July 2026

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VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7

JULY 2026

FROM SCRATCH

STEELE HOUSE DISHES OUT QUALITY EATS

HISTORY MAKER

AKRON ROUNDTABLE TURNS 50

NICE SERVE GET ACTIVE WITH TOWPATH TENNIS

FACES OF THE 330

Our

JULY 2026 $4.95

Town

MEET NEIGHBORS IN 6 VIBRANT COMMUNITIES

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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akronlife.com | JULY 2026

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MAIL BONDING

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JULY 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7 (ISSN No. 74470 57871)

QUACK-TASTIC TIME The Akron Life team enjoyed an annual suite night at the Akron RubberDucks game May 28. Themed as Irish Heritage Night, the evening was complete with hot dogs, Celtic cheer and green beer.

Check out the RubberDucks schedule at mlb.com/milb/akron for a full list of upcoming games.

akronlife is published monthly by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2026©

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JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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FEATURE Carlin Isles photo by Erin Gulling

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OUR TOWN Meet six neighbors who call The 330 their home.

From an Olympian to a radio morning show host, these residents share their favorite community spots.

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PAGES

CONTENTS

NEIGHBORHOODS

18

RADAR

7

GOOD EATS

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06

MAIL BONDING

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FROM THE PUBLISHER | No Place Like Home

SPECIAL SECTIONS

07

RADAR | New & Notable

37

FACES OF THE 330

08

UPFRONT | Where The Heart Is

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09

Play pickleball, tennis and more at Towpath Tennis Center.

16 | Around Town: Akron

Roundtable

FINANCIAL PLANNING

AGENDA | Entertainment listings

45

GOOD EATS | Restaurant listings

50

| New Bite: Steele House Kitchen & Bar

PARTING SHOT | Tallmadge Circle

HEALTH & WELLNESS

48

Discover if a home equity loan or line of credit is right for you.

ON THE COVER

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NEIGHBORHOODS

Tina Boyes, Srina Tea House & Cafe photo by Erin Gulling JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

PAGES

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

CELEBRATE

No Place Like Home AFTER MOVING AROUND, I’M FINALLY SETTLED.

This issue features some great neighborhoods around The 330. It got me thinking about my own history of moving around the city and what each place meant at the time. The first house I owned was on the outskirts of Highland Square. We had great neighbors and always felt like people looked out for one another. There’s something about those kinds of streets that you don’t find everywhere.

The second time I moved was after I went to a pool party at a friend’s house in Merriman Woods. I thought, This is the best neighborhood in Akron. It’s in the city but tucked back where the streets are quiet. We had a little park at the end of the street, and it was great for my kids, who were 2 and 4 at the time. They ran from house to house playing with other kids their age. That’s the kind of thing you can’t plan for when you’re buying a house. You just get lucky.

We bought the worst house on the best street and spent years fixing things. But you just couldn’t fix the layout. The rooms were broken up in a way that never quite worked, never had the right flow. I probably could have stayed there forever anyway. I had a big garage — and that’s all I needed. I had so many projects, I don’t think I ever actually parked a car in there.

After my kids grew up and were mostly out of the house, I got this idea about buying a bigger house just up the street in the same general area.

I loved the neighborhood and didn’t want to leave. Where I live now is far more spacious. We had a brief moment when we were empty nesters, and the house felt big — almost too big for two people. Then our son, Bodhi, came along. It’s still a lot of space, but he uses most of it, and my wife works remotely, so she needs an office. In the end, it worked out perfectly.

The neighborhood isn’t quite the same as it used to be. Fewer kids running around, a little quieter than those Merriman Woods days. But we love it the way it is. There is something about knowing your neighbors, knowing the streets, knowing where everything is that makes a place feel like home in a way a new neighborhood never quite does right away. You earn that comfort over time. I’ve earned it here — and I’m not going anywhere.

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with Akron Life at the Best of the City party SEPT. 23 at HOUSE THREE THIRTY. Enjoy food and drink samples from premier vendors as well as local live entertainment.

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RADAR { by Elizabeth Mayle, Stan Hywet photo by Erica Hoosic, photo provided by Akron Zoo and NorthShore photos by Erin Gulling}

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Wild Things

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LAKESIDE LEGEND With unrivaled waterfront views and a bright sea green building with a curved roofline reminiscent of Summit Beach amusement park, Summit Lake’s new NorthShore Park is the perfect summer destination. “It brings a smile to my face, just knowing it’s in this neighborhood,” says park host Marcus Saulsberry. Part of the resident-led Akron Civic Commons 2.0 initiative to create equitable, welcoming spaces, the park features a pedestrian bridge, 2.25-mile lake loop trail, fire pits, lakeside swings, Adirondack chairs and an accessible fishing pier and a canoe or kayak launch. In the future, visitors can also borrow a canoe or kayak compliments of the share program hosted at the boathouse, which will also have concessions. Savor the day under the pavilion or one of two gazebos.

540 W. South St., Akron, 330-374-5657, ohioeriecanal.org

The axolotl is originally native only to Mexico’s Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco — but you can now meet two of the popular aquatic salamanders, Neo and Xochi, in Akron Zoo’s renovated Tom and Shelley Koutnik Primate Passage. Also in the Passage, see new monkeys — cotton-top tamarin brothers Chestnut and Clark and golden lion tamarin siblings Mico and Coco. Other new additions include a white-faced saki family, sun conure parrots, green aracari birds, mountain lion cubs, chinchillas, a greencrested basilisk and a prehensiletailed porcupine — housed in the Legends of the Wild section.

Plus, running through Sept. 20, the returning DinoTrek features 30 life-size animatronic dinosaurs.

“By allowing people to experience animals that have gone extinct, they can learn more about how they can save the endangered animals that are still here on Earth,” says Elena Bell, director of marketing and events, via email.

505 Euclid Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org

GREAT IMPACT Rubber manufacturers gave Akron nationwide recognition, but everyday people like the Barracato family — who run Adolph Optical, an eye care clinic that’s been thriving in Akron for four generations — also contributed to its rich culture. Take a fresh look at Akron’s history through Stan Hywet Hall & Garden’s “The Families That Built Akron” exhibit, created as part of the America250 initiative. Located in the Manor House’s dining room, it features local families’ photos, family and military memorobilia, vintage menus, books and local artwork.

Running through Sept. 13, it spotlights 30 Akron families whose legacies range from the early canal years of Akron’s past through the city’s industrial rubber age and into the present day. “We hope that our visitors find a connection and … start thinking about their impact on the community and the wider world,” says curatorial manager Bailey Yoder.

714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-836-5533, stanhywet.org JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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UPFRONT { Editor-in-Chief | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com, Izzy photo by Kelly Petryszyn }

Where The Heart Is STAYING NEAR YOUR HOMETOWN ADDS WARMTH TO LIFE.

Growing up, after hiking Daffodil Trail with my family of six, our reward was often a cone at Country Maid Ice Cream & Orchard. I often got Whitehouse Cherry — vanilla with maraschino cherries — at the old-fashioned parlor that makes its ice cream. We ate on its leafy patio overlooking its orchard.

The idyllic 75-plus-year-old spot is one of Peninsula resident and artist Carol Adams’ favorite hangouts in our neighborhood guide — the first we’ve done since 2012. We spent hours touring places picked by residents, including a Kenmore council representative who champions her neighborhood, an Olympian living in Stark County, a radio morning show host who likes to visit the park, a West Akron family blogger who plugs small businesses and more.

Country Maid is very special to me. It’s not only where I went as a kid, but it’s also where I regularly take my daughter, Izzy. My mother-in-law, Carol, watches Izzy, and Country Maid is a good meeting spot between our homes. At first, Izzy was so small that she had to learn how to eat an ice cream cone — and it got pretty messy. Now she’s a pro at 4 years old — and even orders it herself: cookies and cream in a bowl with rainbow sprinkles.

I can have these experiences of visiting childhood spots because I chose to stay not far from my hometown. Growing up in North Royalton, I dreamt of being a magazine editor in New York City. My family and I even toured a college there. But I ended up studying journalism locally at Kent State University.

It was a blessing — I met my husband, Tony, and some of my best friends there. My eyes were opened when I did Kent State’s New York Media Seminar and toured The New York Times, Seventeen and more media outlets. I got a reality check during a Q&A with New York journalists when many expressed they were burnt out from working two to three jobs to make rent. I didn’t want that, so I stayed and used my Kent State connections to land a job as a Cleveland Magazine associate editor at 23.

I interviewed North Hill resident and musician Ben Gage, who grew up in Ashtabula County and studied at The University of Akron.

“It was the first time I really saw the difference between city and rural living. I also think Akron is the perfect size. It has an incredible amount of diversity for its size, not only in its people but land-wise, 8

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geographically speaking. We’ve got an incredible park system,” he says. “I really loved Akron, and I wanted to stick around.”

Growing up in the Rust Belt, I was familiar with the narrative of brain drain and natives moving away. At Cleveland Magazine, I even wrote an essay, titled “The Left-behinds,” about choosing to stay when those you are close to choose to leave. Recently, an article in The Wall Street Journal titled “Midwestern Exodus is Finally Ending” was circulating on social media. The lede was about an Akron-area native who moved to Las Vegas and came back to work a tech job in the former B.F. Goodrich complex — where my dad used to work for the tire company. Akron lost about a third of its population from its 1960s peak through 2020, but it’s stayed relatively flat, according to WSJ. As a whole, WSJ also stated that the Midwest gained slightly more people from the rest of the country than it lost — about 16,000 — and about 52 percent of class of 2024 graduates from 22 local universities, including Kent State, are staying in the region. Factors include job availability and housing affordability.

