FEATURE }
These compassionate nonprofit leaders are forging a path to a stronger community. From offering barrier-free hospice care to providing immigrants and refugees with social services, these individuals are making an impact.
Comments? Got something to say about an article you read in Akron Life? Or maybe you want to tell us about something great happening in the area. Send comments and suggestions to: Akron Life, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313, and please include your name and address. Or email them to editor@bakermediagroup.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity.
Send us pics of yourself with a copy of Akron Life, and end up on this page! Images and descriptions can be sent to editor@bakermediagroup.com.
Akron Life in New Orleans
Bath residents Doug and Teena Snyder took a trip to New Orleans recently and shared a copy of Akron Life with their friends from the Akron area — over chicory coffee and beignets at Café Du Monde.
FOUNDER
Don Baker Jr [ 1940-2018 ]
PUBLISHER
Colin Baker cbaker@bakermediagroup.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kelly Petryszyn kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Cameron Gorman cgorman@bakermediagroup.com
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Xaverie Baker xbaker@bakermediagroup.com
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Erin Gulling egulling@bakermediagroup.com
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHER Mal McCrea
SALES
Bunny Lacey
Steve Tyson Ben DiCola sales@bakermediagroup.com
CIRCULATION
circulation@bakermediagroup.com 330-253-0056, ext. 104
EDITORIAL INTERN Kaleb Clark
MAY 2025 | VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 5 (ISSN No. 74470 57871) akronlife is published monthly by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2025© by Baker Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed envelope and sufficient postage. Baker Media Group, LLC and akronlife accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. 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 or visiting akronlife.com/store. $4.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling. Editorial, advertising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.
{ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com }
AS AKRON CELEBRATES ITS BICENTENNIAL, I’M REFLECTING ON ITS FUTURE.
I have a vivid memory from summer 1976 — sitting on the tailgate of my parents’ station wagon at Summit Mall, watching fireworks light up the sky. It was the bicentennial of the United States, and as a 6-year-old, it felt like the biggest celebration in the world. I don’t have many sharp memories from that age, but that one has always stayed with me.
Now here I am, decades later, getting ready to celebrate Akron’s bicentennial — and it’ll be my 5-yearold, Bodhi, watching fireworks this time. I don’t have a station wagon (not even sure I know anyone who does anymore), but the feeling of history repeating itself is hard to ignore.
I’m not much for parades, but I do like fireworks. There must be an adolescent boy still in me who enjoys watching things blow up. I’m sure I’ll find my way to some of the festivities — and Akron has a full lineup planned. Find details on pg. 51.
It’s surreal to realize I’ve only been around for a quarter of Akron’s history. Akron Life is in its 23rd year, which still makes us the new kid on the block. Many of the city’s businesses have roots that stretch much deeper — further back than most people probably realize. Billow Co. funeral homes and crematory has been serving the community since 1875 and is still run by the Billow family, making it one of Akron’s oldest continuously operating businesses. Acme Fresh Market got its start in 1891, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. followed in 1898 and even Bob’s Hamburg — founded in 1931 — is closing in on 100 years. These are the institutions that built the foundation of this city. They’ve survived world wars, recessions, changing technology and shifting tastes. What they have in common is deep community roots and a willingness to adapt.
transportation options, continued support for small businesses and a reason for our kids to want to stay — or come back after they leave.
That gets me thinking: What does Akron need to thrive over the next 200 years?
We’re at an interesting crossroads. Downtown has seen a lot of investment lately, and parts of the city are beginning to show new signs of life. We’re attracting entrepreneurs, artists and creatives — but we still face challenges. We need to make sure Akron stays affordable while growing smarter. We need to invest in our neighborhoods, not just our skyline. We need better
As much as we love to celebrate our past, we can’t live in it. We can honor our history and still look ahead. The stories we tell about Akron should include not just where we’ve been but where we’re going.
So while I’m watching fireworks this July Fourth in downtown Akron — probably holding Bodhi’s hand instead of sitting on a tailgate — I’ll be thinking about the next generation. What will this city look like for them in 2075? Or even 2225?
I hope they’ll be celebrating too.
When Seth and Nate Vaill purchased the Rialto Theatre property in 2010, the building was essentially an empty shell. Today, the theater is completely transformed into a complex with two stages for local, national and international artists, two bars, a recording studio and a kitchen. “We have had so many great songwriters, poets, musicians and theater productions in the Rialto Theatre,” says Seth via an email. Celebrate the restored theater’s 10-year anniversary with concerts from nearly 50 artists in May. Hear Akron acts Zach & the Bright Lights May 2, Angie Haze May 22 and 23, Fancy Legs and Big Pop May 17 and more. “We want to continue to be a place that artists want to come play and music lovers want to come listen,” says Seth. 1000 Kenmore Blvd., Akron, 330-631-7381, therialtotheatre.com
Celebrate the 225th birthday of abolitionist John Brown, who called Akron home in the mid-1800s, with a May 9 event. At the Akron Zoo at 3:30 p.m., hear Akron historian Dave Lieberth discuss Brown’s history before heading to the John Brown Monument. There, enjoy performances from soloist W. Ginger Ferguson and reenactor Reva Golden. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., partake in an open house with cake at the John Brown House. See “Family. Farm. Freedom.,” an exhibit on Brown, who farmed sheep in Akron with Col. Simon Perkins. “We wanted to remind people that John Brown worked for Perkins here, and we also share that he lived the majority of his life in what we know as Summit County,” says Leianne Neff Heppner, president and CEO of the Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH. Free, John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron, 330-535-1120, summithistory.org
Those passing by the new Forever Changes gallery in Akron can see artist Mac Love’s workspace through its front windows — possibly catching a glimpse of him creating colorful pieces. Mac, who co-founded creative agency Art x Love with his wife, Allyse, hopes to make artwork more accessible through the new gallery, which offers space for local artists to show and sell their pieces. Opening in May, the 3,000-square-foot gallery is free for community members to browse and showcases 20 to 40 artists. Artists can pay for space without paying gallery commission or apply for free space and pay a 30 percent gallery commission on sales. The Loves hope this model will get more artists into the market — helping them grow. “Akron has the talent,” says Allyse via an email. “We want Forever Changes to be a catalyst for our creative economy.” 35 S. Main St., Akron, 330-238-8588, artxlove.com
{ Editor-in-Chief | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com
Stage4 volunteer Vic Pallotta was at a Veterans Affairs medical center when he saw a woman bundled up on a warm day. He asked if the air conditioning was affecting her. No, I’m a Stage 4 cancer patient. I’m always cold because of the treatments, she said. He told her about Stage4, a nonprofit based out of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Copley that provides cancer patients with comfort bags, which include blankets.
“She jumped up and gave me the biggest hug. She goes, I got one of those bags at Summa. The blanket’s the best thing I ever got. You tell those ladies back at church that I love them. God bless them,” recalls Pallotta.
Since it was co-founded in spring 2021 by Pam Harris and my late aunt, Sherry Petryszyn, Stage4 has distributed over 2,000 bags to new cancer patients starting chemotherapy. Others in my family are in nonprofit work — my husband’s career is in nonprofit operations management.
Learn about other nonprofits and their leaders on pg. 22. From Holly Klein, who co-founded Grace House Akron to provide 24/7 care to hospice patients without caregivers, to Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio, who started the Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial Foundation to honor her late daughter’s kindness, these compassionate leaders are helping provide for our neighbors and improving the community.
Sherry and Harris met when they were operating room nurses at Parma Hospital. In spring 2021, they were both undergoing Stage 4 cancer treatment. The pair began making blank cards to thank those who were kind to them during their cancer journey and decided to sell them in the cafe at St. Luke’s, where Harris attends. They made $200 — and that became the seed money to start Stage4. It now
NONPROFITS NEED US NOW.
distributes bags to 10 hospitals and infusion centers, including select Summa Health locations, Western Reserve Hospital and more. There are now about 40 active Stage4 volunteers — many volunteers have been through or are completing cancer treatment and offer input on customizing the bags.
“We knew how frightening it was,” says Harris. “We wanted to help ease people’s minds and give them things in the bag that were helpful to us.”
Items in the bags include a stress ball, fuzzy socks, tea bags, a mug, honey sticks, a puzzle book, a water bottle, blank thank you cards, Bible verse cards, a stone painted by St. Luke’s Sunday school kids and more. All items are accompanied by handwritten tips from patients, such as Queasy Drops, gummies, mints and sugar-free lemon drops with a tag reading, Sherry said mints and gummies helped to settle her stomach. Terry says try Queasy Drops.
Cleveland Clinic Akron General McDowell Cancer Center social worker Dena Hunt says sometimes cancer patients experience nausea, a metallic taste or changes in how foods taste, so having a candy or drop can help. With the treatments taking two to eight hours, the puzzle books occupy patients. Some sleep with the blankets from the bags Hunt helps deliver. “It shows that they’re cared for,” says Hunt. “It’s a moment in time where they can feel some joy.”
St. Luke’s rector Dan Morgan’s brother, who died of cancer, received a bag — he was blown away by it. “We’re constantly getting testimonies of people saying how much their life has changed,” Morgan says. Giving back helps patients who are volunteering too. Even when she was on oxygen, Sherry would make cards at her kitchen table, surrounded by her
dachshunds, George and Goober, before she died in July 2021.
“It was good mental therapy for her,” says her husband and my uncle, Ted Petryszyn.
“When we were making cards, we weren’t thinking about test results, scans,” Harris adds. “We were just sitting there, talking … that’s one thing you want — to be normal.”
More people are becoming interested in volunteering with Stage4, but some live near Cleveland. The team is considering expanding to a second northern location. It needs support to reach more people. Find out how to help Stage4 at stage4ministry.com.
Nonprofits need our help more than ever. With uncertainty surrounding federal funding, those that rely on it are looking to increase other funding streams. Now is the time to step up, donate, volunteer and support nonprofits. Your contributions have an impact.
“If you’re having a bad day,” says Rebecca Daubner, an Akron General McDowell Cancer Center social worker, “that can change the entire day for you when somebody does something nice.”
Through 5/18 “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”
On select dates, take in a production of this dark comedy musical, from the Ohio Shakespeare Festival, at Greystone. When Monty Navarro finds out he’s in line for an earldom, he plots to kill off members of his lofty family to secure the title — and finds himself entangled in love in the process. Greystone, Henry C. Bishop Stage, 103 S. High St., Akron. ohioshakespearefestival.com
Through 5/18 “Sight Unseen: International Photography by Blind Artists”
Experience a showcase of the works of 12 of the world’s most accomplished blind photographers, including Bruce Hall.
Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday 2-5 p.m. massillonmuseum.org
Through 6/8 “Figure as Memento: New Ceramic & Mixed Media Artwork by Tom Bartel”
See ceramic and mixed-media artwork from artist Tom Bartel at the Massillon
Museum. Bartel’s evocative, fragmented figures are the product of inspiration ranging from antiquity to pop culture. Massillon Museum, Studio M Gallery, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. TuesdaySaturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday 2-5 p.m. massillonmuseum.org
Through 6/14 “Spring Exhibitions”
View new spring exhibitions at Summit Artspace, including Michael Marras’ solo exhibition, “The Bottom of Reality,” Janoi Daley’s solo exhibition, “New Chapter,” and more. Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. Fridays noon-7 p.m. & Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. summitartspace.org
Through 6/22 “John Paul Morabito: Madonna Dei Femminellə”
See artwork by the head of Kent State University’s School of Art textiles program at this exhibit. A solo presentation of works by John Paul Morabito, the exhibit includes 14 woven tapestries. Kent State University Museum, Higbee Gallery, 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 7/27 “Oliver Jeffers: 15 Years of Picturing Books”
View a collection of the works of artist, illustrator and author Oliver Jeffers. Those who visit the exhibit will see original artworks from books such as “The Day the Crayons Quit,” “Stuck” and “Here We Are.” When you finish browsing, read through copies of his books. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Thursday 11 a.m.9 p.m. Free on Thursdays, otherwise $12 nonmember general adult admission. akronartmuseum.org
Through 8/3 “Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson: Micro/ Macro”
Ohio-based artist Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson, a Kent State alumna, creates beautiful painted weavings — their designs are reflections of the landscapes of her home country, Iceland. This show is a solo presentation of her work. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent.
At the John S. Knight Center, nearly 400 guests gathered Feb. 28 to help kick off the 34th annual Harvest for Hunger campaign. Harvest for Hunger is the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s largest fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising $1.45 million and providing 100,000 pounds of food.
Need is up — in 2024, the Foodbank provided more meals than other year in its history, a staggering 31.4 million meals. Foodbank president and CEO Dan Flowers encouraged guests to support the campaign and help eliminate the stigma surrounding hunger.
