AKRON

UA appointments
AKRON: Gov. Ted Strickland has appointed retired Summit County Common Pleas Judge Jane Bond to the University of Akron Board of Trustees.

Bond, an Akron resident, is a 1976 alumna of the UA School of Law.

Her career includes stints as assistant Summit County prosecutor, general counsel to the Summit County executive and general counsel to the Voinovich Cos.

Bond also has been a criminal justice planner at jails and prisons nationwide.

In 1989, she was appointed to the Akron Municipal Court bench and in 1991, to the Summit County Common Pleas Court bench. She retired in 2007.

She replaces Dr. William Demas, whose term as a trustee expired.

Bond's term will end in 2017.

Strickland also appointed students Marcus Vincent Phelps of Mansfield and Joseph T. Rich of Stow to the board.

Phelps is a sophomore economics major who plans to attend law school. His term expires in 2010.

Rich is pursuing a joint juris doctorate and master of business administration degree while working as a graduate assistant in UA's College of Business Administration.

He was a summer associate in the Cleveland Clinic's general counsel's office and has completed internships at Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the Lerner Research Institute and the NASA Glenn Research Center.

His term expires in 2011.

Student trustees do not vote.

Howe House funding
AKRON: The restoration effort of Akron's historic Howe House received a boost this week.

The effort landed $150,000 from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition plans to use the 1836 house — the oldest home in Akron — as its headquarters, a visitor center and community meeting place.

During two moves in June and July, the structure was transferred from its original location at the corner of High and Exchange streets to its new home at Exchange and Water streets, beside the canal.

The Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that has awarded more than $400 million in capital funds for improvement projects of variousnonprofit theaters, museums, historical sites and publicly owned sports venues.

Project nearly done
AKRON: Good news for motorists who travel East Market Street — the construction project is nearly done.

The project, which extended about 1.2 miles from Martha to Hillbish avenues, has been ongoing for 21/2 years.

It involved the relocation of above-ground utilities to underground; moving water, gas and sewer lines; widening the street to better accommodate traffic; and installing new street lights and signals.

Rolling work zones, which are temporary and change in location, will continue through this month during daylight hours.

Contractors still are pouring concrete for new sidewalks, installing brick pavers between curbs and sidewalks and completing other minor tasks.

900 turkeys donated
AKRON: Charter One's Carving Out Hunger program donated 900 turkeys for Thanksgiving meals through the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

''The food bank's mission to end hunger is of critical importance, and we are glad to play a role during the holidays when the need is greatest,'' said Randy Stickler, president of Charter One, Ohio.

The 10,309 pounds of turkey will provide 8,054 meals for those in need.

The turkeys have been distributed to the Foodbank's 350 member agencies in eight counties. ''We are thankful for Charter One's generous contribution, which will help us meet increased demand and provide over 8,000 meals this holiday season,'' said Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the food bank.

BOSTON TWP.

Director selected
BOSTON TWP.: Bridget Garvin is the new director of volunteer programs at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association.

Garvin is formerly the executive director of the Cascade Locks Park Association in Akron.

Garvin will work with the National Park Service to oversee 2,000 volunteers in the federal park for the friends-of-the-park group.

Garvin has a master's degree in environmental studies from Cleveland State University.

FRANKLIN TWP.

Trailhead dedicated
FRANKLIN TWP.: The Portage Park District has dedicated a new trailhead for overflow parking on the Franklin Connector Trail north of Kent.

The new Tenney Trailhead, named after Dick and Judy Tenney, who donated land to the district, is on Hudson Drive just north of the intersection with Judson Road.

The park district used funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation to build a new 10-car parking lot, and Franklin Township road crews built a new link to the rail trail.

For additional information, call 330-297-7728 or check out http://www.portageparkdistrict.org.

JACKSON TWP.

Meeting time moved
JACKSON TWP.: Township trustees will hold their regular meeting Monday at 3 p.m. instead of the previously scheduled 4 p.m.

The meeting will be in the township's Administration Office, 5735 Wales Ave. NW.

KENT

Tracks still closed
KENT: A spokesman for CSX said crews continued to work Friday to open the tracks after a derailment Thursday under the Crain Avenue bridge in Kent.

The derailment involved 13 coal cars on a 119-car freight train traveling through Kent.

Portage County officials say there will be an inspection today to determine whether the bridge is safe to open to motorists.

The bridge, which is more than 40 years old, is to be replaced next spring.

CSX officials say there is no cause yet determined for the derailment.

NORTHEAST OHIO

Safety funds arrive

Three area fire departments will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, announced this week.

The fire departments receiving funding are:

The Greentown Volunteer Fire Department in Stark County will receive $308,750 to purchase a new emergency vehicle.

The Seville Guilford Fire and EMS will receive $58,719 for equipment health and safety updates.

The Palmyra Township Fire Department in Portage County will receive $43,016 for equipment, health and safety updates.

