red wine 1 clove studded orange (pomander) 10 cardamom seeds 1-2 slices fresh ginger 3 cinnamon sticks 1/2 cup lump sugar 1/2 cup brandy + more to your taste 1 orange segment Crushed gingerbread cookies (for rim of glass) 1 cup raisins (optional) 1 cup blanched almonds (optional)

Preparation: Combine first six ingredients in a heavy saucepan, and heat slowly. Do not bring to a boil because it will cook off the alcohol. When the wine mixture is warm, add the lump sugar and brandy. Run an orange segment around the rims of mugs, and then dip in the crushed gingerbread cookies to coat. Serve in 8-ounce mugs, garnished with the raisins and almonds.

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by Chef Bev Shaffer

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“Oh,” I say to the server, “and some fried mushrooms and an iced tea…and whatever he wants.”

My husband, John, orders his usual: plain cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake.

And then the process begins… We lay out some napkins on the dashboard to pile on the fries and mushrooms to share, make sure there’s room for the drinks — and then we wait.

It’s a Sunday afternoon, and the Skyway dude has just finished his run out to the car, taken the order (“Here or to go?”), flipped the cardboard number up on the dash and sprinted inside.

I’m hungry. I’m also curious.

We’re spending our Sunday at Skyway because we like Skyway better than Swensons, so we’re wondering why Iron Chef Michael Symon proclaimed Swensons Galley Boy the “Food Feuds” champ over Skyway’s SkyHi when he came to town to film the TV show and the two rivals went head to head. (The episode aired 'PMMPXFST DMBJN UIBU in November on the Food 4XFOTPOT IBT B Network.)

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The food arrives. I juggle the ketchup and pop a way-too-hot-and-I-shouldknow-better mushroom in my mouth. We unwrap our burgers, which are still fresh and hot, and we enjoy. We both eat and nod and mumble something about how good everything is. I especially like the clean, crisp lettuce, the thick slice of tomato and the grilled bun.

Skyway Drive In has been in business since 1952 when the Large family founded the first Skyway at the very location (Route 18, Market Street) we’re eating at on this day. The idea for “curb side” service developed in the ‘50s. Pull in, turn your lights on, and one of the many fast and friendly curb staff will hustle over to take your order. And there’s an extensive drive-in menu if cheeseburgers aren’t your thing.*

Swensons Drive In (Symon’s winner) is also busy on a Sunday afternoon. (For the record, this is not the same day!) We pull up to the original location on South Hawkins

Avenue, turn on our headlights, and someone from the “curb staff” is standing and waiting for our order before I even have my window down.

I decide I need to try whatever their winning sandwich was in the feud. It was the Galley Boy — a double cheeseburger with two special sauces. I reluctantly order one (since I’m always suspicious of anything with a “special sauce”) with fries, and John orders a plain cheeseburger, O-rings and a chocolate shake.

Swensons is jumpin’ with cars full of families and teenagers and ladies ready for lunch after shopping. Here you can even create your own combination of special flavors for your milkshake.

The food comes out hot and fast. It’s difficult to control the Galley Boy, and I’m sure that any one of the two special sauces at any one time is dripping down my chin. The sauces mask the flavor of the cheeseburgers and are too sweet for me. The O-rings are crunchy and oh-so-good! The King of Chocolate Shakes determines that he prefers the Skyway version.

Swensons Drive In has been around since 1934 when Wesley “Pop” Swenson founded the first Swensons at Hawkins and Market Street. People are passionate about this drive-in.

You can even go to their website and become a Swenatic!

Followers claim that Swensons has a “secret” ingredient that gives its burger a taste like no other. One of the devotees, Dave Davis, who grew up in Akron and visits twice yearly from Houston, says: “[Swensons] is a must stop for every visit to my hometown. I’ll even buy a dozen and freeze them to enjoy back in Houston.”

Both drive-ins are worth visiting and open all year. We know what our favorite is, but if you don’t, spend two different days and weigh in on your favorite by voting at www.akronlife.com. *One Akron native complained to me that Skyway no longer uses “good chipped ham” — to which I replied, “It’s a burger place. If you want chipped ham, eat at your kitchen table!”

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Symon: “My mom was the best cook on the street — so no one ever challenged the Symons when it came to food!

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The story of “Barberton chicken” is fascinating. Founded in 1942, Whitehouse Chicken in Barberton and its tomato rice mixture called hot sauce was introduced to the public by accident. The restaurant made the chicken for its employees, not for customers.

But after seeing employees eating it, customers asked if they could have a little taste. Soon customers were coming in for one thing: the chicken and the hot sauce. Whitehouse added coleslaw and fresh-cut fries — and the Barberton Chicken Dinner was born.

(Note to readers: Every chicken house in Barberton claims the invention of this “dinner.” Does it matter?)

Four chicken houses in Barberton serve more than 7 1/2 tons of chicken per week. (That’s a serious amount of chicken.)

So what is Barberton Chicken? It’s fresh, Ohio-raised chicken, lightly breaded and deep fried. It’s all natural. The flavor you experience is how chicken actually tastes. No heavy seasonings are added to “create” a taste.

The cut of the chicken you order is also unique. During the Depression, families needed to find a way to cut the chickens to yield the most pieces without any waste. When the first chicken house opened, they cut the chicken this same way and passed the efficiency on to their customers in the form of low prices — an idea that’s still popular years later.

We each order dinners with sides that include coleslaw, hot sauce, fries, green beans and more. (FYI: A trip to their website will get you some valuable money-saving coupons.) The chicken is hot, crispy and moist on the inside. Fortunately, the man wondering about the chicken kill-count is gone when my food arrives.

How Michael Symon Chose the Winners

A few days later, we visit Belgrade Gardens — which Symon proclaimed the winner on a November episode of “Food Feuds.” Belgrade Gardens, the first chicken dinner operation in Barberton, was started by Mike and Smilka Topalsky in 1933 when they opened their farmhouse dining room to families who enjoyed old-world cooking. Mike and Smilka met as Yugoslavian immigrant children in Barberton. After marrying and becoming involved in other business ventures, they opened the existing restaurant in what had been Mike’s father’s home on East State Street.

We’re greeted by Milos Papich, the grandson of the original owners. Sitting down amongst what appears to be a restaurant full of regulars, we order the regular chicken dinner (specialty of the house), especially after our waitress, Melinda, proudly tells us it’s the one that won the food feud.

Our hand-cut fries are piled high atop the chicken pieces and served with sides of hot sauce and a vinegar-based coleslaw. It’s perfect for sharing. It’s so good that we decide to split a piece of pecan pie ala mode, which is brought out to us on two plates by Melinda — so we don’t fight over it!

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My favorite part of this story? That all four places are locally owned, serve quality food and have been in business for years, making people happy and fueling two food feuds that have been around almost as long as the eateries themselves.

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Symon proclaimed his winners. I proclaimed mine. Now it’s your turn!

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Go online to www.akronlife.com to vote. Tell us who’s your favorite — and why. We’ll publish the results in our January issue.

After all, who better to settle these local rivalries than us locals?

Writer Bev Shaffer is a chef, food writer, culinary instructor and author of five cookbooks (her latest is “CAKES to Die For!). You can find links to her blogs, “Gadget Freak” and “Eat Plants,” at www.bevshaffer.com.

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Not being a fried chicken lover, I have to say I enjoyed Belgrade Gardens more. The coating seemed lighter and the food fresher.

But if you’re a friend of fried chicken, be sure to check both out and decide for yourself.

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Walking in a Winter Wonderland Cynthia Nixon ends her phone call with Akron Life & Leisure by saying “Happy Holidays” and then laughs because it’s mid-October. For the holiday window display team of Cynthia, and her husband, Lawrence, Christmas cheer lasts all year long.

B

etween the 1950s and 1980s, the Christmas season in Akron officially began on Thanksgiving evening. For four decades, families would shake off their turkey comas, bundle up with coats and mittens, pile into the car and head downtown to check out the decorated department store windows at Polsky’s and O’Neil’s. It was a citywide tradition — cherished by young and old — and a sure sign that the snowflakes were about to fly.

Today, the downtown department stores are gone, but the holiday tradition lives on with Lawrence Nixon, a designer who has created these magical window displays since the late ’60s.

Hired by Polsky’s in 1969 as a trainee, Lawrence began contributing to the window displays as the years progressed and was later hired by O’Neil’s.

Little did Lawrence know, but Cynthia — a young lady working in the O’Neil’s ladies shoe department right off State Street — had her eyes on him.

“Eventually, Lawrence asked me on a date in 1972, we got married in 1976, and we’ve been together ever since,” says Cynthia, adding that while dating Lawrence, she had the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at the window displays.

“It was really exciting for me to see an empty space transformed into something magical and beautiful for the kids for the holiday season.”

In addition to the holiday windows, Lawrence helped design the Santaland displays at both stores. (O’Neil’s Santaland was on the fifth floor, and Polsky’s was on the second floor.) “You’d walk around through all the different scenes, and then Santa would be at the end, where the kids would get their picture with him or give him their list for the year,” Cynthia says.

Lawrence had a team at the department stores of 25 to 30 talented designers who learned from each other’s skills. The holiday displays also inspired some friendly competition between O’Neil’s and Polsky’s employees to see which store would unveil their windows first.

“People lined the streets, and it was very exciting to see that,” Lawrence says. “The windows were draped, and it was off limits to everyone until they would open the doors.”

But as the visual merchandising world changed, fashion became the focus of department stores, and the fanciful holiday displays became a thing of the past. By 1980, Lawrence was the downtown display manager, and before O’Neil’s closed in 1989, the City of Akron purchased several animated displays and joined forces with the store for one last hurrah. Surviving the corporate changeovers (O’Neil’s to May Company to Kaufmann’s to Macy’s), Lawrence retired from Macy’s as a visual merchandising senior executive.

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Below: Photo taken at O’Neils Department Store, Santaland in 1951 with Lawrence, age 3, right, and his brother Berkeley Nixon, center Right: Lawrence and Cynthia Nixon in one of this year’s store window displays.

Dressed in Holiday Style: Bringing Back the Displays Though times had changed, creating holiday displays was in Lawrence’s blood — so getting into the Christmas spirit became a family event. The Nixons and their three sons began doing freelance holiday displays in the windows of area restaurants. Next, the late Jay Nusbaum, who owned the Quaker Hilton, worked with the City of Akron and hired the Nixons to create holiday displays throughout the Quaker Square complex and to build a Santaland at The Depot restaurant using the original department-store animation.

In 1999, the Downtown Akron Partnership hired Lawrence and Cynthia to revive the much-loved holiday window displays. Today, the Nixons decorate the windows of the Polsky Building, now owned by The University of Akron, using the original animated displays, which are stored off-season in the basement of the O’Neil’s Building.

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Circa 1956. Downtown Akron O’Neil’s and Polsky’s with the stores Christmas holiday decorations on the marquee. Lawrence later installed these same displays at both stores in the early ’70s.

The couple usually begins the installation process in late September, retrieving the animated displays from O’Neil’s and working with a technician. “The animated displays have wear-and-tear because they work continuously,” says Lawrence.

“Each year, the technician has to rebuild or reweld some parts to make sure they’re working fine mechanically.”

Last year’s display in the Polsky building windows.

In the past, the Polsky windows have featured Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, The Prince and the Ice Princess, train displays and Raggedy Ann. This year’s masterpiece includes vintage Santas, Victorian dolls and a storybook theme with The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, a flying Mother Goose, Rub-ADub-Dub (Three Men in a Tub), and the Three Little Pigs — some of the oldest animated displays in the collection.

The Nixons try to keep the displays as close to the original designs as possible, but they also research holiday display videos on YouTube and visit New York to get the creative juices flowing.

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“We really want to give the City of Akron and this community the best we can give them,” Lawrence says.

The Polsky Building displays run until the first weekend of January, and when the decorations are stored away, “it’s like saying goodbye for a year,” says Cynthia.

Lawrence says they’ve been trying to get a grant to develop an even-better storage area for the displays so they can be worked on and refurbished throughout the year. He and Cynthia are also hoping that, one day, all these figures will come together in O’Neil’s basement as a Santaland.

Keeping the Tradition Alive This time of year, Lawrence can’t help but think about the ghosts of Christmas past.

“Whenever we do the windows, I remember the talented people I worked with and all the good times we had,” says Lawrence. “I look to one side and see a person I worked with, and look to another side and see another person.

They’re always right there by my side, and they’re with Cynthia, too, because she knew all of them from the O’Neil’s and Polsky’s days.”

Despite the long hours and hard work that go into recreating the display every year, the Nixons realize the role they play in keeping Akron’s holiday tradition alive for new generations of children, including the ones in their own family.

“When our grandchildren came down for the first time, we took them in the windows, and they sat up on some of the pillars and were amazed,” says Cynthia.

“They got to see the lights twinkling, and it was really exciting for them. That’s just another reason for us to say, ‘We can keep doing this. This is what it’s all about.’ ”

Last year’s display in the Polsky building windows.

Writer Abby Cymerman is the assistant editor of Akron Life & Leisure magazine.

She wouldn’t know how to replace a Christmas tree lightbulb if her life depended on it, but she does have a kickin’ dreidel collection. You can reach her at acymerman@bakermediagroup.com December 2010

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+

Doctor Profiles by Abby Cymerman Photos by Shane Wynn

Top Docs Who’s better qualified to choose the country’s Top Docs than doctors themselves?

Cardiovascular Disease

The Best Doctors List in America for 2010 represents the top 5 percent of doctors in the United States, with more than 46,000 doctors in over 400 specialties and subspecialties. These are the doctors that other doctors recognize as the best in their fields, and they made the list because their peers voted for them.

Jennifer E. Cummings Heart Rhythm Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 225 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-4377

We’re publishing the 186 area physicians in 18 specialties who made the list. Consider this a (very large) referral list. We also profile six local Best Docs, who tell us about their work, their play — and their passions (from Scooby-Doo to holding out hope for a Browns Super Bowl win).

