AKRON
Vigils planned
Silent vigils will be held in Akron and Canton today as part of a day of action against gun violence.
Similar events will be held across the country, sponsored by Organizing for Action, a grass-roots group affiliated with President Barack Obama’s campaign.
The Akron event will be at 6 p.m. in front of the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, 217 S. High St. The Canton event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the old Kresge lot in front of Arcadia Grill on Market Avenue North.
West Akron community members also will meet at 3:15 p.m. today outside the Mr. Pantry convenience store, 950 Copley Road, to bring attention to gun violence and to rally for children’s safety.
Pet adoptathon
AKRON: Two area animal rescue groups will team with a local PetSmart for its National Adoption Weekend today through Sunday.
Paws and Prayers and One of a Kind Pet Rescue will offer cats and dogs from 4 to 7 p.m today, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the chain’s Chapel Hill store, 355 Howe Ave.
Fully vetted adult cats are $25 during the event. Adoption fees for dogs vary depending on the age and breed.
Visit www.pawsandprayers.org to look at available dogs.
People who adopt an animal at the event will receive more than $200 in coupons from PetSmart.
COLUMBUS
Student fellowships
COLUMBUS: Local state representatives are encouraging area college graduates to apply for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s 13-month Legislative and Telecommunications Program.
The commission will hire more than 20 fellows to work with members of the state legislature in 2014. Duties include assisting with constituent services, doing legislative research, attending meetings and performing administrative duties. Some fellows also assist in televising House and Senate proceedings and preparing educational videos.
The program is open to graduates of all fields of study and no political experience is required. Applicants must have graduated from a four-year college degree program by this December.
Those with professional and graduate degrees also are encouraged to apply.
The fellowships are full-time, paid positions with benefits.
Applications must be postmarked by April 1. The deadline for the telecommunications positions is May 31.
For more information or an application and instructions, call the commission at 614-466-3615 or visit www.lsc.state.oh.us/fellowship.
COPLEY TOWNSHIP
Paving costs rise
COPLEY: Road repaving will cost the township more money this year.
Higher than anticipated expenses are expected to add $72,931 to the township’s 2013 bill. Trustees unanimously approved to add that amount to the $400,000 asphalt repaving program at their meeting Wednesday.
Copley Service Director Mark Mitchell, who made the request for additional funds, said the higher costs will cut back on asphalt work.
Local street repaving work is done through a Summit County program, which does save Copley money.
Depending on the speed of the county bidding process, Copley road work could start in April or May, Mitchell said.
GREEN
Parking to expand
GREEN: The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission gave quick approval to several projects this week, including expansion of parking at a Massillon Road retail center to improve customer convenience.
Commissioners gave conditional approval for 54 parking spaces at the rear of the retail center that houses Brubaker’s Pub, Grille 39, Hungry Howie’s Pizza and other businesses at 3939 Massillon Road.
The expansion will permit customers more room to park in front of the retailers, while employees will park behind the stores, according to Richard Altman of the A. Altman Co., which owns the complex.
As part of the parking expansion, commissioners also gave a favorable recommendation to City Council for the rezoning of 2.41 acres on the south side of nearby Graybill Road across from the Franks homestead from R-1 single-family residential to B-1 business.