The cost of living has helped me and Tony buy a home and start a family here. I love living close to where I grew up and sharing treasured places with Izzy.

Read our neighborhood profiles to learn why residents choose The 330 as their home. Get to know their communities through their favorite places and experience the reasons why they love where they live.

Agenda

AGENDA

the essential social digest

7/21 John Mellencamp Hear legendary singer-songwriter John Mellencamp’s greatest hits at this concert.

Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls.

8 p.m. $55-$355. livenation.com

photo provided by Live Nation

FRIDAY, JULY 31 AND SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

BOOGIE NIGHTS

THE ULTIMATE ’70S, ’80S & ’90S DANCE PARTY

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

FRIDAY, JULY 31 & SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 9PM - 12AM | FREE ADMISSION

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

FREE PLAY FOR A YEAR, OR $50,000 CASH! 2 DAYS | 32 DRAWINGS | OVER 140 WINNERS GUARANTEED! Don’t miss the official Grand Opening Celebration on Friday, July 31 at 11AM. View full Grand Opening details at NORTHFIELDPARKRACINO.COM/CELEBRATE DRAWINGS

DRAWING DATES SATURDAYS, JULY 11, 18 & 25

Certain restrictions apply. Must be 21 years or older. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available.

For free confidential help 24/7, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or visit org.ohio.gov.

THE DAZZ BAND SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 | 8PM

FREE OPENING CONCERT SERIES EVERY SATURDAY STARTING JULY 11

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

JULY 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7

Through 7/12 “Play Like a Girl: Flag Football in the City of Champions” Learn about what makes flag football different than tackle football with this exhibit, featuring action shots, portraits of players and a mini-documentary covering the season. Massillon Museum, Paul Brown Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 2-5 p.m.

Free. massillonmuseum.org

Through 8/23 “Sparkle: The Style and Jewelry of Aileen Mehle” Browse the dresses and jewelry of widely syndicated society columnist Aileen Mehle at this exhibit. Designers she wore included Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Tiffany & Co. and more. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent.

Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff & all on Sundays, otherwise general admission $10. kent.edu/ museum

Through 10/31 “Inflection” This walk-in, immersive audiovisual art experience surrounds those experiencing it with light and sound.

Featuring work by Pittsburgh-based artist Ian Brill and music by Akron jazz

musician Theron Brown, it’s presented

by Akron Soul Train and hosted by Curated Storefront in an Outside the Box shipping container. TrueNorth Akron, 110 N. Main St., Akron.

Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. Weatherpermitting. Free. curatedstorefront.org 7/1 Summit Lake 5th Anniversary Celebration Start your July off at the Summit Lake Nature Center to celebrate its fifth anniversary. Enjoy familyfriendly activities including crafts and yard games, refreshments and music. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. 4-8 p.m. Free. summitmetroparks.org 7/2 Greggie and the Jets Concert Elton John tribute band Greggie and the Jets is taking the yellow brick road to Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa in Canton for an unforgettable night of live music. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. $31 general admission, $41 premium admission. gervasivineyard.com

Driving Forces:

The Lincoln Highway Journey May 30–October 18

EMPOWERED

BECAUSE OF YOU SEE THE IMPACT YOU’RE MAKING AT SUMMITDD.ORG

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may 30: Opening Reception june 2: Lincoln Highway Art Workshop june 25 & august 1: Instax Camera Workshop july 28: Brown Bag, “Ohio’s Thoroughfares” july 31: Story & Art Time, “Travel” august 13–15: Highway Buy-Way Yard Sale august 25: First Ladies on the Lincoln Highway october 11: After Ike Screening & Q&A details: massillonmuseum.org/lincoln highway

Tours • Free Admission • TwiLite Café art & history • downtown massillon

MassillonMuseum.org • 330.833.4061

Art photos provided by Akron Soul Train, lounge photo provided by Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa

Through 7/5 “Transfiguration: Rachel Libeskind and the Tiffany Window” See a rare, restored stained glass Tiffany window, depicting the Transfiguration of Christ, alongside new work by artist Rachel Libeskind.

These works speak in tandem to themes of transformation. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron.

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday noon-5 p.m., Thursday noon-9 p.m. Adult general admission $12, free on Thursdays. akronartmuseum.org

AGENDA 7/3 Abstract Sounds Featuring vocalist Esther Fitz, Abstract Sounds, the band of Cleveland saxophonist Jevaughn Bogard, takes the stage. Blu Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $20 in advance, $30 at the door. downtownakron.com 7/3 Kent Heritage Festival Classic Car Show Have a classic car to show off?

Come down to the classic car show in downtown Kent and compete for the chance to win awards. Proceeds go to support local businesses. Afterward, join the Heritage Festival festivities in Kent, and enjoy live music, food trucks, fireworks and kid-friendly activities . N. Water St., Kent. 10 a.m3 p.m. $10 to participate. kentbiz.com 7/3-7/5 Grassfire Festival Celebrate Fourth of July weekend at the Grassfire Festival in Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. Jam out to oldfashioned bluegrass while enjoying food trucks or taking a dip in the

quarry. On-site camping is offered with a weekend pass. Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. 12001 state Route 282, Garrettsville. Weekend pass $145 plus, early entry and weekend pass $175 plus. nlqp.com

7/4 Ultra Lounge 250 with DJ Julian Looking for Fourth of July plans? Stop

by Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa for a night of music and refreshments to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Enjoy themed drinks and music by DJ Julian. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Still House, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 9 p.m.-midnight. $250 for VIP room. gervasivineyard.com

7/7 & 7/14 Music by the Lake The Metro Parks Ensemble brings the beauty of music to nature. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Cycling Without Age trishaws are available to carry riders with limited mobility on an enjoyable bike ride. Concert is canceled in the event of rain. 521 S. River Road, Monroe Falls. 7-8 p.m. Free. summitmetroparks.org 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 & 7/29 Summer Serenades in the Park Hear musicians from the Canton Symphony Orchestra perform outdoors, in partnership with Stark Parks. Bring chairs, a picnic and blankets. July 8: Bimeler Park gazebo, 105 Wabash Ave. N, Brewster. July 15: Stadium Park shelter, 301 19th St. SE, Massillon. July 22: Metzger Park shelter, 1420 S. Nickleplate St., Louisville. July 29: Magnolia Flouring Mills, 261 Main St., Magnolia. 6:30-7:30 p.m. starkparks.com/serenades

BARBERTON TREE SERVICE 24 HR EMERGENCY SER VICE, TREE TRIMMING, REMOVALS, PRUNING, STUMP GRINDING, FULLY INSURED AND FREE ESTIMATES SINCE 1971

635 NORTON AVE, BARBERTON, OH 44203 330.848.2344 | BARBERTONTREE.COM JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

JULY 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7

7/9-7/26 “As You Like It” Experience Shakespeare outdoors and under the stars, at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, with this Ohio Shakespeare Festival production of “As You Like It.” This romance-comedy is packed with

mistaken identities, songs and happy endings. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 8 p.m. $20-$45. ohioshakespearefestival.com 7/10 Piazza After Dark at Gervasi Vineyard Light up the night at Piazza After Dark, hosted by Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa. Along with complimentary LED foam sticks, enjoy artisan cocktails with glowing ice cubes and music by DJ Nick Duve. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, the Piazza, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 9 p.m.midnight. Free. gervasivineyard.com 7/10 & 7/11 Summit County ItalianAmerican Festival Celebrate Italian American heritage with the 76th annual Summit County Italian-American Festival in Akron. Hear music from Larger Than Life, Roxxymoron and others, participate in Famiglia Fun Night and more. Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron. Friday 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. it-am.org

Celebrate your team members by nominating them for the Employee of Distinction award at our 25th annual luncheon on September 9th. This cost-effective event recognizes all honorees.

Don’t miss the chance to spotlight your stars. Nominate today!

Scan to Make a Nomination & Learn More

7/10-7/12 Stark County ItalianAmerican Festival Stop by Kent State University’s Stark Campus for an unforgettable weekend of entertainment, authentic Italian food and a bocce tournament. 6000 Frank Ave. NW, North Canton. cantonitalianfesta.org 7/11 & 7/12 World War II Weekend Step back in time for a weekend full of World War II-themed activities at MAPS Air Museum. Activities include weapons demonstrations, a meetand-greet with veterans, a big band hangar dance, a pancake breakfast and more. MAPS Air Museum, 2260 International Parkway, North Canton.

Saturday 9 a.m. gates open, 7 p.m. hangar dance, Sunday 8 a.m. pancake breakfast & WWII displays, 1 p.m. closing ceremony. General admission free-$15 (depending on age), additional $15 to attend dance. mapsairmuseum.org

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Check Us Out Online: GOODWILLAKRON.ORG/BLUE

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photo provided by Ohio Shakespeare Festival

7/9 Thurston Howell: Yacht Rock Concert Sail away to Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa for a yacht rock experience with nostalgic band Thurston Howell. Enjoy soft rock hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including tunes from Steely Dan and Toto. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. $31 general admission, $41 premium admission. gervasivineyard.com

AGENDA

Step into the living story of America at Hale Farm & Village in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. As we celebrate America 250, explore life in the 19thcentury Western Reserve through historic buildings, costumed interpreters, traditional crafts, and hands-on experiences.

Hands On History

@halefarmandvillage halefarm.org | 330.666.3711 2686 Oak Hill Bath, Ohio 44210

2026 Title Sponsor

50th Anniversary Season!