Michael M. Hughes Northeast Ohio Cardiovascular Specialists 185 West Cedar Street, Suite 100 Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-376-0500

William B. Bauman Northeast Ohio Cardiovascular Specialists 95 Arch Street, Suite 300 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-8195

Stephen M. Denning Cardiovascular Consultants 2600 Sixth Street SW, Suite A2-710 Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-454-8076 Milan Dopirak Cardiovascular Consultants 2600 Sixth Street SW, Suite A2-710 Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-454-8076

Robert Alan Schweikert Heart Rhythm Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 225 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-4377 Ted Franklin Shaub Western Reserve Cardiology 75 Arch Street, Suite 206 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-374-0009

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David J. Utlak Ohio Heart Care 4455 Dressler Road NW Canton, OH 44718 Phone: 330-492-1880

Critical Care Medicine Charles R. Fuenning Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411 Hitesh Makkar Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411 Timothy C. Murray Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 380 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6676 Sanjiv Tewari Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 380 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6676

Dermatology James F. Libecco Akron Skin Center 3085 West Market Street, Suite 102 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-836-0201

Gary D. Lichten 157 West Cedar Street, Suite 201 Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-253-7164 Eliot N. Mostow Akron Dermatology 157 West Cedar Street, Suite 101 Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-535-7100

Emergency Medicine Michael Beeson Akron General Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6326 Nicholas J. Jouriles Akron Children’s Hospital Stone Respiratory Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 6500 Two Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8885 Christ G. Kyriakedes Akron General Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6326

Family Medicine Anita Kishan Amlani Northeast Family Health Care 65 Community Road, Suite C Tallmadge, OH 44278 Phone: 330-633-6601

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Karen Barton Brimfield Family Medicine Robinson Health Center at Brimfield 1365 Keslo Drive Kent, OH 44240 Phone: 330-676-0488

Dr. Ray Bologna

Ross R. Black Mill Pond Family Physicians 265 West Portage Trail Extension, Suite 200 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 Phone: 330-928-3111

It takes real confidence to do Pilates onstage in front of 200 to 400 women, but Dr. Ray Bologna has been known to do just that.

Verlaine L. Blaser Premiere Medical Partners 975 North Main Street Akron, OH 44310 Phone: 330-762-6246 Robert A. Cain Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Family Health Center 3574 Center Road Brunswick, OH 44212 Phone: 330-225-8886 Justin Catlett Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

When you gotta go, you gotta go see Dr. B.

In 2006, the chair of the urology department at Akron General Medical Center coauthored a book, “The Accidental Sisterhood,” which focuses on treatment options for women with bladder-control problems. And for the last three years, Dr. B — as he’s known on the Accidental Sisterhood website — and his team have toured the U.S., hosting educational programs for women at hospital venues and hotel conference rooms.

Physical therapists are also part of the Accidental Sisterhood tour, along with local Pilates instructor Brian Murphy, who teaches attendees how to do pelvic floor-therapy exercises. As one of Murphy’s students, Bologna has, on occasion, been coaxed onstage, much to his chagrin.

The Accidental Sisterhood events are designed to provide a ladies-night-out atmosphere with “a lot of pink background, food and wine, and a fair amount of laughter and lightheartedness along the way,” says Bologna, explaining that he wants all the women who attend the program to feel comfortable discussing their sometimesembarrassing symptoms and telling their stories.

Andrea Gennaro Cerone Northampton Primary Care 3239 State Road Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 Phone: 330-923-4500 J. Matthew Chase Primary Care Associates of Northeast Ohio 5565 Hudson Drive, Suite 130A Hudson, OH 44236 Phone: 330-655-3840 Elliot B. Davidson Akron General Medical Center Center for Family Medicine 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6047

Born and raised in Akron, Bologna says he became interested in female urology as a resident at Akron General, when he learned that there wasn’t really a focus on it — and that having 12 partners in his medical group, Physicians Urology Center for Urologic Health, has enabled him to sub-specialize in it.

John A. DiSabato Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584 Richard James Dom Dera, Jr. Ohio Family Practice Centers 130 North Miller Road Fairlawn, OH 44333 Phone: 330-836-8471 David J. Dulle Sharon Family Physicians 5133 Ridge Road Wadsworth, OH 44281 Phone: 330-239-4455 Michael Gordon Grimes Summa Physicians Family Medicine 791 White Pond Road, Suite C Akron, OH 44320 Phone: 330-869-9598

top docs 2010

“Everybody wants to be dry,” he says. “They want their leakage to stop, and they want to have things the way they were before they leaked because they didn’t have to worry about it.”

Although technology has improved over the past 10 to 15 years, along with the ability to diagnose and correct problems, women still often don’t know their treatment options — so writing the book was a way to educate hundreds of women at a time.

Lynn M. Hamrich Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

“You realize that in the office, you say the same thing over and over every day, but you can only see so many new patients in a week,” says Bologna. “… We wanted to give patients something that they could sit down comfortably at home and read, that gave them the whole story about their problem and the conservative and surgical treatments that are out there for them.”

Vernon J. Hershberger Family Medical Services 880 Mull Avenue, Suite 100 Akron, OH 44313 Phone: 330-864-8898

When he’s not working or touring, Bologna says he enjoys running, skiing, getting his “NCIS” fix on TV and watching “Scooby-Doo” with his 7-year-old daughter.

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Akron Life & Leisure’s Premiere Hospitals 2010

Akron General Medical Center K i d n ey s to n es a g row i n g p ro b l e m

T

he number of Americans who are troubled – and often seriously sickened – by kidney stones has been increasing over the past 30 years, and scientists are unsure why. What they know is that kidney stones prompt three million visits to healthcare providers and more than 500,000 emergency room visits a year.

Kidney stones develop from crystals that separate from the urine within the urinary tract. Normally, urine contains chemicals that prevent crystals from forming, but these inhibitors do not work for everyone. Many crystals remain tiny enough that they pass out of the body in the urine without being noticed.

However, sometimes With seven convenient a stone forms that is locations in Akron, too large to pass easily Fairlawn, Barberton, Stow through the urinary and Ravenna, the best tract. Usually, the first urology care is near you. symptom is extreme There is no need to suffer. pain.

If you have a kidney stone, it’s important to find out what chemicals it’s made of, since you may want to avoid certain foods that lead to high levels of those compounds.

Signs of kidney stones that need a doctor’s help include: Extreme pain in your back or side that doesn’t go away, blood in urine, fever and chills, vomiting, urine that smells bad or looks cloudy, or a burning feeling with urination.

Stones can be treated by a variety of techniques, and none of the procedures is considered major surgery.

All procedures are completed with scopes and the majority do not involve incisions.

Call 330-535-4428 to find a urologist near you.

Drinking plenty of water – both day and night – is one of the best things you can do to prevent kidney stones. If you are drinking enough water, you will need to get up at least once at night. If you are considered “at risk” for stone formation, you should produce two liters of urine per day.

Raymond A. Bologna, MD, and Todd F. Breaux, MD

Akron General Announces Center of Excellence for Urology Care Earlier this summer, Akron General Health System and Physicians Urology created a landmark partnership that created an unparalleled Center of Excellence in urology care for Summit and Portage Counties and beyond.

Physicians Urology maintains all of its current locations, and is expanding its services in a number of areas.

Concurrently, Akron General has purchased Physicians Urology’s Cancer Treatment Center on West Exchange Street, though the day-to-day operations of the center have not changed in any way. Through this agreement, Akron General has contracted with the physicians and staff of the Center for Urologic Health to continue offering excellence in all cancer treatment services, including radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

The 12 physicians contracting with Akron General are: Dennis F. Bentley, MD; Raymond A. Bologna, MD; Todd F. Breaux, MD; Brian T. Canterbury, MD; Gregory G. Danesis, MD; Joseph S. Dankoff, MD; Douglas H. Green, MD; Lawrence L. Geller, MD; Howard B. Minott, MD; Kevin A. Spear, MD; John D. Wegryn, MD; and John Y. Zhao, MD. “There is increasing demand for urology services, ranging from a wide spectrum of male infertility, kidney stones and prostate cancer to female incontinence issues,” said Dr. Bologna, Chairman of Urology at Akron General. “Our experienced medical team provides the best treatment options for patients, whether they suffer from life-altering incontinence or life-threatening cancer.”

Akron General Doctors

Another reason to believe.

Akron General is proud to salute its doctors who provide compassionate and quality care to our patients and community each and every day.

This exceptional quality is recognized by the people of Akron who have consistently selected Akron General doctors as the area’s Best Doctors, year after year.* So if you are in need of a primary care doctor or specialist, be sure to choose an Akron General doctor.

Visit www.akrongeneral.org and click on “Find A Doctor.” *

Richard M. Hines Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Denise K. Miller Arrowhead Clinic 6307 East State Road Newcomerstown, OH 43832 Phone: 740-498-5515

Anne Valeri White Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Sean Daniel Hoynes Sharon Family Physicians 5133 Ridge Road Wadsworth, OH 44281 Phone: 330-239-4455

Timothy Ray Miller Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Family Health Center 3574 Center Road Brunswick, OH 44212 Phone: 330-225-8886

Sharon E. Van Nostran Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Dawn Renee Hubbard Mill Pond Family Physicians 265 West Portage Trail Extension, Suite 200 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 Phone: 330-928-3111

Dean P. Rich Allenside Family Practice 2417 Manchester Road Akron, OH 44314 Phone: 330-848-3377

David Lance Jackson South Central Family Physicians 3529 Fortuna Drive Akron, OH 44312 Phone: 330-644-0022

Kelli R. Sabin Ohio Family Practice Centers 130 North Miller Road Fairlawn, OH 44333 Phone: 330-836-8471

Cynthia Benfield Kelley Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Edward Demond Scott Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Brian A. Kessler Twinsburg Family Practice 2365 Edison Boulevard, Suite 100 Twinsburg, OH 44087 Phone: 330-425-7133

Kathleen Mary Scroggins Chippewa Family Medicine 80 North Portage Street Doylestown, OH 44230 Phone: 330-658-1550

Jeffrey D. Kile South Central Family Physicians 3529 Fortuna Drive Akron, OH 44312 Phone: 330-644-0022

Sarah E. Slater-Lang Streetsboro Family Practice 9318 State Road 14 Streetsboro, OH 44211 Phone: 330-626-3111

Adarsh E. Krishen Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

William D. Smucker Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Mark H. Meacham Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Family Health Center 3574 Center Road Brunswick, OH 44212 Phone: 330-225-8886

David M. Sperling Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

Mark Meyer Northeast Family Health Care 65 Community Road, Suite C Tallmadge, OH 44278 Phone: 330-633-6601 Sue Ellen Meyer Northeast Family Health Care 65 Community Road, Suite C Tallmadge, OH 44278 Phone: 330-633-6601

Jeffrey L. Susman Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine 4209 State Route 44 Rootstown, OH 44272 Phone: 330-325-6770

Douglas A. Wenger Chippewa Family Medicine 80 North Portage Street Doylestown, OH 44230 Phone: 330-658-1550 Jay Curtis Williamson Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584 Larry J. Witmer UH Twinsburg Health Center 8819 Commons Boulevard, Suite 100 Twinsburg, OH 44087 Phone: 330-425-2212 Todd Michael Zeiger Sharon Family Physicians 5133 Ridge Road Wadsworth, OH 44281 Phone: 330-239-4455

Family Medicine/ Hospice and Palliative Medicine Kenelm F. McCormick Hospice of Medina County 797 North Court Street Medina, OH 44256 Phone: 330-722-4771

Gastroenterology Andrew George Libertin Gastroenterology Specialists 2726 Fulton Drive NW Canton, OH 44718 Phone: 330-455-5011

Geriatric Medicine Kyle R. Allen Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100

Maryjo L. Cleveland Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100 Nancy Istenes Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100 Stuart J. Kanter Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100 William D. Smucker Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584 Jeffrey L. Susman Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine 4209 State Route 44 Rootstown, OH 44272 Phone: 330-325-6770 William James Zafirau Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100

Geriatric Medicine/ Hospice and Palliative Medicine Steven M. Radwany Summa Health System Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Center 55 Arch Street, Suite 1B Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3315 William D. Smucker Family Medicine Center of Akron 55 Arch Street, Suite 3A Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3584

These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2011-

by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions

2012 database, which includes over 40,000 doctors in more than 40

result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

medical specialties.

Copyright 2010, Best Doctors, Inc. Used under license, all rights re-

The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained

served. This list, or any parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any

by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors.

form without written permission from Best Doctors, Inc. No com-

com, or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or by e-

mercial use of the information in this list may be made without the

mail at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors

permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or

are not available on the Best Doctors website.

indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

Best Doctors, Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling mate-

“Best Doctors,” “The Best Doctors in America” and the Best Doctors

rial for this list, but does not warrant that the information contained

star-in-cross logo are registered trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc. in

herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby

the U.S. and other countries, and are used under license.

disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused 48

Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Cosmetic artistry. Clinical excellence. <RX GHVHUYH DQ HQWLUH WHDP RI UHQRZQHG FRVPHWLF VSHFLDOLVWV GHGLFDWHG WR \RXU EHDXWLIXO UHVXOWV )LQG \RXU WHDP DW FOHYHODQGFOLQLF RUJ UHQHZ\RX

For same-day appointments, please call 216.444.4004.

Dr. Maryjo Cleveland If you’re a senior adult, that knock on your door might be her.

Hand Surgery Thomas J. Reilly Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Summit Hand Center 3925 Embassy Parkway, Suite 200 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-668-4055

Infectious Diseases Thomas McDonald File, Jr. Summa Physicians Infectious Disease Service 75 Arch Street, Suite 506 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3894 Stephen J. Francis Pinnacle Infectious Disease Specialists 3033 State Road, Suite 204 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 Phone: 330-253-9727

“I loved the interaction with people and feeling like what I did made a difference in someone else’s life,” she says. “There was something that really drew me to that population.”

And while doing her internal medicine residency at Summa, Cleveland was impressed with — and appreciated — the ethics of her older patients. “They believed in hard work, God, family and solid values, and I wasn’t seeing that so much in my younger patients,” she says. “My older adults would dress up because coming to the doctor was an event.

They listened to what you had to say and weren’t demanding in the way the young patients were.”

Now the director of the Center for Senior Health at Summa Health System, Cleveland says the most rewarding part of her job is telling a patient he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s disease — though, more often, she’s giving bad news to families and walking them through the challenges and decisions ahead.

“Even though that’s obviously the harder discussion to have, it’s still a very rewarding one,” Cleveland says, adding that she prides herself on being able to intuitively know what her patients need — partly because she’s been a patient herself.