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 8/10 “She Said, She Said: Contemporary Women Artists”
See a multitude of works from contemporary female artists, such as Genesis Tramaine, Natalie Czech and Cindy Sherman, at this Akron Art Museum exhibit. The show celebrates work from women dating from the late 1960s to the present and includes over 30 artists. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. & Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Free on Thursdays, otherwise $12 nonmember general adult admission. akronartmuseum.org
Through 9/28 “The Hepburn Style: Katharine and Her Designers”
Browse a showcase of actress Katharine Hepburn’s style with this immersive exhibit. It includes examples of Hepburn’s personal wardrobe, costumes worn by the actress and items from the Kent State University Museum collection made by designers she admired. 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 10/30 Kids in the Garden
In collaboration with Let’s Grow Akron, Summit Metro Parks presents Kids in the Garden, a series in which kids complete hands-on gardening activities. From sowing seeds to harvesting and cooking fresh produce, this program helps kids understand the origin of their food. Each week includes a game or craft, a garden activity and a snack. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. 3:30-4:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/2 Sip & Cinco: Clase Azul Pairing
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a tequila pairing at Gervasi Vineyard. Sip 0.5 ounce pours of Clase Azul Tequilas, paired with dishes from Gervasi Vineyard corporate resort executive chef Ryan Bowen. Nosh on Grana Padano custard with strawberries and balsamic vinegar, paired with Clase Azul Tequila Plata, herb-roasted salmon with olive tapenade and lemon cream, paired with Clase Azul Tequila Gold and more. Gervasi Vineyard, the Villa Grande Ballroom, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 6:30 p.m. $125. gervasivineyard.com
Thurs, May 15,2025,12pm
Quaker Station, 135 South Broadway St., Akron
5/2-5/10 “Mercy Watson to the Rescue”
Step into the world of an adorable pig who loves buttered toast with this hilarious theater production, which is great for kids. Magical Theatre Company, 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton. Fridays through Sundays at select times. $18-20. magicaltheatre.org
5/3 Hike Among Bluebells
Spring wildflowers, including bluebells, are sprouting this time of year. Hike along the river with a naturalist and see if you can spot them. Make sure to wear hiking shoes and long pants. Furnace Run Metro Park, 2370 Everett Road, Peninsula. 1-2:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/3 & 5/4 Ballet Theatre of Ohio
Presents “The Little Mermaid” Dive under the sea and enjoy a classic tale of love and belonging with this fulllength production of “The Little Mermaid.” Beautiful costumes and choreography complement everyone’s favorite underwater story. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. May 3 & 4 2 p.m. & May 3 7 p.m. Reserved $25-$45. akroncivic.com
5/4 Choral Concert at Church of Our Savior
Guest Presenter:
President
Event Sponsor:
Listen as Mickey McGroarty conducts the University of Akron’s Chamber and Concert choirs. Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 471 Crosby St., Akron. 4 p.m. Free. uakron.edu/music
5/8 Nature Collage
Create a naturally inspired collage using recycled paper. All materials are provided, including instruction by an interpretive artist. Registration is required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, visitors center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10 a.m.-noon. summitmetroparks.org
5/8 Soup at Six: Edison’s Conquest of Mars: Aliens in Victorian Science Fiction
Led by museum associate David Ziegler, study the works and worlds of three Victorian-era authors who wrote science
fiction related to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Enjoy soup, bread and dessert. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton. 6 p.m. $25, registration required by May 1. mckinleymuseum.org
5/9 Wandering for Warblers Field Trip
During the biggest week in American birding, travel with naturalists to the famous Magee Marsh and other hot spots for birding. Come prepared for lots of walking, dress for the weather and bring a lunch, beverages, binoculars and a camera. Registration is required. Tour bus departs from the F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm at 6 a.m. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. $60 per person. summitmetroparks.org
5/10-9/14 DinoTrek
See 20 life-size dinosaurs, many of them animatronic, throughout the Akron Zoo. Learn about predators and prey in the world of dinosaurs as you explore. Participate in themed crafts, raffles, giveaways and more on opening day May 10. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. General admission rates apply, Akron Zoo members are free. akronzoo.org
Learn from, watch and listen to the real-life stories of Underground Railroad abolitionists, freedom seekers and conductors from Akron, Summit County and Ohio at this event, which takes place at the John Brown House — listed on the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Be prepared to walk approximately 1 mile. Advance registration required. John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron. Event begins at 1 pm., occurs every half-hour through 3 p.m. $15 per person, $10 for historical society members. summithistory.org
5/10 Crafty Movie Night: “Steel Magnolias” For Mother’s Day, watch “Steel Magnolias” on the big screen while you craft along to the movie! Pack your crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, macrame or colored pencil project — or another crafting material, except for open paints — and enjoy working on it while this classic film plays. The story of a young beautician and the community she finds in a small Louisiana town, this movie is sure to pull at your heartstrings. Plus, enjoy games and prizes prior to the movie beginning. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, Canton. Doors open at 6 p.m., showtime 7:30 p.m. $10. cantonpalacetheatre.org
On Mother’s Day, take mom to explore the lovely Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens with free self-guided tour admission for all mothers. Plus, don’t forget to stop by the on-site Molly’s Shop for gift options. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Regular admission for accompanying family members: $19 adults, $9 youth. stanhywet.org
Rock out with a performance from Gene Simmons, famed member of Kiss. Fans can hear hits and covers from the band. MGM Northfield Park, Center Stage, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 7:30 p.m. $65 and up. Must be 21 or over to attend. mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com
Pérez
President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Maribel Pérez Wadsworth is the first woman to lead the foundation. Wadsworth’s past experience as president of Gannett Media and publisher of USA Today led her to her current position. While listening to her discuss her current role, enjoy a buffet luncheon of citrus grilled chicken, pico de gallo shrimp and more. Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron. Noon. $30 per seat, includes lunch. akronroundtable.org
JUNE 6, 2025 CONT’D Hellenic Dancers Performances 5pm, 7pm & 8:30pm
Cooking Demonstrations 5:30pm & 7:30pm
Night with DJ Vasilios 9:15pm SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2025
Open Indoor Dining Bookstore 11am 7pm 11am 9pm 11am 9pm
Auction Bidding 11am 9pm
Tasting 11am 9pm
Playground
Dining
Musicians of Olympus 3pm 11pm
Tours 11am 9pm 11am 11pm 11am, 1pm, 3pm , 5pm&7pm DJ Billy Manos 11am 3pm Hellenic Dancers Performances 3:30pm, 5pm, 7pm & 8:30pm Greek Cooking Demonstrations 5:30pm & 7:30pm Fireworks After Dark ** Schedule Subject to Change.**
When second-generation business owner George Wolff — now retired — came to work at his family’s company, Wolff Bros. Supply Inc., he always wore blue jeans.
“That’s what the customers love, right? He’s not fancy, and none of the Wolffs are,” says Greg Knapp, regional sales manager for Wolff Bros. Supply. “A lot of our contractors … they love the fact that we’re family owned and from this area. They want to support local.”
Wolff Bros. Supply offers an expansive inventory of plumbing, electrical and HVAC materials, tools and other wholesale contractor supplies — items needed to complete residential, commercial and industrial jobs.
“We like to say we’re a one-stop shop, so anything they need, we have,” Knapp says.
The company was founded in 1965 by brothers Harold and Norman Wolff, both contractors and farmers. Third-generation family member Corey Wolff is now president. With a surplus of inventory, the Wolffs began selling materials to other contractors in the Medina area in the ‘60s. Their experience assisted in the transition to distribution.
“That’s why we’re so successful,” Knapp says. “A lot of our employees today were contractors at one point. We like spending time in the contractors’ world to see, What do they need? What’s important to them?”
A vast inventory, knowledgeable employees, flexible material delivery options — such as special storage lockers that hold items until pickup — and a user-friendly website make Wolff Bros. Supply the top choice for many area contractors and companies. Wolff Bros. Supply now operates 13 locations throughout Ohio and services the entire state.
“We’re here to get the customer their material when they want it, where they want it and how they want it,” Knapp says. “We want our employees to basically be the customer’s employees. If they’re not succeeding, then we’re not. And that’s what I tell our customers all the time, I am on your team.”
Perhaps most importantly, the company’s local, family-owned status makes it an attractive choice for customers looking for a personal touch. This emphasis on relationships extends to the employee side of the business — some have worked for Wolff Bros. Supply for nearly 40 years.
“They trust us, and that trust, it takes us a long way,” says Knapp. “Our customers are our family.”
Wolff Bros. Supply also offers contractor training through its in-house Technical Institute program, as well as four Design Centers — which are open to the public — where residential customers can purchase items and materials for kitchen and bath settings.
“We are technically a big company, but we operate as a small company, so we are very agile. … If that’s what the customer wants, that’s what we’re going to do,” says Knapp. “When it comes to customer service and being able to do very specific things, we have the ability to basically do anything.”
Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, Wolff Bros. Supply continues to exemplify customer-first service — the value that’s taken it through six decades of business.
“It makes you feel good to be part of not only a company making it 60 years but a family-owned company making it 60 years,” says Knapp. “The people that run it are such good people. They make us feel every day like we’re part of the team.”
5/15 Good Garden Talks: Plant Swap
Swap plants, from cuttings to those grown from seed, at this green-thumbed event. Label your plants by name and contain them in pots — vegetables, herbs and native plants are preferred. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 6-7 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/15 “Dearest Enemy” History Lecture
Created for Akron’s centennial in 1925, the “Dearest Enemy” musical is discussed at this multimedia history lecture, which includes rare recordings from the original cast, never-before-seen photographs and artifacts from the show’s initial run. See the musical at Goodyear Theater June 21. Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. 6:30-7:30 p.m. downtownakron.com
5/17 Kent Craft Beer Fest
Sip beer from over 20 regional breweries at this popular festival. While there, enjoy live music, food trucks and, of course, beer. Proceeds from the festival are donated to local community organizations through the Kent Jaycees. North Water Street, Kent. 3 p.m. mainstreetkent.org
5/17 Native Plant Festival
Start your summer right with the fourth annual Native Plant Festival, presented by Wayside Furniture. Local native plant nurseries, Summit Metro Parks staff and other partners are selling a myriad of plants available for purchase. Attend an educational session about incorporating native plants into landscaping, take home a free seedling or seed packet, listen to music by Jen Maurer and Bill Lestock from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and Hot Djang from 12:45-3:15 p.m. and more. Vegan and gluten-free food options are available from Rabbit Food and Henry’s Creamery, and coffee and tea are available from Bereka Coffee. Munroe Falls Metro Park, lake area, 521 S. River Road, Munroe Falls. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/17 Made with Mom Candle Making Event
Bring along mom and create handmade candles from 100 percent soy wax. These candles are infused with scents — choose from over 90 fragrances to create your perfect candle. Street Craftery, 356 S. Main St., Akron. 3-5 p.m. streetcraftery. com
5/17 & 5/18 Renaissance Faire
Take part in a whimsical journey into the past with the Akron Zoo’s Renaissance Faire. Wander through the zoo, browse vendor wares, listen to music and enjoy snacks. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. General admission rates apply, free for Akron Zoo members. akronzoo.org
5/22 The Rat Pack Concert
Experience a musical throwback with this tribute concert to the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Damion Fontaine, Scott Brotherton and Stan Davis portray members of the famous pack as they perform everything from country to Motown. Enjoy a cash bar. Gervasi Vineyard, the Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 8 p.m. gervasivineyard.com
5/23 Creative Exchange
Presented by the Akron Black Artist Guild, this one-day summit aims to help artist entrepreneurs expand their networks and sharpen their career tools, spurring professional growth. Bounce Innovation Hub, second floor, 526 S. Main St., Akron. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $25-$130. abaguild.org
5/24 Spring Bird Stroll
Enjoy a guided hike with a naturalist and see which bird species are in the Valley View area during migration. Make sure to bring binoculars and a bird-watching field guide if you have them. Cascade Valley Metro Park, Valley View area, 1134 Cuyahoga Street, Akron. 8-10 a.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/24 Craft Destash Bash
Declutter your craft drawer and take its contents to this swap and donation event. Find paints, ink, pastels, charcoal, erasers, paintbrushes, paper, canvases, tape and more at this event. Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. summitartspace.org
5/27 Music in the Park: Season Kickoff
Mark the beginning of a season of concerts with this event, which features a performance by the Metro Parks Ensemble. Bring your own chairs and blankets, including a picnic. If the weather does not hold up, the concert moves indoors. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Goodyear Heights Lodge, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 7-8 p.m. summitmetroparks.org
5/27 Apollo’s Fire: Hispania Tour Send-Offs, A Voyage from Spain to the Americas
Sonically travel with 13 international artists from 16th-century Spain to baroque Latin America. Led by Jeannette Sorrell, this troupe performs work from Spanish composers, along with Mexican and
Peruvian traditions, Sephardic ballads and poetry. Join the musicians for a prosecco toast as they leave to perform the program at the Casals International Festival in Puerto Rico. The Bath Church, United Church of Christ, 3980 W. Bath Road, Bath. 7:30 p.m. $10 and up. apollosfire.org
5/30 Dave Matthews Band
Jam along with the Dave Matthews Band. Fans have the chance to hear hit songs such as “Crash Into Me,” “Crush” and “Ants Marching.” Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 7:30 p.m. $68 and up. livenation.com
5/31 Cook’s Lagoon Fishing Derby
For kids ages 4 to 15 and seniors age 65 and over, this fishing derby is sure to reel in some fun! Bait, food and beverages are available. Bring your own fishing pole. Cook’s Lagoon Park, 1819 Mahoning Road NE, Canton. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., fishing from 8-11 a.m. starkparks.com/fishing
Pip Brant
Francesco Lo Castro
Gavin Perry
Ohio artists living in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Summit, & Trumbull Counties Pennsylvania artists living in Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, & Mercer counties Go to ashtabulaartscenter.org
2928 W. 13th Street Ashtabula, OH 44004 ashtabulaartscenter.org facebook.com/ashartscenter (440) 964-3396
{ By Cameron Gorman and Kelly Petryszyn,
These compassionate nonprofit leaders are forging a path to a stronger community. From offering barrier-free hospice care to providing immigrants and refugees with social services, these individuals are making an impact.
While attending John Carroll University, Andrea Rose Teodosio checked if seniors who lived in her apartment building needed her to pick anything up from the grocery store. After one resident had surgery, Andrea made them dinner. And when another resident had to move to an assisted living facility, she recruited other students to pack her belongings and assist in her move. Helping people was Andrea’s way of life.
“She was probably the kindest person I ever met. I could see it in the way she treated other people,” says Linda Tucci Teodosio, her mom and Summit County Juvenile Court Judge. “She was one of those folks that didn’t want anybody to ever feel left out.”
During the week of Feb. 7, 2011, Linda was departing for a Baltimore conference, and Andrea was leaving for a Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia, skiing trip. Linda told her 22-year-old daughter, By the time I get back, you’ll be gone. I love you. Those were the last words she said to Andrea’s face.
Linda will never forget Feb. 12, 2011. Back at home, Linda received a message: Andrea was in a skiing accident. CPR was performed, but responders weren’t able to restart her heart. Linda collapsed. Immediately, Linda, her husband, Thomas, and their son, Christopher, rushed to Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, where Andrea had been taken. About halfway there, they got a call — Andrea didn’t make it.
Devastated, the family members said their goodbyes to her at the hospital. Later, while going through her belongings at home, they found nonprofit business cards. It dawned on them — this wasn’t the end. This was a new beginning.
“I thought, We can’t let her light go out simply because her life has ended,” says Linda, now a 68-year-old Munroe Falls resident. “There were so many things that she would have done, people that she would have cared for, causes that she would have championed — we need to do it for her in her name.”
