Area News

By BOB MOREHEAD BGNN senior staff writer BARBERTON  He’d hoped to debut them Mum Fest weekend, but weather was uncooperative. Instead, on Halloween, Mayor William Judge revealed the first three spruced up utility boxes, around Lake Anna and clad in winning art submitted by residents. Winners are Corina Headrick, with a knot of spiraling circles;…

  Peter Radakovich, left, owner and liturgical artisan at Radakovich Perfection, and the Rev. Mike Prebynski, pastor at First Baptist Church of Barberton, stand next to the stained glass windows in the sanctuary of the church that have been cleaned, restored and reinstalled in the church. The windows will continue to be restored in a…

By EMILY CANNING-DEAN BGNN staff writer BARBERTON  With the season of Thanksgiving upon us, Main Street Barberton is providing opportunities for giving that will benefit multiple local nonprofits. “This is our first year doing this and there are basically two parts to it,” said Melanie Black Amato, executive director of Main Street Barberton. “The first…

By BOB MOREHEAD BGNN senior staff writer If an ordinance introduced to Barberton City Council Oct. 28 is approved, Wooster Road W will be tied up longer than originally thought. The ordinance pays Kenmore Construction $2,462,159 to replace geriatric water line on the thoroughfare from Fourth to 25th street. “There’s been an increase in breaks,”…

BGNN staff report In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and Councilwoman Christine Higham announced plans to illuminate county buildings green from Nov. 4-11 as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort uniting counties in support of military veterans. This is part of an initiative between…

Jason Chamberlin/ JVC Photography Ben Marthey leads Van Arlo and returns Nov. 9 to The Rialto Theatre in Akron.   By ASHLEY McCORMICK BGNN columnist Van Arlo isn’t your typical band. Led by Ben Marthey, the lead visionary and singer songwriter, Van Arlo is actually a musical endeavor that features local guest musicians. When asked…

Those who mourned the loss of two high school students who died following a house fire Oct. 30 in Coventry Township began making a memorial the same day in the yard outside the home. PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN   BGNN staff report  COVENTRY TWP.  Two teens died at a local hospital Wednesday after…

By EMILY CANNING-DEAN Gazette & News DOYLESTOWN  For generations, residents of Doylestown and the surrounding communities have enjoyed sharing creepy and chilling stories about Rogues Hollow and earlier this month, the Chippewa Rogues Hollow Historical Society invited the community to join in the fun during their annual Walk in the Hollow. Earl Kerr, president emeritus…

From December 2022 through March 2023, Mohamed Reeda drove around the Akron area posing as a rideshare driver and offered rides to women, the news release states. He was found guilty in February by a Summit County jury of rape, kidnapping and attempted rape. AKRON  A city man has been sentenced to 20 to 24…

BGNN ARCHIVE PHOTO BY BOB MOREHEAD Virgil Villers, well-known artist and retired Norton High School art teacher, celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year at Wolf Creek Tavern. PHOTO FROM HERITAGE CREMATION AND BURIAL SOCIETY WEBSITE By BOB MOREHEAD BGNN senior staff writer His spirit saturates the region. It spins with his frolicking critters in…