Michael J. Tan Summa Physicians Infectious Disease Service 75 Arch Street, Suite 506 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3894

Internal Medicine

“I had breast cancer in 2004, so having faced a difficult diagnosis has given me a little bit of a different perspective than other doctors,” she says. “I feel very strongly that patients should know their diagnosis even if it’s a bad one.

When you know what you’re fighting, it’s a lot easier to fight.”

David Fantelli Primary Care Associates of Northeast Ohio 307 West Main Street, Suite B Kent, OH 44240 Phone: 330-678-7782 Michael R. Gedeon Internal Medicine of Akron 75 Arch Street, Suite 501 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-376-1071 Ronald R. Jones Summa Health System Department of Internal Medicine 55 Arch Street, Suite One Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3690 Erwin A. Maseelall Internal Medicine of Akron 75 Arch Street, Suite 501 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-376-1046 Joseph J. Meli Summit Adult Medicine Center 3600 West Market Street, Suite 200 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-666-2700 Dale P. Murphy Summa Health System Internal Medicine Center and Palliative Care Center 55 Arch Street, Suite 1B Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3314

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When Dr. Maryjo Cleveland was in high school, her first job was as an aide in a nursing home. She worked there for three summers and loved it, although her friends thought she was crazy.

Joseph P. Myers Summa Physicians Infectious Disease Service 75 Arch Street, Suite 506 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3894

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top docs 2010

In addition to seeing patients in the office, Cleveland does house calls. (Yes, house calls.)

Primary-care doctors often ask Cleveland to visit a senior who’s too frail or refuses to leave the house. She then makes recommendations based on her assessment.

“I’m answering a specific question, like ‘Can my mom continue to live alone?’ or ‘Should my dad still be driving?’ or ‘Does this person have the capacity to make their own decisions?’ ” she says.

And it’s seeing the patient in his home environment that reveals how well he survives on a daily basis. “I can sit in my office and ask a patient if they have any trouble with their urine or bowels or getting around. But I walk in a house, and I know in an instant the answer to those questions,” she says. “I always say a sniff is worth a thousand words.”

Because Cleveland knows that caring for patients isn’t a one-person job, several years ago, she began giving gifts to each of her department’s nurses, social workers and secretaries on their birthday and at Christmas. “I don’t think people recognize the value of the team as often as they should,” she says.

During her free time, you’ll find Cleveland appreciating another team — her family.

When she’s not with her husband and four children, she’s working out at the gym (she hopes to someday run a 5K race) or managing her church’s library.

Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure’s Top Medical Professionals 2010

Visage Surgical Institute O f f e r i n g t h e A r t a n d S c i e n c e o f O ra l a n d Fac i a l S u r g i c a l Ca r e

W

hen Drs. Faisal Quereshy and Najia Usman decided to join forces at their Visage Surgery Center, the husband and wife team created the only combined cosmetic and dental surgery facility of its kind in the area.

The couple recently changed the business’ name to Visage Surgical Institute to better represent their commitment to providing a full spectrum of advanced procedures.

restoring youth without the traditional downtime associated with extensive facial surgery.

“Because our procedures are performed on site, many of our costs have been dramatically reduced, making cosmetic enhancement much more affordable — and accessible,” he assures. Other procedures that are also popular at Visage are body contouring (liposuction) and jaw repositioning surgery.

“I later decided to go back to school to pursue my first love, which is cosmetic surgery”

Dr. Usman is an expert at “preserving teeth.” “We provide an extra measure of comfort to our patients by offering ‘painless’ root canals with general sedation anesthesia, our ‘ENDO-ASLEEP’ service,” she says.

At Visage, the doctors utilize advanced technology that makes it possible for them to perform procedures with absolute precision. “I can actually look inside of a patient’s tooth with microscope imaging to determine which course of treatment is best before moving forward,” she reveals.

The new imaging center boasts the latest Cone Beam CT Scan, which provides a 3-D image specific for evaluation of facial bones and, Dr. Quereshy says, makes it easier and allows accurate and high precision when surgically placing dental implants.

There are five divisions under the new Visage umbrella.

They include: cosmetic surgery, Dental Implant & Oral surgery, endodontics, a state-of-the-art image center and a skin care center. “My background is in dentistry. I later decided to go back to school to pursue my first love, which is cosmetic surgery,” explains Dr. Quereshy, the residency director of training for oral and maxillofacial surgery at Case Western Reserve and University Hospitals of Cleveland. His wife, Dr. Usman, is an endodontist (a root canal specialist) and together they offer an unprecedented level of patient care.

In fact, Dr. Quereshy is widely credited with revolutionizing the facelift. He is the pioneer behind the “Q” Lift, a minimally invasive and extremely affordable method of

The skin care center helps patients prepare for cosmetic surgery and also offers laser surgery for veins, spots, rosacea, skin tightening, hair removal and microdermabrasion.

Visage’s licensed aesthetician is available for regular facials and skin analysis.

“We make a great team and the services we offer go hand in hand,” a smiling Dr. Usman shares.

Visit the Visage Surgical Institute’s website at www.VisageFaceMD.com for an extensive overview of all services offered by Drs. Quereshy and Usman.

3591 Reserve Commons Drive, Suite 300 in Medina.

To schedule, call 330-721-2323

Lori K. Posk Cleveland Clinic Department of Internal Medicine Twinsburg Medical Office Building, Suite 100 2365 Edison Boulevard Twinsburg, OH 44087 Phone: 330-888-4000 Steven M. Radwany Summa Health System Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Center 55 Arch Street, Suite 1B Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3315 Titus G. Sheers Akron General Medical Center Internal Medicine Center of Akron Building 301, Fifth Floor 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6015 David B. Sweet Summa Health System Department of Internal Medicine 55 Arch Street, Suite One Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3690

Dr. Michael Forbes had been practicing medicine in Pittsburgh for 25 years when Akron Children’s Hospital recruited him in August 2006. The Steelers fan initially scoffed at the idea of moving to a no-football-team town, but his experiences here quickly changed his attitude.

“I was stunned by the quality of the work, the quality of the people and the caliber of the hospital from the top down,” he says. “From a quality standpoint, I think Akron Children’s can stand toe-to-toe with nearly every hospital in the country.”

Married with a son in college and a daughter in high school, Forbes serves as a pediatric intensivist and director of clinical research and outcomes analysis at Akron Children’s.

“The Intensive Care Unit is designed to take care of every child in the region who’s critically ill or injured because we have the capability to monitor and medically manage those kids hopefully back to full recovery,” he says.

Forbes pursued pediatric critical care because, when he was in training, he believed that the majority of things that landed children in the ICU were unpreventable, like genetic diseases, cystic fibrosis or heart disease. “Now, it’s become painfully apparent to me that a substantial number of kids are requiring critical care for completely preventable reasons — car crashes, child abuse, poisonings — where healthy kids suddenly become either profoundly disabled or dead.”

Steven M. Radwany Summa Health System Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Center 55 Arch Street, Suite 1B Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-3315

Medical Oncology and Hematology

Which is why he takes a different perspective on pediatric critical care. “Nearly everything’s preventable, and very few things that we used to call accidents are actually accidents,” he says. “That’s become the thrust of much of my research.”

James A. Schmotzer Morning Star Hematology and Oncology 2600 Sixth Street SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-453-3309

Jehad Yusuf Asfoura Kidney Hypertension Consultants 4689 Fulton Road NW Canton, OH 44718 Phone: 330-649-9400 John F. Jacobs, Jr. Akron Nephrology Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 330 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6072 Joseph Zarconi Northeast Ohio Nephrology Associates 411 East Market Street Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-252-0600

Neurological Surgery Jean-Claude M. Tabet Neurosurgical Center 2600 Tuscarawas Street West, Suite 540 Canton, OH 44708 Phone: 330-454-0350

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Akron Life & Leisure

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Keeping children safe from harm is this doctor’s mission.

Internal Medicine/ Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Nephrology

top docs 2010

Dr. Michael Forbes

Having served for more than a decade on the Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) Child Death Review Team, Forbes reviewed the circumstances surrounding the death of every child in the county. “As you can imagine, the kids who were victims of homicide were the most disturbing, and many folks in anger and frustration impulsively will shake their babies to death. We felt we needed to do more education on how to deal with the frustration of raising a child.”

Forbes was recently asked to host an educational DVD for parents called, “When Your Baby Cries,” which was produced at Mercy, part of the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System.

Forbes’ segments were filmed at Akron Children’s, and the DVD is now being distributed free to every new mother in Allegheny County. It’s also available online. “The DVD first acknowledges that it’s extremely difficult to raise a child, and that you’ll become frustrated, tired and tense,” he says. “But there are things you can do that will not put the child’s life at risk.”

Forbes gives parents advice for soothing a crying baby (and themselves), but what techniques does he use to relax after a stressful day? “When I’ve had one of those days, I maintain an online journal,” he says. “I keep the patient anonymous, of course, and I just write about the situation.”

He also de-stresses by running — he’s part of the Akron Marathon team in the ICU and the NICU called Team Air Bear (named after the Akron Children’s pediatric transport helicopter).

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure’s Top Medical Professionals 2010

Ohio Foot and Ankle Center S t ate - o f-th e -a r t f o o t a n d a n k l e c a r e

D

r. Chokan is founder and president of Ohio Foot and Ankle Center. He currently has three offices — in Stow, Green and Canton — and his vision is to create a large conglomerate of offices reaching from Solon down to Massillon, all running along the I-77/Rt. 8 interstate and giving patients greater accessibility and promoting awareness of podiatry.

and Certified Wound Specialist at two wound centers and currently performs surgery at eight different hospitals in the area.

He has been instrumental in the expansion and recognition of the scope of podiatry in Ohio by fighting for the right to harvest skin graft from the anterior thigh to be placed onto the calf, ankle or foot for non-healing ulcerations. His current project is to allow podiatrists to supervise hyperbaric dives in the state of Ohio. “It’s always most rewarding to heal a patient with a I challenge myself wound when they had to continue to be lost hope,” he says.

diverse to give my

Dr. Chokan continues patients the best to improve surgisurgical procedure cal times and reduce for their foot/ankle the cost of insurance ailment. dollars by fine-tuning clinical skills and using tests wisely. He performs minor surgical procedures with minimal invasive techniques to help get patients back to health and to work fast. “My goal is to give the ultimate patient satisfaction.

I challenge myself to continue to be diverse to give my patients the best surgical procedure for their foot/ankle ailment.”

Dr. Chokan was born and raised in Ohio and has been an Ohio State Buckeye fan all of his life, so much so that his logo is based on the scarlet and gray colors of the college.

After graduating from Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, he completed his surgical residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. He’s currently the Director of the Podiatric Medicine and Surgical Residency program at Summa Western Reserve Hospital, and Chief of the Division of Podiatry.

He has advanced training in applying external frames for traumatic injuries and also arthroscopic techniques for minimal invasive joint surgery.

He continues to develop and pursue new surgical techniques and research at SWRH. He’s also a Board Certified Surgeon

Come visit the new Stow office featuring Eco-friendly interior fixtures, touch-screen computer technology, and a spacious waiting room.

Stow: 3226 Kent Rd., 330-929-3331 Green: 1700 Boettler Rd., 330-899-0988 Canton: 4642 Hills and Dales Rd., 330-477-4400 www.ohiofac.com

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Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Roger Hudgins

Stephen J. Andrews Summa Physicians Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 161 North Forge, Suite 298 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-379-3514

For this neurosurgeon, patient exams are child’s play.

Prabhcharan Gill Aultman Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center 2600 Sixth Street SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-438-6296

Watching how children move and respond during playtime is how this pediatric neurosurgeon gets information about his patients. That, and the fact that he loves playing with kids.

Michael P. Hopkins Gynecologic Oncologists of Northeastern Ohio 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 140 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6041 Eric L. Jenison Gynecologic Oncologists of Northeastern Ohio 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 140 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6041 Michael A. Krew Aultman Maternal and Fetal Medicine Center 2600 Sixth Street SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-363-6296

If you walk into Akron Children’s Hospital and see Dr. Roger Hudgins playing with one of his young patients, he’s not just forming a relationship with the child, he’s doing a neuroexam.

“I got to the end of my seven years of neurosurgery training and made a very good decision to do the pediatric piece of it. It’s a lot more fulfilling than the adult side, where they’re more into the suffering part of it. Kids are so much more fun,” he says.

Because young children with neurological issues often don’t respond well to medications, a neurosurgical procedure can enable them to feel better and move on with their lives. For example, for the past 20 years, Hudgins has been performing a procedure on children that cures epilepsy.

“A fair number of seizures start in a particular place in the brain,” he says. “If you can find out where in that individual’s brain the seizure is coming from and if it’s a place where you can get to safely, you can take out a very small area of brain and stop the seizures from occurring. And if you can stop the seizures when the patients are four or five, most of them will go on to go to school, graduate, do well and become productive members of society. The sooner we can get this stopped, the better the outcome.”

Justin P. Lavin Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine William Considine Professional Building, Suite 5500 215 West Bowery Street Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-4500 Vivian E. von Gruenigen Summa Physicians Jean and Milton Cooper Cancer Center Division of Gynecologic Oncology 161 North Forge Street, Suite 298 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-379-3514

Hudgins arrived at Children’s a year ago from a hospital in Georgia and has the distinction of being one of two pediatric neurosurgeons in the Akron area.

Ophthalmology Deepak Edward Summa Health System Department of Ophthalmology 75 Arch Street, Suite 204 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-7657 Jeffrey C. Lamkin The Retina Group of Northeast Ohio 75 Arch Street, Suite 302 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-434-1185 Anthony J. Locastro Pediatric Eye and Oculoplastic Surgeons 300 Locust Street, Suite 400 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-374-5666 Lawrence E. Lohman Northeast Ohio Eye Surgeons 2013 State Route 59 Kent, OH 44240 Phone: 330-678-0201

“It was very clear to me from the beginning … that the administration at Akron Children’s really does want to grow a prominent neurosciences center,” says Hudgins. “It’s a matter of trying to use the last part of my career to build something that will last.”

In addition to building a lasting medical legacy, Hudgins also enjoys building relationships with patients and their parents. And as a father of three grown children, he understands that parents are overprotective when it comes to the health of their child.

“Neurosurgeons are kind of notorious for not being very open people — an it’s-myway-or-the-highway kind of thing. You can’t do that if you’re a pediatric neurosurgeon because parents won’t put up with it, nor should they.”