The family started the Andrea Rose Teodosio Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit that funds causes near to Andrea’s heart. It assists underprivileged people and seniors, addresses environmental issues and promotes community service and education. The foundation has funded an annual school supply giveaway at the Akron Zoo, rooms for survivors of elder abuse at the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, a sensory room at the Akron Children’s Museum and more. It also granted $50,000 to the Summit Metro Parks for its Cycling Without Age program, which adds trishaws — bikes with a seat in the front for seniors or disabled passengers — to help explore Munroe Falls Metro Park uninhibited. Plus, it granted $32,230 to Akron Children’s Hospital for playful dogshaped wagons to transport kids instead of wheelchairs.
Andrea’s story prompted students to partner with the foundation to start A
Rose Project, which has provided special occasion dresses for youth in need.
Other students helped with Project Warm, collecting warm items that were donated to outlets including Project Rise, which serves homeless Akron Public Schools students.
Like her daughter, Linda leads with compassion. With degrees in elementary education and law from The University of Akron, Linda is the longest-serving Juvenile Court Judge in Summit County history, with around 22 years on that bench. “I decided I would run for Juvenile Court,” says Linda, “to allow me to explore my passion … of working with kids and try to circumvent that pipeline between schoolhouse to prison, and maybe I could do some things to address those concerns earlier on.”
Specialized dockets help her address root causes of crimes, including Crossroads, which helps get treatment for offenders with substance use disorder, a mental health diagnosis or both; Restore Court, which helps human trafficking survivors get restorative care; and Family Reunification Through Recovery Court, which addresses substance use issues to reunify parents with their children. Attending mental health counseling to process her grief has prompted Linda
to consider grief and mental health as factors. “We deal with youth here that have lost a parent, lost a loved one,” she says. “It helps me to recognize … that it’s a real process to come through grief … and the importance of making sure people are connected with the help they need.” She advocates for people to use the court’s Family Resource Center and Diversion Services, which served 563 clients in 2022.
stress management and more.
It’s been 14 years without Andrea, and in her memory, the foundation has funded over 20 local causes. The foundation hosts its main fundraiser, Angel A.R.T. Auction, Feb. 5, 2026. Meanwhile, Linda and other board members are looking for more projects to fund that would have made Andrea smile.
“Andrea would be blown away by the things that have been able to be done in
“Thereweresomanythingsthat shewouldhavedone,peoplethatshe wouldhavecaredfor,causesthatshe wouldhavechampioned—weneedto doitforherinhername.”
- Linda Tucci Teodosio
Heavily involved in the community, Linda helped start the Ohio State Bar Association’s Wellness Advisory Board to assist lawyers in coping with secondary trauma. It connects lawyers with therapeutic activities like meditation, wellness walks, running, book clubs on
her name,” she says. “It’s allowed her to make the lives of other people better. … The foundation’s allowed us to keep her spirit alive.” //KP
As a teen, Harry Kamdar was invited to attend a Halloween party by a coworker. Just two days later, he was no longer welcome. “His parents found out about me, and they said I did not fit the profile of the kind of people they would want in their house for the party. So that was very hurtful,” Kamdar recounts. “That has really helped define a lot of what I do in terms of being kind, compassionate and understanding of other people.”
Born in Kenya to Indian immigrants, Kamdar first came to the U.S. at age 7 and completed the move — arriving in Columbus — at age 16.
“I didn’t know I was any different until we actually immigrated to the United States,” says the now Norton resident. “I was shunned by other people because I was different. I looked different. I spoke a different language.”
Though they moved to America in search of stability, Kamdar’s parents didn’t have much. Kamdar worked while attending school, handing his paycheck to his father to assist the family. To watch Ohio State University football games on weekends, his mother served ketchup sandwiches and diluted pop.
“I never forgot the sacrifices they made. They gave up all their friends, their family, everybody back in Kenya and India,” says Kamdar. “I wanted to make sure that their story of moving to the United States was not in vain, that I was going to try and make a difference — not just for myself, but for other people. And that brought me to ASIA.”
Kamdar previously worked as the deputy director of the Ohio Department of Health, the superintendent of the
Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility, the executive director of the Ohio State Dental Board and more. In 2024, he became the CEO of Asian Services in Action, a nonprofit in Cleveland and Akron that offers wraparound social, medical and legal services to immigrants and refugees from all over the world, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It also serves native-born Americans. Legal services include providing immigrants, refugees and others with an opportunity to apply for green cards or citizenship. ASIA also serves survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, the nonprofit operates two International Community Health Centers. The Jin Huo Community senior center is part of the ASIA network. Serving approximately 40,000 people annually, ASIA provides services to individuals like Kamdar’s parents, making the transition to American culture easier.
“I was the one translating for them as a 9-yearold,” Kamdar recalls.
counseling to offering interpreting and translation services, ASIA does lifesaving work. Its clients — such as one female survivor of human trafficking — are often in need of multiple avenues of assistance.
“This young woman came to us … we had interpreters available, we had our legal team available, and we had our counselors available to do a triage on her and then to immediately move her to a safe house,” says Kamdar. “This person is now living a life where they have regained their self-worth. They’ve regained their dignity.”
Amid uncertainty surrounding federal funding, ASIA is persevering. Since Kamdar’s tenure began, ASIA has implemented a program evaluation system, is in the project phase of opening a dental clinic in the fall, is in
“Iwantedtomakesurethattheir storyofmovingtotheUnitedStates wasnotinvain,thatIwasgoing totryandmakeadifference— notjustformyself,butfor otherpeople.”
- Harry Kamdar
“Growing up, we didn’t have any kind of help, any social services or anything at all. And so it was at that early age that I started developing an empathy for people that were less fortunate, people from other parts of the world, refugees, immigrants and so on. And that shaped up my career.”
From providing behavioral health
the exploratory phase of opening a pharmacy around the fall and more.
“I see the potential for us to once again be the greatest country in the world by including everybody, because America is essentially a collection of people from all over the world,” he says. “That’s what’s made America so great.” //CG
While working as an in-home hospice registered nurse in 2009 and 2010, Holly Klein noticed that, sometimes, visits from hospice team members were the only contact people on hospice would have. Some had no one else to help with eating, using the bathroom and other daily needs, and it could be several days between visits from team members. They were left to fend for themselves in a fragile state — especially in their last hours.
“We found people passed away days before we were coming to see them, so they died alone,” says Klein, executive director and co-founder of the Grace House Akron nonprofit. “I always wondered, What was that like for that person? Were they short of breath? Were
through management roles in the 2010s, she discovered disparities — people dying alone or in undignified conditions — were more widespread than she initially realized. She made it her mission to provide barrier-free hospice care to individuals without caregivers through Grace House.
Klein co-founded Grace House with Cindy and Nick Browning in 2016, earned her master’s degree in nonprofit management from Northeastern University in 2018 and opened the six-bed comfort care home in fall 2022. Its first patient, Duane, was previously living in an ice cream truck. Since then, Grace House has served 108 residents. About 50 percent of its residents have been homeless. Grace House is one of three facilities of its kind in the country to offer no-barrier entry for homeless people — and its 24/7 care is free.
“Thiswasaplacewhereshe feltasenseofbelonging.It waslife-changing.”
- Holly Klein
they scared? Were they in pain? … It was really why I created Grace House.”
Growing up in Hinckley, Klein had a love for helping others. For over seven years, she worked as a nurse in areas such as the burn unit and the emergency room. Then her husband, a palliative care nurse practitioner, recommended she work in hospice. She liked that hospice challenged her to use her full skill set, but
Other charities often refer residents to Grace House, saving them from horrifying conditions. One Wayne County man, David, had been living alone in a warehouse for two decades. Staying at Grace House, he said it was the first time he slept in a bed and took a shower in 20 years.
Several residents have mental health and addiction issues, so Grace House connects them with services needed. A person with schizophrenia, Polly moved into Grace House untreated. Agencies got involved, and she got a guardian
who pursued treatment. Polly started to interact with other residents, create floral arrangements and go on walks.
“This was a place where she felt a sense of belonging,” says Klein, a now 49-yearold Akron resident. “It was life-changing.”
In 2024, Polly died in a hospital with Grace House volunteers sitting vigil. “She had such a hard life, and her death was so peaceful. She was surrounded by Grace House volunteers,” adds Amanda Novelli, director of development and communications.
Grace House has over 200 volunteers, including vigil volunteers, who are bedside when residents die. They focus on creating a calm environment, providing company and honoring residents’ choices — such as having soft lights, calm music, special foods, their hands held and more. “There’s a lot of dignity in being able to choose how you die,” says Novelli. Klein and staffers get close to residents, mourn their losses and hold memorials to honor them.
Receiving constant care they previously lacked, some residents heal and get off hospice. Grace House is hoping to get a second location or housing for those with complex health conditions in the future. It has a waiting list for beds.
Klein doesn’t fear death. She believes that every person should die with dignity.
“I can’t imagine trying to have to go through it alone without support, unhoused. That’s what’s scary — not actual death,” she says. “Our residents who don’t have that love — it’s super important that they get it from us.” //KP
Working as a Cuyahoga County Corrections Center officer in 2006, Teresa Stafford was concerned when she heard an inmate yelling and crying while talking on the phone to her mother, who was watching her kids. The inmate discovered her kids had been exposed to the person who sexually assaulted her. Stafford got her help — it was one of many instances that made Stafford realize inmates needed sexual assault survivor resources. Stafford got the inmates pamphlets from the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and noticed a job posting. She applied and became a victim advocate there in 2006. It was more than a job — it was a window to her own survivorship.
“By wanting to help others, I was helping myself heal unknowingly,” says the now CEO of Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center, who was recently married and is now Stafford-Wright. “I’ve had the opportunity to start sharing my own journey with hopes of other survivors being able to see … there is life — there is healing — after experiencing something so horrific.”
From ages 8 to 13, Stafford-Wright was sexually abused by her oldest brother.
The abuse only came to a stop when she joined a gang and served a little over a year in an Ohio Department of Youth Services facility for aggravated assault at 14. After being released, she became a teen mom and moved in with her daughter’s father, living through a violent relationship until she was 18. After her abusive partner was charged with stalking and harassing her, she was finally free — surviving around a decade of abuse and violence.
but show up different for them,” says the now 49-year-old Warrensville Heights resident. “How can I move forward?”
Stafford-Wright worked her way up to being an expert in the anti-violence field, helping to create a witness victim unit for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and coordinating Sexual Assault Response Teams in Cuyahoga and Lake counties. In 2022, she became the first minority CEO of Hope and Healing, which provides 135 shelter beds for survivors
“Bywantingtohelpothers, Iwashelpingmyselfheal unknowingly”
- Teresa Stafford-Wright
Through working as a rape crisis center advocate in her 30s — sitting bedside at hospitals with survivors just hours after their assaults — she was processing her own healing.
“I had [two] young daughters, and I wanted to be different for not only myself,
of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking, along with counseling, court advocacy, support groups and more services in Medina and Summit counties.
As CEO, she’s added a pet kennel, healing garden, art room and more robust human trafficking services, as well as the Access
Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center CEO Teresa Stafford-Wright
to Care Program, which makes programs more supportive of immigrants, LGBTQplus community members and people of color.
“The first year we had an increase in over 50 percent of Black individuals accessing our services, and not only accessing, but staying engaged in services,” StaffordWright says.
Through a trauma-informed lens, the center is also providing more resources in the community and schools to educate about sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. It’s seeing more disclosures: Hotline calls were up 76 percent, shelter nights up 13 percent and hospital calls up 5 percent in 2024.
As an adolescent, Stafford-Wright didn’t have support. “No one was asking the right questions. Everybody saw me as a juvenile delinquent even though I was an honor roll student,” she says. “If we can change that response, we have a better
opportunity of truly identifying trauma and getting people connected to services early.”
Stafford-Wright has helped about 3,000 survivors and co-survivors. Her reach is multiplying. In April, she released her book, “Beyond Surviving: The Courage to Heal and Lead.” In May, her Inspiring Change consulting firm’s Rise & Lead program launches to equip women of color to hold high-level leadership positions within the anti-violence field.
“We have to talk about it to destigmatize it, so people know that they’re not alone. For the longest, I thought I was the only one experiencing this,” she says. “We forget that there’s life after surviving — There’s an opportunity to thrive.” //KP
On a spring 1988 day, Steve Arrington unlocked the door to the Denver home he shared with his significant other, Douglas, and their German shepherd, Heidi Maybell. Immediately, he knew something was wrong.
“Heidi ran the hell out that house so fast,” recalls Arrington, now 73. “I come in the house, and I noticed that the blinds ain’t open. … It’s like he never got up.”
Douglas was still in bed — his skin clammy with sweat. Arrington called 911.
“Doctor told me he had PCP pneumonia, and this pneumonia is related to people who are diagnosed with AIDS,” says Arrington. “He looked at me. I looked at him, I was holding his hand. I said, Dude, we gonna get through this.”
Douglas and Arrington were both diagnosed with HIV shortly after. Douglas died in 1990.
“That was a long time ago, but it’s still like today. It’s still present to me, and it’s a driving force that keeps me going,” Arrington says. “The impact that the virus had on the African American community was overwhelming. And back at that time, nobody was talking about it in our community.”
Arrington, a Denver Urban League community outreach worker in 1989, used his diagnosis as fuel for HIV and AIDS education. That year, he began working with the League’s Black AIDS Project-atLarge to speak about AIDS awareness — while also making inroads himself with the LGBTQ-plus community on safety and prevention.
“I was doing outreach to them, but I started at the same time, to do outreach to my own people. … So I was going to the gay bars, taking condoms and doing all that. Wasn’t nobody else doing it,” Arrington says. “My response was, Go tell it on the mountain.”
After connecting with other HIV-positive men at a Broadway Cares event, Arrington also assisted in the founding of Men of Color, an organization dedicated to raising HIV and AIDS awareness in the Black community.
“Broadway Cares would go all across the country to raise money for these AIDS organizations. They came to Denver one time. … I’m sitting in this great big dark theater, trying to see if there’s anybody there I know. During intermission … all these Black folks come out,” Arrington recounts. “We bonded from that, laughed, and we formed an organization around the kitchen table.”