Thursday July 16, 2026 12pm

AKRON CITY FC SUMMER OF SOCCER

DON’T MISS OUR LAST 3 MATCHES

Quaker Station, 135 South Broadway St., Akron

JULY 3 3:00PM

Guest Presenters:

E

L

T HOME GAM AS

JULY 7 7:00PM

Ismail Al-Amin & Butch Reynolds

JULY 11 3:00PM

Documentary Film Director, and OLYMPIC track and field legend

ALL HOME GAMES ARE PLAYED AT INFOCISION STADIUM-SUMMA HEALTH FIELD

Presentation Title:

A Quest for Redemption Program Sponsor: The David & Margaret Hunter Fund of the Akron Community Foundation

SCAN TO BUY MERCH AND TICKETS AKRONCITYFC.COM

A moderated conversation with WAKR's Ray Horner 50th Anniversary Sponsors:

For more information, and to register visit akronroundtable.org or call 330.247.8682 JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

JULY 2026 | VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 7

7/17-7/19 St. Joseph’s Ox Roast Fair Join St. Joseph’s Church for a fun fundraising event. Dine on dishes including ox roast beef sandwiches and mashed potato sundaes. Also enjoy kid-friendly carnival rides and games, as well as tractor pull events.

All proceeds go to St. Joseph Parish.

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Joseph Blvd., Mantua. Friday 6-11 p.m., Saturday 1-11:30 p.m., Sunday noon-10 p.m. Free. stjosephmantua.com 7/17-7/19 Festa Italiana: Cuyahoga Falls Live performances, a virtual photo booth and local food vendors are just a few of what Festa Italiana has to offer. Falls Avenue, Cuyahoga Falls.

Friday 5-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. festaitalianacf.com

7/18 Summer Splash Guests of all ages can enjoy waterthemed activities such as free kayaking, pedal boats and pontoon rides at this family-friendly celebration of all things summer. Concessions are available for purchase. Sippo Lake Park, 5300 Tyner St., Canton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. starkparks.com 7/18 Dragonfly Quest Venture out with a naturalist and get up close to dragonflies. Insect nets are provided. Sand Run Metro Park, 1337 Merriman Road, Akron. Noon-1:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org 7/23 In the Heartland: Music of the Michael Stanley Band Concert Rock out to hits from the Michael Stanley Band performed by its former guitarist, Danny Powers, who worked 14

akronlife.com | JULY 2026

Lake and Bigfoot photos provided by Stark Parks, tuba photo provided by The University of Akron

7/16 Super Troupers: Abba Tribute Concert Dance the night away with Super Troupers, Northeast Ohio’s premier Abba Tribute band. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. $21 general admission, $31 premium admission. gervasivineyard.com

AGENDA with Michael Stanley for over 20 years. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. $31 general admission, $41 premium admission. gervasivineyard.com 7/24-7/26 Gratefulfest 2026 Celebrate iconic rock band the Grateful Dead with tribute performances by artists such as Oteil & Friends, the Englishtown Project and more. Food vendors, a skydiving show, fire performers and children’s activities are also included. Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, 12001 state Route 282, Garrettsville.

Weekend pass $140 plus, Early entry and weekend pass $165 plus. nlqp.com

7/25 Bigfoot Trail Challenge Run, jog or walk a 5K course featuring activities and surprises inspired by Bigfoot. Fry Family Park, 2533 Farber St. SE, Magnolia. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., start at 9:50 a.m. with Bigfoot, start time extends to 10:30 a.m. starkparks.com

7/26 TubaSummer 2026 Head to The University of Akron for a free concert featuring summer favorites performed by tuba, sousaphone, baritone and euphonium musicians from across the region. The University of Akron, Guzzetta Hall lawn, 157 University Ave., Akron. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. calendar.uakron.edu 7/28-8/2 Summit County Fair Featuring a pet parade, livestock auction, pro wrestling and more, the Summit County Fair has something for everyone. Summit County Fairgrounds, 1050 North Ave., Tallmadge. summitfair.com Submit events on akronlife.com or email cgorman@bakermediagroup.com.

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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AROUND TOWN { by Cameron Gorman, Switzer photo from Wikimedia Commons, other photos provided by Akron Roundtable }

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AKRON ROUNDTABLE

CELEBRATES

0 5 years.

On Nov. 18, 2010, Tina Tchen, then the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls, took the podium at Akron Roundtable.

Nationally known for her work in the Obama administration, the Ohio native brought Washington, D.C., to the Rubber City with her engagement. It’s a perfect example of what the series — which brings interesting, accomplished speakers to Akron for lunchtime forums — aims to do.

“It’s summed up by … bringing the world to Akron,” says board member Pam Hickson-Stevenson, who recently retired from her position as executive director of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. “The goal is to inform, to provoke thoughtful conversation and dialogue.”

Started in 1976, the Akron Roundtable was born when the Kiwanis Club of Akron decided that the city needed a public forum. John S. Knight, editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, encouraged its formation, as did the Greater Akron Chamber — known, at the time, as the Akron Regional Development Board.

“Their goal was to bring relevant speakers to our community to help tell the stories of what was happening in the world,” says Joan Lauck, executive director at Akron Roundtable. “We’re trying to provide inspiration and connection, enlightenment.”

On May 6, 1976, C. William O’Neill — chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court — became the Roundtable’s first official speaker.

“In that first year, we had a candidate for Senate, Howard Metzenbaum, Carla Hills, who was the secretary of housing and urban development, the editor of the Beacon Journal, the publisher of Fortune magazine,” Lauck says.

On July 16, hear a talk from Akron filmmaker Ismail Al-Amin and Olympic track legend Butch Reynolds, who was born in the Rubber City. Also see artist Leandra Drumm, of Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, Oct. 15 and The Atlantic writer and The Project: How Project 2025 is Reshaping America author David Graham Nov. 19.

“It has provided opportunities for connection, for expanding one’s mind, for presenting points of view that attendees may not have considered or even heard of,” Hickson-Stevenson says. “Many people often say Akron always punches above its weight.”

AROUND TOWN

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE ROUNDTABLE’S MOST MEMORABLE SPEAKERS.

KATHRINE SWITZER SEPT. 25, 2008 When she ran the Boston Marathon in 1967, marathon runner and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to officially do so. While running, however, Switzer was attacked by the race director for her participation. Photos were taken of the incident, which ended up in Time-Life Books’ 100 Photographs that Changed the World — and became a symbol of women’s resistance. “I found her story very interesting,” Lauck says, “the challenges she faced, how she overcame them.” Switzer went on to win the women’s division of the 1974 New York City Marathon. She also organized to bring the women’s marathon into the Olympics and more.

CINDY HOHL MAY 18, 2023 At the time, Cindy Hohl was a candidate for the presidency of the American Library Association, the treasurer of the Freedom to Read Foundation and the past president of the American Indian Library Association. “She came a few years ago, right as book banning, book challenges and censorship were increasing exponentially,” says Hickson-Stevenson, “and so to hear her come speak to the group about the importance of intellectual freedom, the importance of people having access to information that they want, even if other people disagree with it … it was really a thrill.”

PAUL TAZEWELL APRIL 7, 2026 Akron-born Wicked costume designer Paul Tazewell — the first Black man to win the costume design Oscar — spoke to Roundtable guests about his career and Rubber City roots. Tazewell is the recipient of a BAFTA Award, Tony Awards and more — and has designed costumes for Broadway productions such as Hamilton and Death Becomes Her, as well as films such as West Side Story and Harriet. “He was very inspiring in talking about his art,” says Lauck. “It was so exciting to hear him talk about how Akron really made an impact on who he became as an adult and how important his family and growing up here was to his career.”

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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Our Town

MEET SIX NEIGHBORS WHO CALL THE 330 HOME. FROM AN OLYMPIAN TO A RADIO MORNING SHOW HOST, THESE RESIDENTS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE COMMUNITY SPOTS.

by Cameron Gorman and Kelly Petryszyn, photos by Erin Gulling 18

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Through her blog, Akron Mom and Kids, 45-yearold Wallhaven resident Nat Hans advocates for small businesses.

“I feel like they are the heart of the community,” says Hans. “I want people to know that they do make a difference.”

Taking the form of a website and Instagram page that share moments from family life and showcase Akron-area hidden gems, Akron Mom and Kids was launched in February 2019 after her mom friend, Sarah O’Neill, suggested that Hans start a “mom blog.” She was already posting about her life from a personal account, sharing outings to playgrounds, the Akron Zoo and more, so Hans dove in.

Today, the blog shares snapshots of Hans and her kids, Benny, 11, and Kate, 9, as they explore the area and live their lives — eating ice cream at Mary Coyle, discovering the Harvest Moon Cafe, playing soccer and more.

Hans is also behind Akron Foodie, a blog that reviews Akron-area restaurants and eateries, which she took over in July 2022.

“It’s based on trust,” Hans says. “People want to go because they trust that I tell the truth.”

The growth of her brand — which has garnered over 5,000 Instagram followers — has also spurred on the growth of an organic community.

“I started building this community of moms, and I actually know a handful of people on my account, so it became, Oh, this is fun. It’s meaningful,” Hans says. “What kept me going is that community that I have built, and I really value it.”

Also a photographer, the Bangkok, Thailand, native went to high school in Akron and attended The University of Akron. She moved to Highland Square in 2006 and lived there for 10 years, until the birth of Kate, when she moved to West Akron. She resides in a colonial-style home there with her husband, PJ, and their kids. Walkability and proximity to the school and the freeway were big draws — as well as friends and a supportive community.

