AKRON
Ice rink opening
AKRON: Get out your ice skates.
Akron’s ice rink at Lock 3 is opening today.
A defect with the city’s ice-making machine had made the scheduled opening uncertain. Employees, however, were able to get the machine up and running in time to make ice for the opening, Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth said.
Admission to the ice rink is free. Skates can be rented for $3. Strap-on skates are free for toddlers and preschoolers, who must be accompanied by an adult.
The rink will be attended Thursdays through Saturdays. At other times during daylight hours, skaters may use the rink at their own risk.
The “Reindeer Run” sledding hill also opens today. Sleds are $3 for 30 minutes and only toboggans provided by Lock 3 may be used.
Other holiday-themed activities at Lock 3 start Friday.
A complete list is available at www.lock3live.com.
Derby plans
AKRON: The Akron Local Soap Box Derby has announced it will hold its metro race June 8 and the suburban race June 9 of next year. Both events, which will decide a winner to send to the All-American championship in July, will be held at Derby Downs, 1000 George Washington Blvd.
The Akron Local also recently elected seven new members to its board of directors, bringing the board total to 25. In addition, the newly elected office members are Vickie Beck, treasurer; Donna Longfellow, secretary; Jeff Iula, vice president; Bruce Hunsicker, president; and Gary Endres, derby director.
NORTH CANTON
Finances set
NORTH CANTON: A 1.5-mill, five-year EMS renewal levy approved by voters earlier this month is helping city council balance the 2013 budget.
The renewal levy, which replaces an existing levy, raises approximately $685,000 annually, or about half of the EMS budget.
Council President Jon Snyder said that the renewal will avoid a potential shortfall in the city’s 2013 budget. Snyder anticipates a transfer of $200,000 from the General Fund to support EMS operations.
Council is now working on the 2013 budget, which Snyder says will be balanced. As in past practice, the city will enter the New Year with an interim budget to give the finance department time to better calculate expenses and revenue.
NORTON
Tree festival
NORTON: The third annual Year of the Tree Festival will be held beginning at 6 p.m. in Columbia Woods Park on Dec. 1.
Sponsored by the Norton Women’s Club, the event features trees donated by individuals and will line the driveway through the park. The club is hoping to have at least 30 trees and scenes from residents’ childhoods with figures or characters depicting the season. The trees will remain on the drive through the first week of January.
Individuals must supply the lighting for each site.
Trees must be in place by Nov. 28 and may be put up starting Friday. Applications must be received by Wednesday.
For more information and applications, call June Maier at 330-819-8430 or Patsy Snyder at 330-825-7572.
SUMMIT COUNTY
New website
AKRON: Summit County unveiled a redesigned website Friday.
The site — www.co.summit.oh.us — retained all the previous information, but repackaged it “in a more efficient, user-friendly web environment,” the county said.
The site generates about 218,000 hits per day.
TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP
Bridge meeting
TWINSBURG TWP.: Summit County Engineer Alan Brubaker will hold an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Twinsburg Township Hall, 1790 Enterprise Parkway, to talk about the proposed Ravenna Road Bridge replacement project.
The bridge is located just north of Old Mill Road and is over Tinker’s Creek.
Exhibits of various alternatives will be on display to show the proposed improvements and identify the preliminary right-of-way requirements. Representatives from the engineer’s office, W.E. Quicksall & Associates Inc. and the Ohio Department of Transportation will be available to answer questions and discuss the project.