At press time, Hudgins was training for the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K, and as an avid reader, he was most likely occupied during his flight reading the Jonathan Franzen novel, “Freedom,” on his Kindle, which he calls, “the coolest invention in years.”

Elbert H. Magoon Eye Centers of Ohio 800 McKinley Avenue NW Canton, OH 44703 Phone: 330-452-8884 54

top docs 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Our Docs Are

TOPS! [Of course, we already knew that.]

Neurological Surgery

Ophthalmology

Jean-Claude Tabet

Elbert Magoon Paul Turgeon

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prabhcharan Gill Michael Krew Michael Hopkins

Gastroenterology

Radiology

Thomas Poulton

Stephen Andrews Eric Jenison

Surgical Oncology

Nephrology

Eleftherios Mamounas

Jehad Asfoura

Cardiovascular Disease

Pediatric Urology

Milan Dopirak Stephen Denning David Utlak

Phillip Nasrallah

Andrew Libertin Gynecologic Oncology

Pediatric Surgery

David Andrews

Medical Oncology & Hematology

James Schmotzer Aultman is proud to congratulate these area physicians for being recognized among the region’s Top Docs.

December 2010

www.aultman.org

Akron Life & Leisure

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Dr. Robert Schweikert

top docs 2010

Electricity runs through this doctor’s veins.

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Growing up, Dr. Robert Schweikert and his twin brother liked to spend time in their father’s workshop. Their dad was an electrician, and he had all sorts of electrical books, a TV he was building, and capacitors and transistors of all colors that the boys liked to sort. Fast forward a few years, and Robert became an electrophysiologist, and his brother pursued electrical engineering.

“That might have influenced us to some degree,” he says. “There seems to be this propensity for electricity so, technically, we’re electricians like our father.”

These days, Schweikert is the chief of cardiology at Akron General Medical Center and practices at Heart Rhythm Associates, where he sees patients who have heart rhythm disorders — like heartbeats that are too fast or too slow.

Several years ago, Schweikert was working at the Cleveland Clinic and traveling with other Clinic doctors to Akron General to provide heart rhythm services to area patients. During those trips, he worked with the Akron General staff and fell in love with the hospital. When the Clinic stopped providing those services in January 2008, Akron General recruited Schweikert and invested in a state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab.

“I have one of five technologies in Ohio that involves a robotic system to perform procedures,” he says. “In a catheter ablation — where we thread wires into the blood vessels of the body and feed those up to the heart — we can deliver energy through those wires to try to zap these arrhythmias and eliminate heart rhythm problems.”

The hospital has also expanded its area of expertise in removing leads that go from a pacemaker or defibrillator into the heart. Over time, these leads might need to be replaced or removed. If that happens, Schweikert uses specialized equipment to extract the leads. “Akron General did some of that with the previous doctors that were here, but it was limited. They sent most of their cases up to Cleveland. Patients don’t have to be sent elsewhere to have that done now.”

Schweikert and his staff make it a point to spend time educating patients and their families, without getting overly technical, so they can work as a team to make treatment decisions.

“As physicians, what’s happened in our field is that you’re pushed to do more with less time,” he says. “Some physicians feel as if they have to be rushed and not spend the time. That’s unfortunate because patients really need to understand what’s going on so they can make an informed choice.”

Spending time with family is also important to Schweikert. He and his wife have been married for 23 years and have four children, ranging in age from six to 21. A sports fan, Schweikert says there’s always a game on the TV at home when he’s not at Browns Stadium enjoying his season-ticket seats.

“I’m from the area so I have the same sickness everyone else here has: I’m clinging to the hope that the Browns are going to win the Super Bowl someday, and I still hold out hope for the Indians, too,” he says. “I don’t think you can be a fair-weather fan in Cleveland because we don’t have fair weather.”

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Douglas J. Ripkin ClearVision Centers 1155 State Route 303 Streetsboro, OH 44241 Phone: 330-422-9999 Thomas J. Tsai The Retina Group of Northeast Ohio 75 Arch Street, Suite 302 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-434-1185 Paul W. Turgeon Eye Centers of Ohio 6407 Frank Avenue NW North Canton, OH 44720 Phone: 330-966-1111 Todd E. Woodruff The Glaucoma Center One Park West Boulevard, Suite 310 Akron, OH 44320 Phone: 330-836-8545

Orthopaedic Surgery Robert H. Bell Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center 3975 Embassy Parkway, Suite 102 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-668-4050 Richard Brower Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center North Coast Spine Center 20 Olive Street, Suite 200 Akron, OH 44310 Phone: 330-535-3396 Jeffrey S. Noble Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center 3975 Embassy Parkway, Suite 102 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-668-4050 Scott D. Weiner Summa Physicians Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine 20 Olive Street, Suite 201 Akron, OH 44310 Phone: 330-379-5051

Pathology Raymond E. Clarke Summa Akron City Hospital Department of Pathology 525 East Market Street Akron, OH 44309 Phone: 330-375-3678

Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology James J. Fitzgibbon Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Adolescent Medicine Locust Building, Suite 350 300 Locust Street Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8538

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Philip C. Smith Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center One Perkins Square, Suite 5200 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8030

Pediatric Cardiology Mark D. Jacobstein Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center One Perkins Square, Suite 5200 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8521 Chandrakant R. Patel Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center One Perkins Square, Suite 5200 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8521

Pediatric Critical Care James B. Besunder Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Critical Care One Perkins Square, Fourth Floor Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8639 Michael L. Forbes Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Critical Care One Perkins Square, Fourth Floor, Suite 4600 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8639 John F. Pope Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Critical Care One Perkins Square, Fourth Floor Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8639

• Sapphire • Cerec • Las Vegas Institute of Cosmetic Dentistry • Cosmetic/Restorative • We Accept Care Credit

Robert E. Smith, D.D.S., Inc General Dentist Comprehensive Cosmetic Dentistry 330-666-7800 or 1-800-335-3369 3610 West Market Street • Akron www.robertesmithdds.com

Doctors who are recognized for going above and beyond.

That’s more than healthcare. That’s smartcare.

SM

We salute all the physicians throughout the Summa Health System who were listed among the Top Doctors in Akron Life and Leisure Magazine. Your tireless work and dedication is noticed by your patients and colleagues every single day.

summahealth.org

December 2010

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Dr. Scott Weiner

top docs 2010

This orthopaedic oncologist is hitting cancer out of the park.

+

Dr. Scott Weiner is calling from the road. He’s on vacation with his wife in Fort Myers, Fla. — where he’s playing baseball with the Akron Brewers, a team in the amateur Roy Hobbs Baseball league.

“It’s just old-man baseball, 38 and over — fun times, nothing too serious,” he says.

“I played baseball through high school and the first couple years of college, but the practices and games got in way of my science labs. Then I found I was good at math and science, and medical school was the next best step.”

Weiner became interested in the teaching and research aspect of orthopaedics as a resident at Summa. Always one to embrace a good challenge, he opted for the orthopaedic oncology specialty. After a year of study at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Weiner returned to his hometown of Akron. Today, he’s the chairman of the orthopaedic surgery department at Summa Health System and Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center, and the director of pediatric orthopaedic oncology at Akron Children’s Hospital.

“Most people think of orthopaedic surgeons as being mechanics replacing joints or fixing ligaments, but I enjoy the interpersonal relationship as much as I do the difficult surgical aspects and the anatomy issues,” he says. “I feel like I’m taking care of the whole patient rather than just their isolated problem.”

And while working with pediatric cancer patients and their families can be a daunting task, Weiner says that as he’s gotten more experienced and comfortable, “developing a close relationship with the patients and their families is one of the more enjoyable parts. Children are a special group.”

Weiner also leads Summa’s orthopaedics residency program.

“Being raised here in Akron, I want to see the community do well, and I’m extremely committed to the success of our local economy,” he says.

With four kids of his own (one grown, twins in college and the youngest in high school), Weiner’s social life revolves around his family, his baseball team, local sports (“I’m a huge Cleveland sports fan and Akron U basketball fan,” he says) and supporting national and local charities, like Project Ed Bear, a volunteer organization that helps pediatric oncology patients throughout Northeast Ohio.

“To me, that’s very rewarding because a lot of my patients are involved with that group,” he says. “So in addition to dealing with them on a professional level, I get to work with them on a personal level. That’s something that I get a lot of pride out of.”

Writer Abby Cymerman is the assistant editor of Akron Life & Leisure. You can reach her at acymerman@bakermediagroup.com.

Comments?

Got something to say about these Top Doc profiles (or another article) in Akron Life & Leisure? We want to hear from you! E-mail editor Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

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Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Problems John C. Duby Akron Children’s Hospital NeuroDevelopmental Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 4400 215 West Bowery Street Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8050 Diane L. Langkamp Akron Children’s Hospital Locust Pediatric Care Group 300 Locust Street, Suite 390 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-543-8530

Pediatric Gastroenterology John N. Fyda Pediatric Gastroenterology of Akron 300 Locust Street, Suite 470 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-376-3800

Pediatric HematologyOncology Jeffrey D. Hord Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology One Perkins Square, Fifth Floor Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8580 Steven Kuerbitz Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology One Perkins Square, Fifth Floor Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8580 Stephanie Savelli Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Hematology and Oncology One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44236 Phone: 330-543-8730

Pediatric Infectious Disease John R. Bower Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases Locust Building, Suite 480 One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8395 Blaise L. Congeni Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases Locust Building, Suite 480 One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8395

Pediatric Medical Genetics Haynes Robinson Akron Children’s Hospital Genetic Center 300 Locust Street, Suite 500 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8792

Pediatric Nephrology Deepa H. Chand Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Nephrology and Hypertension One Perkins Square, Seventh Floor Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8950 Shefali Mahesh Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Nephrology and Hypertension One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8950 James W. Prebis Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Nephrology and Hypertension One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8950

Pediatric Neurological Surgery Roger J. Hudgins Akron Children’s Hospital Division of Neurosurgery One Perkins Square, Suite 6427 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8661

Pediatric Ophthalmology Anthony J. Locastro Pediatric Eye and Oculoplastic Surgeons 300 Locust Street, Suite 400 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-374-5666 Elbert H. Magoon Eye Centers of Ohio 800 McKinley Avenue NW Canton, OH 44703 Phone: 330-452-8884

Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Dennis Weiner Akron Children’s Hospital Orthopaedics for Children and Adolescents Locust Professional Building, Suite 160 300 Locust Street Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-543-6633

Pediatric Pathology Mark Steele Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Pathology One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8572

Pediatric Plastic Surgery James A. Lehman Legacy Plastic Surgeons 300 Locust Street, Suite 590 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-374-9100

James Bressi, D.O.

Robert Geiger, M.D.

Guang Yang, M.D.

Congratulations to Drs. Bressi, Geiger and Yang for providing the most comprehensive chronic pain management to patients in our area. $OOHQ 5RDG 6XLWH 6WRZ 2+ 3$,1

December 2010

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Pediatric Pulmonology

Pediatric Specialist/ Neurology, Epilepsy

Nathan C. Kraynack Akron Children’s Hospital Stone Respiratory Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 6500 One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8885 John T. McBride Akron Children’s Hospital Stone Respiratory Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 6500 One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8885 Gregory J. Omlor Akron Children’s Hospital Stone Respiratory Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 6500 Two Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8885

Margaret C. McBride Akron Children’s Hospital NeuroDevelopmental Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 4400 Two Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8050

Pediatric Radiology Michael Rubin Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Radiology One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8301

Pediatric Specialist/ Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine James J. Fitzgibbon Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Adolescent Medicine Locust Building, Suite 350 300 Locust Street Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8538

Pediatric Specialist/ Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Steven W. Jewell Child Guidance & Family Solutions 312 Locust Street Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-762-0591 Laura H. Rocker Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology 388 South Main Street, Suite 207 Akron, OH 44311 Phone: 330-543-8589

Pediatric Specialist/ Hospice and Palliative Medicine Sarah Friebert Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Pediatric Palliative Care One Perkins Square, Suite 5602 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-3343

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Pediatric Specialist/ Neurology, General Thiruvengadam Kulasekaran Akron Pediatric Neurology 300 Locust Street, Suite 150 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-253-2113 Thaddeus W. Kurczynski Akron Children’s Hospital Genetic Center One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8792 Margaret C. McBride Akron Children’s Hospital NeuroDevelopmental Center Considine Professional Building, Suite 4400 Two Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8050

Pediatric Sports Medicine Joseph Congeni Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Sports Medicine One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8260

Sara F. Guerrero-Duby Children’s Medical Group 370 East Market Street Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-762-9033 Douglas Hackenberg Children’s Medical Group 370 East Market Street Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-762-9033 Molly Shaw Akron Children’s Hospital Department of Pediatrics 701 White Pond Drive, Suite 100 Akron, OH 44320 Phone: 330-865-1252 Titus G. Sheers Akron General Medical Center Internal Medicine Center of Akron Building 301, Fifth Floor 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6015 P. Cooper White Akron Children’s Hospital Locust Pediatric Care Group 300 Locust Street One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8530

Pediatric/ Hospital Medicine Douglas E. Moses Akron Children’s Hospital Diagnostic Referral Group One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-4440

Plastic Surgery James A. Lehman Legacy Plastic Surgeons 300 Locust Street, Suite 590 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-374-9100 Douglas S. Wagner Akron Plastic Surgeons Park West Corporate Center One Park West Boulevard, Suite 350 Akron, OH 44320 Phone: 330-253-9161

Psychiatry John A. Kasper, Jr. Summa Physicians, Geriatric Medicine Center for Senior Health 75 Arch Street, Suite G2 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4100 Melodie Morgan-Minott Kent Medical Arts Building, Suite 230 401 Devon Place Kent, OH 44240 Phone: 330-673-9111 Kathleen A. Pero Pastoral Counseling Services 282 West Bowery Street Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-996-4600 Moshe S. Torem Center for Mind-Body Medicine 4125 Medina Road, Suite 209 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-665-8209

Pulmonary Medicine

Eugene Michael Mowad Akron Children’s Hospital Hospitalist Program One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-4440

Charles R. Fuenning Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411

Pediatric Thoracic Surgery

James Albert Nard III Akron Children’s Hospital Diagnostic Referral Group One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-4440

Matthew Krauza Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411

Philip C. Smith Akron Children’s Hospital Heart Center One Perkins Square, Suite 5200 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-8030

Troy Sands Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatric Hospital Medicine One Perkins Square Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-543-4440

Kenneth R. Kretchmer Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 100 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-535-8850

Pediatric Urology

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Timothy C. Murray Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 380 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6676

Pediatric Surgery David A. Andrews Akron Pediatric Surgical Associates 300 Locust Street, Suite 560 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-434-5341

Phillip Nasrallah Pediatric and Adolescent Urology 215 West Bowery Street, Suite 3500 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330-376-3332

Pediatrics/General

Daniel M. Dorfman Omni Orthopaedics 4760 Belpar Street NW Canton, OH 44718 Phone: 330-492-9200

Genevive C. Falconi Cleveland Clinic Brunswick Family Health Center 3574 Center Road Brunswick, OH 44212 Phone: 330-225-8886

James Patrick Klejka Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center Summit Rehabilitation Medicine 3975 Embassy Parkway, Suite 002 Akron, OH 44333 Phone: 330-668-4094

Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

Sanjiv Tewari Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 224 West Exchange Street, Suite 380 Akron, OH 44302 Phone: 330-344-6676

Delivering joy this holiday season and all year round.

