COPLEY TWP.
Trustees meeting
COPLEY TWP.: The township trustees have called for a special meeting on Thursday to hear grievances filed by Service Department employees.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Copley Town Hall, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road.
For more information, contact Fiscal Officer Janice Marshall at 330-666-1853.
NORTHEAST OHIO
Bears counted
COLUMBUS: Ohio wildlife biologists estimate that 23 individual black bears accounted for 37 confirmed sightings in 2012 in 14 counties in Northeast Ohio.
Trumbull County had 10 confirmed sightings.
Portage had six and Ashtabula, Geauga and Mahoning counties each had five confirmed sightings.
Summit County had one confirmed report.
Confirmed sightings include tracks, scats, photographs and reports by wildlife officials.
Two or three black bears in Portage and Geauga counties were very active and visible last year, said spokesman Scott Peters of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
The number of bear reports in 2012 was up slightly from the year earlier, he said.
Of the 37 reports, 15 were confirmed as conflict or nuisance behavior by the bears.
The black bear is endangered in Ohio and is protected by state law.
Cancer support
FAIRLAWN: Dr. Rich Mostardi, a professor of biomedical engineering and a former professional football player, will be the featured speaker at this month’s American Cancer Society’s Man to Man prostate cancer support group.
The meeting will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday at Stewart’s Caring Place, Suite R, 2955 W. Market St., Fairlawn.
The meetings are free and open to the public.
Invention contest
BREWSTER: Shearer’s Foods Inc. and the National Museum of Education are hosting the Shearer Perfection Student Contest for students in fourth through eighth grades for the 2012-2013 school year.
Eligible students must demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by creating an invention that incorporates the use of at least one Shearer bag.
Shearer’s goal for the competition is to find ways to recycle their bags.
The contest is open to entrants from Ohio and the Pittsburgh area.
The grand-prize winner will receive a $5,000 savings bond, while the second-place and third-place winners will receive $2,500 and $1,000 savings bonds, respectively.
The top 10 semifinalists who are not chosen as finalists will each receive a gift card.
The teacher or mentor of each semifinalist will also receive a gift card.
Deadline for entries is Friday.
For more information or entry forms, visit the National Museum of Education’s website at www.nmoe.org or email info@nmoe.org or call 330-376-8300.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Cones for Kids
AKRON: The annual Cones for Kids Campaign benefiting Easter Seals will run through Wednesday.
For a $1 donation, area Friendly’s Restaurants will provide guests with five Valentine’s Day cards, redeemable for free Friendly’s Kids Cones and one buy-one, get-one coupon for an adult entree.
Funds raised will support Easter Seals Northern Ohio’s campership and summer camp programs.
Easter Seals Camp Program provides an opportunity for children with disabilities to enjoy many traditional camping activities, such as fishing, swimming, sports, nature programs and crafts.
Valentine’s Day cards are available by calling the Easter Seals at 888-325-8532 or visiting Friendly’s Restaurants at 3921 Medina Road, Akron; 2934 S. Arlington Road, Akron; 4490 Everhard Road, North Canton; and 2030 Wales Ave. NW, Massillon.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Mardi Gras event
BARBERTON: The Committee to Elect Diana Stevenson Clerk of the Barberton Municipal Court will host a Mardi Gras fundraiser from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Legends Sports Pub and Grille, 1840 Town Park Blvd., in Green.
Donation is $50 per person or $75 per couple.
For more information, send an email to keepstevensonclerk@gmail.com or call 330-618-1431.