“I love that it feels like everybody knows everybody,” she says. “I love that they can walk to their friend’s house. I love that eventually they can ride their bike to school. … It’s that sense of belonging.” //CG

Portal West Coffee This cozy coffee shop — decorated with plants, leathers and earthy colors — exudes calm. “If you have good coffee, if you have good service, if you have that relationship and then you build that community, people will always come,” Hans says. She visits Portal West Coffee three to four times a week and usually orders an iced or hot white mocha. Benny gets the white hot chocolate, and Kate get the Blue Dream — made using butterfly pea flower tea concentrate, white chocolate syrup and milk. Plus, enjoy pastries from Jamtooth Baking Co. 1690 Merriman Road, Akron

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Sal’s Gelato With black-and-white checkered floors and display cases always full of rotating from-scratch gelato flavors, Sal’s Gelato, located in Akron’s Merriman Valley, is a delightful spot for a summer treat. “They’re also a local family … they’re investing their money into the local area,” Hans says. This summer, try flavors such as strawberry, made with freshly pureed roasted strawberries, Amarena cherry, with a sweet cream vanilla base, and fig and honey with balsamic glaze, made using local honey. “It’s fresh,” she notes. “It’s consistent. The flavors are great.”

1821 Merriman Road, Akron

The Ash House Soap Studio & Refillery The bar soap made at the Ash House Soap Studio & Refillery is handcrafted and scented with therapeutic-grade essential oils — and all products are always free of palm oil, the production of which causes deforestation. “I use it for everything,” Hans says. “That’s what I use to wash my face.” Hans loves to buy soap ends, as well as shampoo, lotion, face balm, lip balm and rosemary, peppermint and vanilla body butter. She also refills her laundry detergent, dish soap and hand soap at the Ash House. “They love to take the container in and refill,” she says of Benny and Kate.

“It’s also teaching them … to recycle.”

1947 W. Market St., Suite 101, Akron

Graf ’s Garden Shop, Landscape and Farm Market With origins dating back to 1910, this vibrant shop has flowers, plants, pots and other gardening elements.

“These two would love to just … go into the greenhouse with $10 and then buy little plants,” Hans says of her kids. (Graf’s Garden Shop, Landscape and Farm Market provides activities like scavenger hunts for little ones.)

Hans likes to purchase colorful patio pots in the summer and returns for pumpkins in the fall. She also stops by for produce. “I love that I can just park, jump and grab a cucumber,” she says.

1015 White Pond Drive, Akron JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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KEITH KENNEDY

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Even when 98.1 KDD radio morning show host Keith Kennedy is enjoying nature — walking trails at Boettler Park in Green three times a week — he’s still working.

“I will listen to one of our shows in Cleveland, our show in Dayton or our show in Lima, and I take mental notes and send them notes back about their show,” says the 51-yearold regional senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia, KDD’s parent company.

Kennedy enjoys living in Green with his wife, Kara, their teenage son, Landon, and their dog, Opie — and having access to scenic parks like Boettler. He’s also close to the Akron radio station.

It took a lot of work to get where he is today. Raised by blue-collar grandparents, Kennedy grew up as Darrel Wallace in Orrville with his twin brother, Duane. Starting at just 13, Kennedy broadcast a radio show from a pirate station out of the Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club.

“We were basically emulating everybody we heard on KDD,” recalls Kennedy, adding that he listened to hosts like Matt Patrick and Danny Wright. “That was really how I cut my teeth.”

At 14, he got his first official radio job at Wooster 104.5 WQKT, and then, as a high school senior, he got a full-time job at Hot 95.9 in Canton. He moved around, including once to Wisconsin, but returned to Orrville — then Fairlawn and Cuyahoga Falls. He fell in love with Green and bought a house there in 2008.

“The park system is great. You’re close to the Portage Lakes. You’re close to the highway,” he says. “It’s a good community.”

He has been working at KDD since December 1998 and became a morning show host in December 2009. Mornings give Kennedy an open, relaxed format to connect with listeners.

“You’re giving people an escape. That’s what I love more than anything,” he says. “You get them for 15 minutes in the car, and they laugh or they smile at something you say.”

Kennedy works from around 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hear him on air from 6 to 9 a.m. on KDD and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 99.5 WGAR in Cleveland. Plus, he manages 40-some stations in 14 regional Ohio and Pennsylvania markets. He loves it and doesn’t call it work, especially when

he gets to do campaigns like Radiothon, which raises money for Akron Children’s.

“The biggest thing for me is how we impact the community,” he says. “To be invited to graduation parties for kids who were on Radiothon 10 to 15 years ago is cool. That’s how you know you’re doing the right thing.”//KP

Boettler Park Kennedy frequents the 82-acre Boettler Park in Green weekly, getting exercise while listening to iHeart shows. “I walk the trails into the marsh,” he says. Head to Boettler for pickleball, tennis, sand volleyball, disc golf, playgrounds, a fishing pond and more. Plus, there are 8 acres of protected wetland, a 1.2mile asphalt loop trail and the 0.85-mile Willadale Trail.

5300 Massillon Road, Green JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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Waffle House From 6:30 to 7 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Kennedy dines solo at the Waffle House on South Arlington Road in Akron. He’s even invited listeners to join him — and they have, three times. “It was like two old friends talking,” he says. He typically sits in the front-right corner booth, and staffers prepare his usual: raisin toast, scrambled eggs with American cheese and unsweetened tea. “I love getting up early on weekends. I came here one day, and I’m like, It’s actually pretty good,” he says. “So, I just keep coming back.”

3031 S. Arlington Road, Akron

Pancho’s Southwestern Grille Another favorite restaurant is Pancho’s Southwestern Grille. Kennedy orders the grilled chicken skewers with jalapeno cream sauce. “[It] is the most addictive thing on the planet,” he says of the sauce. “The food’s good. People are nice. I’m an easygoing guy.” Also find fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, house-made tamales and Tex-Mex fare.

4335 Massillon Road, Green

Portage Lakes In the warmer weather, Kennedy can be found cruising the Portage Lakes on his pontoon boat. “We had friends who had them, and we like that it was a destressor,” he says. “It was kind of our COVID purchase.” Kara and Keith depart from their Sandy Beach Marina dock, cruise the lakes and like to stop at Dano’s Lakeside Pub and Nauti Vine Winery, where they share a woodfired pizza on date nights.

When they boat with Landon, he wakeboards.

“It gave us something to do, and we love it.

It’s very relaxing.

We just go out and look at houses we can’t afford,” Kennedy quips.

3719 S. Main St., Akron

Boating photo provided by Keith Kennedy, top restaurant photos provided by Pancho’s Southwestern Grille 24

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To find inspiration for her organic art, installation artist, weaver, enamelist and sculptor Carol Adams simply steps outside her Peninsula ranch into her 8-acre yard.

“This morning, I was … looking at how tall the trees were,” says Adams, who, along with her former husband, planted 180 trees when they moved in in 1971. “I have a big woods that goes down into the valley.”

Art can be found throughout the 80-year-old’s property, which doubles as her Dimensional Works Of Art studio. She’s made sculptures in her backyard and removed part of her barn ceiling to fit a 16-foot piece. She makes pins at her coffee table, enamels in her basement, weaves upstairs and sculpts at her dining table. She has even previously taken her 6-by-10-foot loom out on the deck.

Her house is just minutes from the Peninsula Art Academy, where she teaches weaving, enameling and drawing. Her work is displayed throughout, including Moss, inspired by childhood days playing in a creek in Rochester, New York.

“Everything is all about texture,” she says. “I wove two pieces on the frame loom. Then I used copper tubing, and I wrapped the edges so I can bend them. … They ripple.”

Adams came to Ohio to study painting at Bowling Green State University but quickly digressed — making a fiber piece depicting one of her paintings and winning first prize in the student art show. She’s continued to break the rules.

“When I started graduate school, I said, I wanted to mix fiber and enamel.

They said, You can’t do that. I said, Oh, really?” recalls Adams, who has an MA in art education from Case Western Reserve University and an MFA in crafts from Kent State University. “The next thing I started thinking was that yarn should light up.”

She worked at Centrak Lasers, for which she did laser shows at 14 museums and assisted on one at the Great Sphinx of Giza. She started adding lights to her art.

Hanging behind the counter at the academy, Montana — inspired by landscape photos in Time-Life Books — depicts a flowing river with enamel on steel and a blue LED light.

A recent “Hot in Peninsula” academy glass exhibit included Cloudscape I & II, with embroidered airplanes and enamel on hammered copper depicting vector airways, compass roses, clouds and more.

Adams has taught art at Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University, Kent State and Lakeland Community College, where she still teaches drawing. She’s lived in Peninsula for over 50 years and says the village is supportive of artists.

“People take care of each other,” says Adams, who lives with her dog, Artemis, and cat Moon.

“The town is very special.” //KP

Peninsula Library & Historical Society For six years, Adams was on the Peninsula Library & Historical Society board — and spearheaded a renovation of the children’s area. Local woodcrafter Charlie Moyer constructed a hanging, rotating carousel. Adams decorated the carousel and did the lights. “Our library’s very personal. … They keep a list of what you’re reading and listening to,” says Adams, who enjoys mysteries. Find her painting of an old train station in the meeting room.

6105 Riverview Road, Peninsula Ice cream photo by Kelly Petryszyn, wood photo provided by Terry Lumber & Supply Co. 26

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Peninsula Art Academy Adams co-founded the Peninsula Art Academy, which became a nonprofit in 2004. Find her teaching Drawing from Life, Weaving on a Frame Loom, Weaving With or Without a Loom and more. “The drawings are so beautiful they do,” says Adams of her students.

Other academy classes include Painting Trees & Foliage, Fused Glass workshops and more. See Adams’ pieces in an on-site gallery fiber show from July 19 to Aug. 23. Buy her works in the store, such as sculptures and enamel critter pins.

1600 Mill St. W, Peninsula

Country Maid Ice Cream & Orchard Since 1948, this old-school ice cream parlor has been making frozen treats using natural ingredients and local fruits whenever possible.