Akron’s only all-female Ob/Gyn Group Jamie Byler, MD Lisa Cousineau, DO Cecilia Ellis, DO Nancy McGrievy, MD Maura O’Shea, MD Linda Parenti, MD

www.obgynofakron.com

December 2010

Bath 605 N. Cleve-Massillon Rd. 330-668-6545 Akron 75 Arch Street, Suite 401 330-535-2689

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Radiology Thomas B. Poulton Radiology Associates of Canton 2600 Sixth Street SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-363-6285

Sleep Medicine Nader A. Botros Northeast Ohio Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-535-8850 Matthew Krauza Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411 Hitesh Makkar Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Associates 95 Arch Street, Suite 210 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-253-1411

Health Care Division

Surgery Daniel Guyton Akron General Medical Center Department of Surgery Ambulatory Care Center, Third Floor 400 Wabash Avenue Akron, OH 44307 Phone: 330-344-6234

Medical Coats/Jackets • Patient Gowns • Sheets • Pillowcases • Towels :H DOVR RIIHU /RJR PDWV DUHD SURWHFWLRQ PDWV GLUHFW VDOH FDWDORJ K\JLHQH SDSHU SURGXFWV FDQ OLQHUV DQG DQWLEDFWHULDO VRDS

1050 Northview Avenue, Barberton 44203 www.liniform.com

Surgical Oncology Eleftherios P. Mamounas Aultman Hospital Aultman Cancer Center 2600 Sixth Street SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: 330-363-6281

Thoracic Surgery Robert F. Debski Summa Barberton Hospital Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery 201 Fifth Street NE, Suite Eight Barberton, OH 44203 Phone: 330-475-1674

Urology Dennis F. Bentley Physicians Urology 95 Arch Street, Suite 165 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4848 Raymond A. Bologna Physicians Urology 95 Arch Street, Suite 165 Akron, OH 44304 Phone: 330-375-4848 Gregory G. Danesis Physicians Urology 2651 West Market Street Fairlawn, OH 44333 Phone: 330-864-8008

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Healthy Tips

The R ediscove ry of Vitamin D M o st p e o p l e kn ow th at vita m i n D i s e s s e nti a l fo r th e a b s o rpti o n of c a l c i u m, wh i c h l e a d s to stro n g b o n e s , b ut wh at ’s m o st re m a rka b l e a b o ut vita m i n D i s th e s h e e r nu m b e r of h e a lth i s s u e s its d efi c i e n cy h a s b e e n l i n ke d to. I n th i s m o nth’s H e a lthy Ti p s , we a s k S u m m a H e a lth Syste m’s J o h n M . S u rs o, M . D., a few q u e sti o n s a b o ut th i s vita l e l e m e nt.

Q: What does Vitamin D really do? Vitamin D stimulates the absorption of calcium from the small intestine. Without this vitamin, no more than 15% of dietary calcium is absorbed, leaving bones without the nourishment they need. With the vitamin, 30% of calcium is absorbed and as much as 80% is absorbed in pregnant and lactating females.

Q: Is there a link between a lack of vitamin D and overall health? In the past few years, studies have shown that a lack of the vitamin may be the primary culprit in depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. Recent evidence establishes a link between vitamin D deficiency and increased fall risk in older adults. There’s also preliminary evidence that vitamin D is essential for breast and prostate health, and certainly low vitamin D levels should be suspected in those diagnosed with osteoporosis.

a daily multivitamin or a vitamin D supplement that provides at least 1,000 IU is a good habit, as is drinking two glasses of skim milk per day. In some cases, and as recent research indicates, supplements and additional vitamin D-rich enriched foods may not be enough.

Q: Don’t we get enough vitamin D from exposure to the sun? Most of us assume that. However, here in the Midwest, it’s impossible to get enough D from sunlight between October and March, no matter how exposed you are. And it’s tougher for people of color to make vitamin D—the melanin in dark skin decreases vitamin D production by up to 90 percent.

Q: How do we know if we’re deficient? Many physicians believe all adults should be tested for vitamin D deficiency. In most cases, a simple blood test measuring 25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels is run on adults who experience symptoms. Treatment for low vitamin D depends upon the level determined from the blood test. It may require a prescription vitamin D loading dose and then maintenance with an over-the-counter regimen of vitamin D3. This may be a simple and inexpensive treatment of a common condition that we now know can truly affect our health.

Q: What about food—don’t we get enough vitamin D in the foods we eat? Only certain kinds of fish and fortified dairy have enough D to brag about, and it’d be hard to consume enough of both in one day to get the recommended 1,000 units. Taking

Dr. Surso is Medical Director and Community Liaison of the new Summa Health Center at Lake Medina, located at 3780 Medina Road in Medina. To make an appointment with Dr. Surso or any Summa Physician, please call (800) 237-8662, ext. 234.

By Doris Larson

TRAVEL

Stop the Insanity: 7 Trips to De-Stress During the Holidays Aah. The holiday season.

A time of joy, parties and family.

Also a time of vying for parking spaces, untangling strand after strand of Christmas tree lights, and frantically scouring the city to find a store that isn’t sold out of the latest “musthave” toy...

Let’s face it. Decking the halls can lead to blowing a gasket. And when you’ve dragged the Christmas tree into the kitchen so you can decorate it while baking cookies, there’s a good chance your blood pressure is in the “high” range.

To help you once again become a normal-acting person, consider one of these day or overnight trips. We’ve included destinations for the whole family, for couples, for just the girls and even for Fido.

None are a huge time commitment — and your blood pressure will thank you. – The Editors

Wine & Dine at Sawmill Creek Resort Sawmill Creek Resort Huron, OH 419-433-3800 sawmillcreek.com Escape to Sawmill Creek Resort on the shores of Lake Erie for a perfect romantic getaway. Ask for the Winery Package, and stay in a deluxe guestroom — where you’ll find a complimentary wine sampler and souvenir keepsake glasses from Paper Moon Winery.

Start the next day with a hot breakfast, and then explore the resort. Check out the historic 1887 Barn Shops offering a range of gifts, such as apparel, jewelry and toys. Continue winding down with a stop at the Paper Moon Winery in nearby Vermillion. The winery’s stone-andstucco tasting room invites with a copper tasting bar, tables made of wine barrels and a large fireplace. Sample wines along with lunch choices of panini, soup, flat bread pizza or a cheese plate. Live music at the winery adds to the fun on Friday and Saturday.

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Plan to dine at the resort’s Salmon Run Restaurant overlooking Wilderness Creek. Seafood and steaks highlight the menu at this upscale casual restaurant.

And there’s a treat waiting for guests on December evenings. Sawmill Creek Resort celebrates the holidays with a Festival of Lights. Drive to see 32 dazzling light displays on the resort property.

December 2010

Explore Cleveland Botanical Garden Cleveland Botanical Garden Cleveland, OH 216-721-1600 cbgarden.org Leave the snow and cold behind when you step into the Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glass House at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Pretend you’re in a tropical rainforest as you walk this warm (and humid!) replica of a Costa Rican cloud forest. Colorful butterflies, birds

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED...

What’s the coolest way to and native plants will catch your eye as you stroll the exhibit, and the aroma of tropical orchids and the sound of waterfalls lend realism to your imaginary journey. And be sure to check out the birdseye view from the 25-foot canopy walk.

If you’re yearning for dry heat, a second exhibit in the Glass House transports you to the spiny desert of Madagascar, a showcase for endangered plants and exotic animals of this African island country.

Once you’ve had your fill of sweating, check out the Garden’s WinterShow, an annual event named by Scene magazine as “Cleveland’s best holiday display.”

You can get some holiday decorating ideas from the large center tree (it’s also a great place to snap a family photo) and from a gallery of 6- to 7-foot Fraser firs, decorated by the Affiliate Garden Clubs. Large animal topiaries in the garden, and poinsettias and amaryllis in the Glass House add to the festive feel.

And don’t miss the Gingerbread Display.

These amazing edible edifices are featured throughout the Garden.

The fun continues with skating at the adjacent rink on Wade Oval. Skate rentals are available, or you can bring your own. Come back into the warmth of the Garden Café, offering a menu of soups, chili, sandwiches for lunch or hot chocolate and cookies for a snack. A final stop, the Garden Store, stocks beautiful Old-World hand-blown ornaments from Poland and Italy, along with wreaths, stocking stuffers and table top décor.

WE’VE GOT A FEW IDEAS… H Hit the slopes at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley or Nemacolin Woodlands Resorts H Sign the family up for Ski School H Go snow tubing or take a horse-drawn sleigh ride H Cozy up by the fire at your own mountain chalet For more information, deals and to find out how you can WIN A GETAWAY to the Laurel Highlands, visit us online at www.laurelhighlands.org.

P ann yyou Pl ourr tr ou trip ip at: laurelhighlands.org | 800.925.7669 Main photo: Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Snuggle Up for a Sleigh Ride Ma and Pa’s Troy Township 440-584-5521 maandpas.com Reservations required Gather family and friends — or just your significant other — and head out to Geauga County for a sleigh ride. Check in at the 1820s log cabin nestled in the woods, and get ready for an old-fashioned journey through woodland and farm fields in a sleigh pulled by black Percheron horses. Cuddle with your honey under fur blankets in an antique December 2010

sleigh for a romantic night ride available on Friday and Saturday nights. And don’t forget your camera, since there are lots of photo ops along the way.

All sleigh rides come back to the log cabin, where you can warm up by the fireplace, sip hot chocolate or maple coffee, and sample homemade cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies.

No snow and you still want to take a horse-drawn ride? No problem. Ma & Pa’s also offers carriage rides through their scenic property.

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You can also do a little last-minute holiday shopping in Ma & Pa’s Gift Shack, where you’ll find furniture, chainsaw carved animals (think bears and moose), clothing and light fixtures. If you’re still looking for that perfect tree, consider Ma and Pa’s fresh cut trees and wreaths.

Get Sporty at Punderson Manor Punderson State Park Newbury, OH 440-564-9144 pundersonmanorstateparklodge.com If you like cold weather and are looking for a destination featuring winter sports, you don’t have to go far. At Punderson Manor, you can snowmobile, cross-country ski, ice fish and toboggan down the “Fast & Steep” sled hill.

After working up a cold sweat, come into the Manor to relax by the woodburning fireplace in the Cherry Dining Room. Plan to have lunch or dinner in this charming dining room, with views overlooking Punderson Lake. You might even spot an ice fisherman. Reservations are necessary for the popular Sunday Brunch.

Grab your sweetheart and escape for a romantic weekend, or bring the whole family. Punderson’s location makes a day trip possible, or book into the historic English Tudor-style mansion. Take your choice of a guest room in the Manor, or reserve a fully furnished two-bedroom cottage. Enjoy the indoor pool, and check out board games and movie rentals at the Manor’s front desk.

‘Spa’ with the Girls The Spa at Honey Run Millersburg, OH 800-468-6639 innathoneyrun.com Located a short distance from the Inn at Honey Run, this serene, holistic wellness center can be reserved for your group.

Ask your girlfriends to join you for a day that will include three treatments, a spa cuisine lunch and time to catch up with your friends. You’ll go home feeling refreshed (and maybe even ready write out those Christmas cards).

The spa cottage is set in woodland with views of nature from every window. Start the day in the Serene Room with a cup of tea by the fireplace. Then get ready to be 66

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massaged, scrubbed, wrapped and toned.

You might opt for the “Honey Run Head to Toe,” a facial and foot treatment.

Take a break for a spa lunch, and come back for the “Experience the Grateful Body Facial” and the “Fruit and Honey Foot Glow.” Reiki treatments (a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation) are another option.

And save time for a learning session with David Pratt, the director of spa services.

He offers a 30-minute instruction in SelfBreema Bodywork, a deeply relaxing and nurturing therapy that includes gentle stretching and rhythmic movement.

Complete the day with Pratt’s meditation presentation.

Treat yourself to an overnight stay at the Inn at Honey Run, a contemporary country inn that has long been a favorite of Northeast Ohioans — who come for the views, fine dining and lodging choices.

Horse Around at Heartland Country Resort Heartland Country Resort Fredericktown, OH 800-230-7030 heartlandcountryresort.com Situated on 76 acres of rolling land, The Heartland Country Resort is a working mini-farm — and Nirvana for horse lovers. This country getaway has it all — scenic wooded trail rides, farm “chores,” luxury lodging in log suites or a familystyle lodge, and a great big Americanstyle breakfast.

December 2010

A narrow gravel road takes you to the red barn-like lodge, where a cozy gathering room welcomes guests with a massive stone fireplace, comfy leather fireside seating, rocking chairs and rustic dining tables. Look forward to a country-style breakfast of pancakes or French toast, egg casserole, sausage and bacon, fresh fruit, granola, juices and homemade breads.

The entire second floor of the lodge offers a spacious guest suite perfect for families or retreat groups, with four queen beds and an adjacent living room.

Three log units, The Wildflower, The Native American and The Woodland, built into a hillside, fit seamlessly into the natural setting. Guests love the pri-

vate space in the log suites with glassfront fireplaces, kitchenettes, cathedral ceilings and two-person Jacuzzis. Your best buddy can also come along to this pet-friendly resort.

Dress warmly for the winter trail ride.

Bring your own horse, or ride one of Heartland’s horses through the meadows and woodland trails. Take a riding lesson (English or Western) in the barn arena, and (if you’re not opposed to some manual labor) help with farm chores — gathering eggs, grooming horses and bringing in hay.