REVERE SCHOOLS

Stadium work
BATH TWP.: Changes are in the works for Revere's Joe Pappano Stadium.

The improvements include a new track and synthetic turf for the football field at an estimated cost of $2.5 million.

The school board voted Tuesday to replace the track at the stadium, adjacent to Revere high and middle schools.

The board committed up to $1.5 million in district funds for the stadium improvements project.

The board also voted to support efforts by community members on a Turf Committee to initiate a private fundraising campaign with a targeted goal of $1 million for the turf portion of the project.

Funding will be funneled through the Revere All Sports Booster Club and paid to the district as a donation.

These actions will allow the projects to move forward simultaneously, according to Treasurer David Forrest, who cited the advantages of economies of scale.

Interim Superintendent Kathy Bearer added that the district was pleased to be able to ''cooperate and collaborate to enhance facilities for our students.''

The goal is to have the projects completed in time for the 2009 football and soccer seasons.

STARK COUNTY

Board expenses
CANTON: The Stark County Board of Elections will have enough money to cover expenses through the end of the year, according to elections director Jeanette Mullane.

She told the board Friday that money for the year's last two payrolls was gleaned from funds that had been encumbered to pay bills that were lower than expected.

County commissioners expressed concern about the election board's finances on Thursday, when they appropriated $119,000 to help the department cover payroll expenses of $363,618 on Wednesday.

The next two payroll totals will be lower, at $57,277 and $29,565, because they reflect a return to post-election staffing levels.

Election board member Johnnie Maier Jr. said the commissioners were told in January, May, July and September that the department would need $2.9 million in this presidential election year. Total expenses are expected to be $2.7 million for 2008.

Stark's expenses per vote are among the lowest in the state, board President William Cline said. He noted that unlike other departments, the elections board's activities are not discretionary.

''We can't say we're not going to hold an election,'' he said.

New directives and mandates from state and federal governments added $273,000 to this year's operating costs, according to Mullane.

Also Friday, the elections board decided to refer a case of suspected voting fraud to the county prosecutor. A North Canton woman whose absentee ballot was received Oct. 19 at the Stark County Board of Elections voted in Warren County on Oct. 28 after changing her name, according to Mullane.

SUMMIT COUNTY

Homeowner help
GREEN: American Homeowner Preservation Inc., a nonprofit organization providing foreclosure help for homeowners, will hold its final local work session from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Hampton Inn, 3235 S. Arlington Road.

Since September, the organization has collected nearly 300 applications from residents in the region who are in jeopardy of losing their homes. Monday is the final day AHP Ohio will accept applications.

There are no fees or costs to apply and participate. Tax-exempt bonds issued by the Summit County Port Authority fund the program.

For more details, call 330-470-4200 or go to http://www.ahpoh.org.

Contractor chosen
AKRON: Summit County has hired Harp Contractors of Northwood at a cost of $2.1 million to oversee the construction of a new administration building for the county Veterans Service Commission.

County Council approved the contract Monday.

The new 16,000-square-foot building will be on Waterloo Road, just east of South Arlington Street in Akron.

Veterans have complained for years about the current facility, a converted home built in 1883 near Grace Park.

Harp Contractors was the low bidder out of 15 companies.

Help with heating
AKRON: The Summit County Department of Job and Family Services is directing residents in need of home energy assistance to Akron Summit Community Action Inc.

The nonprofit group at 55 E. Mill St. is enrolling people in the Winter Crisis Program. The initiative provides financial assistance to low-income households.

The program runs through March 31.

For more information, call the Akron Summit Community Action's 24-hour hotline at 866-504-7400 or go to http://www.aksumcom.org/energy.html.

Free film at library
AKRON: The series of events sponsored by Summit County Children Services during National Adoption Awareness Month continues Monday with a free movie.

Community Movie Night will feature Martian Child, starring John Cusack. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St.

There are nearly 100 children in the permanent custody of Summit County Children Services available for adoption. Agency staff will be available to talk with families about foster care and adoption. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call 330-379-1994.

TALLMADGE SCHOOLS

Residents invited
TALLMADGE: Residents will get a chance to meet with two school board members and administrators from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday.

The event will be in the McCombs Education Center, 486 East Ave.

The After School Hours program will offer residents a chance to meet educators in an informal setting. Personnel matters and issues involving specific students must be addressed outside the session.

The programs are held regularly on the first Monday of the month, at the same time and location.

Teacher honored
TALLMADGE: The school board accepted $1,000 from the Sam's Club Foundation this week, on behalf of Joyce Conway, a math teacher at the high school.

Conway was selected as an outstanding teacher in the region, and will be under consideration for a state award from the foundation. She has been teaching math for 31 years in the Tallmadge district, and was cited for her creativity in the classroom and a willingness to provide tutoring outside regular school hours.

The board also accepted the resignation, due to retirement, of Nancy Wack, community relations director.