Country Maid Ice Cream & Orchard grows over 2,000 apple, peach, pear and plum trees, along with vegetables and blueberry and raspberry bushes.

Adams has coffee ice cream while Artemis enjoys free vanilla pup scoops on the patio. Seasonally, shop the Apple Barn market for fresh fruit and vegetables, apple cider, pumpkins and more.

3252 W. Streetsboro Road, Richfield

Terry Lumber & Supply Co. Adams knew the late original owner, John J. “Terry” Montaquila, who opened the business as Terry Coal & Supply Co. in 1940. “He took care of everybody in town,” she says. Now operated by third-generation owners as Terry Lumber & Supply Co., it sells lumber, trims, moldings, hardware, decking, doors and more. Adams gets wood pieces for her art, including some from the scrap bin.

1710 Mill St. W, Peninsula JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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CARLIN ISLES

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Between being director of public relations and community initiatives at the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, owning OLY Sports Performance and being a football speed coach for the Massillon Tigers, 36-year-old Carlin Isles is frequently booked.

During his off time, he often runs in North Park, headphones tuned to R&B. “I’m just in the zone,” relates Isles. “When I use my gift, it’s like I’m in a whole different world. I can feel my body in time and space.

I can feel me exerting force. …

Everything just disappears.”

Named the “fastest man in rugby” by The Wall Street Journal and other outlets, Isles has competed in the sport for the United States twice — at the 2016 Rio

Summer Olympics and the Tokyo Summer Olympics, held in 2021.

“I’m sitting on the bus with Serena Williams. I’m talking to Kevin Durant. I’m talking to LeBron,” Isles recounts.

“It’s so surreal.”

Success was an uphill battle. Isles and his twin sister, Tambra, endured homelessness and grew up in the foster care system in the Akron area. After being adopted at age 7, they moved to Jackson Township. A neighbor gave Isles’ father a football flyer. It changed his life — Isles played football and ran track in high school and at Ashland University.

“I remember my dad telling me, If you’re the fastest, don’t ever let nobody beat you,” he says. “I just had this propensity of working hard and doing whatever it takes to be the best.”

In 2012, while studying online videos and prepping for Olympic trials, Isles discovered rugby. He called the CEO of professional rugby for the Rugby Football Union — who thought Isles would be a great fit for Team USA. “I had to go to Aspen, Colorado,” Isles says. “I had $500 to my name. It took me $250 worth of gas to get up there. I put all my eggs in one basket. I’m crying driving up.”

Isles slept on couches, ate peanut butter-andjelly sandwiches and worked in a flower shop and in construction, knowing, I gotta make it. After playing rugby for about a month, he was invited to a development tour in Canada. Isles was the only player to earn a contract.

“I became the world’s fastest rugby player — boom, one of my goals came true. I made the USA team, boom, another goal came true,” Isles says. “Got a contract with Nike, as well as Red Bull, and a lot of other organizations. … I ended up going to the NFL and got picked up by the Detroit Lions, so one of my childhood dreams, to play professional football, came true as well.”

Now, Isles has houses in Jackson, where he spent his formative years, and Green, where he owns OLY. He’s considering competing in another Olympics.

“I want to give people hope,” Isles says. “It doesn’t matter what your upbringing is. … If you learn and understand who you are, and you’re confident in who you are, and your validation comes from self and God — then nothing else matters.” //CG

Table Six Kitchen & Bar At this eclectic new American restaurant, Isles likes the teriyaki salmon lo mein bowl. It’s rotating off Table Six Kitchen & Bar’s menu, but you can get it with chicken, shrimp or tofu. “I like the vibe,” he notes. “It’s a lively atmosphere.” On the large, airy patio, also enjoy shareables such as street gyros or starters like baked goat cheese.

6113 Whipple Ave. NW, North Canton

Second Sole Isles often acquires his sneakers at Canton’s Second Sole — a shoe and athletic apparel shop with several Ohio locations. He likes to try out his shoes before purchasing them by running on a mini in-store track. “Sports and movement in general is in my DNA, so I want to keep moving,” he relates. “It’s something that’s important too, especially when it comes to longevity and health.”

4691 Dressler Road NW, Canton

North Park With a picnic pavilion, playground, sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, a fishing pond, a gazebo, a 1.1-mile paved walking track and more, the 70-acre North Park is a scenic oasis. Isles runs on a paved path. “It makes you feel happy,” Isles says. “It’s a lot of green. … It makes you feel light.”

7660 Fulton Road NW, Massillon

OLY Sports Performance Isles’ OLY Sports Performance has been in Green for a little over a year — and serves kids, adults and pros alike.

“It’s a lot of high-tech equipment that’s not around here,” he says. OLY helps athletes get to the next level by utilizing tools such as a muscle lab laser system that analyzes stride length and frequency, ground contact time, flight time and more. “That then will allow us to go back to the drawing board and say, OK, this is what you’re missing,” Isles says.

3570 Forest Lake Drive, Uniontown

Volleyball and stage photos

by Natalia Griffiths, OLY photo provided by Carlin Isles

TINA BOYES

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Ward 9 council representative for the city of Akron Tina Boyes is close with her Kenmore neighbors — so much so that the 52-year-old often hangs out with them.

“Every Memorial Day, the volleyball net comes out, and the neighbors across the street bring egg rolls, they’re Laotian, and we’ve got folks down the street that always bring the barbecue,” Boyes says. “Our kids have grown up together.”

A fifthgeneration Kenmore resident, Boyes’ family owned Brode Dry

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Cleaning Company on Kenmore Boulevard.

“I know the reputation has been such, This is a place people want to leave, but it’s becoming a place people want to be,” she says.

In 2015, Boyes relocated to Kenmore from Wadsworth with her husband, Ryan, and two kids, Naomi and Drew.

A few years later, as a participant in Leadership Akron, she toured North Hill and the Exchange House — and got the idea for a Kenmore Better Block. She then joined the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance as a board member, building local support for existing assets like recording studios, guitar shops and more.

“I was the block captain of the Kenmore Better Block, and we had 5,000 people down here on a weekend in September, when no one thought anyone would come here. And I really knew that this was a place that was for people like me,” Boyes says, of a two-day pop-up business event. “That’s what keeps me here.”

Boyes became executive director of Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance, now known as Better Kenmore Community Development Corporation. Her father had been the Ward 9 council representative for a decade — and before him, her grandfather. She was elected to Akron City Council in 2023.

Representing her neighborhood is rewarding.

“This community still is a place where people want to know their neighbors,” she says. “People invest in the community however they can.” //CG

The Rialto Theatre The Rialto was originally a movie theater in Kenmore in the early 1900s — so owners Seth and Nate Vaill paid tribute to that history by naming the now-performing arts venue the Rialto Theatre. “Harry Coulter Williams, who is the inventor of the silver screen … he was a Kenmore resident, and one of his first screens was installed at Rialto Theatre,” Boyes says. See concerts, hear poetry readings and attend swing dancing events at the venue, which boasts a bar “living room” area and a unique stage. The theater is also home to a recording studio — once used by Raekwon from Wu-Tang Clan, on recommendation from a Kenmore resident who was part of the Keepers of the Art. “He called me, and said, Can we get him into the Rialto? We did within an hour, and I spent two and a half hours with Raekwon,” Boyes says.

1000 Kenmore Blvd., Akron

Finny’s on the Towpath Located along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, Finny’s on the Towpath is a comfortable sports bar with a patio, serving classic eats such as barbecue pork belly bites and loaded nachos — as well as breakfast options such as pancakes, eggs and deepfried biscuits. Boyes is a member of the Kenmore Running Club, which has held meetups there. “Finny’s is a great venue … for folks who are maybe biking or riding down the Towpath,” Boyes says. “Great place to watch games.”

2759 Manchester Road, Akron

ShowCase Meats This market outgrew its first Kenmore neighborhood location. “The line’s out the door.

They’re a meat market, but they also have pre-made foods, and their chicken … is the best in Northeast Ohio, hands down,” Boyes says. Inside ShowCase Meats’ busy market, find spices, sauces, cheeses and more alongside fresh pasta salads, pizza, baked goods and, of course, premium cuts of meat like filet mignon and prime rib roast. Boyes grew up with it. “That truly is a Kenmore staple, and it’s so nice to see the next generation of that family continuing the business,” she says. “They are a destination.”

2355 Manchester Road, Akron

Srina Tea House & Cafe The tea at Srina Tea House & Cafe is harvested in Sri Lanka by workers at Paradise Farm.

Sip fragrant, rose-hued elderberry tea while you take in a mural depicting a mangrove field at the cafe founded by Monaqui Porter Young. Snack on bagels, spreads and more. “There are some delicious teas that require absolutely no sweetening … that I think communities like ours just haven’t had access to,” Boyes notes. “She could have chose anywhere, she’s a New Yorker, but she chose to do it right here. … I harken it to a love letter back to her family and her hometown. She wants to see them healthy. She wants to see them in the neighborhood employed. It’s just a really great model.”

975 Kenmore Blvd., Akron

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Known as Akron’s International District, North Hill is home to many immigrants and refugees, including those from the Bhutanese-Nepali and Congolese communities. Many residents are working to build their dream businesses — from international restaurants to global grocery stores. It’s something 37-year-old North Hill resident and musician Ben Gage admires.

“In North Hill, people are really hungry for something — to build something — and to be surrounded by that is really inspiring because it reminds you not to just stay still,” he says. “I like to call it grit.”

That industrious spirit helps influence the music of the rootsy singersongwriter, who plays folk guitar and blues harmonica.