Pamper Your Pet The Barkley of Cleveland Orange Village, OH 440-248-BARK (2275) thebarkleypethotel.com

Bonus trip:

Because your irrational holiday behavior has also stressed out Fido, send him off for pampering at The Barkley Pet Hotel & Day Spa. This resort-style vacation for dogs and cats combines homelike amenities with recreational activity.

What dog wouldn’t be happy staying in an Executive Poolside Suite, and what feline wouldn’t love a stay in Kitty City — with condos offering multiple levels for play and tropical fish tanks for entertainment? Treat your sophisti-cat or chic Shih Tzu to a pawdicure, a bedtime story/tuck-in tummy rub, a relaxation massage, a pool party or even a limo ride.

Comments?

Got something to say about this article (or another article) in Akron Life & Leisure? We want to hear from you! E-mail editor Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

Shoot to Thrill Battlefront Paintball Hubbard, OH 330-550-7185, 330-727-2952 battlefrontpaintball.com Open year round

Maybe your idea of unwinding is to take out some of your aggression. If you live by the motto, “No pain, no gain,” then playing scenario-style paintball at one of the most unique fields in the country might be just the excursion for you.

When an explosion in 1954 destroyed a gunpowder production facility near Hubbard, the plant (which had been in production since the 1800s) was abandoned, and the remaining buildings, bridges and rail lines became reforested and reclaimed by nature as the years passed. Battlefront Paintball reconditioned the site to create one of the most realistic gaming battlefields available anywhere. The “bomb damaged” condition of the buildings, the shell-hole craters in the streets, and the strategically located sandbags and log bunkers add realism to the game and make it easy to harness your inner Rambo.

December 2010

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Wo m e n i n B u s i n e s s

She’s the Boss?

Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men,

but only 3 percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies

are female. Stats like these — measuring women’s

progress in corporate America — are often confusing (and contradictory), begging the question: Have women shattered the glass ceiling … or not?

By Mary Ethridge

The days of mannish blue suits, low-

heeled pumps and silk-tie blouses are thankfully long gone, but has anything truly meaningful changed for women in business over the last three decades?

Shattering the old lifestyle choices for women — the culturally entrenched limitations of homemaker or pink-collar worker — has proven a lot more complicated than evolving fashion trends.

The answer is most definitely complicated, and the evidence is — at times — schizophrenic.

A study by Darden professor Erica James reported in Strategic Management found that the stock price of a company is twice as likely to drop after the announcement of a female chief executive officer (CEO) as a male. But researchers at Pepperdine University last year found that companies with the highest representation of women in top management experienced stronger financial performance when compared to companies with the lowest representation of women in senior positions. Return on equity is 35 percent higher and total return to shareholders is 34 percent higher for companies with more senior women executives.

Yet, women make up only 3 percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies, a figure that hasn’t budged in three years. Only 15 percent of the seats on the boards of directors of those companies are held by women. And globally, only 19 women hold the top job out of 2,000 of the largest companies.

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December 2010

“Frankly, I don’t understand why more boards — even just out of sheer greed — don’t promote more women,” says John McKee, a California-based author and business consultant who specializes in coaching women executives.

“It’s a rare company today where the men in power are Neanderthal enough to rule someone out of a job based on gender alone.”

— Suzy Welch, New York Times bestselling author, magazine columnist and TV commentator Some companies do, of course, bring women into their inner circles. Kraft Foods, PepsiCo and Sunoco all have female chief executives. And women now occupy more than 40 percent of all managerial positions in the United States, according to a study by Northwestern University.

“In my own experience, it’s a rare company today where the men in power are Neanderthal enough to rule someone out of a job based on gender alone. In today’s competitive global world, outstanding performance is pretty hard to dismiss for such a dumb reason,” says Suzy Welch, a New York Times best-sell-

what I’m talking about,” she says, adding that she was mentored by her former boss, DiMiao, but tries “to take something useful and helpful from everyone I meet.”

Paula Jones Hood

ing author, magazine columnist and TV commentator who, with her husband, Jack Welch, co-authored, “WINNING,” and solo authored, “10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea.”

N

ow a senior manager at Green-based FedEx Custom Critical’s Truckload Brokerage Division, Ramona Hood began her career 18 years ago as a receptionist for Roberts Express, which was purchased in 2000 by FedEx Custom Critical. Hood worked her way up through sales and operations to earn a top spot in the corporate hierarchy as the head of a major division by taking advantage of nearly every mentoring and networking program the company offered.

“I had a thirst for learning,” says Hood.

“I really wanted to grow, and … I’ve been fortunate enough to enter into circumstances and a company where I’ve had the coaching and fostering that encouraged my growth as an employee.”

Hood’s boss, Virginia Albanese, is chief executive of FedEx Custom Critical and one of the highest-ranking women in any company in Northeast Ohio. Albanese

Melanie Friedman

believes in providing networking opportunities, continuous learning and mentoring for all her employees, and says that everyone needs a “champion” to help them navigate their career paths.

“You need someone who sees your possibilities, someone who’s your advocate and can convince people to give you a chance,” says Albanese.

Paula Jones, vice president of Williams Flooring — a 56-year-old Akron-based company with 25 employees that has traditionally been owned and run by men — says she began her career there a dozen years ago in a typical female job: office assistant. When three vice presidents quickly came and left about five years ago, Jones began to pick up the slack created by the upheaval.

“I saw work that needed to be done to maintain the integrity and reputation of the business, so I just did it,” says Jones.

“Luckily, I had a boss [owner Jim Leslie] who understood the value of that. He told me that since I was actually doing the work, I should get the title and the salary, too.” Jones was named VP in 2007.

Some women who start at the bottom of the ladder not only make it to the top — but buy the business. Melanie Friedman of Akron began working at age 17 as a summer intern at DiMiao Architects in Fairlawn. On the cusp of her 30th birthday, she turned around and bought the company with a partner, Mark Moore. The firm is now called FMD Architects (for Friedman, Moore and Michael DiMiao, who has stayed on as an architect).

Friedman says she’s felt more prejudice from clients because of her age than her gender. “However, I’m very confident in my abilities, and I feel I can quickly convince clients and contractors that I know

December 2010

She said another man, her husband, has also been supportive of her career, sharing childcare duties for their toddler son, Toby, and altering his hours so he comes home earlier from work than she does. “I think the working mother is an accepted thing now,” she says. “Sometimes I feel a little guilty [about being away from Toby], but I think being a happier worker makes me a better mother.”

Albanese of FedEx has a slightly different arrangement: Her husband stays home with their children, ages 10 and 12. “I’m lucky to have a husband willing to stay home, but I miss a lot of band concerts because I’m on a plane somewhere or have a meeting — and I’ve had to accept that,” says Albanese. “But I do make time for my children. I just can’t always be with them for everything.”

Amanda Barna, 32, and Michelle Henry, 42, formed Akron-based Center for Marketing and Opinion Research together in 2006. They’re mothers with six children between them, ranging in age from 14-months to 18-years-old. They met at the University of Akron, where Michelle was the director of the Center for Policy Studies and Amanda worked in data collection and management.

“I think there are so many women like us launching businesses because it allows them to attain the kind of salaries they deserve, rather than waiting forever at a corporation for a time that may never come,” says Henry.

Women have, indeed, been launching enterprises — at twice the rate of men for a couple of decades now. The number of majority-owned female firms doubled between 1992 and 2006, according to the latest statistics. And a newly published report by The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute projects that female-owned small businesses, now just 16 percent of total U.S. employment, will be responsible for creating one-third of the 15.3 million new jobs anticipated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics by 2018.

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It could be that women are becoming entrepreneurs not only because of their frustration with slow career advancement and, as Henry pointed out, financial compensation, but also because owning a small business offers flexibility if they need time to care for children or aging parents.

“Intelligence matters, as does drive. But the facts are that availability also matters — always being able to travel, always being there for clients, and so on,” says Welch. “Many women can be totally available … and they have lives that allow it.

On the other hand, many women pass through a 10- to 15-year period in their lives where their children compete with work for their time and energy and, as a result, their availability can be diminished. This dynamic has had the effect, in some cases, of having women hit a roadblock of sorts.”

“It’s tempting, especially for younger women in business to say, ‘We’ve fixed the problem [by becoming entrepreneurs],’ but that’s just not the case,” says McKee. “There’s still a long way to go.”

ing a business — not growing one — and women tend to be afraid of debt, so they finance expansion with only revenue.

That may be a plus in today’s tight lending environment, but it won’t always be, says Hadary. Also, women have a self-limiting view of themselves — that somehow because they don’t know it all, they can’t handle it all.

Norma J. Rist, a former corporate executive who’s now a women’s business consultant in Akron, says many young female entrepreneurs have so many requirements for their time that they limit themselves. “They say, ‘I’m willing to start a company, but I don’t want it to be big.’ They don’t want it to grow.

They’re not positive they can handle it,” says Rist. “They tend to network in the same groups over and over where they’re comfortable. I tell them to put on their brave hat and go to a new place at least four times a year.”

I

Only 3 percent of women-owned businesses have revenues of $1 million or more, compared to 6 percent of those owned by men, according to a recent study from the University of Maryland.

And in 2008, the average revenues of women-majority-owned business were only 27 percent of the average revenues produced by men-majority-owned business.

n 1986, the Wall Street Journal coined the term, “glass ceiling,” which suggested that the few women who rose steadily through the ranks eventually crashed into an invisible barrier. Alice Eagley, a researcher at Northwestern University, says a better metaphor for today’s women in business is a labyrinth in which barriers are found at many levels, even though there’s truly a viable means to the center.

She argues that women are held back for several reasons, including vestiges of prejudice and a lack of family-friendly policies.

Sharon Hadary, founder of the Center for Women’s Business Research, told the Wall Street Journal recently that most women-owned businesses are small for several reasons. First, women’s business training almost always focuses on start-

Also to contend with is what’s been called, “the family wall” — associating motherhood with lesser productivity.

This combination of gender discrimination and discrimination against mothers further complicates matters. (As report-

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

ed in Newsweek, a 2010 study found that family-responsibilities discrimination complaints rose by 400 percent in the last decade — and that the vast majority of those cases were related to motherhood.)

Business consultant McKee — also author of the book, “21 Ways Women Managers Shoot Themselves in the Foot” — says that even if women aren’t held back from success by the company or outside obligations, they sometimes sabotage themselves.

“Let’s say you have a board room with 12 chairs around a table and some other chairs against the wall,” says McKee. “Women won’t sit in the power position.

Most often, they’ll sit in the seat against the wall and hardly say a word — making themselves a true wallflower. It’s not the best way to help your career. You have to sit in a position of power, speak up and be strong.”

Albanese of FedEx agrees. “If you want to rise to the top, you can’t sit back and hope it will happen,” she says. “You have to let people know what you want and what you’re willing to do.”

And at the end of the day — interviews completed, research in hand — there’s no disputing that women have made significant progress. There’s also no disputing that women still face serious obstacles while climbing the career ladder.

Have women shattered the glass ceiling?

The fact that we’re still asking the question is probably our answer.

Writer Mary Ethridge is a freelance writer in Akron. She spent 18 years at the Akron Beacon Journal, primarily covering business news. Her stories have appeared in news outlets across the country, including the Miami Herald, MSN.com and Newsweek. She’s currently an associate producer on a film about the All American Soap Box Derby with Corbin Bernsen that’s set to premiere in Akron in July.

Comments?

Got something to say about this article (or another article) in Akron Life & Leisure? We want to hear from you!

E-mail editor Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

Local Networking/ Business Organizations for Women Akron Woman’s City Club Established: 1923 About Them: They’re one of the oldest and largest clubs for women in America.

Mission: The club maintains an historic campus, serving as a facility for the philanthropic, educational, cultural, civic and social activities for the enrichment of its members and the community.

Annual Fee: Provisional (trial) membership is $80 for four months.

Membership Includes: civic meeting and dining facilities, community outreach through the Town Hall Speakers Series and Coach House Theatre, community artist exhibits, the awarding of student grants, fellowship and camaraderie, leadership and personal-development opportunities, interest groups, events and parties, youth parties and activities, boutique shopping opportunities and a monthly club bulletin For More Information: Visit akronwomanscityclub. com, call 330-762-6261 or e-mail pmitchen@akronwomanscityclub.com

Business and Professional Women (BPW)/Ohio (Akron Local) Established: 1920 About Them: BPW/OHIO is an affiliate of BPW Foundation, a nationwide organization that advocates the rights of working women.

Mission: to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information Annual Fee: $45 for local and state membership; $20 for students Membership Includes: career center highlighting women and Veteran-friendly employers; signature events, webinars and programs; professional and leadership development; legislative influence and lobby training; networking and mentoring; members-only resources and advocacy tools; working women and legislative publications; Political Action Committee (PAC); and Women Joining Forces program supporting women veterans in transition.

For More Information: Visit bpwohio.org or contact Shirley Jones at 330-338-0617 or sjones8838@aol.com

Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) – Greater Akron Established: 2006 About Them: CREW is one of 70 local chapters of CREW Network, the premier organization for women professionals in the commercial real estate industry.

Mission: to provide informative programs and seminars, create meaningful business relationships and opportunities, facilitate local and national networking, support community development, and foster professional development and career advancement of its members

Kyle Eberhardt, DDS &

Bronlynn Turner-Eberhardt, DDS ՟

OUR FAMILY SERVING YOURS New Patients Always Welcome

Our commitment is to provide you and your family with the highest standard of care in a relaxed family practice environment using the most current techniques and dental knowledge. We take the time to answer all of your questions, and work hard to build a relationship based on trust and respect.

1655 West Market St. Suite #540 Akron, OH 44313

December 2010

330.836.5585 www.westakrondental.com

Akron Life & Leisure

71

Annual Fee: $225 for members employed in the commercial real estate field two or more years Membership Includes: access to industry professionals; increased business, networking and job opportunities; professional development workshops; leadership training and experience; charitable giving and community outreach; access to CREW Network’s industry research; national and regional conventions and two national council meetings; and online resources and connections For More Information: Visit crewgreaterakron.org or contact CREW Membership Director Kathy L. Cunningham at 330-376-5566 or klc@neo.rr.com

Executive Women’s Golf Association – Akron/Cleveland Established: 1993 About Them: There are currently more than 120 EWGA chapters throughout the U.S. with international chapters in Canada, providing golf, social and networking activities for new and experienced golfers.

