“Boston Strong,” the rallying cry after the Boston Marathon bombings, speaks to an emotionally devastated community committed to moving forward with an even stronger sense of solidarity.
Medina, with its “Love Medina” campaign, aims to do the same, and without the motivation of a tragedy.
That’s what today is all about. Eleven churches are coming out strong for a day of service, organized by the mayor’s office and in conjunction with LOVE Inc.
Tony Myles, lead pastor at Connection Church, sketched out what is happening:
They plan to serve about 20 local residents who are elderly, disabled or challenged in some way (i.e. single parents) when it comes to getting work done. Most of it is yardwork — cleaning flower beds, applying fertilizer, spreading mulch and installing lawn ornaments, but also replacing light fixtures, interior painting, washing windows and more.
Names were obtained through the mayor’s office, which maintains a list from helping people in the winter with snow removal. They were matched to the churches closest to them geographically.
The volunteers will gather early in the morning at the Medina City Garage for music, prayer and encouragement before heading out as work teams.
Participating churches include Connection Church, Cornerstone Chapel, First Baptist, Grace Church, Harvest Presbyterian, Medina Community, Medina Nazarene, Medina United Methodist, New Direction, New Life Christian and St. George Anglican.
Flowers for mothers
Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club is sponsoring its 19th annual Mother’s Day flower sale of 10-inch hanging baskets and potted plants, 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. next Saturday and 9 a.m. to noon May 12 on the front lawn of Eddy’s Bike Shop, 3707 Darrow Road (state Route 91, near Graham Road), Stow.
The event is dedicated to the memory of Lion Harry Boos, who had chaired the sale since its inception. He died in 2011.
Proceeds allow the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions to support the Ohio Lions Pilot Dog Program, two local eye banks, scholarships to local graduating high school seniors, awarding Sto-Lions certificates, holiday food baskets and other contributions within Stow and Munroe Falls communities.
For more information on the club, which is open to men and women, please visit www.smflions.com.
Help for Valor House
Major kudos all those who have gotten on board to welcome Valor Home of Summit County, a 30-bed, transitional housing facility for homeless military veterans, funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs Capital Grant and Per Diem Program that’s poised to open next month.
A very special shout-out to Project EverGreen, the Ohio Landscape Association and a number of other organizations who donated time and materials to provide the gift of new landscaping.
“We were excited about joining the efforts of these volunteers for such a worthy cause,” said Cindy Cole, executive director at Project EverGreen. “Landscapes anchor community facilities and help bring a sense of home and familiarity to our veterans. PLANET’s Day of Service (April 22) is such a great way for the companies in our industry to give back to the communities we live in.”
The PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) Day of Service is 6 years old and coincides with Earth Day. The national event featured more than 130 companies participating in various projects around the country.
The Valor House landscaping included the installation of dozens of trees, plants and shrubs donated by various organizations and companies as well as a stone retaining wall donated by Unilock. That design was created by Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) president James Arch of Vizmeg Landscape.
Special thanks to Davey Tree Expert Co., Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Gilson Gardens, Lake County Nursery, J.A.G. Lawn Maintenance & Landscape, Herman Losely & Son, Willoway Nurseries, Graf’s Lawn & Landscape, Lawn & Landscape magazine, Impact Landscaping & Irrigation, Empaco Equipment Corp., Kurtz Bros., Sagamore Soils, Perrin Asphalt & Concrete, S.A.M. Landscapes, J.F.D. Landscapes, Suncrest Gardens, Mason Structural Steel and OLA executive director Sandy Munley.
Legacy of learning
Congratulations are in order again to Kenmore’s Massaro family.
In 2010, I announced that Michele and Joe Massaro’s identical twin sons, Michael and Matthew, had the same grade-point average, 4.133, and were named co-valedictorians of Kenmore High School’s class of 2010.
Now, meet older sister Megan Massaro Latchic, whose high academics had escaped me. She was one of three valedictorians at the same school in 2003 and graduated cum laude in 2007 from Kent State University.
She’s a teacher now with Akron Public Schools, teaching fifth grade at Pfeiffer Elementary School this year in the same room where she was a fifth-grade student.
She and her husband, Jeremy, are expecting a baby in June.
Benefit race in Akron
FedEx Custom Critical is sponsoring a “Kick Up Your Heels 5K,” a 5K run and one-mile walk May 11, Mother’s Day weekend, at Akron’s downtown Lock 3 Park, and follows the Towpath Trail. A Stiletto Sprint also is planned, for which men and women are encouraged to wear high heels.
Schedule of events:
• 7:30 a.m. — Registration.
• 8:30 a.m. — Stiletto Sprint for the truly adventurous.
• 9 a.m. — 5K.
• 9:10 a.m. — One-mile walk.
Registration for the Sprint is free but you still must register. Fee for 5K run is $25 preregistered or $30 race day; one mile walk is $20 preregistered or $25 race day.
All proceeds will benefit ACCESS, a homeless shelter for women and children in Summit County.
The 250 registrants get a T-shirt and goodie bag. To register please visit www.access-shelter.org or contact Joy Trachsel at jtrachsel@access-shelter.org or 330-376-0997.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.