Over the years in Colorado and Ohio, the Massillon native has been involved in a myriad of social outreach programs and organizations, including the Massillon Urban League. He moved back to his hometown in 1995, and, in 1997, to Akron, where he still lives.
Today, Arrington is the executive director of Akron’s Bayard Rustin LGBTQ+ Resource Center, formed around the Akron AIDS Collaborative, which he cofounded in 2001 with Courtney Calhoun. The center provides outreach case management — including HIV testing, medical, mental health and housing referrals and a clothing bank — community engagement and programming, serving 805 LGBTQ-plus individuals in 2024.
“Our role, of the Bayard Rustin center right now, is to be a major advocate for the African American LGBTQ community,”
“Myresponsewas,Gotell itonthemountain.”
- Steve Arrington
Arrington says, “to be a powerful voice, to uplift our community, build community, and tear down stigma.”
“I remember calling home, telling my mother about my diagnosis, and I remember her telling me … Steve, don’t think that that’s going to kill you. … You don’t know what God got planned for you, ” Arrington recalls. “Little did she know she was speaking the truth from ‘91 to 2025, and God did have a plan. It’s selfevident. Look where I am.”
From serving in community engagement for First Grace United Church of Christ from 2011 to 2015 to his current role as co-chair of the Akron NAACP’s LGBTQplus subcommittee, Arrington’s work has been in service of raising awareness and creating community.
“I’ve always been a community activist,” Arrington says. “I’ve always had a vision to do what I’m doing here.”
At the Bayard Rustin center, Arrington plans events and works on funding sustainability — his work is never done.
“Today, since the white gay men’s numbers are going down, people think it’s pretty much handled. You can live longer,” he says. “But they’re not aware that Black gay numbers are going up. Black women and Black gay men across the country, our numbers are increasing. So that’s the motivating factor now.”
In a precarious time for LGBTQ-plus individuals — and for nonprofits at large — Arrington continues to fight for his community.
“My phone does not stop. This job is not a Monday through Friday. I’m on call 24/7, seven days a week,” Arrington says. “This is my passion. This is who I am supposed to be while I’m on this earth.” //CG
{
Foster Grandparents provide extra support for children in need.
“Theylaughwith you.Theycry withyou,andyou seethemgrow.”
During the current 2024 to 2025 school year, Foster Grandparent Amalia Lorenzana has been mentoring two 2 ½-year-old kids at Head Start/ Early Head Start at Summit Lake. She has been working with the pair throughout the school year, showing them pictures and teaching them to say words. Eventually, they started to speak.
“It feels wonderful when they tell you good morning for the first time when before they didn’t do it,” says Lorenzana, 63, a five-year-plus volunteer. “When you hear those words, you know you’re doing something right.”
Sponsored by the nonprofit Community Action Akron Summit, which is the principal anti-poverty social service
agency in Summit County, the Foster Grandparent program trains low-income individuals age 55 and older to mentor and tutor children with special needs — primarily students — at 19 Akron-area sites. There are 51 Foster Grandparents in the program, which is celebrating 60 years. Each works with two children, ranging in age from infants to elementary schoolers. They do not replace birth grandparents and instead provide extra support.
“You have to have a love for children and the patience,” says Jacqueline Ricks, Foster Grandparent program project director. “It is a great program for seniors. It helps them to remain active and to give back to the community while they’re supporting the development of children.”
-
Foster Grandparent Amalia Lorenzana
The program is funded by AmeriCorps Seniors, Direction Home Akron Canton and other local organizations. Sites where mentors work, alongside teachers, include Akron Public Schools, Head Start locations, the Salvation Army Learning Zone Preschool & Childcare center and YMCA child care centers. Another site is Akron Children’s Hospital, where mentors work with child patients who need extra attention.
Foster Grandparents are required to serve 20 to 40 hours a week, which is often spread out over four to five days
a week. While the position is not a job, volunteers receive a tax-free hourly stipend, daily meals, transportation reimbursement, a free annual physical, uniforms, accident insurance, paid personal days and holidays and an invite to an annual recognition event. To get started, they must pass three background checks, participate in a 40hour orientation and complete monthly in-service training.
“We’re always doing training, helping them to understand engagement with children, how to work with children — helping them problem solve, make good choices and improve academically,” says Ricks. Program administrators also train seniors to help children gain independence, security and success.
Foster Grandparents have myriad reasons for volunteering.
“I volunteer because it keeps me busy,” says Luther Collins, 73, a 10-year-plus volunteer who helps 3- to 5-year-olds at the Westminster YMCA. “It’s some structure for me. I love working with children to help mentor and guide them because I think a lot of kids need that.”
“I like working with the kids and to get out of the house. I love them,” adds Mary Allen, 83, a 19-year volunteer who helps 18-month to 2-year-olds at the Family Enrichment Center YMCA.
On a typical day, volunteers greet kids, eat meals with them, participate in lessons, play educational games, read books and more.
“They engage with children the whole time,” says Ricks. “When they go into circle time, when they’re singing and have their movement time, the grandparents are over there, moving with them.”
While the grandparents are only assigned to two students in each class, they often work with more students — and all students call them Grandma and Grandpa
“My day starts off with: I go in the classroom, Good morning to all my little angels, and they all come and give me a big hug. We have breakfast. We discuss what they did after they left school the previous day or over the weekend,” says Barbara T. Crooks, 82, a three-year volunteer who helps 3- to 5-year-olds at Head Start at Five Points I & State Early Childhood Program. She likes to play games involving numbers and letters, welcoming several other students to join in. Her leadership helps with listening and good behavior.
“All I have to do now is just look, and they know what that means.”
The grandparents eat breakfast and
lunch with the children — that’s an excellent opportunity to model proper table manners. “I teach them how to eat their food, not throwing it everywhere,” says Lorenzana. “Teach them that we’re eating the same food, and it is delicious and just to try it.”
Each participating student begins the school year with a child assignment plan, for which teachers identify which subject areas and skills the children need the Foster Grandparents’ help with. Foster Grandparents journal about the child’s daily progress. Special student needs
they address include learning disabilities, hearing or speech issues or exposure to abuse. Sometimes, children with separation anxiety simply need more attention. “We had one where the child didn’t want the parent to leave and cried,” says Ricks. “As time goes on, the child becomes more comfortable. The child will say, Bye, Mommy, and run over to grandma.”
Foster Grandparents often say the most rewarding part of the program is seeing growth after working with kids. “One of my little guys, he’s challenged so he doesn’t remember well,” Collins says. “Last year we went through learning his nose, eyes, ears, and he’s retained that. … That’s been a big deal for me because of the challenges he had.”
“I have one student … she was not social at all,” adds Crooks. “And now, no sooner than I come into the room, she comes and gives me a hug. ... She’s more verbal with the other students.”
Teachers submit reports as well, often remarking on how thankful they are to have help from Foster Grandparents. “Grandma Jenkins is a phenomenal
asset to this classroom. Her kind spirit has the power to calm our students. She goes above and beyond to ensure every student feels comfortable, safe and loved,” reads one fall 2024 teacher note. Having grandparents around has impacted parents as well. One father was bringing his child in late, causing him to miss open classroom time. The classroom’s grandma told the teacher she wanted more time with the student, and
the teacher asked the father to come in earlier. The dad started to bring his son in on time, and the joyful boy ran over to his grandma. “The child was so happy to get there so he wasn’t missing out, and it really helped the parent to see how important it is to get your child on a schedule,” Ricks says. “Grandma was overwhelmed because she was so happy to work with him.”
For seniors who are retired, being a
Foster Grandparent offers purpose. “They laugh with you. They cry with you, and you see them grow,” says Lorenzana, who doesn’t have family living nearby. “I don’t feel lonely. … It’s great to get out every day, go to my site and be with the kids, because it makes me feel younger. It makes me feel like I am worth it. It gives me life.”
330-572-8298, ca-akron.org
As one of the region’s most respected Life Plan Communities, Laurel Lake retirement community offers an intentional lifestyle that boosts vitality and longevity for older adults. Plus, with the community’s Type A Life Care option, residents have unlimited access to future long-term care at little extra cost.
Laurel Lake’s 150-acre Hudson campus is designed to exercise every dimension of wellness. There are spaces dedicated to health care, lifelong learning, healthy dining, social and spiritual engagement, arts and cultural programs, fitness training and salon services. Outstanding skilled nursing and therapy on-site also help residents recover after illness or surgery.
Residents are actively enjoying the community’s recently revitalized Town Center, which features a bistro and pub, a fireside lounge, the Colony Shop, a library, an artist’s studio, a state-of-the-art fitness and aquatic center, a salon and more. Laurel Lake is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community for adults
62 and older, offering independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care. For more info, call 330-650-2100 or visit laurellake.org.
{ by Cameron Gorman, photos provided by Allied Dermatology and Skin Surgery }
Allied Dermatology and Skin Surgery offers cosmetic procedures in a medically qualified environment.
To Allied Dermatology and Skin Surgery co-founder Dr. James Libecco, the state of one’s skin is an important investment.
“A lot of people … don’t feel that inner confidence in how they look. They have something that they want to hide, something that prevents them from really being the person that they want to be,” he says. “It’s that one body that you have. Why would you not want to … take care of that?”
At Allied — founded 10 years ago by four
partners who’d trained together at the Cleveland Clinic — there are myriad ways to improve your skin.
“Our goal is to continually provide cutting-edge, latest care, latest treatment opportunities,” Libecco says. “If it involves the skin, we can do it, and we can do it in a convenient and cost-effective way.”
Though Allied provides staple dermatological services such as skin checks, psoriasis treatment and skin
cancer removal, it also offers a list of cosmetic procedures — including neuromodulators, laser skin resurfacing, dermal fillers and more — in a medically qualified environment. That expertise, says co-founder Dr. Ann Kooken, should be a key factor in deciding where to go for your skin’s cosmetic enhancements.
“With certain cosmetic procedures, you can burn the skin or create a severe injury,” she says. “Experience is important.
This is not our side job; skin is what we do all day.”
Similarly, coming in for a cosmetic concern in a medically qualified environment like Allied can reveal more pressing health matters.
“A patient came in worried about some brown spots that they didn’t like, and we found a melanoma,” says Libecco. “Having that skin care being done by people who are trained in managing the complexities of skin, like a dermatologist, it really kind of pulls us together.”
Whether they come to Allied for cosmetic concerns, medical concerns or both, the goal for patients is healthy and beautiful skin.
“We want to keep their skin healthy, whether that’s skin cancer, whether it’s how they’re presenting themselves to the world, how their skin looks,” Libecco says. “We want people to be confident.”
Here are some cosmetic treatments Allied offers to help you obtain an inner — and outer — glow.
Botox is a neuromodulator that primarily relaxes muscles in areas of the skin prone to wrinkling.
“These are injectables that selectively and temporarily paralyze the muscles that produce an action that we do not want,” Kooken says. “So, when we furrow our brows … the neuromodulators relax the action of that muscle to remove or reduce wrinkling. They can also be used to alter certain movements or pulling of muscles.”
Those with gummy smiles, for example, might benefit from injecting Botox into the muscle that pulls up the lip. Botox can also be used to chisel out the jawline and reduce jowls, lift the brow area, slim the face and narrow the nose.
“There’s always a new indication coming out,” says Kooken. “We can use neuromodulators to relax, lift and smooth various areas of the face and neck.”
Following a consultation, a Botox injection can take as little as five minutes. Afterward, there is no downtime needed for healing. (Unless a vessel is hit, which can cause a temporary bruise.)
“It’s a tiny little needle with a liquid that we inject into our target area,” Kooken says. “The size of the muscle will dictate how many units or injections are needed.”
Results last three to four months.
“It’s a really great treatment,” Kooken says. “It’s very effective for almost everybody. … It’s non-committal in the sense that you could try it, if you hate it, you’re back at baseline in three to four months. … There’s no permanent complications with Botox.”
Hyaluronic Acid fillers, or HA fillers, use a substance found naturally in the body to add volume to the face or other areas.
“These are gel-like products that we inject to restore lost volume, fill wrinkles or smooth skin etching. We are using them to plump up whatever is missing volume,” Kooken explains. “As we age, we absorb our bones, our muscles tend to shrink, our fat tends to shift from our cheeks to our jowls. If we can volumize and lift these areas carefully, we can greatly enhance one’s appearance.”
Hyaluronic acid fillers can be injected with a needle or a cannula.
“If somebody has a very flat cheek, we can use fillers to round out their cheeks,”
Kooken says. “If somebody has little thin lips, we can use it to give them the youthful shape they desire.”
Following an in-depth consultation, an appointment is scheduled. Prior to injections, numbing cream is applied to the area. Filler is selected based on treatment areas and the patient’s anatomy.
“Your cheeks are a thicker area. When we want to volumize something thick, we choose a thick filler that resembles what your natural cheek feels like. So we would use a thick filler that’s designed to stay in place and provide structure to an area that’s normally firm,” Kooken says. “When we are doing a much more delicate area, for example, the fine wrinkles above your lip … you want to use a very fine filler.”
Some swelling or bruising may occur following the injections, which can be covered with makeup and reduced with ice. Results can last about a year — or longer. Though there are other filler options on the market, hyaluronic acid, Kooken says, is the safest.
“Wewant peopletobe confident.”
- Dr. James Libecco
“They’re much safer, because they can be dissolved,” she says. “Plus, hyaluronic acid fillers resemble the hyaluronic acid in our skin. They feel very natural and last much longer than older options like collagen.”
Using hollow needles, the Ellacor system removes micro-cores of the patient’s skin, reducing the looseness of different areas of the skin.
“Ellacor actually uses little, tiny hypodermic needles that remove roughly 7 percent of the skin,” Libecco says. “As people get older and they get deeper wrinkles … we’re taking out 7 percent of that in a treatment, and that provides lifting and tightening in the skin more so than any other device that I’ve ever used for doing that.”
The procedure — for which patients are numbed — takes about an hour to undergo and requires around three to seven days of healing.
“We’re leaving 93 percent of the skin intact and only taking away that 7 percent. We’re doing it in a very precise pattern,” Libecco says. “You’re leaving that normal skin, which then has to heal. So what it does is it’s going to pull those areas closed, lifting and tightening the skin.” Positive results, which last for years, include decreased wrinkles and lifting of the lower face.