Mission: connecting women and helping them to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun Annual Fee: $125 for a classic membership; $325 for an executive distinction membership Membership Includes: In addition to weekly league play at seven Akron area golf courses, the Akron chapter offers golf clinics, special events, social events, plus the opportunity to compete in the world’s largest amateur golf tournament — the EWGA Championship Series.

For More Information: Visit ewga-akron.com or contact EWGA Akron chapter President Nancy Strausser at 330-958-0039 or golfhergirl@yahoo.com

Knowledgeable Network of Women (KNOW) Established: 2004 About Them: KNOW is a personal and professional development program for business women in the Greater Akron Region.

Mission: to cultivate the talent within one another by reaching out to today’s women executives and tomorrow’s leaders Annual Fee: $35 (membership to the Greater Akron Chamber is required).

Membership Includes: an invitation to three to four KNOW members-only workshops or networking events annually, opportunities for exposure in KNOW’s quarterly newsletter, a listing in the KNOW membership directory, information on issues and events for business women, KNOW member pricing for quarterly luncheons and a membership plaque For More Information: Visit greaterakronchamber.org or contact KNOW program manager Theresa Byers at (330) 237-1228 or byers@greaterakronchamber.org

National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Established: 1980 About Them: Open to business owners who own

“Visibility in the Workplace”

Join the Knowledgeable Network of Women as Ramona Hood, Senior Manager with FedEx Truckload Brokerage, teaches us strategies to showcase our talents and accomplishments.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Portage Country Club • 240 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303 Cost: $20 KNOW Members • $30 Chamber Members • $50 Non-Members Register on-line at www.greaterakronchamber.org or call (330) 376-5550.

Sponsored by:

The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic development and prosperity for the people of the Greater Akron Region.

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December 2010

an equity interest and actively participate as a sole proprietor, an active partner of a partnership or active member of a limited liability company, an independent contractor or individual owners of 5 percent or more of the stock of a corporation and who are involved in policy-making and day-to-day management of the corporation.

Mission: to strengthen the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promote economic development to create innovative and effective changes in the business culture; build strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transform public policy and influence opinion makers Annual Fee: $200 for emerging business owners; $300 for established business owners Membership Includes: networking and visibility, leadership development and mentoring, national membership, member discounts, and support and advocacy For More Information: Visit nawbocleveland.org, call 440-914-9262 or e-mail membership@nawbocleveland.org

Women in Touch with Akron Needs (WITAN) Established: 1943 About Them: WITAN is a non-profit composed of energetic women of all ages and walks of life who embrace civic responsibility in their community.

Mission: to educate members concerning civic responsibility and to promote volunteerism; to recognize, establish and financially support projects that fulfill a need in the community; and to develop and nurture friendships by working together toward a common goal Annual Fee: $50 Membership Includes: Members are required to perform 30 hours of community service per year, actively participate at the French Market fundraiser, and become involved on a WITAN committee.

For More Information: Visit witaninfo.org, call the WITAN info line at 330-376-6668 or e-mail witan@witaninfo.org

Women’s Network Established: 1977 About Them: Women’s Network is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with leadership provided by volunteers from the membership.

Mission: to encourage and support the progress of women toward full participation in economic, community and family life Annual Fee: $75 for individuals; $30 for students, those between jobs and retirees Membership Includes: access to member portion of website and online member directory, monthly electronic newsletter, discounted prices to regular Women’s Network events, and option to offer member-to-member discounts to membership For More Information: Visit womensnetworkneohio.com, call 330-256-1122 or e-mail wninfo@womensnetworkneohio.com

By Georgina K. Carson

U

niversity of Michigan economist Mark Perry coined the term “mancession” a few years back to describe a recession that hurts men more than women, and the term’s popularity grew faster than the unemployment rate.

Women are also still taking time away from their careers during the early childhood years, resulting in fewer contiguous years and a break in career momentum. “Many times,” says Henry, “it’s difficult to re-enter the workforce at the same point it was left, much less at the level someone should have been at, had they not taken time away.”

Other suggested reasons for the gender pay gap range from equal-pay laws that aren’t enforced to women predominating lower-paying industries to females being less aggressive salary negotiators.

Henry points out, however, that when it comes to contract negotiations, it may have less to do with the way women negotiate than the fact that they have different goals.

There’s little doubt that during 20072010, men were disproportionately affected by the recession. And according to the October Department of Labor Jobs Report, there’s still a 1.6 “Though there’s an increase in stay-atpercent male-female jobless rate gap — 9.7 percent for men and 8.1 percent home dads and dual working housefor women. At its peak in August 2009, holds, women still generally act as the lead parent in childcare and household the gap hit 2.7 percent. It’s the largest gap since World War II, and economists management, in addition to their blame it on huge layoffs in male-domi- careers,” says Henry. “For that reason, I nated industries, such as manufacturing think women often enter into contract negotiations with different expectations and construction. and priorities. While men are often Though women have suffered fewer poised to seek the highest possible comjob losses than men during 2007-2010, pensation, women are often more interwomen are still earning less: ested in a total compensation package — paid time off, sick or vacation time, • A 2007 study from the American Association of University Women shows flexible scheduling, flexible work hours, ability to work from home, and medical that college-educated women make and dental benefits. I feel women trade 20 percent less than men from the income for other benefits they feel will moment they enter the workforce. contribute to a higher quality of family • Ten years later, full-time working life than financial compensation alone.” women who haven’t yet had children But maybe they shouldn’t. “Seeking a make 23 percent less than their male total compensation package that meets colleagues. all of your needs doesn’t have to include • A recent Catalyst study found that lower pay in order to get the flexible female M.B.A.s make $4,600 less than working benefits women seek,” says their male peers in their first jobs out Henry. “Women need to be more confiof business school. dent in the role they play, the value they And, according to a report combring to an organization and their own missioned by the Joint Economic skills.”

Committee and released by the Whatever the reasons for the pay gap, Government Accountability Office in the fact is, the highest-paid male execulate September, female managers make tive in the United States earned more 81 cents to a man’s buck. (And that than $87 million last year — nearly 2007 number is up only pennies from double that of the highest-paid female 2000.) executive.

“I don’t find it surprising,” says Michelle Writer Georgina K. Carson is editor of Akron Henry, president of the Center for Life & Leisure magazine. You can contact Marketing and Opinion Research in her at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com.

Akron. “There are still many tradition-

December 2010

5 Highest-Paid Men in Corporate America

The mancession may be real, but women still earn only 81 cents to a man’s dollar.

ally held values about head of household earnings and gender roles in the family that persist today — and those have a deep influence on pay structure.”

5 Highest-Paid Women in Corporate America

Comparing Paychecks

1▼

1▲

Carol Bartz President and CEO Yahoo!

Gregory Maffei

2009 total compensation:

2009 total compensation:

$47.2 million

$87.5 million

2▼

2▲

Safra Catz

Lawrence Ellison

President

CEO

President and CEO

Liberty Media

Oracle

Oracle

2009 total compensation:

2009 total compensation:

$36.4 million

$70.1 million

3▼

3▲

Carrie Cox

Fred Hassan

Former EVP and President

Former Chairman and CEO

Global Pharmaceuticals Schering-Plough

2009 total compensation:

Merck $49.7 million

2009 total compensation:

$23 million

4▼

4▲

Irene Rosenfeld

Mario Gabelli

Chairman and CEO

Chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer

Kraft Foods 2009 total compensation:

GAMCO Investors

$22.1 million

2009 total compensation:

$43.6 million

5▼

5▲

Wellington J. Denahan-Norris

Mel Karmazin

Annaly Capital Management

$43.5 million

CEO Sirius XM Radio Vice Chairman, Chief Investment Officer and COO 2009 total compensation:

2009 total compensation:

$21.6 million Sources: Fortune, Equilar Inc.

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Wo m e n i n B u s i n e s s Profiles

Local business women share their advice, successes and guidance for the next generation.

Paula R. Chesser, CSA Senior Investment Consultant

Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc. 330-664-5500, 877-792-7868 paulachesserfinancialadvisor.com What’s your main role within your business?

To be a good listener! I guide my clients through life transitions in all market environments. I ask openended questions and really listen to their answers. It’s how I learn what’s important to them and come to understand their expectations.

I can then educate my clients about the solutions available so they can make an informed decision about their finances. My objective is to get them where they want to go and make sure they feel good about getting there.

What’s been your biggest success in the business world?

I feel successful every time I receive a referral. It says a lot about the trust and confidence that person has in my expertise and abilities. I appreciate that, and I work hard to earn it every day.

What one piece of advice would you give to business women just starting out?

Be open to opportunities. Surround yourself with hardworking, honest, supportive, positive, good people — professionally and personally. Push away from negativity. Trust yourself, and keep your focus on your goals.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

In the early stages of my career, I was asked to do a presentation to my then-company’s Board of Directors and, as you can imagine, I was very nervous. I sought advice from my mom and dad. They said with big smiles, “Honey, always remember, people are people. They put their pants on the same way as you do, one leg at a time.” I refer back to that conversation when I start to get nervous, and it keeps my focus where it should be.

How do women approach business differently than men?

There are a number of subtle differences, but primarily I think women tend to want more information and context prior to making decisions. My experience has been that they like to fully understand their options before taking action.

What are your personal business goals?

To provide the very best, objective financial advice and unparalleled service to my clients, while always keeping their best interests in mind.

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Sara Fraraccio-Brebant

Andrea Pohl

Owner/Master Stylist

Director of Operations

Sara Fraraccio Hair & Beauty Boutique

Cardinal Maintenance

330-836-7219 thesfsalon.com

330-252-0282 cardinal-group.com

What’s been your biggest success in the business world?

What’s your main role within your business?

To have been the only salon between Cleveland and Columbus to acquire the exclusive haircare line, Kerastase — “the Chanel of hair care.” Kerastase selects the top .5 percent of U.S. salons to represent the brand. It wins about 80 percent of the most prestigious honors in the industry, world wide, every year.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?

The company was founded and incorporated in 1962 by my grandfather, Andrew G. Pohl, who quickly cultivated the business into a thriving conglomerate that included customers such as IBM, Roadway Express, and Babcock and Wilcox. My father, Daniel L. Pohl, joined my grandfather in 1969 and was determined to expand to better serve Cardinal’s clients.

By 1999, “The Cardinal Group” had become a prosperous, multifaceted corporation intertwining four divisions: Cardinal Maintenance, Cardinal Environmental, Cardinal Roofing and Cardinal Safety Products. As director of operations for the Maintenance Division, I partner with local companies to ensure best-in-class service of full-property maintenance, which includes nightly janitorial contract services, carpet cleaning and extraction, floor care and maintenance, window washing, flood and fire restoration, construction clean-ups and more. I work closely with our talent to promote training, development and brand consistency, and I also collaborate with our other divisions with respect to sales, marketing, human resources, safety and OSHA training.

Do you want your employees to respect you ... or like you?

What advice would you give to women just starting out?

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business woman?

Dedicate yourself to excellence in action — the building blocks of success begin with the reputation you carry with you, which becomes the reputation that carries you. This reputation will be a testimony to not only the level of service you provide or the quality of product you develop, but will also be a guidepost to those who follow the trail you paved. Surround yourself with a strong network of leadership for support. My grandfather founded this company with a reputation built on hard work, commitment and integrity. These are the same principles my father used to grow and expand Cardinal Maintenance into The Cardinal Group, and it’s a privilege to hold these same principles to mold my reputation as third generation.

What are your personal business goals?

I want to continually support the growth of service providers, which will allow me to spend more quality time with my wonderful, beautiful children.

What advice would you give to women just starting out?

Make sure you know exactly what your brand is and have everything that the public experiences exemplify the genre of your brand. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, for what you need, to say, “No thank you,” and to not do business with others who don’t operate within your standards.

It has been and currently is an evolutionary process to change the salon industry from a lowly regarded, unstructured, unprofitable, dead-end venture to a profitable business that supports professional careers, which have goals, strategies, rewards and career paths similar to that of other highly respected industries.

How do you think women approach business differently than men?

Due to historic gender inequalities and stereotypes, we have to try harder just to prove ourselves; therefore, we are less likely to get sidetracked by complacency and ego.

How have you adapted your business to weather the economic downturn?

We developed some budget-pleasing Between Beauty Services that enable women to maintain their looks while stretching the time between their full-service visits.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?

On my first day of work, my dad told me, “In order to be successful in business, you have to be as much a psychologist as anything else,” which means that in order to deliver service-minded leadership and service, you must be aware of the broad spectrum of individual styles and adapt accordingly to encourage positive and mutually beneficial relationships.

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Bobbie Lopez

Michelle Henry President Amanda Barna Vice President

Owner

All Brides Beautiful

Center for Marketing and Opinion Research

330-655-1339 allbridesbeautiful.com

330-564-4211 CMOResearch.com What’s your main role within your business?

I’m the chief operations officer and owner of All Brides Beautiful bridal salon in historic Hudson, Ohio.

What’s been your biggest success in the business world?

Establishing a friendly, welcoming environment for staff and clients to experience and share their excitement in creating the perfect wedding day vision.

How do you think women have changed the business world in the last 10 years?

I believe the record number of women starting businesses in the last several years — with their collective determination, perseverance and ingenuity — is creating an atmosphere of increased emotional intelligence to the business community.

What advice would you give to women just starting out?

Surround yourself with experts in the areas of business in which you’re not proficient. These professionals are paramount to your success and sanity.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?

Strive for legendary service! A “legend” is continuously remembered and talked about for years to come.

What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in business?

Being in a traditionally woman-based business, the biggest challenge is one typical of high-fashion retail in this evolving age of social media: getting my business name and our customizing expertise in front of today’s savvy bride!

How do women approach business differently than men?

Women have a different management style. Men’s corporate notions of business as war, companies as machines, and leadership as command don’t work for women. We’re more interested in orchestration, empathy and relationship management.

What are your personal business goals?

To encompass the values of green, fair trade and renewable resources is the goal I’m working toward as I search for local vendors, natural fabric gowns and environmentally friendly operating materials.

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December 2010

What are your main roles within your business?

As principals and owners, we wear many hats ranging from business management to marketing and business development to the lead researchers and project managers. While we each have our areas of expertise and projects that we oversee, we’re both knowledgeable about all aspects of the business.

