A serious-yet-fun competition is under way through Dec. 20 at the Summit County Jail.
The focus is not on the incarcerated population, but on a couple of the jail’s personnel.
This campaign, described by those in the know as “all heart,” pits nurse Joyce Woods against Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Hipp.
It’s raising money for cancer research and showing cancer patient Woods just how much she is valued and supported.
Woods lost her hair during chemotherapy. It’s now beginning to grow back, so there is a who-can-grow-their-hair-the-fastest contest going on between Hipp and Woods.
It was all Hipp’s idea.
“I’ve been shaving my head for the last 10 or 15 years,” he said. The reason? “It was beginning to look like the Hawaiian Islands,” he joked.
“The idea for the hair competition came about out of the feeling of helplessness,” he continued. “We have another deputy here who is off with esophageal cancer. When that happens to someone you know, you just want to do something. Even though you know there’s not much you can do.”
The contest seemed like a great idea. Colleagues and others are being asked to donate money in the name of Hipp or Woods. Checks should be made out to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and deposited in one of the two boxes on the fourth floor of the sheriff’s office, 52 University Ave., downtown Akron; or with the lobby deputy at the Summit County Jail.
Woods, who is not yet back at work, is reporting strong hair growth. Hipp, on the other hand, is being affectionately called “Patches.”
The person with the most hair come Dec. 20 is the winner.
Actually, the real winner, Hipp’s already acknowledged, is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
For more information please contact Deputy Raquel Pamer at rpamer0317@yahoo.com.
Letters for children
This is the final call for letters on behalf of chronically or critically ill children, and children of military serving in harm’s way and a few of their family members, whose dream is to ride on Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s massively popular Polar Express.
These tickets are being provided free for the Dec. 7 ride, courtesy of Akron Auxiliary FOP No. 1, Akron FOP Lodge No. 7, Police & Firemen’s Insurance Association, D&G Uniforms and SACS Consulting.
The annual event, engineered by retired Akron police Sgt. Tom Dye, is intended for first-time riders only.
Deadline for submitting those letters is Nov. 16. They should include the child’s name (10 and under), nature of illness, physician’s name, and names of siblings under that age, parent or guardian’s name and contact information (address and phone number).
Mail to me: Jewell Cardwell/Polar Express, Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309.
Cards for Sandy
I feel certain that several local folks and houses of worship have things in the works to help those in New Jersey and New York still suffering from the impact of Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter that followed with snow, chilly rains and more power outages.
The only formal benefit I’ve heard of to date is the Hurricane Sandy Benefit and Donation Drive planned for 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at StringZ and WingZ, 1543 state Route 303, Streetsboro.
On the menu? Pasta dinner with meatballs, bread and beverage. Cost is $8 for persons 12 and older; 11 and younger, free. Dinner served 4 to 5 p.m. Live music and DJ for dancing.
A card-making station for children to make encouragement cards for hurricane victims is planned along with a 50/50 raffle and an auction.
Stitch for the cure
Big, beautiful bouquets to the Stark County District Library Community Branch’s recent “Stitch for the Cure,” which in its fifth year yielded 70 pink scarves and a dozen hats earmarked for cancer centers at Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center.
All of this fancy needlework is done by the library’s Knitty Gritters Knitting Club which meets the first and third Monday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group has also produced more than 7,000 afghans, hats, slippers and scarves for “Warm Up Akron” for area homeless shelters.
Knitty Gritters is certainly the right name given that one of its members, Mildred Wharton, is a 101-year-old. “While most people are happy to kick back, she created two scarves to be donated,” said Linda Dahl, the library’s public information coordinator. “A 40-plus-year breast cancer survivor, Mildred understands that a little comfort goes a long way during treatment.”
Nita Welch, newcomer to the group and four-year survivor, is likewise threaded into the cause.
Wine-tasting benefit
A benefit wine tasting for “Feet of Memory Inc.” is planned for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Maize Valley Winery, 6193 Edison St., Hartville.
Wine-tasting tickets are $25 and include four tastings with finger food. Non-alcoholic tickets (punch, coffee and water) are available for $18. A cornhole tournament, silent auction and 50/50 drawing are planned.
All proceeds go to Jackson Township resident Geoffrey Darling’s upcoming 2,400-mile walk from Key West to Maine to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association, in memory of his late mother, Pat Darling, who suffered more than two decades from the mind-numbing disease.
For more information, please visit www.feetofmemory.com; for tickets send an email to feetofmemory@yahoo.com or call Geoffrey at 330-819-8109.
From volunteer to retiree
Major kudos to Chryse (Vernis) Brown who is retiring from the Akron-Summit County Library with 34 years of service.
Chryse, who has cerebral palsy, came from Greece to Akron with her parents and a brother.
Her work ethic was first noticed when she volunteered there, and she was offered a job. As the story goes, Chryse made lifelong friends at the library and she married one of them, Dave Brown, 24 years ago.
Chryse continues to volunteer in the community and teaches 4-year-olds at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Sunday School, something she’s done since she was 16.
An avid gardener, she also bakes cookies for the Northampton-Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society and supports her husband in his volunteer activities there. Her rescue dog, which she trained, is aptly named Passion.
Blankets needed
Sisters With a Vision and One Plus One Productions is sponsoring its sixth annual blanket drive 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at First Grace United Church of Christ, 350 S. Portage Path, Akron.
Blankets should be new or gently used. They will be donated to those in need.
For more information please call Allie at 330-835-4187 or Moe at 330-701-6515.
The group recently presented Stewart’s Caring Place with a check for $1,200 raised at its annual Breast Cancer Walk.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.
