West Side Leader & South Side News Leader

Holiday production for all ages, presented by Dynamics Community Theatre. Dec. 11-12, 7:30 p.m.; $8 for adults, $6 for children and seniors Tallmadge High School (330) 633-5031 Full Story »

Medical librarian Katrina Miday leads a class on different kinds of Web sites, databases and journal articles and the best way to access them. Dec. 10, 2-3:30 p.m.; free Stewart’s Caring Place (330) 836-1772 Full Story »

Steve Kelleher and Bernie Gnap will sign copies of “Construction of O.C. Barber’s Anna Dean Farm” and “Ghosts Along the Tuscarawas.” Dec. 12, 1-4 p.m.; free |Snowball Books (330) 745-9292 Full Story »

Appearance by the Rubber City Rollergirls and local musical group ShiSho, as well as book signings with Chuck Shodowski and Neil Zurcher. Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.; free Borders Books & Music of Fairlawn (330) 666-7568 Full Story »

Joe Augustine, Jack Schantz and other faculty and staff musicians perform jazzy celebration of the holidays. Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.; $10, $8, $5, free for UA student University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall (330) 972-8301 Full Story »

“While it is easy to get caught up in the holiday shuffle of dinners, gifts and travel, safety should be at the top of everyone’s lists,” said Cynthia Sich, director of the Summit County Office of Consumer Affairs. Full Story »

NORTHEAST OHIO — The mild autumn weather this year has allowed plenty of time to complete fall chores. As long as the ground isn’t frozen solid, you can still plant spring-blooming bulbs through mid-December. Full Story »

COLUMBUS — Members of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board voted today to recommend that nominations for the several properties in Ohio be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places for consideration, including the Gothic Building in Downtown Akron. Full Story »

Remember when lenders were content to sell foreclosed homes to any qualified buyer? Their popular message was “we’re in the lending business, not in the real estate business.” Full Story »

COLUMBUS — According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 235,300 toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms across the country in 2008. Most of the injuries were to the head and face and consisted of lacerations, contusions or abrasions. Full Story »

GREATER AKRON — Consumers lose thousands of dollars each year due to common misperceptions. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Summit, Medina, Ashland, Portage, Richland and Wayne Counties wants the public to know the facts. Full Story »

DOWNTOWN AKRON — “With the holiday shopping season upon us, consumers should create a gift list and budget plan to help make a smooth shopping experience,” said Cynthia Sich, director of the Summit County Office of Consumer Affairs. Full Story »

NORTON — Christmas lights and spirits sparkled after the annual tree lighting event in Norton Dec. 5. Christmas in the Park, organized by the Norton Women’s Club, took place at the gazebo in Williams Memorial Park, which is pictured at left bottom after the lighting. Full Story »

COPLEY — Copley Circle is aglow after the annual community tree lighting Dec. 6. Special guest of honor Santa Claus, who arrived on a fire truck, was on hand for the festivities at the Copley Fire and Rescue Association-sponsored event, as shown at left top. Full Story »

FAIRLAWN — This year’s menorah lighting at Summit Mall promises to be a sweet event. Full Story »

MEDINA — The girls from the Art in Motion dance team donated 65 new toys to be used as Christmas gifts for homeless children at Haven of Rest in Akron. Full Story »

COPLEY — Students from Arrowhead Primary School recently participated in an after-school knitting program and completed a blanket that will be raffled off to benefit the Copley Police Department’s Share-a-Christmas program. Full Story »

GREATER AKRON — “Hi, my name is Tsarina. I’m a diluted tortoiseshell cat, and with my charcoal coat with tan accents and a blaze on my forehead, I wear my 10 years lightly and am in perfect health. I have extraordinary big green eyes. Full Story »

TALLMADGE — At the Oct. 10 meeting at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, the local Sons of Norway was visited by costumed lodge members who portrayed famous Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans. Full Story »

GREATER AKRON — “Hi, my name is Jackie. I’m a 9-month-old female doberman/Labrador mix. I am very sweet but somewhat shy. I want to please and will try my best to be your very best friend. I have had all my shots and am spayed. My own family could no longer keep me. Will you give me a forever home?” Full Story »

WEST AKRON — Akron’s First Grace United Church of Christ, 350 S. Portage Path, will offer five sections of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt for public display Dec. 13-24 and 27. Full Story »

BATH — The Bath Business Association (BBA) is partnering with the family and friends of 5-year-old Kenna Frank to sponsor a Reverse Raffle fund-raiser Jan. 30 at St. Demetrius Church, 3106 Ridgewood Road in Copley. Full Story »

FAIRLAWN — Jane Seymour has shared her art with the world for several years. But for three days this month, she’ll be sharing it and its message of healing with the people of Akron. Full Story »

WEST AKRON — Coach House Theatre has a delightful hit on its stage with the production of “You Can’t Take It With You.” The play is set in 1938, which some would say was a quieter, gentler time, but in the Martin Vanderhof (Henry Bishop) home in New York, life seems chaotic. Full Story »

MERRIMAN VALLEY — Madness might be a word to describe Weathervane Playhouse’s production of “Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge.” But this is a wonderful, funny, warm madness. Full Story »