“We’re permanently removing that 7 percent of the skin with each treatment. And that can be done one, two, three times as needed to get the volume reduction that they want in that lower face,” says Libecco. “It’s providing facelift-like effects without needing to do a face-lift.”
Ellacor can also be used on the body, to reduce excess skin in areas such as the elbows, knees and abdomen.
“That’s my go-to if people are willing to have some downtime,” Libecco says. “That’s my biggest improvement per treatment that we do.”
Those looking for a similar tightening effect — and who have wrinkles or excess skin in the lower face, neck or around the eyes — can try Vivace Ultra, a radio frequency microneedling treatment.
“We’re using acupuncture needle-sized probes that go down into the dermis in a very controlled fashion, create heat, tightening the collagen in that deep area — again, creating that micro-injury,” Libecco explains. “The body then has to make new collagen and remove that damaged collagen, which again provides tightening and lifting.”
The face, arms, elbows, knees and abdomen are the most common areas for which radio frequency microneedling is used. Depending on the area covered, the procedure can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.
“The advantage of this is very little downtime,” says Libecco. “Most people have some redness that day, occasionally some redness or swelling the next day, but for the most part, with the Vivace, you’re doing these treatments and on your way … that day or the next day.”
Though Vivace Ultra requires more treatments than Ellacor — roughly three, spread out over the course of months —
the results are similar and long-lasting.
“Only the Vivace Ultra has its own, built-in ultrasound on there to be able to measure the depth,” says Libecco. “It’s so carefully measuring where you’re doing those treatments, down to a 10th of a millimeter, to make sure we’re heating exactly where we want that to be individually to each patient.”
If you’re looking for a total refresh, laser resurfacing may be your best bet.
“What this one is doing is removing superficial layers of skin across the full face, and this works great for fine lines and brown spots, redness on that area, by actually just resurfacing that top layer,” says Libecco.
This treatment works especially well for deep lines around the mouth.
“You can do a relatively deep resurfacing around that area and go from deeply cobbled and lined lips to relatively smooth in a singular treatment,” Libecco says.
“You’re taking off those top layers of skin, and then that heat, again, causes that collagen contraction to occur.”
Depending on the depth of the treatment, recovery can take anywhere from two to five days. Redness and swelling can be managed by using topical creams, as well as icing and soaking the affected area. Results last for years.
No matter the treatment you’re seeking, providers at Allied have one ultimate goal: Making sure your skin is as radiant as it can be.
“I always tell my patients, I want you to head out on a Saturday morning and not think twice about needing to put on makeup before you go,” Libecco says. “I want you to just have that confidence that you can wear that skin freely and openly to the world.”
{ by Cameron Gorman }
Put a plan in place to retire with peace of mind.
Many longtime workers daydream about retirement — days spent on the golf course, with grandchildren or volunteering — while some want to keep working. Choosing when to retire can be a difficult decision.
“Retirement thoughts often evolve as your career evolves. You may want to take on less stress and retirement becomes more of a priority, or you really love your job and what you’re doing and the thought of retiring is almost scary,” says Elizabeth Scheiderer, a principal and senior financial adviser at Signal Tree Financial Partners. Scheiderer, not a licensed tax professional, offers general guidance and advises consulting with a tax professional as well.
Most people plan on retiring at age 65 — the age when Americans become eligible for Medicare. Another consideration is
being able to apply for Social Security, which can be collected as early as age 62 (or 60 for those who are widowed) and reaches its maximum monthly benefit at age 70 if delayed. But that doesn’t mean waiting until you reach your 60s to begin retirement planning.
“You want to start as soon as you can, and make it automatic. But for many people, it’s not a top priority until maybe a little bit later in their career when student loans are paid off and you’ve moved from your starter home into your next home,” she says. “Ideally, you want to start as soon as you have access to that first retirement plan.”
One of the most difficult things about planning for retirement, says Scheiderer, is starting.
“That anticipation of possible results often hinders people taking action. You’re just nervous, Do I have enough? Can I retire? … The biggest thing is just recognizing that it’s important to get a plan in place that then empowers you to make smart financial decisions,” she says. “When you go to retire, yes, there’ll be Social Security payments, but you’re going to need additional funds sent ahead.”
First, it’s important to assess your current financial situation — including your income, expenses, assets and debts — as well as determine your goals for retirement.
“Are you liking and wanting to work longer? Do you have parents that you need to care for that are taking you out of the workforce? What’s the why behind your wanting to do retirement planning?” Scheiderer asks. “Maybe you’re thinking,
I want to retire somewhere between 62 and 67. Well, let’s look at that. If you continue to save at the current rate you’re saving, this is the amount you’ll be able to spend safely with a diversified portfolio supporting you at those different ages. And then you’re empowered to make decisions. … Really defining those goals and really helping you framework what your savings is building toward is the biggest part of this retirement planning.”
Once your goals are in place, with the help of a certified financial planner, review your tax strategy, health care and insurance coverage, estate planning and emergency fund.
“That complete retirement plan should include a holistic view of your financial situation that also takes into account your values and the ultimate goals you have with your money,” Scheiderer says. “It’s all those facets and gives you the opportunity to really be smart and mindful with your investments along the way.”
Here are some of the most common ways to plan for retirement.
“A 401(k) plan is an employer-provided retirement plan that allows you to save directly from your paycheck,” Scheiderer explains. “Oftentimes, these 401(k) plans come with an employer match, and you’re provided a list of investment options.”
Employees automatically contribute a portion of each paycheck to their 401(k), allowing it to compound.
“Once you start that savings, it’s a lot easier to keep it going,” Scheiderer says. “It’s flexible too. You can always bump up your savings amount when you get a raise or reduce it if you have an unexpected expense.”
Under 401(k) plans, the employer might match between 3 and 6 percent.
“That’s a way to double your savings or increase your savings without it affecting your cash flow,” Scheiderer says. 401(k) plans also offer tax advantages. Under a traditional 401(k) plan, pre-tax contributions are not taxed until you begin taking money out of the account once you are retired. Funds from a traditional 401(k) can, depending on the plan and other factors, be accessed penalty-free for those 55 and older who lose or leave their job — or otherwise at age 59 1/2 or older.
“It goes into the 401(k) plan pre-tax, so it has less of an effect on your net take-
home pay,” says Scheiderer. “So you’re avoiding taxes when you deposit the money, but then taxes are due when you withdraw the funds.”
You might be interested in utilizing a Roth 401(k) for your savings. Unlike a traditional 401(k), a Roth 401(k) allows money to be placed into an account after taxes have been paid, which then grows tax-free. When earnings are taken out — at least five years after the account was opened and at an age of at least 59 1/2 — they are tax- and penalty-free. Withdrawals of contributions are more restricted.
“Most often, Roth 401(k)s are utilized by investors under the age of 40, 45, who have a longer time frame until retirement, and they’re in a lower tax bracket, so they’re not concerned about the tax savings now,” she says. “They’d rather have the tax savings in the future.”
For both Roth and traditional 401(k)s, annual contribution limits are $23,500 if you are under age 50; $31,000 if you are ages 50 to 59 or 64 and over; and $34,750 for those ages 60 to 63.
Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts allow you to deposit money into your account before taxes are paid — and are not tied to an employer. Taxes are paid once money is withdrawn.
“It’s not through your employer, but it is reflected on your tax return, so you would save inside of the traditional IRA, and then when you file your taxes, most individuals are able to deduct the amount that they saved,” says Scheiderer. “With traditional IRAs, you also can decide who the custodian of that account is … so you often have more investment options available to you than you do within your 401(k) plan.”
Under an IRA, however, the amount you can contribute is limited — $7,000 a year. But if you are over age 50, you can contribute another $1,000 — which is much less than you can contribute to a 401(k).
With a Roth IRA, contributions are made after taxes are paid, and withdrawals are then tax-free.
Under traditional IRAs, contributions and earnings can be withdrawn penalty-free at age 59 1/2 or older. Roth IRA contributions can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free anytime — and earnings can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free at age 59 1/2 or older
and once the account has been open for at least five years. There are some exceptions.
“If you don’t have an employer and you want to send money ahead for retirement and you want to do it pre-tax, you’ll use a traditional IRA,” Scheiderer says. “If you wanted to do it post-tax, because you’re younger and in a lower tax bracket, then you’ll consider the Roth IRA instead.”
Health Savings Accounts allow you to save money for qualified medical expenses, including for when you are retired.
“Health Savings Accounts are much more prevalent than they were five, 10 years ago,” Scheiderer says. “The only way you can contribute to an HSA is if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan. It’s a way to save pre-tax into the health savings account if made through payroll, invest those dollars, they grow without you paying taxes on them. And then when you take money out to pay for health expenses, it’s not taxable either. If you make contributions personally, they are tax-deductible.”
For upcoming health expenses, especially during retirement, an HSA is essentially a savings account with beneficial tax treatment.
“The underlying investment allocation’s going to be much more important to understand, because you may be accessing the funds tomorrow if there’s an unexpected health expense, or you may not be utilizing the funds until you’re 65 or 70,” says Scheiderer.
Since an HSA is focused on health funding, you can have both an IRA and an HSA or an HSA and a 401(k). The annual contribution limit is $4,300 for an individual, $8,550 for a family and, at 55, individuals can contribute an extra $1,000. Whatever method you utilize to save for your retirement, it’s important to start as soon as possible. You’re not only investing in funds for your future — you’re investing in your future peace of mind.
“You need to … send money ahead. You can’t just wake up and retire one day without a plan in place,” says Scheiderer. “Life will always change, whether it’s big or small. And so recognizing that your financial plan is a dynamic part of your financial life is really important.”
W3 Financial , we foster a culture of innovation, constantly seeking new opportunities for our clients, and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. dedication to integrity, transparency, and client satisfaction is at the core of everything we do, building partnerships based on trust and reliability. is this relentless pursuit of excellence that positions us as a in the finance industry. We firmly believe that through education and open communication with our valued clients, we can alleviate their concerns regarding the management and purpose of their finances.
experience has taught us that maintaining regular meetings to discuss wealth is the cornerstone of reducing financial stress. We are dedicated to delivering unbiased and proactive guidance, ensuring that our clients stay on track to achieve their an environment of transparent and constant communication, allowing our clients to freely express their thoughts and concerns at any given time.
W3 is a team of Certified Financial Planner™ professionals whose role is to offer an unbiased view of your total financial picture. We look at your taxes, inflation, spending, savings, investment returns, risk protection, and cash flows. Financial planning is not a onetime event, but rather, an ongoing process.
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. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended 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.
B Breakfast
L Lunch
D Dinner Patio
Alcohol available Takeout available
Valet parking
Wheelchair Accessible
$ average entrees less than $6
$$ average entrees between $6-$10
$$$ average entrees between $11-$16
$$$$ average entrees are $17 or higher
Information subject to change.
Please call ahead to verify location, hours and events.
Akron Family Restaurant
250 W. Market St., Akron, 330-376-0600
$$ B L D
Aladdin’s Eatery
782 W. Market St., Akron, 330-535-0110
$$$ L D
Al’s Corner Restaurant
155 Second St. NW, Barberton, 330-475-7978
$$ L
Alexander Pierce Restaurant
797 E. Market St., Akron, 330-529-2003
$$$ D
Arcadia Grill
85 years. 321 Court Ave. NW, Canton, 234-214-8940
$$ B L D
Arnie’s West Branch Steak House
5343 state Route 14, Ravenna, 330-297-1717
$$$ D
Barley House
222 S. Main St., Akron, 330-374-0925
$$ L D
Basil Asian Bistro
585 Market Ave. N, Canton, 330-452-3888;
145 W. Liberty St., Wooster, 330-601-0885
$$$ L D
The Battleground
425 Cherry St., Kent, 330-548-9019
$$$ B L D
Beau’s Grille
3180 W. Market St., Akron, 330-867-5218
$$$$ B L D
Beau’s on the River
Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, 1989
Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-7530
$$$ B L D
Belgrade Gardens
401 E. State St., Barberton, 330-745-0113
$$$ L D
Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders
3657 Fishcreek Road, Stow, 330-678-3000
$$ L D
Bender’s Tavern
137 Court Ave. SW, Canton, 330-453-8424
$$$$ L D
Bianca’s Ristorante Italiano
4284 Beverly Hills Drive, Brunswick, 330-225-0927
$$$ L D
Big Eu’es BBQ
1730 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-706-6700
$$ L D
Big Eye Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar
2965 W. Market St., Fairlawn, Suite L, 330-836-4433
$$$ L D
The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard
1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000
$$$ L D
The Bistro of Green
3459 Massillon Road, Uniontown, 330-896-1434
$$$$ D
Bistro on Main
1313 W. Main St., Kent, 330-673-9900
$$$ L D
Block 7 Bar & Grill
524 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, 330-745-7677
$$ L D
Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern
8960 Wilcox Drive, Twinsburg, 330-486-2583
$$$$ L D
The Blue Door Cafe & Bakery
1970 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-926-9774
$$$ B L
Berlin Farmstead
4757 Township Road 366, Berlin, 330-893-4600
$$ B L D
Bob’s Hamburg
1351 East Ave., Akron; Inside Ray’s Pub, 801. W. Market St., Akron; 330-253-2627
$ B L D
Boiling House
1 W. Exchange St., Suite 150, Akron, 234-571-9692
$$$$ L D
Bombay Sitar
5111 Fulton Drive NW, Canton, 330-305-0671
$$ L D
Bricco West
3150 W. Market St., Akron, 330-835-2203
$$$ L D
Brew Wall
3161 Heritage Center Drive, Copley, 330-576-6880
$$$ L D
Brubaker’s Pub
4005 Medina Road, Montrose, 330-666-8021
$$$ L D
Burntwood Tavern
3750 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 234-466-7372
$$$$ L D
The Cabin
35 E. Garfield Road, Aurora, 330-562-9171
$$$$ B L D
Cafe Tandoor
96 Barrington Town Square Drive, Aurora, 330-562-5334
$$$ L D
Casa Del Rio
839 High St., Wadsworth, 330-335-4001; Express location, 2927 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-849-5160
$$ L D
Caston & Main Brew Yard
5010 S. Main St., Akron, 330-882-2275
$$$ L D
Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop
3984 Kent Road, Stow, 330-688-2684
$$$ L D
Chameleon Cafe
23 S. Main St., Akron, 234-334-3603
$$ B L D
China City
156 Cherry St., Kent, 330-673-6566
$$ L D
Chin’s Place
474 W. Market St., Akron, 330-434-1998
$$ L D
Chowder House Cafe
1244 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-794-7102
$$$ L D
Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant
326 S. Main St., Suite 1204, Akron, 330-434-2876
$$$ L D
Circle L Steakhouse at the Galaxy
201 Park Centre Drive, Wadsworth, 330-334-3663
$$$$ B L D
Cool Beans Cafe
103 W. Liberty St., Medina, 330-723-7174
$$ B L D
Corkscrew Saloon
811 W. Liberty, Medina, 330-725-0220
$$$$ L D
Crave
156 S. Main St., Akron, 330-253-1234
$$ L D
Crave Cantina
2097 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-9402000
$$$$ L D
The Crush House at Gervasi Vineyard
1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000, ext. 5
$$ L D
D’Agnese’s at White Pond Akron 566 White Pond Drive, Akron, 234-678-3612
$$$ L D
Danny Boy’s
6081 Dressler Road NW, Canton, 330-499-3726; 10 Tallmadge Circle, Tallmadge, 330-633-7844
$$$ L D
Darby’s on Fifty-Nine
2764 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-922-7540
$$$ L D
Dean Martin’s Lanning’s 826 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Bath, 330-666-1159, 330-864-2553
$$$$ D
Deli Ohio
328 Walnut Ave. NE, Canton, 330-453-7777
$$ L D
Desert Inn
204 12th St. NW, Canton, 330-456-1766
$$$$ L D
Dewey’s Pizza Summit Mall, 3265 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-873-4444
$$$ L D
Diamond Deli
378 S. Main St., Akron, 330-762-5877
$$ B L
Diamond Grille
77 W. Market St., Akron, 330-253-0041
$$$$ L D (no credit cards)
Divine Food Spirits Wine 2752 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-334-4400
$$$$ D
Dominic’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
221 S. Jefferson St., Medina, 330-725-8424
$$ L D
Dontino’s Fine Italian Cuisine 555 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, 330-928-9530
$$ L D
Downtown 140 140 N. Main St., Hudson, 330-655-2940
$$$$ L D
Driftwood Modern American Bistro Embassy Suites by Hilton Akron-Canton Airport, 7883 Freedom Ave. NW, North Canton, 330-305-0500
$$$ D
Eadie’s Fish House Bar & Grill 6616 Wise Ave. NW, North Canton, 330-494-4000
$$$ L D
Eddy’s Deli and Restaurant 2655 Oakwood Drive, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-7489; 4581 Kent Road, Stow, 330-346-0551
$$ B L D
Edgar’s
530 Nome Ave. at J.E. Good Park Golf Course, Akron, 330-869-3000
$$$ D
El Campesino Restaurante Mexicano 4360 Kent Road, Stow, 330-686-5561; 9169 state Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-626-9777
$$$ L D
El Fogon Mexican Grill
1080 Interstate Parkway, Green, 330-644-7700
$$ L D
El Rincon
1485 S. Arlington St., 330-785-3724
$$ L D
by Kelly Petryszyn photos by Erin Gulling
Explore a world of teas at Liquid Lab & Studio.