“I like to write story songs, and a lot of them are emotions from places of hardship,” says Gage, who lives with his girlfriend, Ashley Doloresco. “That’s a big theme in folk music in general, because it’s the music of the workingclass people.”

Growing up as the oldest of seven kids in rural Rome Township, Ohio, Gage has always worked hard. His father started an excavating business, and at just 10, Gage spent his days digging. A singer, his mother had the kids take piano lessons. It felt forced, so he almost quit music. But in high school, he needed another credit and ended up in choir.

“I fell back in love with it,” says Gage, who joined more choirs and played drums in the marching band.

He went to The University of Akron for business and moved to North Hill after graduation in 2011. Then, he and his brother, Zach, played in a church band and eventually formed the Gage Brothers bluegrass band with two other musicians, touring from 2014 to 2017. After they broke up, Gage learned guitar from local musicians like Jon Mosey. Now, he has three full-length albums and a few EPs and singles. With over 18,000 streams on Spotify, “Company” is his top song. “ ‘Company’ is written from a place of, This too shall pass, like telling your people … everything will be OK,” he says.

He now tours North America. Locally, see him July 17 at Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market and Aug. 1 at Copley Heritage Days.

While Gage originally moved to North Hill for its affordability, he stays because of its great location and rich culture.

“North Hill has this incredibly resilient melting pot,” he says. “The people in North Hill are amazing. They’re interesting. They’re hardworking. They’re welcoming. … Embracing our differences is what makes us stronger.” //KP

Family Vansa Ghar Restaurant & Bar After Gage recently performed in Hawaii, he headed to Family Vansa Ghar Restaurant & Bar, which specializes in Indian and Nepali cuisine. He likes chilly momo dumplings, chicken Korma in a nutty curry and paneer saag — house-made cheese cubes with creamed spinach curry. “Both of them are my comfort foods,” he says. “When I’m having a bad day, that’s what I think about.” Specialties include a mango lassi drink, jhol momo, garlic naan, chicken biryani, onion pakora fritters, vegetable samosas, papadam crackers and mint, tamarind and raita chutneys.

753 N. Main St., Akron 35

Patterson Park Gage first visited Patterson Park when his sister taught English through the International Institute of Akron, and it hosted a picnic. People from Nepal, India, China, Russia, Ukraine and more countries shared dishes from their homelands. “It was stunning — all the colors, all the tastes, all the different people, coming together,” he says. Featuring a splash pad and playground, Patterson opened a renovated 8,300-square-foot community center in 2025.

800 Patterson Ave., Akron

Nepali Kitchen Gage frequented this Nepalese restaurant, started by Bhutanese refugee Hem Rai, and got close to him. When Rai asked Gage how to improve, Gage admitted the menu was difficult to read. Over two weeks, Rai made different dishes and discussed and ate them with Gage, who took photos and wrote descriptions. “I helped him remake his menu,” Gage says. He orders chow mein, fried rice and momos at the restaurant that has a different owner and is expanding its dining area.

399 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron

Cascade Valley Metro Park, Valley View Area Opened in 2024 after reforesting the former Valley View Golf Club property, the new Summit Metro Park features a nature play and picnic area, the 1.1-mile Missing Link Trail, the 1-mile Prather Trail and the historic restored Himelright Lodge, at which Gage has performed. At the Valley View Area, he enjoys trail running and looking for wildflowers, hawks, eagles and more. “There’s this little turtle pond, but it always has a kingfisher,” he says.

“It’s a really well-made park. It’s very inviting.”

1134 Cuyahoga St., Akron Top food photo provided by Nepali Kitchen

FACES OF THE 330

FACE OF

Real Estate After earning her law degree from Case Western Reserve University, Robin Rohrich decided that practicing law wasn’t where her passion resided. On the advice of a longtime family friend and broker, she obtained her real estate license in 2013 — a move she now calls “the best decision I ever made.”

Since joining Berkshire Hathaway Realty the same year, Robin has built a reputation for professionalism, honesty and a deep connection to the communities she serves.

“I try to make it accessible and easy, make it seem fun,” Robin says about her approach to helping buyers and sellers. She understands that buying or selling a home can be stressful, so she works to “soften the edges of the challenging part for people and make it enjoyable.”

She currently resides in West Akron with her husband Justin Remick, and they are building a new home in Bath later this year. Robin serves anywhere in Northeast Ohio but most frequently West Akron, Bath, Richfield, Copley, Fairlawn and the greater Medina area and knows those communities firsthand.

“I’m intimately familiar with all of the little neighborhoods and nuances of all those areas,” she says. “I love learning about where I live.”

Robin specializes in higher-end homes and also has a love for older homes, where her experience and honesty set her apart.

When marketing properties, she focuses on identifying the features that make each home unique — highlighting the few special details that distinguish them from homes next door.

For Robin, the most rewarding part of real estate is helping clients create meaningful life changes— whether they’re upsizing, downsizing, relocating or beginning a new chapter. “I love watching peolple step into new chapters of their lives and helping them get there,” she says.

Robin Rohrich 330-696-4179, instagram. com/robinrohrichrealtoroh JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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FACES OF THE 330

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Trust

Shannon Siegferth started at the Better Business Bureau Akron as a sales representative. Ten years later, she is its president and CEO. “It was my first sales position ever,” she says. “I remember being so energized because to me, when you connect with a business and offer them the opportunity to become accredited, it’s a no-brainer.”

The BBB is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing accreditation to local businesses and charities. To earn accreditation, companies are held to rigorous standards of excellence. For example, Accredited Businesses are required to respond to every complaint they receive.

“You must have a dialogue,” she says.

The Akron branch was founded in 1921, the eighth BBB branch in North America at the time. It recently found a new home in Akron’s historic AES building.

The BBB provides free resources for new businesses to help with anything from logo creation to attendance at local events for headshots or networking. It partners on local programs and events, such as being the title sponsor for Akron Life’s Best of the City celebration Sept. 23.

Representatives also travel to local schools and detention centers to teach financial literacy and scam prevention.

“It’s been wonderful to pour back into the community,” Siegferth says.

BBB Akron recently announced plans to build a home for an Akron family in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Summit County.

Construction is expected to be completed in the fall. Siegferth plans to continue this initiative in the coming years.

“It’s a rewarding feeling to leave every day knowing that you’re contributing to making the business world a better place,” she says.

Better Business Bureau Akron 330-253-4590, bbb.org 38

akronlife.com | JULY 2026

FACES OF THE 330

FACE OF

Banking For Scott Lawrence, banking is about more than numbers — it’s about helping local people and businesses succeed and investing in the community.

With his career centered on small, locally owned community banks, he was drawn to Portage Community Bank’s “Neighbors Serving Neighbors™” motto.

“I’m in the business of financing somebody’s dreams,” says Lawrence, a commercial lender for Portage Community Bank, with locations in Cuyahoga Falls, Kent, Ravenna and Rootstown.

Coming from a family of small business owners, he understands what it takes to expand, build, launch or equip a business — and wants to help extend customers’ money and grow their dreams. His approach is personal: Rather than handling transactions from behind a desk, he likes to visit businesses, hear their stories and understand their goals. He has an open-door policy at his office.

“You want to be able to walk into your bank and know your banker,” he says.

Lawrence recently earned his Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation, allowing him to help business owners prepare for retirement, succession planning and the eventual sale or transfer of their companies.

Portage Community Bank stands out through its complimentary business courier service, built around one simple philosophy — your time is valuable. Business owners should be focused on serving their clients and growing their businesses — not making trips to the bank. It’s one more way Portage Community Bank provides personalized service and demonstrates its commitment to helping local businesses.

Each year, Portage Community Bank employees contribute approximately 2,400 volunteer hours supporting local nonprofits, schools, civic organizations and community initiatives throughout the neighborhoods they serve.

“One of the things I appreciate most about community banking is knowing that the deposits entrusted to us by our customers are reinvested right here at home,” Lawrence says. “Those funds help local businesses expand, create jobs and strengthen the communities where we all live and work.”

Portage Community Bank 330-400-5010, portagecommunity.bank JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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FACES OF THE 330

FACE

OF

Fire Protection

Steve Comunale greets every employee he passes as he barrels down the hallway of his S.A. Comunale office building in Barberton. He shakes their hands, pats them on the back and exchanges jokes with them.

Comunale treats his employees like family, an attitude he also extends to his customers — some of which he has been working with for over 50 years.

“Our customer is No. 1,” he says.

An Akron native, Comunale’s first job was at his father’s small plumbing company when he was 12 years old.

He worked for the company through college. A year after graduating from the Ohio State University, Comunale decided to

start his own business in 1973. S.A. Comunale specializes in fire protection, HVAC, plumbing and mechanical services.

Comunale stresses the importance of a “small company mentality.”

“I was driven to succeed. I worked seven days a week [and still do],” he says. “We have a can-do attitude, we have a sense of urgency, and we organize and prioritize.”

Comunale is also determined to stay true to his Northeast Ohio roots and give back to his community. He started the Comunale Cancer Foundation in 2006, shortly after the loss of his son, Stephen. Twenty years later, the foundation continues to help local families facing similar hardships.

S.A. Comunale, an EMCOR company, has projects from data centers to Amazon distribution centers lined up.

Comunale plans to keep his mission of philanthropy and quality service alive through his industry-leading company.

“We’re going to continue what we do on a daily basis: take care of our customers,” he says.

S.A. Comunale 330-706-3040, comunale.com

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FACES OF THE 330

FACES

OF

Eternal Service At the heart of Billow Company’s service lies a deep-seated tradition of family ownership and family leadership. Billow Co., a proud member of the community since 1875, recently commemorated its 150th anniversary. As a sixth-generation family-owned business, it embodies a legacy of service, care, professionalism and dedication. Its rooted presence in the community not only enhances the quality of care it provides but also establishes a level of trust and accountability between it and the community it serves.