What’s been your biggest success in the business world?

We’re most proud of the relationships we’ve built with our clients. We work with many clients on multiple projects and at multiple times and enjoy a growing client base due to positive referrals. These relationships have been built on a foundation of collaboration, partnership and trust. We’re not looking for customers; rather, we’re looking for partners who we can assist in furthering their mission, goals and objectives by helping to collect the information they need to make key decisions. We’re honored to call many of our clients friends.

What advice would you give to women just starting out?

Do something that you’re passionate about. It’s a lot easier to go to a job every day that you love than it is to go to a job that just pays the bills. By balancing our client base with a diverse set of businesses, non-profit agencies, governmental and social service agencies as well as academic institutions and health care organizations, the work we do is both rewarding and challenging. We’re passionate about helping organizations and agencies make a difference in the community How do women approach business differently than men?

Women tend to have a collaborative approach to management.

Most successful women business leaders have strong critical thinking skills and have a high degree of creativity in problem solving. We’re good at delegating but just as capable of rolling up our sleeves and getting the work done.

What are your personal business goals?

To be the leading public opinion and market research firm in Northeast Ohio and to continue to grow at a pace where we have to further expand our facility and staff within the next three years.

Paula Jones

Tina Thelin

Vice President

Managing Partner/Owner

Williams Hardwood Flooring

Team Thelin

330-535-9189 williamsflooring.com

330-247-2200 TeamThelin.com

How do you think women have changed the business world in the last 10 years?

What’s your main role within your business?

In the last 10 years, the growing number of qualified women in the business world has definitely “raised the bar” in an alreadycompetitive arena, making it harder to obtain leadership roles in business. I believe women have also played a major role in what we call “flexible” schedules, which I feel has been a positive for both the employer and employee.

What one piece of advice would you give to women just starting out in the business world?

One common pleasure for all of us women is a good “drama” — the business world can be a tough market to work in so you have to get into “character” mentally by using all your knowledge, wit and savvy, leaving emotions at home!

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?

“It is what it is.” It sounds cliché, but in business, you have to learn to view situations realistically — and move on. You can’t dwell on any one thing too long, good or bad.

How have you adapted your business to weather the economic downturn?

Our owner, Jim Leslie, and I knew that with more than half of our business greatly relying on residential new construction, we needed to make changes — so we started with the first buzz words of “recession” and focused on overhead expenses. We re-negotiated contracts and cut expenses BEFORE we felt an urgency to, and I believe that kept us from ever going into a panic mode. Our employees are our No. 1 asset — we do not sub-contract — so keeping them working was most important.

We had to make some short-term concessions, and with everyone being made aware of management’s goals and decisions up front, we were able to stay unified.

My main role with Team Thelin is to be out there listening to what businesses want and need, as well as locating those who need their services and/or products.

Bringing businesses together with their target market is KEY. What’s been your biggest success in the business world?

Although I’ve been recognized and experienced great success in the legal field and entertainment industry over the years, my greatest success in the business world has to be Tina’s Top Ten. Tina’s Top Ten was created as a vehicle to drive small businesses to big business status by offering a $5,000 representation package for a tenth of the cost.

What advice would you give to women just starting out?

The one piece of advice I give women just starting out in “life” in general is, “LISTEN.” This is the advice I give my daughter, Natalie. Listen with an open mind, and focus on what’s being said. Listen with your ears, your eyes and your heart. Often we formulate our response before the person speaking has even completed their thought. This is simply discourteous. Listen!

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve received?

It was from an older, wiser woman I worked with at an international law firm in Los Angeles when I was about 26 years old. I would come in on Mondays and complain about the same situation in the same way without discussing a solution. This wonderful woman finally looked at me, dead in the eye, put her hands on my shoulders and said, “Little girl, when you stop liking the taste of dirt, you’ll stop eating it.” With that piece of advice, I realized that I am in control of my circumstances and I can change anything I want to change!

How have you adapted your business to weather the economic downturn?

Team Thelin and the services we offer are a direct response to the economic downturn. We come alongside the business owner and create “big” corporate support at a small-business price tag.

One example is, we create Social Media Campaigns to assist small businesses. While some marketing firms charge $1,200+ per month to maintain a Social Media Campaign, Team Thelin offers the same services for a fraction of the cost. At Team Thelin, there are no problems — only solutions.

December 2010

Akron Life & Leisure

77

SeniorLIVING

By Abby Cymerman

Back to School Youth is wasted on the young — and often, so is college. But that’s not the case at the University of Akron, where seniors ages 60-95 audit college classes without paying tuition.

A

nnetta Karam doesn’t study after her Thursday class because she knows she’ll forget most of the information by the following week. It’s not because this college student is anticipating a long weekend of late-night partying — it’s because she’s 95, and she says her “powers of retention aren’t like they used to be.”

Karam is a participant in the University of Akron’s Sixty-Plus Program, which allows Ohio residents 60 and older to audit classes on a space-available basis. As long as they have the prerequisites, they can register for up to three classes each semester. Sixty-Plus participants don’t pay tuition and general service fees, but they are responsible for facilities fees, lab fees, textbooks and parking, if needed.

Once an active traveler, Karam had to slow down about six years ago when she began using a walker. Around that time, a friend invited her to church services, and the priest’s homily was about setting goals. Karam remembered that her brother had once audited university classes, and suddenly, her plans became clear.

Today, Karam meets with a Sixty-Plus Program staff member each semester to find classes that fit her schedule. Since she can’t scurry around campus, she takes classes in the same building, back-to-back. She’s currently taking Archaeology in Ohio and Anthropology of Food, with a break for reading time and lunch.

“When I walk in the classroom,” she says, “the students invariably all get quiet — and I let them know that I’m not a professor, I’m a student.”

With a degree in psychiatric social work, Karam says college life is different from her days at New York University and Columbia, when the female students wore high heels to class.

In fact, when she started attending the University of Akron, she bought several pairs of jeans so she could blend in, but she recently gave them away.

“I stopped trying to dress like the students, and dress like what I am,” she says. “You know there’s four generations between us?

That’s quite a bit.”

Karam prefers lecture classes to composition classes because she likes to participate in the conversation, and she says the hardest part about returning to school was time management.

“Seniors are used to staying home, going out to lunch and all those sorts of things. Having to organize their time — time for study, time for school — at this stage in life is a little difficult,” she says. “A number of senior adults say to me, ‘I wish I could do it,’ and I say, ‘Why don’t you?’ ”

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

After buying jeans in an attempt to dress like other students, Annetta Karam realized that just wasn’t her style. She’s gone back to dressing like herself — a vivacious 95-year-old (with really cool eyeglasses). Although the number of participants in the University of Akron’s Sixty-Plus Program varies, approximately 100 seniors each semester register for classes.

I

f you’ve ever had that frustrating back-to-school dream about not being able to find your classroom, you’ll appreciate the story of Sixty-Plus participant Karen McGregor.

“I was looking for the admissions building, my first experience on a college campus after all these years, and I was like this lost kid, this old lost kid wandering around, and all these young people who looked like babies to me,” she says. “The first time I saw what could have been another Sixty-Plus person, I thought, ‘This is like being in a desert and seeing water. Here’s another senior citizen like me, and this may not be so bad.’ I started to warm up a little bit.”

Once she arrived at admissions, she says she found a warm and inviting atmosphere with staff members who answered her reg-

istration questions and treated her with professionalism.

A retired employee of Summit County Children’s Services, McGregor, 61, started this fall taking a Beginning French class. With a bachelor’s in sociology from Central State University and a master’s in social work from Case Western Reserve University, she has always been interested in the customs and languages of other countries.

“I really enjoy my professor,” she says.

“When she tells stories about her travels to other countries, I sit there in awe.

She engages the students, and I’m so impressed with her.”

Despite the age difference between McGregor and her fellow classmates, she has found that being a student again is a social experience, as well as an educational one.

“I was pleasantly surprised that the students accepted me as well as they did,” she says. “I thought they would see me as this oddball in their class, but we really enjoy each other and we have different perspectives that we share in class.”

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According to an Ohio state law passed in 1976 and amended in 1999, all state colleges and universities may provide free tuition to residents who have lived in Ohio for a minimum of one year and are 60 and older. Participation is limited to classes with space available and must be approved by the instructor. In most cases, no college credit is earned, and some costs (such as books, equipment and lab fees) may apply.

The following local Ohio colleges and universities offer free courses for seniors. For more information, contact the admissions or registrar’s office of the participating college or university.

University of Akron 60 Plus (60+) Program www.uakron.edu Cleveland State University Project 60 www.csuohio.edu Cuyahoga Community College Program 60 www.tri-c.edu Kent State University Senior Guest Program www.kent.edu Stark State College Senior Citizen Discount www.starkstate.edu Source: Ohio Department of Aging December 2010

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W

In the process of taking classes, working side-by-side with classmates and creating jewelry, Marjorie began to nurture the spiritual dimension in her life.

“A lot of universities don’t have watercolor classes,” says Rose. “Here, they had a water media class, and I decided to take that.”

“Art and spirituality are the same thing for me,” she says. “When you’re able to assess everything and come from a stronger and more solid foundation, you’re better able to cope with issues that cross your path in life.”

hen Marjorie Burkhart drove up from Canton last fall to register for the Sixty-Plus Program at the university, her sister Rose came along for the ride — and ended up becoming a student herself.

Having recently retired as a high school counselor, 61-year-old Rose says that she enjoys the interaction with her classmates and is motivated by their youthful enthusiasm.

Marjorie and Rose Burkhart visit Paris’ Musée de l’Orangerie during their Study Abroad Trip. They’re standing in front of Monet’s “Les Nymphéas (Water Lilies),” which is displayed in two specially-designed oval rooms. Since UA’s Sixty-Plus Program began in 1976, 613 senior students have taken classes (and taken advantage of the student discounts — ranging from books to world travel).

And now that McGregor has settled into student life, she tells other interested seniors to “go for it.”

“It’s almost like being a kid again, only this time, you learn for fun, not because you’re trying to get through a major,” she says. “I’ll probably remain in this program for as long as my health permits me to do that, and hopefully I can travel abroad and use my new-found knowledge.”

Another budding artist, 64-year-old Marjorie began taking metalsmithing classes through the Sixty-Plus Program the previous winter, following her retirement as a Canton City Schools math teacher, her mother’s passing and her own health problems.

“When I was dealing with grieving, going to school kept my mind on a positive note,” she says. “Even though I had physical situations that made it totally impossible for me to live my life the way I had, I could still use my mind, my hands and the gifts I still had.”

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“I’m taking drawing now with Mark Soppeland, and he’s always saying, ‘This week at the Akron Art Museum, there’s an exhibit about this or a lecture by soand-so,’ or ‘The Summit Artspace is having a program with the students’ work,’ ” she says. “There are always so many different opportunities — and that’s what I enjoy the most.”

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Akron Life & Leisure

In addition to opening her eyes to the world, Rose’s experiences have also helped her discover and appreciate the local landscape.

Writer Abby Cymerman is the assistant editor of Akron Life & Leisure magazine. You can reach her at acymerman@bakermediagroup.com.

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Last summer, Rose, Marjorie and another senior took advantage of student discounts and participated in the university’s Study Abroad Program. Their 10day trip took them to the Netherlands, Belgium and France, where they visited museums, toured a diamond factory and stayed at youth hostels, “something I never did as a kid,” Rose says.

For details on the University of Akron’s Sixty-Plus Program, contact program coordinator Linda Motley at 330-9726425 or visit www.uakron.edu/admissions/ undergraduate/sixty-plus.dot

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Applies to owner-occupied property. All loans are subject to credit approval, and acceptable appraisal and title search. Other rates, terms, payments and loan amounts available. Please contact us at 330-434-9137 for an up to date quote or to discuss your specific needs.

Sixty-Plus Program participants like Marjorie and Rose receive a student ID, access to university facilities and discounts at the school bookstore and Ticketmaster — but these are only a few of the benefits of returning to the classroom.

December 2010

What topics would you like us to cover in our Senior Living section?

Please e-mail your ideas and comments to editor Georgina K. Carson at gcarson@bakermediagroup.com

Did You Know?

• If you go back to college, utilize the ancient skill of handwriting. As reported in the Wall Street Journal some physicians say handwriting could be a good cognitive exercise for Baby Boomers working to keep their minds sharp as they age. Studies suggest that — even as we increasingly communicate electronically via keyboard — there’s real value in maintaining our handwriting skills. And while technology often gets blamed for handwriting’s demise, ironically, new software for touch-screen devices such as the iPad is initiating a resurgence of the practice.

• A lifetime of speaking two or more languages appears to pay off in our golden years. The results of a study published in the journal Neuropsychologia in 2007 suggested that bilingual patients who’d been diagnosed with different kinds of dementia (two-thirds with Alzheimer’s) exhibit problematic memory problems four years later, on average, than those who only spoke one language. Regularly speaking more than one language appears to strengthen skills that boost the brain’s “cognitive reserve.” Tamar Gollan, a researcher on bilingualism at the University of California San Diego and at the university’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, says the age at which the second language needs to be acquired to yield the protective effect is unknown — but that, if you’re motivated, learning a new language, regardless of age, isn’t going to hurt.

• The best predictor of future scholarly productivity is past productivity, with age only a minor variable, according to a new paper, “The Graying of Academia: Will It Reduce Scientific Productivity?” by Dutch psychologist Wolfgang Stroebe in the October 2010 issue of American Psychologist.

Stroebe’s analysis of dozens of studies of scholarly productivity suggests that while cognitive ability does decline after age 67, the decline is modest until age 80 — and many 80-year-olds still don’t show significant deterioration. And although several studies of scholarly activity from the ’70s and ’80s found that productivity peaked between ages 35 and 44, more recent studies — including a 2006 study of members of the National Academy of Sciences — showed a resurgence after age 60.

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TheLASTLASTWORD

Coming in January: New Name, New Look for Akron Life & Leisure!

Big changes are coming in January to Akron Life & Leisure magazine. We’ll have an exciting new look; more relevant, must-read articles; and a shorter name: Akron Life.

Our New Year’s resolution to you: to do an even better job of serving the Greater Akron community.

You don’t want to miss the January issue! Be sure to pick up the magazine at newsstands — or better yet, subscribe!

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Akron Life & Leisure

December 2010

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