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Summit County cannabis laws explained



Staff report

Summit County as a whole voted in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana in November 2023. But at least nine communities have outlawed such businesses, which the law permits, and Hudson is considering legislation that would bring that number to 10. 

Akron and Cuyahoga Falls currently are the only cities in the county with dispensaries that serve medical and recreational customers. Several other communities have established their own regulations or simply…

Summit Metro Parks programming calendar for April 2025

Wednesday, April 2, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Nature Drawing for Adults
F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm / Visitors Center
1828 Smith Rd., Akron
Join our interpretive artist for an entertaining lesson in nature drawing. Bring a sketchbook, pencil and a sense of humor. Beginners are welcome. Phone registration is required and begins on 3/26. For more information, call 330-865-8065.


Wednesday, April 2, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Kinderealm: April Showers
Summit Lake…

Summit County students earn band honors at district event

Staff report

The following Springfield High School band members participated in the Ohio Music Education Association District 6 Solo and Ensemble held Feb. 22 at Barberton High School:

Superior Rating:
– Lilliana Bittinger: Class A flute solo
– Mason Maskovich: Class B snare solo
– Judah Snyder: Class B snare solo
– Clayton Allshouse: Class A snare solo
– Saxophone quartet: Class A quartet
– Percussion ensemble: Class A ensemble

Excellent Rating
–…

Former Stow body armor company owner charged with smuggling and fraud

By Tom Hardesty
The Summiteer

The legal troubles for former Stow body armor company ShotStop Ballistics and its owner, Vall Iliev, are deepening.

Iliev, 69, of Stow, who owned ShotStop Ballistics until it ceased operations in early 2024, has been charged with three counts of smuggling defective Chinese-made body armor from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and then selling it to law enforcement agencies and others as legitimate, domestically made certified…

Summit County launches housing initiative, invites public to shape future plans

Tom Hardesty
The Summiteer

Summit County is considering ways to improve housing availability in the county, and it wants residents’ input to help tackle the issue.

The Summit County Executive’s Office and Summit County Lank Bank are sponsoring a new community housing initiative called the Summit County Housing Research Collaborative to facilitate discussion about various housing needs, from affordability to zoning and everything in between. The SCHRC is a community-driven effort to…

Legislative update: Ohio Sen. Kristina Roegner puts in bid for state treasurer, backs SB 1 and Ramaswamy

Isabella Schreck
The Summiteer

Ohio Sen. Kristina Roegner, who serves Portage County and part of Summit County, announced she is running for state treasurer, endorsing Trump-backed Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor and continuing the fight for Senate Bill 1 approval – all in February. 

Other Summit County public servants have brought forth new legislation, voted on partisan and bipartisan bills and shared their opinions on President Donald Trump’s executive orders and proposed…

Documenters: Hudson City School District Board of Education meeting March 10

By Noell Wolfgram Evans

Hudson City School District Board of Education
March 10
7 p.m.

In attendance were Hudson City Schools Board of Education members Steve DiMauro, Alisa Wright, Mark Dzurec, Laura Jones and Tom Tobin. Also in attendance were district administration officials Dana Addis, superintendent; Phillip Butto, treasurer; Kelly Kempf, director of pupil services; Angela Terella, assistant superintendent; Lisa Hunt, director of human resources; Jennifer Reece, communications manager; and Meredith Zaffran…

Gorge Metro Park dam removal delayed by federal spending freeze, disrupting project years in the making



By Phil Keren
The Summiteer
 
Local leaders say the anticipated removal of the Gorge Metro Park Dam is another step in a years-long process to restore the Cuyahoga River to its natural state, as well as make it cleaner and friendlier to aquatic life.
 
When this project will go forward recently became less clear following the Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. In…

Eagle Scout project equips Cuyahoga Falls classrooms with safety buckets



Staff report

Every classroom in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District is now stocked with a safety bucket, thanks to an Eagle Scout project led by Dennis Schaefer, a local student and Boy Scout Troop 152 member. Schaefer took on the initiative after hearing Security Supervisor Ben Gessford highlight the need for lockdown safety supplies at a Board of Education meeting.

After securing approvals from his troop, the school district, and the…

Documenters: Feb. 27, 2025 Tallmadge City Council meeting

By Violet Puin

Attendance:
Jonathon Bollas (President of Council and Ward 3)
Christine Cipa (Council At-Large)
Jessica Epstein (Council At-Large)
Nick Rubino (Council At-Large)
Ted Roy (Ward 1)
Donald Pavlik (Ward 2 and Vice President of Council)
Mary Gutman (Ward 4)
Mollie Gilbride (Director of Finance)
Megan Raber (Director of Law)
Carol Siciliano-Kilway (Mayor)
Joe Ignazzitto (Director of Administration)

Summary:
The meeting began with Pastor Daniel Doty from First Congregational Church of…

Letter to the editor: DeWine should make universal free school meals a priority

As a healthcare professional, father of two, and volunteer with the American Heart Association, I am writing to urge Governor DeWine to prioritize the well-being of Ohio's children by supporting universal free school meals.

Our school-aged children represent one of our greatest resources. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they have the foundation they need to grow physically, develop socially and emotionally, and excel academically. Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of…

Troglen: Red Tails to be recognized at the end of March throughout Summit County

By Tim Troglen
The Summiteer

March 29 will be a special day to me. 

Nope. It’s not an early Easter Sunday or first day of spring. 

That day has been designated by an Ohio House Bill as Ohio Tuskegee Airmen Day. 

I love the Tuskegee Airmen and all the history surrounding the 332nd Fighter Group. 

I was excited to read in a recent edition of The Summiteer that an exhibit dedicated to…