On the wall of its Northside Marketplace micro shop, Liquid Lab & Studio displays a world map to educate customers about the origins of tea. Owner Paige Reeher likes to point out that boba tea was developed in Taiwan in the 1980s — but that tapioca boba pearls are made from the cassava plant, which originated in Brazil thousands of years ago.
“We want to share the geographic, cultural and historical aspects of our ingredients, and hopefully that will help connect our customers to the beauty and diversity of the world,” says the Ecological Society of America-certified ecologist and tea enthusiast, who also holds Liquid Lab workshops on the world of tea.
Opened in Northside in late 2024, Liquid Lab started as a concession trailer that same year. Patrons can usually choose from nine milk teas, four fruit teas and six specialty teas, along with limited specials and various loose-leaf green and black teas. Customize the boba in any drink, choosing from brown sugar tapioca or popping boba, along with crystal boba, jellies and aloe vera varieties when available. Reeher sources organic teas whenever possible and uses fresh, high-quality brown sugar boba. She recommends newbies start with simple almond milk tea — Assam black tea, milk, sweetener, almond flavor and brown sugar boba. From a variety of house-made fruit teas, try the Peachy Keen, with herbal sencha green tea blend, peach puree, sweetener and peach popping boba. For even punchier flavor, opt for Tropical Bliss — herbal sencha green tea blend with mango, peach and passion fruit purees, sweetener and kiwi popping boba.
“Tropical Bliss is a combination of sweet and tart,” says Reeher. “Passion fruit is naturally a very sour, very tart ingredient. … The passion fruit shines through, but the mango and the peach help tame it down.”
Unique specialty teas are packed with flavor, including the Adeni chai, featuring Assam black tea steeped with cinnamon, cardamom and clove, house-made brown sugar syrup and brown sugar boba. “It’s deliciously spiced,” she says.
To experience more of Liquid Lab’s global flair, order the ube milk tea, featuring sencha green tea, milk, house-made ube syrup and brown sugar boba. “Ube is from the Philippines, and when you add sugar to it, it has a very nutty vanilla kind of flavor,” Reeher says. “So that’s a delicious treat of milk tea, and it’s naturally vibrant purple, which is even better.”
21 Furnace St., Suite 404E, Akron, 330-442-8399, liquidlabandstudio.com
Emidio & Sons
636 N. Main St., Akron, 330-253-4777; 3204 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-4282
$$ B L D
Erie Street Kitchen
163 Erie St., Kent, 330-593-5928
$$$ D
The Eye Opener
1688 W. Market St., Akron, 330-867-1114
$$ B L D
Farmer Boy Restaurant
1324 Canton Road, Akron, 330-784-4052
$$ B L D
The Farmer’s Table
Exchange Market, 320 S. Court St., Suite 100, Medina, 330-952-2079
$$$$ L D
Fat Head’s Brewery
3885 Everhard Road NW, Canton, 330-244-8601
$$$ L D
Fiesta Pizza and Chicken
1860 Newton St., Akron, 330-733-2201
$$ L D
Firehouse Grill & Pub 10 Tallmadge Circle, Tallmadge, 330-634-9967
$$ L D
Fisher’s Cafe & Pub 1607 Main St., Peninsula, 330-657-2651
$$ L D
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
4000 Medina Road, Akron, 330-670-5200
$$$$ D
FlipSide
49 Village Way, Hudson, 330-655-3547
$$ L D
Foundry Social
333 Foundry St., Medina, 330-333-9000
$$ L D
Franklin Square Deli
108 S. Water St., Kent, 330-673-2942
$$$$ L
Fred’s Diner
930 Home Ave., Akron, 330-535-3733
$ B L
Fresco Mexican Grill and Salsa Bar
100 E. Erie St., Kent, 330-677-2588
$$ L D
Fronimo’s Downtown 315 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, 234-640-8665
$$ D
The Galaxy Restaurant
201 Park Center Drive, Wadsworth, 330-334-3663
$$$ B L D
Garretts Mill Diner
4226 Hudson Drive, Stow, 330-926-1344
$$ B L
Gasoline Alley
870 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Bath, 330-666-2670
$$$ L D
George’s Lounge
229 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, 330-452-0029
$$ B L D
Gio’s Italian Oven
1186 Canton Road, Akron, 330-733-7586
$$$ L D
Girves Brown Derby
5051 Eastpointe Drive, Medina, 330-721-1731; 9230 state Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-626-2171;
$$$$ L (only on weekends) D
Golden Dragon
1634 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-1109
$$ L D
Green Diamond Grille & Pub
125 Second St. NW, Barberton, 330-745-1900
$$$ L D
Grinders Above & Beyond
1671 N. Main St., North Canton, 330-497-4800
$$ L D
Guiseppe’s Pizza
14 E. Caston Road, Akron, 330-644-8842; 5642 Wales Ave. NW, Massillon, 234-258-4800
$$ L D
H2 Huth & Harris Wine Merchants
221 S. Court St., Medina, 330-805-3212; 427 Tuscarawas St. E, Canton: 330-815-4959
$$$$ L D
Hamad’s on Main
1826 E. Market St., Akron, 330-733-8381
$$ B L
Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery
1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330-877-9353
$$$ L D
Henry Wahner’s Restaurant
1609 E. Main St., Kent, 330-678-4055
$$$$ D (No credit cards)
Hibachi Japan Steak House
1803 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-3333
$$$ L D
HiHO Brewing Co.
1707 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 234-334-7564
$$$ L D
Honeymoon Grille
3458 Manchester Road, Akron, 330-644-4355
$$$ B L D
Hopocan Gardens
4396 W. Hopocan Ave., Barberton, 330-825-9923
$$ L D (No credit cards)
House of Hunan
18 Public Square, Medina, 330-722-1899
$$ L D
Hudson’s Restaurant
80 N. Main St., Hudson, 330-650-1955
$$$ B L D
The Howlin Bird
123 S. Main St., North Canton, 234-714-9000
$$$ B L D
Ido Bar & Grill
1537 S. Main St., Akron, 330-773-1724
$$$ L D
Jerzee’s Sports Grille
1019 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, 330-896-9464
$$ L D
The Jetty River Bar and Grill
1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-7544
$$$ L D
Jilly’s Music Room
111 N. Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757
$$ B D (weekends)
Jimmy’s Backyard BBQ
526 Graham Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-349-6949
$$ L D
Jimmy Bigg’s Grille
1927 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-2444
$$ L D
Kasai Japanese Restaurant
295 Weatherstone Drive, Wadsworth, 330-334-7141; 3875 Massillon Road, Suite 300, Uniontown, 330-899-9788
$$$ L D
Ken Stewart’s Grille
1970 W. Market St., Akron, 330-867-2555
$$$$ L D
Ken Stewart’s Lodge
1911 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Bath, 330-666-8881
$$$$ D
Ken Stewart’s Tre Belle
1911 N. Cleveland Massillon Road, Bath, 330-666-9990
$$$ D
Kennedy’s Bar-B-Que
1420 Seventh St. NW, Canton, 330-454-0193
$ L D
Kingfish
15 Montrose West Ave., Copley, 330-777-2005
$$$$ D
Kozmo’s Grille
37 First St. SW, Massillon, 330-832-8807
$$$ L D
LagerHeads BBQ Smokehouse and Brewing Co.
2832 Abbeyville Road, Medina, 330-725-1947
$$$ L D
Lager & Vine Gastropub & Wine Bar
30 W. Streetsboro St., Hudson, 330-650-1717
$$$ L D
La Loma
459 Darrow Road, Akron, 330-784-9300
$$ L D
Laziza
Acorn Alley, 195 E. Erie St., Kent, 330-677-7000
$$$ L D
The Leopard
600 N. Aurora Road, Aurora, 330-562-2111
$$$$ D
Leo’s Italian Social
2251 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-400-4427
$$$$ B L D
Lizardville
21 and over only. 79 Springside Drive, Copley Township, 330-644-1782
$$ D
Lock 15 Brewing Co.
21 W. North St., Akron, 234-900-8277
$$$ L D
The Lockview
207 S. Main St., Akron, 330-252-5128
$$ L D
Luca’s New York Style Pizza
3451 Darrow Road, Stow, 330-688-9595
$$$ D
Lucca Downtown
228 Fourth St. NW, Canton, 330-456-2534.
$$$$ L D
Lucia’s Steakhouse
4769 Belpar St. NW, Canton, 330-492-9933
$$$$ D
Lucci’s
2457 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-571-0053; 405 E. Main St., Kent, 330-673-9833
$$ L D
Luigi’s Restaurant
105 N. Main St., Akron, 330-253-2999
$$ L D (No credit cards)
Lukity Country Inn
2697 Manchester Road, Akron, 330-753-5983
$$ B L D
Magic City’s Remarkable Diner
451 Fairview Ave., Barberton, 330-983-9787
$$ B L
Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery
6193 Edison St. NE, Hartville, 330-877-8344
$$ L D
Mandarin House
3201 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-8157
$$ L D
Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub
8870 Darrow Road, Twinsburg, 330-405-3663
$$$ L D
Meet Me At Irene’s
264 Kent Ave. NE, Hartville, 330-877-6477
$ B L
Menches Bros. 4887 Tuscawaras St. W, Canton, 234-410-3444; 3700 Massillon Road, Green, 330-896-2288; 235 Lincoln Way W, Massillon, 330-832-6200
$$ B L D
The Merchant Tavern 1824 Merriman Road, Akron, 330-865-9510
$$$ L D
Michael’s AM 1562 Akron Peninsula Road, Suite 120, Akron, 330-929-3447
$$ B L D
Mike’s Place
1700 S. Water St., Kent, 330-673-6501
$$ B L D
Missing Falls Brewery
540 S. Main St., Suite 112, Akron, 234-231-1000
$$ L D
Moe’s Restaurant
2385 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-6600
$$$$ L D
Molly Brown’s Country Cafe 518 Canton Road, Akron, 330-784-4711; 493 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, 234-312-9351
$$ B L
Mr. Zub’s Deli & Bar
795 W. Market St., Akron, 330-252-0272
$ B L D
Mulligan’s Restaurant & Pub 4118 Belden Village St. NW, Canton, 330-493-8239
$$$ B L D
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
867 W. Market St., Akron, 330-434-7333
$$$ B L D
Nauti Vine Winery
3950 S. Main St., Akron, 330-644-5444
$$$ D
Nepali Kitchen
399 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, 330-631-1112
$$$ L D
New Era Restaurant
10 Massillon Road, Akron, 330-784-0087
$$ L D
Niko’s Sandwich Board Cafe 1947 W. Market St., Suite 104, Akron, 330-794-5444
$$ L D
91 Wood Fired Oven
1983 Easton St. NW in Washington Square Plaza, North Canton, 330-498-9191; 5570 Fulton Drive NW, Canton, 330-497-9111
$$$ D
Nomz Cafe
21 Furnace St., Akron, 330-286-1315
$$$ B L D
North End
7542 Darrow Road, Hudson, 330-342-1400
$$$$ D
Oak and Embers Tavern 7774 Darrow Road, Hudson, 234-602-1056
$$$ L D
The Oaks Lakeside
5878 Longacre Lane, Chippewa Lake, 330-769-2601
$$$$ B D
111 Bistro
2736 Medina Road, Medina, 330-952-1122
$$$$ D
One Red Door
49 Village Way, Hudson, 330-342-3667
$$$$ B L D
On Tap Grille & Bar 3263 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-922-0464; 2736 Medina Road, Medina, 330-725-1972
$$ L D
Open Door Coffee Co.
