AKRON
A.A. home plaque
AKRON: A plaque from the U.S. Department of the Interior designating the home of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith and his wife, Anne Smith, as a national historic landmark will be unveiled Sunday.
The ceremony will start with coffee and doughnuts from noon to 12:45 p.m., followed by a brief program of speakers that is open to the public.
There are fewer than 90 designated national historic landmarks in Ohio.
The nonprofit organization Dr. Bob’s Home runs the house at 855 Ardmore Ave. in Akron’s Highland Square neighborhood.
The event comes on the 78th anniversary of the first meeting of Smith, known as Dr. Bob, and Bill Wilson, a New York stockbroker, at the Gate Lodge at Stan Hywet Hall on North Portage Path on Mother’s Day 1935.
Smith and Wilson went on to form Alcoholics Anonymous on June 10, 1945.
Akron hosts the annual Founders’ Day event recognizing the founding of A.A., with this year’s event scheduled for June 7-9 on the University of Akron campus.
A.A. assists an estimated 2.1 million people worldwide in dealing with alcohol addiction.
Bonds for housing
AKRON: The Development Finance Authority of Summit County (DFA) issued bonds Wednesday for the final financing needed for a retail/student housing development being built on Exchange Street just off the University of Akron campus.
DFA issued $6.6 million in bonds, which will provide the final financing needed for the $44 million project. DFA and Huntington Bank previously provided $30 million for the construction costs, according to a DFA news release.
The project, being called University Edge, involves the construction of 18,500 square feet of retail and student apartments and community facilities in a two-building complex located on the block bordered by Exchange to the north, Allyn Street to the east, Torrey Street to the south and Sumner Street to the west. The facility will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments than can accommodate up to 578 students.
LRC Realty of Akron is the project’s developer. The facility is expected to be completed and ready in August 2014.
Neighbors Day
AKRON: The city’s seventh-annual Neighbors Day, aimed at helping residents get to know one another better, will be held Saturday, May 25.
Residents are encouraged to plan events like inviting neighbors over for tea or coffee; having a cookout, pot luck or ice cream social; hosting games for neighborhood children, or holding a cleanup day.
Those planning activities are asked to register by calling the information line at 311 from any residential line or 330-375-2311 from any phone between 6:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents also may register and find additional information at www.neighborsdayakron.org.
The city is sponsoring events at 10 community centers and two churches, Woodland United Methodist Church, 444 N. Hawkins Ave. and Celebration Church, 688 Dan St.
The community centers are: Ed Davis, Ellet, Firestone Park, Joy Park, Kenmore, Lawton Street, Mason Park, Patterson Park, Reservoir Park and Summit Lake. Times for the events vary by location.
CUYAHOGA VALLEY
Canal site closed
The Canal Visitor Center in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is closed for construction to prepare for new interpretive exhibits.
The center off Canal Road in Valley View closed on Monday and is scheduled to reopen in early 2014.
The new exhibits will provide an in-depth look at the history of the Ohio & Erie Canal.
The project is being funded by a $1 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Scenic Byway Program with matching funds from the National Park Service.
The park still has centers at the Boston Store in Boston Township, the Peninsula Depot in Peninsula and the Hunt Farm in Cuyahoga Falls.
HARTVILLE
Chickens in yard
HARTVILLE: A West Maple Street woman has run afoul of zoning rules by putting eight chickens in her backyard.
Sherrie Gantz told the Village Council on Tuesday that the poultry is a 4-H project for her 17-year-old daughter who has Down syndrome.
She wants to keep the birds to help Lydia become a productive member of society.
“Don’t discriminate against my daughter,” she said.
Mayor Richard Currie said that if Gantz were allowed to keep the birds, every other resident could have them, too.
“I don’t think that’s what we want in the village of Hartville,” he said.
Councilman James Sullivan noted that 4-H is educational and asked for a review of restrictions on undomesticated animals. Fellow members agreed to have their Zoning Committee study rules in the village and other communities.
Gantz said most of her neighbors do not oppose her keeping the chickens she obtained May 1, and some have asked to buy them. She did acknowledge that one person might have complained.
She said the birds’ area is covered with netting and cleaned every three days.
“I do not have a rooster,” Gantz said. “I can’t even hear [the chickens] in my house.”
HUDSON
Fire chief named
HUDSON: Assistant fire Chief Jerry Varnes will take over as leader of the Hudson Fire Department on May 15 when Chief Bob Carter officially retires, the city announced Wednesday.
City Manager Anthony Bales recommended the appointment, and the City Council approved the move Tuesday night.
Varnes has served as assistant chief since 2002. He joined the department in 1978.
He also was a member of Hudson EMS from 1980 through 1999 and was chief medic from 1996 through 1999. He was a fire medic with the Twinsburg Fire Department for 15 years.
Varnes, a lifelong Hudson resident, is a fifth-generation firefighter. His father, Bill, was assistant fire chief for the Hudson Fire Department for 42 years, and his great-grandfather was fire chief from 1916 to 1919 and 1928 to 1932.
“Jerry has done an outstanding job as assistant fire chief, and I am confident he will continue to lead the department as chief,” Bales said in a news release.
PORTAGE COUNTY
Grant for Deerfield
The Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $21,850 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Assistance to Firefighters grants can be used to purchase protective equipment, vehicles and gear.
STARK COUNTY
Homeland security
CANTON: Combat dressing kits, like those used on battlefield injuries, will be coming to Stark County as part of emergency preparedness purchases.
The kits were used when former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot, said Timothy Warstler, the county’s emergency management director.
They have been credited with saving lives.
Combat dressings are among the items to be bought with a $171,035 state homeland security grant the county in expected to receive.
Other items in the budget include a generator big enough to help keep a hospital running.
County commissioners established an account for the money Wednesday.
In other action, the board approved agreements with three agencies to run summer jobs programs for youth in families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
The Stark County Educational Service Center has the largest contract, at $647,376. Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio will receive $366,526. The Workforce Initiative Association will get $183,269.
SUMMIT COUNTY
Trial bus service
AKRON: Metro RTA will test expanded service in Twinsburg, Twinsburg Township, Macedonia, Reminderville, Sagamore Hills and Northfield Village in August.
The dial-a-ride service will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Unlike Metro’s SCAT service, which is restricted to older and disabled riders, this service will be for anybody of any age.
Fares will be $4 each way.
Adjustments to routes 102 and 103 are being re-evaluated.
The public may comment on the proposals at three meetings next week: at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pfaff Transit Center, 631 S. Broadway, Akron; at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Nordonia Hills Library, 9458 Olde 8 Road, Northfield; and 6 p.m. May 16 at Twinsburg City Hall, 10075 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg.
A survey also is available at www.akronmetro.org.