Billow Co.’s unwavering commitment to remaining an independent, family-owned business is exemplified in its end-of-life care philosophy. It operates on-site crematories, a distinctive feature at the Billow chapel in Fairlawn and its Bissler & Sons chapel in Kent. These facilities ensure that your loved one remains in Billow Co.’s care throughout the entire process. Notably, Billow Co. is the only funeral home in Portage County with an on-site crematory.

Recent renovations offer settings of comfort, elegance, peace and tranquility.

These include the beautiful renovations of Billow Co.’s Fairlawn chapel in 2022 and Cuyahoga Falls chapel in 2023 that reflect its commitment to providing an environment that matches its high level of service, hospitality and professionalism.

Billow Co. doesn’t just offer cremation and funeral services — it offers a legacy of care and commitment that is deeply woven into the fabric of this community.

Billow Co. 330-867-4141, billowfuneralhomes.com

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

41

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Nice SERVE

{ by Kelly Petryszyn, building photo provided by Towpath Tennis Center, action photos by Maggie Harris }

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TOWPATH TENNIS CENTER OFFERS UP COMPETITION, HEALTH BENEFITS AND LIFELONG FUN. When Greg Llewellyn participated in Tennis Tots at age 6, his father gave him a piece of advice: If you learn this game, you can do it for the rest of your life. His words proved true — more than 45 years later, at age 53, Llewellyn is still playing. He’s also the head pro at Towpath Tennis Center in Akron’s Merriman Valley, where he helps those around ages 4 to 85 develop a lifelong love for the sport.

“It is challenging. You don’t need a lot of people to play,” he says. “It’s a good feeling to make people appreciate the game I’ve played my whole life.”

Pay to play or become a member at the 11.5-plus-acre center, which features six indoor tennis courts — which can convert into 14 indoor pickleball courts — six outdoor dedicated pickleball courts and two outdoor tennis courts. Towpath is currently adding two more outdoor tennis courts that can be converted into pickleball courts.

Many pickleball players are flocking to Towpath to play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. “Pickleball may prove to be less challenging, but it’s a terrific gateway to the world’s healthiest sport: tennis,” Llewellyn says.

You can also take tennis lessons from instructors like Llewellyn, during which you might work on rallying the ball, perfecting your forehand and backhand groundstrokes or developing your serve.

Guests can also learn to play for pure enjoyment.

“The beauty of tennis is that you can have fun just hitting the ball back and forth with no score,” says owner and manager Dallas Aleman.

For those seeking more excitement, the center also offers competitive matches and tournaments. In the summer, Towpath has 26 United States Tennis Association teams, in which players 18 and older and at a 2.5 skill level and

HEALTH & WELLNESS

higher can participate. In the fall and spring, there are 12 to 13 USTA teams. Clay Rexrode, who worked with Llewellyn, is in a 55-plus 6.0 league. He took just a few years to grasp the sport and won nationals with his team in 2021. Towpath is hosting 16 USTA tournaments in 2026. There are eight signature pickleball tournaments a year. It hosted the Akron Open Pickleball Championship in June and is hosting the Akron Open tennis championship on select dates from July 12 to 26, with both drawing hundreds, including those from out of state.

Towpath makes tennis accessible.

It offers a Tuesday ACEing Autism program, which received a national award. Plus, there is also adaptive tennis for children and adults with disabilities. Those with posttraumatic stress disorder can play with the help of service or therapy dogs. Volunteers work with students to adapt the game to their abilities.

For example, one student cannot use his left side, so he shifts actions to the right, and a partner throws the ball so he can serve. For this student and others, tennis director Katie Orlando has seen great results.

“He used to not be able to hold

the racket by himself. Now he’s swinging by himself,” she says. “He smiles every time he plays.”

Children especially can enjoy the innovative 10-by-16-foot Multiball, which combines tennis with over 40 wall-projected games. Kids can participate by hitting targets with tennis balls — an exciting way for players to improve their accuracy, precision and speed while enjoying the fun of technology that’s rare in Ohio.

Open since 1967, Towpath overhauled its Tennis Lodge clubhouse, featuring its courts and pro shop, in 2021 — with a new biophilic design inspired by the surrounding Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Encounter high ceilings, abundant plants, natural light and wooden floors.

“It’s all woods, stone, light — man’s inclination to be drawn toward nature,” Aleman says. “When you come in here, you have a warm feeling.”

The rentable 2,500-square-foot Tennis Lodge mezzanine event space on the second floor has large panoramic windows overlooking the valley, a kitchenette and an accessible lift.

Styled like a cedar cabin and displaying CVNP photos, the recently

renovated Basecamp building has more rentable event space with wood-paneled walls, a kitchenette and a string-lit patio from which you can see kayakers on the Cuyahoga River, runners on the nearby Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and trains chugging along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad across the river.

Towpath is a haven where you can renew your body and mind. People who play racket and paddle sports on a regular basis are said to live an extra 9.7 years, according to studies. The Towpath team wants to keep passing on those benefits.

“It’s a healthy way to keep the brain active,” says Orlando. “The stresses of the day are gone. You’re just doing the sport you love.”

2108 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron, 330-928-8763, towpathtennis.com

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

43

Looking for a Primary Care Physician in the Akron/Canton area?

Call or Visit:

330-648-0487 JACOB BROCK, M.D.

www.pioneerphysicians.com

ALAINA THIEL, M.D.

FAMILY MEDICINE Medina Primary Care

FAMILY MEDICINE Northeast Family Health Care

279 E. Reagan Pkwy., Medina, OH 44256 234-360-0781

65 Community Rd., Suite C, Tallmadge, OH 44278 330-633-6601

MICHAEL PRIBULA, D.O. FAMILY MEDICINE Great Trail Family Practice

1028 E. Lincolnway, Minerva, OH 44657 330-868-6044 SCOTT HOFFMAN, D.O.

MEGHAN WEINER, M.D.

INTERNAL MEDICINE Louisville Medical Center

INTERNAL MEDICINE Stow-Hudson Primary Care

1917 Williamsburg Way, Louisville, OH 44641 330-875-3366

1355 Corporate Dr., Ste A, Hudson, OH 44236 330-688-3657

KATRINA SABUR, D.O. FAMILY MEDICINE Twinsburg Primary Care

10755 Ravenna Rd., Suite 103, Twinsburg, OH 44087 330-409-4440 LAUREN PITTAK, D.O. FAMILY MEDICINE Hearthstone Family Practice

4444 S. Arlington Rd., Uniontown, Ohio 44685 330-896-6111

MATTHEW WILCOX, D.O. Become a Patient

FAMILY MEDICINE Northampton Primary Care

3239 State Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 330-923-4500

GOOD EATS

GOOD EATS

NEW BITE { by Kelly Petryszyn, photos by Erin Gulling }

Flavo rE

x

n o i s n a p

STEELE HOUSE KITCHEN & BAR DISHES OUT ELEVATED CRAFT FARE IN A LARGE SPACE.

Darby’s on 59 has been successful for years — but with only 10 tables inside the 1,000-plus-square-foot restaurant, it fills up fast. So, when Dan Mazzola’s lease with Rockne’s at a Stow property ended in May 2025, his son, Todd Mazzola, and his nephew, Josh Speas — both Darby’s co-owners — knew they wanted to create a fresh, independent, larger restaurant with the same high-quality standards.

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

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GOOD EATS

NEW BITE “We have a chef that we work with and comes up with new menus a lot, and we make a lot of our food from scratch, try to source a lot of things locally,” Todd says. “We don’t cook food with a microwave.”

With 27 tables in an about 5,000-square-foot space, Steele House Kitchen & Bar opened in December 2025 with almost double Darby’s capacity. Renovations included knocking down a wall dividing the main dining area to open it up and relocating the bar to become a central focal point, expanding it to 18 seats. The team installed new flooring, painted the recessed tin ceiling black and trimmed it gray and more to transform it into a neutral, sophisticated space.

In collaboration with Todd and Speas, Darby’s chef Eric Higgins designed Steele House’s elevated American menu. With a kitchen that’s about 2,500-square-feet — versus 200-square-feet at Darby’s — Steele House has a greater capability to try new dishes like wings, which are available in Cajun or jerk rubs or barbecue, garlic Parmesan or house Buffalo sauces — as well as smoked or hot Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce from Akron.

On Steele House’s larger menu, find more options for soups and sandwiches, including the top-selling shaved rib-eye Philly ($16.99) with Swiss, provolone, mushrooms, onions and garlic aioli on a hoagie.

The popular tempura-fried green beans ($11.99) are a Darby’s carryover. They are hand-battered in tempura, drizzled with sweet soy glaze and served with house Sriracha ranch for dipping.

“The batter turns into nice, fluffy batter on the green beans,” Todd says. “The sweet soy gives it a little bit of sweetness to it, and then the Sriracha ranch adds a little bit of heat but creaminess at the same time.”

Other appetizers include handbreaded mozzarella wedges ($9.99), served with Parmesan and house marinara.

Steele House also makes its dressings, including the tangy red wine vinaigrette that comes with its Steele House salad ($14.99), which features Akron hydroponic mixed greens, grilled chicken, cheddar, tomato, cucumber, egg and onions.

Fans of Darby’s a la carte sliders will appreciate Steele House’s slider pairs, served with a side of coleslaw or hand-cut fries or chips.

Try the short rib ones ($15.99), topped with creamy — but not overpowering — thyme horseradish aioli and caramelized onions.