164 N. Main St., Hudson, 330-653-5900
$ B
Pad Thai 3545 Brookwall Drive, Fairlawn, 330-668-9981; 5657 Darrow Road, Hudson, 330-650-9998
$$$ L D
Pancho & Lefty’s 3254 Kent Road, Stow, 330-686-6781
$$$ L D
Papa Gyros Greek Grill
1 N. Hawkins Ave., Akron, 330-247-2475
$$ L D
Papa Joe’s Iacomini’s 1561 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron, 330-923-7999
$$$ L D
Parasson’s
959 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-724-9375
$$$ L D
Park Street Pizza
215 Dover Road, Sugarcreek, 330-852-2993
$$$ L D
Platinum Dragon
814 W. Market St., Akron, 330-434-8108
$$ L D
Primo’s Deli
1707 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, 330-745-9056
$$ L D
The Rail
3265 W. Market St., Akron, 330-864-7245
$$ L D
The Ramp Restaurant
3719 S. Main St., Akron, 234-678-6370
$$$$ L D
Rasicci’s Pizza
513 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, 330-923-1999
$ L D
Ray’s Place
135 Franklin Ave., Kent, 330-673-2233
$$ L D
Rice Paper Thai Cuisine
3867 Medina Road, Fairlawn, 234-466-0499
$$$ L D
The River Merchant Restaurant & Wine Market
911 N. Mantua St., Kent, 330-968-6376
$$$$ L D
Rizzi’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
2809 Copley Road, Copley, 330-666-1221, 330-668-2626
$$ L D
Rockne’s Pub
7 Merriman Road, Akron, 330-762-7555
$$ L D
Rose Garden Restaurant
2033 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-706-6630
$$ L D
Rosewood Grill
36 E. Streetsboro St., Hudson, 330-656-2100
$$$$ L (Fri/Sat only) D
Russo’s
4895 State Road, Peninsula, 330-923-2665
$$$$ D
Saffron Patch in the Valley 1238 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-836-7777
$$$ L D
Sakura
3900 Medina Road, Akron, 330-670-0288
$$$ L D
Samantha’s on Portage
4954 Portage St. NW, North Canton, 330-499-9700
$$ B L D
Sammie’s Bar and Grill
498 South Ave., Tallmadge, 234-678-8334
$$ L D
Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria
6738 Center Road, Valley City, 330-483-2000
$$$ L D
Sam Sylk’s Chicken & Fish
1400 S. Arlington Road, Akron, 234-571-0802
$$$ L D
Sarah’s Vineyard
1204 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-8057
$$ L D
Sérénité Restaurant & Culinary Institute
538 W. Liberty St., Medina, 330-952-2611
$$$$ L D
Shawarma Bros.
1808 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-334-3996
$$ L D
Sisters Century House
123 S. Canal St. S, Canal Fulton, 330-854-9914
$$ B L
Skyway Drive-In Restaurant
2781 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330-836-2806; 951 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Green, 330-896-9350
$ L D
Social at the Stone House
824 Lincoln Way E, Massillon, 330-809-0461
$$$$ L D
Spennato’s Italian Ristorante 10446 Northfield Road, Northfield, 330-468-8688
$$$ L D
Stricklands Frozen Custard
1809 Triplett Blvd., Akron; 2629 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-8498; 3465 S. Arlington Road, Green, 330-899-9477; 9070 state Route 14, Streetsboro, 330-626-2750
$
Sushi Katsu
1446 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-867-2334
$$$ L D
Swensons Drive-In
658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., Akron, 330-928-8515
$ L D
Table Six Kitchen & Bar
6113 Whipple Ave NW, North Canton, 330-305-1666
$$$ L D
Taco Tontos
123 Franklin Ave., Kent, 330-677-0223
$$ L D
Taggart’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant 1401 Fulton Road NW, Canton, 330-452-6844
$ L D
Tail Gators Sports Pub & Grille
469 College St., Wadsworth, 330-334-5151
$$ L D
Taste of Bangkok
514 E. Exchange St., Akron, 330-252-2270
$$ L D
3 Palms Pizzeria
60 Village Way, Hudson, 330-342-4545
$$$ L D
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
529 Grant Street, Akron,330-252-2739
$$ L D
Thyme2
113 W. Smith Road, Medina, 330-764-4114
$$$$ L D
Tim’s Pizzeria and Pub
2823 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-1530
$$$ D
Timber Lodge
2809 Pearl Road, Medina, 330-725-6288
$$$$ D
Tip Top Restaurant & Catering 3428 Darrow Road, Stow, 330-688-3171
$$ B L D
Tito’s Mexican Grill
25 Ghent Road, Fairlawn, 330-835-9801
$$$ L D
Tokyo Hibachi and Sushi
1132 N. Court St., Medina, 330-952-2818
$$$$ L D
Tomaso’s Italian Villa 3271 Barber Road, Norton, 330-745-6063
$$ L D
Tomato Grill
106 First St., Hudson, 330-342-3771
$$$$ L D
Tong-Tong
1646 Norton Road, Stow, 330-655-2550
$$ L D
Totally Cooked To-Go
388 S. Main St., Akron, 330-294-1102
$$ B L D
Town Tavern
3900 Medina Road Unit J, Akron, 330-666-1191; 1840 Town Park Blvd., Uniontown, 330-896-4433
$$$ B L D
Trecaso’s Mary Coyle
780 W. Market St., Akron, 330-253-1511
$$ L D
Twiisted Burgers & Sushi
985 Boardman Alley, Medina, 330-661-0606
$$$ D
Twisted Citrus
1649 N. Main St., North Canton, 330-305-9680
$$ B L
The Twisted Olive 5430 Massillon Road, Green, 330-899-0550
$$$ L D
Vaccaro’s Trattoria
1000 Ghent Road, Akron, 330-666-6158
$$$ L D
Valley Cafe
1212 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-865-0101; 101 High St., Wadsworth, 330-331-7555
$$ B L D (Wadsworth only)
Valley’s Edge
10777 Northfield Road, Northfield, 330-908-7602
$$$$ D
Vasili’s Greek Cuisine 1702 Merriman Road, Akron, 330-864-0722
$$ L D
Village Inn Chicken
4444 S. Cleveland Massillon Road, Barberton, 330-825-4553
$$ L D
Village Gardens Restaurant and Pub 2437 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-5751
$ B L D
Vinifera Wine-to-Whiskey
3236 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-571-0233
$$$ D
Virtues
525 E. Market St., Akron, 330-375-7444
$$$ B L
Wally Waffle
845 W. Market St., Akron, 330-374-4915; 100 North Ave., Tallmadge, 330-633-7400; 3997 Medina Road, Bath, 234-466-0155
$$ B L
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse
150 Montrose West Ave., Copley, 330-666-5522; 6338 Strip Ave. NW, North Canton, 330-966-8866
$$$$ L D
Waterloo Restaurant
423 E. Waterloo Road, Akron, 330-773-5158
$$ B L D
Water Main Grille
339 Main St., Wadsworth, 330-331-7757
$$ L D
West Ave Tavern
67 West Ave., Tallmadge, 330-630-2888
$$$ L D
The West Side Bakery
2303 W. Market St., Akron, 330-836-4101
$ B L
Whitehouse Chicken
180 Wooster Road N, Barberton, 330-745-0449; 4195 Massillon Road, Uniontown, 330-896-5644; 199 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, 330-335-6000 $$ L D
Whitey’s Booze N’ Burgers
3600 Brecksville Road, Richfield, 330-659-3600
$$ D (No credit cards)
Wild Goats Coffee & Cafe
319 W. Main St., Kent, 330-677-2326
$$ B L D
The Wine Mill
4964 Akron Cleveland Road, Peninsula, 234-571-2594
$$$ L D
Winking Lizard Tavern
79 Springside Drive, Copley, 330-644-1780
$$ L D
Wise Guys Lounge & Grill
1008 N. Main St., Akron, 330-922-3006
$$$$ L D
Wolf Creek Tavern 3044 Wadsworth Road, Norton, 234-571-4531
$$$$ L D
Yours Truly
36 S. Main St., Hudson, 330-656-2900; 3725 Medina Road, Medina, 330-722-5800
$$ B L D
Please send any changes or corrections to kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com.
Akron Electricians Local 306 (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers(IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) have been powering Akron and the surrounding area and giving back to our community since 1926!
As Akron celebrates its 200th anniversary, we recognize it as a city that inspires. Throughout its storied history, Akron has reinvented itself in remarkable ways. From its early years as a canal town to the industrial boom that led to its distinction as the Rubber Capital of the World to its current landscape as a leader in technology through its regional Polymer Innovation Hub, Akron continues to evolve — fueled by the energy, passion, resilience and ingenuity of its people.
Akron 200 seeks to celebrate these characteristics, as we highlight the history that helped make us who we are and embrace the opportunities and challenges before us that will lead to a vibrant and more promising future. Our mission is to touch every corner of our city, engaging every neighborhood, community and sector in a yearlong intergenerational celebration not to be forgotten. From history hikes, our concert series, theatrical productions, sports tournaments and children’s events, to our bicentennial parade, homecoming celebration, Soap Box Derby race and closing ceremony, you’ll find something for everyone throughout the bicentennial year, with ample opportunities to get involved and be a part of the festivities.
So join us as we mark the passing of Akron’s 200th year. A city with two centuries of extraordinary history, Akron’s best chapters are still yet to be written. With so many of our stories to tell — what will yours be?
- Akron 200 Executive Director Mark Greer
{ by Kelly Petryszyn, 1925 parade photo provided by Summit Memory/ Akron-Summit County Public Library }
Enjoy signature week activities in July.
Downtown Parade, presented by Goodyear
July 5, 10 a.m. to noon
Akron Bicentennial Commission
Executive Secretary Dave Lieberth threw out a challenge for the parade celebrating Akron’s 200 years: “I wanted it to be the biggest parade that Akron has seen since the sesquicentennial in 1975 — that was really the last time we had a big parade in Akron,” he says.
He remembers that sesquicentennial parade. “Almost every major corporation or business was represented in the parade. I remember that Acme had a horse-drawn wagon. Billow’s had its horsedrawn hearse. Goodyear, BF Goodrich, Firestone, General Tire all had floats in the parade, along with First National Bank of Akron and the other banks,” he recalls. “It was a big parade that probably lasted for
an hour and a half to two hours, and there were thousands of people on Main Street who were there to watch it.” The 1925 centennial parade was massive as well, with thousands of marchers.
This year’s Akron Bicentennial Downtown Parade, presented by Goodyear, on July 5 will take a new route. It will start at the corner of East Market and North Main streets, go up East Market to High Street, down High to Buchtel Avenue, turn right on Buchtel, go to Canal Park and turn right on Main to return to the start. Onlookers can line up anywhere along the route for a great view of participants from local businesses, organizations, schools, performing arts groups and more.
The parade is the pinnacle of a year of events — and of the Akron Bicentennial Signature Celebration Week from July 1 to 5. To participate in the parade or volunteer, sign up at akron200.org.
“If you want to celebrate Akron’s 200th birthday, there’s one time and place to do it, and this is it. … This is the moment where they can really be involved in the bicentennial in a very direct way by being a participant or spectator in the parade,” Lieberth says. “It’s the height of our celebration.”
Downtown Akron, July 3-5, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chow down on eats from local Akron food vendors. Enjoy classic Fourth of July fare and, on July 5, sample iconic Akron dishes of the past. “It’s important for us to have a wide variety of vendors that represent all of our communities here in Akron,” says Akron 200 Executive Director Mark Greer. See fireworks on July Fourth.
172 S. Main St., Akron Wed - Sat, 10:00am - 2:00pm akronhistorycenter.org
Bicentennial Homecoming: Feature the Future Exhibition, presented by Bridgestone Lock 3, July 5, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Take in exhibitors showcasing industries, technologies and innovations at the forefront of Akron’s future. Also enjoy the opening of Akron’s 2000 time capsule. Sectors represented include health care, arts, science, technology, higher education, media and more. Some exhibitors include the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub and the Akron Art Museum, which plans to highlight some of its new technology. “We want to bring to light the opportunities that are available right now in Akron and those on the horizon,” Greer says. “We want to galvanize all parts of our community as we focus on writing the next chapters that are propelling us into a future of growth, development, vibrancy and progress.”
The Forgotten History Forum Series sheds light on lesser-known local topics.
Most locals know about Akron’s history as the Rubber Capital of the World — but few know Akron’s rubber industry was trailblazing in its hiring of deaf workers. This revelation and other lesser-known subjects are what Akron 200’s Forgotten History Forum Series, presented by FirstEnergy Foundation, is all about.
“The Forgotten History Forum Series looks to explore a number of topics and seminal points in our city’s history that are not often discussed and some which still challenge us today,” says Akron 200 Executive Director Mark Greer of the series that’s broadcast by PBS Western Reserve. “We wanted to make sure we shine a light on a lot of these areas that many Akronites today haven’t heard about as much.”
From arts to urban development, the series’ wide-ranging topics are inclusive to represent all communities of Akronites — as well as key aspects of the Akron 200 celebration. So far this year, forums have discussed the new Akron History Center, women trailblazers and the lost cinemas of Akron.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with people remarking how many things in our history they weren’t aware of, including those who are students of history,” says Greer.
On May 20, The Summit FM will lead a discussion on the Akron Sound movement, which took place from the mid1970s to the mid ‘80s — when many punk, new wave and experimental bands were formed. On June 10, attendees will learn about the history of deaf rubber workers and their impact on the industry. Set to be released by the University of Akron Press in July, a new Akron History Anthology — which features 29 chapters by different
local authors — will be the focus of the July 15 forum. It will be moderated by Jon Miller, director of the University of Akron Press and editor of the book.
