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Wrestling, bowling teams prepare for season
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Perfect Weather for an Autumn Drive
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RUMORS: Downtown Restaurant Explosion
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
Friends get together to help 15-year-old
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009
This is one of a series of columns on what local folks are doing to ''Make a Difference'' in the lives of others.
It was billed as Center Towers apartment building's post-Fourth of July picnic, complete with grilled meat and potato salad.
However, Monday's event at the Akron residence turned out to be so much more: a showcase of this building's diversity as well as a surprise birthday party for two of its oldest tenants.
That's why popular tenant and everybody's friend Betty Cline termed the festive, not forced, soiree ''Adventures in Ebony and Ivory.''
The beautifully kept building — home to 113 residents, seniors 62 and over and persons with disabilities — was festooned with red, white and blue banners outside, compliments of head of maintenance John Lowe.
Yet it was the party going on inside that was the real happening here.
Angelica Henley, building manager of the Summit Management property, proudly ushered the two very surprised honorees to the front of the multi-purpose room: Velma Pollard, who is white, and Elizabeth Sampson, who is African-American.
Both women, who are celebrating their 97th birthdays this year, were feted with a
cake, song and gifts.
Velma, who never married, hails from Hickory, N.C. She formerly worked in a grocery store and for the post office in Boston Mills.
Elizabeth, who is widowed, came to Akron in 1943 from Natchez, Miss. She formerly operated the manual elevator at Akron City Hospital.
The honorees were presented with specially made ornaments from new tenant Damin Yuan from China.
Cline and Henley call Center Towers a happy melting pot of folks from all backgrounds.
''We have quite a few Russian Jewish immigrants,'' about 10 strong, tenant Patti Vigder said.
There's also Maria Graci from Italy and Josephine Sayegh from Egypt.
In fact, Sayegh was newly elected treasurer of the tenant board. She serves alongside the Rev. Brenda Boyd (African-American), president; Charlotte McGowen (of Irish stock), vice president; Amy Schneiderman (Jewish), secretary.
Jack-of-all-trades John Lowe was assisted on the grill by maintenance assistant Felipe Manuel, Henley's husband, Russ, and her 13-year-old son, Evan Pol.
Without even trying, these tenants have set in motion their own brand of Coming Together.
Asked about the secret of Center Towers' building-wide harmony, Lowe had this to say:
''I think it's just the class of people we have here. They help maintain the building and they appreciate where they're at.''
My sentiment exactly.
Walk for Mitch
Friends of 15-year-old Mitchell Davis of Akron are banding together to help defray the cost of his medical care.
From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday a Walk-athon — ''Miles4Mitch'' — is set for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. (Franklin Trailhead on Center Road). All money goes directly to the Mitchell Davis Benevolent Fund at FirstMerit Bank (any branch).
Mitchell, the son of Tim and Christine Davis, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma Feb. 2, just two weeks before his 15th birthday.
Although the tumor is inoperable, he still has had to undergo several surgeries and has endured countless complications along the way. So his medical bills are huge.
For more information, please call the Apostolic Church at 330-745-5550.
Accident expenses
Friends of 17-year-old Stow-Munroe Falls High School junior Shannon Johnson are rallying to help her family as much as they can.
Shannon was involved in a car accident the last day of school; she fell off the top of a moving vehicle and suffered critical head and leg injuries. She remains in a coma.
The female driver, also 17 of Stow, has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and aggravated vehicular assault.
Family friend Linda Bozzelli of Cuyahoga Falls announced the special benefit Saturday in Shannon's honor at Applebee's on Hudson Drive. Also, a Shannon Johnson Benevolent Fund has been set up at U.S. Bank to help defray her medical cost. Prayers are still needed.
Rolling for RISE
Major kudos to the Rubber City Rollergirls are hosting a back-to-school clothing drive for Project RISE at its July 25 bout at the John S. Knight Center.
Fans can donate gently used and freshly laundered clothing and uniforms at the door. For each donor, the team will give $1 to Project RISE.
Project RISE is a collaborative effort by Akron Public Schools and local shelters like Safe Landing, Battered Women's Shelter and Haven of Rest to provide services to homeless children.
Doors open at 5 p.m.; the bout gets under way at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $8.50, adults and $5, children 12 and under; $12.50 and $6 at the door. For more information, please call 800-838-3006.
Quelling violence
The second annual ''Pain into Power Ride'' whose mission is to raise awareness of the still-growing problem of domestic violence is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25, at Cornerstone Free Methodist Church, 578 Killian Road, Coventry Township.
The day unfolds with a rally, music and coffee at 9 a.m.
Then a somber chord will be struck at 10 a.m. when a procession of motorcycles make their way to the grave sites of those who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence; memorial services with affected families follow. Food, fellowship and music await the participants back at the church.
Cost is $12.
Note: If you would like to have a loved one lost to domestic violence included in the program, please call 330-258-8111 as soon as possible.
Classes for women involved in domestic violence relationships are available by appointment. Sharon M. Goodrich is director/CEO of Pain into Power Inc.
Selling for Connie
Huge thanks to 70-year-old Betty Horner of Green who took it upon herself to host a three-day garage sale benefit to help Connie (Persinger) Higgins, 54, of Lakemore, who is battling lung cancer and unable to work.
Connie graduated from Green High with Horner's daughter, Elizabeth Hoffman.
The sale netted $1,343.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
This is one of a series of columns on what local folks are doing to ''Make a Difference'' in the lives of others.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 06:00 AM, 07/08/2009
Thank you for the story.