“We braise the short rib in house,” Todd says. “It takes us all day to braise it and make it nice, soft, tender. It’s a really good item. People

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GOOD EATS enjoy it a lot.”

For entrees, try the blackened salmon ($25.99).

It’s prepared on the grill and served atop creamy lemon goat cheese risotto, house Cajun cream sauce and sauteed squash and zucchini ribbons.

“The presentation is really amazing,” he says. “People are always blown away by how much food it is.”

Browse beer, wine and cocktails like the blueberry lemonade martini ($10.99), with blueberry Stoli, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup and a sugar rim, and the Empress Shirley Collins ($11.49), with Empress gin, Sprite, lime juice, grenadine and maraschino cherries. Bar manager Lyndsey Hill comes up with cocktails seasonally, like the rotating SH Spritz ($11.49) — which for summer, features prosecco, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, soda water and muddled mint and lime.

“The elderflower liqueur is really good,” Todd says.

“The grapefruit complements the prosecco really well, and the mint and lime give it that greenery that makes it look really nice.”

With the ability to serve more people expertly crafted fare, Steele House complements Darby’s well and stands out in the Stow dining scene.

“If you like good American cuisine but made from scratch, made how you would want your food to be made, that’s how I feel we set ourselves apart from a lot of the other restaurants that don’t take time or effort to do things that way,” Todd says. “It’s a ton of work. The prep is way more intensive.”

4240 Hudson Drive, Stow, 234-312-9499, steele-house.com

JULY 2026 | akronlife.com

47

FINANCIAL PLANNING { by Cameron Gorman }

E M HO T

N E M E V O R P IM

A HOME EQUITY LOAN OR LINE OF CREDIT CAN HELP YOU FINANCE YOUR FUTURE. After living in your house for a few years, you might want to redo your kitchen with new cabinets, flooring and tilework. There’s just one problem: You don’t have the funds.

Luckily, you’re a homeowner — and can use that asset to your advantage.

Taking out a home equity loan, or HEL — or opening a home equity line of credit, or HELOC — can give you the funds you need to complete projects, pay off medical bills and more.

“It’s a product for folks who already have a home,” says Kendra Dragomir, senior vice president and chief lending officer for Towpath Credit Union, with locations in Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and Fairlawn. “That could be someone who has a first mortgage or someone who has the home free and clear, and there is no mortgage on the property, maybe because they paid it off already or inherited the home.”

Home equity loans are also called a second mortgage. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, they allow homeowners to borrow money — using the equity in their home as collateral.

“A lot of folks who are in their home have a first mortgage that they’re paying because they used that mortgage to buy the house, and then the second mortgage is where they’re able to access equity,” Dragomir explains.

Equity is determined by calculating

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the home’s market value — how much it’s currently worth — minus the existing mortgage balance on the property, according the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“If you buy a house, in 10 years the value is supposed to remain,” Dragomir says. “If you bought it for … $200,000, your house should still be worth $200,000, but ideally, it’s worth more because it’s an appreciating asset, which means that over time it gains value as property values go up.”

If you purchased your home for $200,000, for example, and you owe $100,000 on your mortgage, that means that between the value of your home and what you owe, you have $100,000 worth of equity that could be accessed through a home equity loan.

For a home equity loan, the monthly payments are fixed. And because you are borrowing against the value of your property, a home equity loan is considered a secured loan, notes Dragomir.

“The lender that you’re going to is going to provide a better interest rate for borrowing when you tie a loan to your property or to your home,” she says.

A home equity line of credit, meanwhile, is a loan — secured by your home — that allows you to borrow, spend and repay as you go, according to the Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau.

“The home equity line of credit, on the other hand, is a line of credit similar to a credit card, where you have this line of credit you can use over a period of time,” Dragomir says.

“A lot of folks will get them because they know, OK, I want to do my kitchen this year, but in two years, I want to hit my bathrooms. So, they’ll do a home equity line of credit, so that they don’t have to come back for another loan. They can just continue using those funds.”

Towpath has one home equity product that allows clients to draw on their line of credit for the first 10 years.

“If you were to take out a home equity line of credit today … you could use that limit, draw from it, pay it back, draw from it again, make your minimum payments over the first 10 years. And during that first 10 years, the amount of your minimum payment is going to be — for our product — is 1 percent of whatever your balance is,” says Dragomir. “Once you get to the end of that first 10 years, then if there’s any balance left over, it’s going to switch from a 1 percent monthly minimum payment to what they call principal and interest payments.”

Home equity lines of credit are typically at a variable interest rate, as compared to a fixed rate for home equity loans.

FINANCIAL PLANNING “If you get a home equity loan or a making sure that you can repay that include determining the value of the home equity line of credit, the interest loan,” she says. “Nobody wants to home, a lien search on the property, rate that you’re going to pay on that take your home if you can’t pay for government fees, a flood zone check is going to be a much lower rate than it. So we want to make sure when we and more. if you were to put it on your credit set you up with a home equity loan or “Sometimes there are application card, or if you were to get some of line of credit, we’re not lending it to fees, origination fees or title the loans that are out there,” notes someone who can’t pay it back.” insurance,” Dragomir says. “So your Dragomir. “Upstart loans or unsecured Even if you have $200,000 worth costs will vary, depending on who your loans, they’re going to have a higher of equity, for example, you may not lender is.” interest rate because there is no be able to obtain that full amount If you’re looking to finance a large security tied to it.” in a loan because you still need to expense or consolidate your debts, a The minimum loan amount for a demonstrate that you can repay HEL or HELOC may be for you.

HEL or HELOC varies depending it based on your income and “It’s so easy to apply [to] stuff online on the lender, as well as the other debts. these days and not maybe recognize maximum amount.

So how can you determine if you’re what you’re getting into all the time, “It will also be based on the individual the right person for a HEL or HELOC? so if you have the ability to connect application,” Dragomir says.

“One big reason that we are seeing with someone to make sure that you Factors that go into determining folks use their home equity loans or understand … it tells you a lot about whether the client can receive the lines of credit is to consolidate other the person you’re working with,” maximum loan amount hinge on two debt,” Dragomir says. “A good rule of Dragomir says. “The No. 1 thing main pieces: their ability to pay the thumb is … when you’re looking at a is don’t be afraid to ask your W3 FINANCIAL BREAKING SETTING STANDARDS loan back and how much is owed on GROUP: loan, either the lenderBARRIERS and whoeverAND is lender questions.” their property. borrowing should look to make sure towpathcu.com Just because you have a home that whatever the projected payments BARRIERS doesn’t mean youW3 canFINANCIAL borrow againstGROUP: will beBREAKING should fit in their budget.” AND SETTING STANDARDS it, Dragomir cautions.

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Global Accounting provides only tax and accounting. W3 Financial Group, LLC, W3 Wealth Advisors, W3 Financial Group is a team of Certified Financial Planner™ whose role is Fee-Based Planning offered through W3 Wealth Advisors, LLC, a State Registered LLC and W3Planning Global Accounting are separate from Valmark Securities, Inc. Investment andprofessionals Valmark Fee-Based offered through W3 Wealthentities Advisors, LLC, a State Registered Investment to Management offer an unbiased view of your total financial picture.

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W3FINANCIALGROUP.COM 330.836.3805

LLC and W3 Global Accounting are separate entities from Valmark Securities, Inc. and Valmark Advisers, Inc. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended JULY 2026 | akronlife.com 49 to provide, and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice. The services of an appropriate professional should be sought regarding your individual situation.

PARTING SHOT { by Carlina Krajnik, photo provided by Akron-Summit County Public Library }

Full Circle TALLMADGE, 1908

Each wearing sashes representing a different state in the Union, the women pictured celebrated the Fourth of July in Center Park — now known as Tallmadge Circle Park — in 1908. Created by the Rev. David Bacon in 1807, the design of Tallmadge Circle supplied residents with easy access to the church and town center. Eight routes — oriented to the true directions of the compass — branch out from the circle. Influenced by early 19th-century New England town planning, the circle is one of the best-preserved examples of New England’s role in the settlement of Ohio’s Western Reserve. Although it no longer has its own Fourth of July celebration, Tallmadge hosts the Circle Festival & Light Parade, an annual event that features food, entertainment, a beer and wine garden and fireworks. On Aug. 8 from 5 to 11 p.m., join the festival and parade at Tallmadge Circle Park and celebrate over 200 years of history.

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PARTING SHOT

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PARTING SHOT

Ever Wonder Where Your Financial Future Is Headed?

Stephen M. Catalano Managing Partner

Like many busy, successful individuals, you might have a clear vision of your destination, but not the steps it takes to get there. As a fiduciary financial advisor, I've seen how the complexity of creating a financial plan can deter people from planning altogether.

At W3, our mission is to simplify the financial planning process with personalized guidance tailored to your unique goals and aspirations. We take the time to understand your complete financial picture, helping you make informed decisions with confidence.

Through our collaborative two-advisor approach, you'll benefit from the insight of two financial professionals working together on your behalf. By bringing multiple perspectives to every recommendation, we provide thoughtful guidance and a strategy designed to evolve with you through every stage of life.

WEALTH MANAGEMENT | 330.836.3805

| GLOBAL ACCOUNTING | 330.867.3578

| W3FINANCIALGROUP.COM

Fee-Based Planning offered through W3 Wealth Advisors, LLC, a State Registered Investment Advisor. Third Party Money Management offered through Valmark Advisers, Inc., a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Valmark Securities, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC. W3 Global Accounting provides only tax and accounting. W3 Financial Group, LLC,W3 Wealth Advisors, LLC, and W3 Global Accounting are separate entities from Valmark Securities, Inc. and Valmark Advisers, Inc.

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akronlife.com | JULY 2026