The August 12 event will revolve around Akron space flight and the history of the early Mercury spacesuits designed at BF Goodrich. Head to Ed Davis Community Center September 9 for the Sole of Akron forum, which will tie in the history of sports and athletic wear in Akron. It will be led by Akron Sneaker Academy Founder and Executive Director Dominique Waters. October will bring two forums. On
October 14, learn about Native American history. On October 28, at the University of Akron’s Dr. Shirla R. McClain Gallery, hear a moderated discussion about McClain’s groundbreaking dissertation on Akron’s Black history between Greer and local historian Gabriel Scott.
November 18 will offer a forum on the history of urban renewal in Akron, addressing how the city’s failed Innerbelt project, among other examples, displaced predominately Black communities in its path. The panel will feature speakers, including Terrence Shelton of the Akron
Rites of Passage Institute, whose family was displaced by the Innerbelt.
“We want to look at the real-life impact and the generational implications of those actions, the socioeconomic and cultural impact, and use that as measuring point for what will be proposed in the future,” Greer says.
The series will close December 2 with a forum on the history of Black churches in Akron, including how they have been a huge component of Black culture and have driven change — not only in the Black community, but in Akron as a whole. Catch up with past talks, as well as additional content, at akron200.org. Greer encourages Akronites to attend the forums to witness speakers providing insight on historical Akron topics not often discussed.
“It’s really an amazing opportunity to learn about the people, the movements, the events that really shaped Akron and made us who we are,” he says “There’s not one forum that’s going to happen where you won’t leave without learning at least one new thing, but more likely several, you didn’t know before.”
Forums will be held at Akron-Summit County Public Library’s main branch auditorium unless otherwise noted, 60 S. High St., Akron
Proudly serving Summit, Portage & Medina counties since 1937
The Tri-County Building & Construction Trades Council provides essential coordination and support to the work of its affiliated local unions in order that, through intern-trade solidarity, organized construction workers achieve a powerful voice in government, in bargaining, and in their communities.
Gum-Dip Theatre Co-artistic Director Katie Beck doesn’t want audiences to think of the theater’s original Akron bicentennial play as a history lesson.
“I want it to have these aha moments,” she says. “And one big theme in all of that that I’ve been thinking about is also trying to highlight these moments of collective action, when collectivism actually helped us progress.”
The play is commissioned as part of Akron’s bicentennial celebration and performed July 31 to August 2 at 8 p.m. and August 3 at 2 p.m. at Waters Park. It follows Gum-Dip’s ethos: The theater aims to tell stories relevant to the Akron community it’s called home since 2015.
“Gum-Dip Theatre creates plays and facilitates happenings in order to engage the community artistically and genuinely by uplifting their stories in creative ways,” says Beck. “We believe that theater is a tool for social change when the conditions are right.”
Written by Beck and Jeff St. Clair and
developed through partnerships with other artists, the play will be based on years of research, as well as community interviews. Beck’s research utilizes library materials and books, including essays from the forthcoming bicentennial book. Using parody and satire, the play will be comprised of a series of sketches that span from the Akron area’s Indigenous history to its present day. Beck plans to focus the work on little-known aspects of the area’s past.
“I think highlighting those lesser-known pieces helps people see themselves in it and then can also sort of drive this underlying message of we’re better together,” says Beck. “We all know Alcoholics Anonymous was founded here, but a lot of the reason that that organization exists is because of the women behind it.”
Alongside historical figures like Sojourner Truth, the piece will also include the history of the Innerbelt, the rubber industry and the toy manufacturing industry in Akron
— as well as aspects of queer history, immigration and refugee history and more.
“Being someone from Akron, I’ve already been conditioned to know a lot of the history, and I’ve already done my own research throughout other projects,” Beck says. “So it’s finding those surprising moments that are exciting to me.”
As in other Gum-Dip productions, the actors for the project will likely be community members. Beck hopes audiences will reflect on the play, and that it will spark discussions about the importance of togetherness.
“Theater is one of the only art forms where it is human to human — in order for it to happen, you have to have all the humans in a place physically. Yeah, you can livestream or record, but it’s not the same. And there’s even been research that shows that audience members’ heartbeats will start to align,” says Beck. “How can we come together in times of isolation and grief? Collectivism has always been more powerful.”
15,000-plus bulbs already planted throughout city parks and public spaces, now blooming and marked with Akron 200 signs. The initiative is also raising funds to install an impactful mural and perhaps more public art throughout Akron. Bicentennial Beautification Initiative
Volunteer to clean up one of Akron’s 24 neighborhoods and help with neighborhood plantings for this important initiative — presented by Akron 200 in partnership with Keep Akron Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Progress Through Preservation, Summit Metro Parks and more. Plus, enjoy
May 15 Dearest Enemy History Lecture
June 1 Downtown Akron Partnership Juneteenth Celebration
June 1 Kirat Cultural Festival
June 12 & Akron Artwalk September 11
June 21 Dearest Enemy Production, presented by AkronSummit County Public Library
July 18-20 African American Festival
August 16 PorchRokr Music & Art Festival
September 4-6 Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival
September 20 Akron Latin Festival
October 10 Outlined in Black Exhibition
October 18 Downtown Akron Fall Fest
November 1 Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival
Speed down an adrenaline-pumping track at night to celebrate Akron’s history of Soap Box Derby racing.
Though Soap Box Derby race cars are propelled by gravity instead of gas, Akron’s Derby Downs — with its 989.4-foot downhill track — still hosts heart-pounding races.
“When they come to Akron, it’s the thrill of the hill,” says International Soap Box Derby President and CEO Scott Taylor. “It’s the excitement. It’s competing for the world championship. It’s been around Akron for a long time.”
The Soap Box Derby officially started in 1934, its first race taking place in Dayton. It moved to Akron in 1935, and, as part of a Works Progress Administration project, Derby Downs was built in 1936. The venue offers a permanent, Akron-based home for the sport — in which participants ages 7
to 21 build gravity-powered cars from kits and use them to race down steep hills.
Each year, thousands of hopefuls compete in around 80 sanctioned International Soap Box Derby races — and more than 350 qualifiers head to Akron for the annual FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship each July. The event hosts participants from throughout the country and world.
“It’s competition. It’s sportsmanship. It’s family time,” says Taylor. Soap Box Derby racing is symbolic in Akron, making up a piece of the city’s identity and playing a large part in the childhoods of many locals. Participating in the sport allows kids to brush up on STEM principles such as engineering and mathematics.
“You’ve got to understand the complexity of the car, how to go faster,” Taylor says. “There’s a variety of things that you have to understand and work through, and that’s all part of the process of building your own car.”
Experience the 87th annual World Championship Race Week from July 13 to 19.
“When I walk the track, you can sense that there’s people around that are no longer with us that are a part of Derby,” Taylor says. “But when people arrive here on July 12, July 13 — that’s when this place comes alive.”
To honor Akron’s bicentennial, the Soap Box Derby will add a special night race September 19 — it will allow participants to race down the Derby Downs track under
Whatever your automotive needs may be, Park Ford is here to serve you. Located at 400 West Avenue in Tallmadge, Ohio, we're a quick drive away from the surrounding Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Kent, and Stow areas. Come see what we can do for you today.
the stars and the illumination of multiple lights.
“We’ll start in the evening. And how I picture this is that companies … get a tent. Bring out a grill. Bring your own food, invite your clients, invite your staff. Make it a big party,” says Taylor. “We want to have a band at our pavilion area, which is at the starting line. And we want to have challenge races throughout the night.”
Multiple brackets will be introduced, including those for community members, sponsors and government officials. A ward bracket will be run like a raffle, where interested racers submit their names for a chance to zoom down the hill.
“It could probably average anywhere between 50 to 100 people within a twohour period down the track,” Taylor says. “The final four or the lead eight — that’s when the lights are turned on, it’s just
getting dark, and we have night racing.”
Those who are interested in participating should stay tuned to akron200.org for a chance to be a part of a historic night.
“It’s an iconic track,” Taylor says. “This could be one of the first times that they’ve gone down when it’s dark.”
May-October Akron History Hikes
May 24, July 5 Akron RubberDucks Bicentennial Bobblehead Nights & August 23
June 27
Marathon Race Series: National Interstate 8K & 1 mile
June 28 75th Annual Tiretown Scholarship Golf Tournament
June 28 Bicentennial Kickball Tournament
July 19 Bicentennial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
August 9
September 7
Marathon Race Series: Goodyear Half Marathon & 10K
Pickleball Tournament: Competitive Division
September 14 Bicentennial Pickleball Tournament: Recreational Division
September 26
Marathon Race Series: The Mandel Kids Fun Run
September 27 Akron Marathon Race Series: FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay
October 5 CAK 5K on the Runway
As the City of Akron marks its 200th year, Shumaker proudly celebrates our own century of service. Our refreshed brand reflects the same promise that’s guided us for 100 years: providing forward-thinking counsel, unwavering commitment, and the clarity you need to thrive. From rising enterprises to established institutions, we stand beside the people of Greater Akron—championing progress, honoring heritage, and always moving forward, together.
Shumaker is a team of 300+ attorneys across 13 offices working in tandem with Shumaker Advisors, a dedicated team connecting clients to legislators, regulators, and industry leaders. From complex legal matters to government relations and coalition building, we provide the steady support and forward-thinking guidance you need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Amanda M. Leffler MANAGING PARTNER aleffler@shumaker.com
121 S. Main Street Suite 575 Akron, OH 44308
{
by Cameron
Gorman,
photo provided by America 250-Ohio }
Look ahead to more historical commemorations.
As an official America 250-Ohio community, Summit County is getting involved in the commemoration of America’s 250th birthday — and celebrating its contributions to Ohio and the nation at large.
“We are excited to be partnering with the Summit County Historical Society to recognize our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026,” says Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro via an email. “As an America 250-OH community, we are part of a coalition of counties, cities, villages and townships all working together to make sure Ohio has opportunities for everyone to celebrate and commemorate this milestone.”
As part of the celebration, enjoy special events and programs. At the Perkins Stone Mansion, John Brown House and Hale Farm & Village, for example, any fourth grade student accompanying a paid adult can enter for free through the end of 2026.
“We will be reaching out to different historical organizations throughout the county to encourage them to host programs that relate to the larger themes of America 250,” says President and CEO of the Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH Leianne Neff Heppner.
From February to October 2026, the
Ohio Goes to the Movies initiative screens free, Ohiocentric movies. Currently, Akron’s Nightlight cinema, the Akron Civic Theatre, Regal Hudson and Regal Independence are participating. The Network to Freedom initiative highlights organizations in Ohio that are on the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom — in Summit County, that includes the John Brown House in Akron, the Oviatt House, the John Brown house in Richfield and Hale Farm & Village.
“Last year was our centennial, this year is Akron 200 and next year is America 250,” says Neff Heppner. “We think it’s a very important time to engage the public in knowing our local history and hoping that they’ll continue the legacy and recognize history every day.”
America 250 also features trails, including the Ohio Air and Space Trail, which crosses into Summit County and recognizes the Akron History Center and MAPS Air Museum. The Ohio Creativity Trail includes Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, the Akron Art Museum, the AkronSummit County Public Library’s Maple Valley branch, Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders, the Akron Zoo’s Conservation Carousel and more. Follow along with online maps and guides at america250-ohio.org. Next year will bring several events, including a tree planting at the Perkins Stone Mansion on Earth Day 2026. Each month of 2026 will have a different theme.
“Akron will be able to highlight how it relates to specific themes that will then
be announced throughout the state,” says Neff Heppner. “It allows that opportunity to highlight those firsts in Akron and Summit County or those individuals that made an impact to be shared with a greater population.”
These events and initiatives are meant to engage the public, helping them to learn more about Summit County’s role in America’s 250-year history.
“Throughout every corner of Summit County, our residents have contributed to this nation’s incredible history,” Shapiro says. “We look forward to highlighting this community’s innovative and collaborative spirit, and its role in shaping the United States.”
Lock 3, Dec. 6 , 6-8 p.m.
Wrap an incredible year of festivities with this celebration, featuring entertainers. It takes place on the 200th anniversary of the filing of the plat of Akron by General Simon Perkins and Paul Williams in 1825. Don’t miss the sealing of Akron’s 2025 time capsule to end a spectacular year.
A neighborhood meeting spot, a longtime local activist, the date of an annual celebration: all of these important elements — and more — could soon be the recipients of an Akron Bicentennial Historic Marker. Akron 200 is accepting applications for the placement of neighborhood historical markers. These markers will commemorate Akron people, places and events of historical significance. Anyone can propose a marker — and make history in doing so.
{ by Cameron Gorman, additional reporting by Kaleb Clark, photo courtesy of Summit Memory/Akron-Summit County Public Library and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, photo ID #SHH 11.2780 }
Akron, circa 1916
The June 16, 1916, housewarming party for Stan Hywet was no simple fete. Having moved into the estate in December 1915, members of the Seiberling family — their fortunes bolstered by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. — hosted a Shakespearean ball for 200, complete with costumes for all (including Elizabethan garb for staff members, pictured here) from a New York theatrical firm. Gertrude Seiberling went as Queen Elizabeth and F.A. Seiberling dressed as Mark Antony, setting the tone for an all-night affair that concluded with breakfast the following morning. Today, the Ohio Shakespeare Festival brings the English bard’s spirit back to the 70-acre Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens with outdoor performances. On select nights this year, see “The Tempest” July 3 to 20 and experience “King Lear” July 31 to Aug. 17. On July 11 and Aug. 15, enjoy a dinner in Stan Hywet’s gardens preceding the show — and experience a modern-day Seiberling feast.
With the impact of inflation, changing tax laws, and market volatility on the economy, financial flexibility is more important than ever. Navigating these shifts requires the right experience and a comprehensive approach to financial planning.
At W3 Financial Group, we’re committed to supporting our clients through every economic turn. Our team of experienced professionals work together to provide a full range of services—including financial planning, retirement and investment strategies, estate planning, business services, accounting, and tax preparation.
By putting our clients’ needs first, we ensure personalized attention and guidance tailored to long-term financial success. No matter the economic climate, W3 is here to help you stay on track and adapt with confidence.