Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region

The Repository
·7 min read
Trevor Burkett plays with his 6-month-old daughter Joanna Burkett at the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett and her grandmother Janie Murphy.
Trevor Burkett plays with his 6-month-old daughter Joanna Burkett at the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett and her grandmother Janie Murphy.

Bingo at library

ALLIANCE – Rodman Public Library, 215 E. Broadway St., will host two free family bingo games this summer.

All ages are invited to play from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday and July 25. Prizes will be given out. Space is limited and registration is required for each session at www.rodmanlibrary.evanced.info/signup. For more information, call 330-821-2665, ext. 223.

Bluecoats to perform

CANTON – The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps will perform at Drum Corps International’s opening night in Detroit on Tuesday, then return Canton and Northeast Ohio to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The weekend-long celebration includes three major events for the organization.

Innovations In Brass will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dix Stadium, 2213 Summit St. in Kent. The Bluecoats will compete against other drum corps. For tickets, visit: www.bluecoats.com/innovations Bluecoats

Party in the Plaza will begin at 2 p.m. July 3 in downtown Canton’s Centennial Plaza. The free Bluecoats concert will begin at 8 p.m., after several other musical performers throughout the day. The Bluecoats organization also will launch the Champion Award, honoring local leaders of the arts, culture and humanities. This year’s award will go to Jim Porter and Betty Smith. For more information, visit www.partyintheplaza.org.

The Bluecoats & Bluecoats Alumni Corps will perform July 4 during the Monumental Fourth celebration at the McKinley National Memorial, 800 McKinley Monument Drive, Canton. This event features the Bluecoats and the 450-person Bluecoats Alumni Corps. The Alumni Corps is assembled from at least one performer of every year of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps. Gates open at 6 pm. The Bluecoats perform at 8:50 p.m. For tickets, visit www.bluecoats.com/fourth.

Joanna Burkett gets acclimated to watery fun at the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. The 6-month-old is held by her father Trevor Burkett. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett and her grandmother Janie Murphy.
Joanna Burkett gets acclimated to watery fun at the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. The 6-month-old is held by her father Trevor Burkett. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett and her grandmother Janie Murphy.


Movies at Centennial Plaza

CANTON – The Centennial Plaza Movie Series, presented by the Canton Palace Theatre, is at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 17.

The free outdoor event brings family-friendly movies to the big screen at downtown's Centennial Plaza. This week’s movie is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone." Movies for July are:

  • July 6 – "Luca"

  • July 13 – "Elf"

  • July 20 – "Pokémon Detective Pikachu"

  • July 27 – "Jumanji" (1995)

For a full schedule of this summer’s Centennial Plaza Movie Series, visit https://cantonpalacetheatre.org/centennial-plaza-movie-series.

Dances in July

CANTON – Canton Country Music will hold dances at the Polish American Citizen Club, 1605 Henry Ave. SW, on July 3 with the Let's Dance Band and July 10 with Along the Way Country Band.

Music is from 2 to 5 p.m. Food, a lottery tree and 50-50 drawing will be available. Admission is $3 at the door.

Dark clouds shrouds stadium lights at Perry High School during the Federal League Track and Field Championships at Perry in May.
Dark clouds shrouds stadium lights at Perry High School during the Federal League Track and Field Championships at Perry in May.

Author Neil Zurcher at library

DOVER – Author Neil Zurcher will speak about his latest book, "Ten Ohio Disasters: Stories of Tragedy and Courage that Should Not Be Forgotten," at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the North Reading Room at the Dover Library, 525 N. Walnut St.

He will share details about 10 disasters from Ohio’s past, including the Xenia tornado, the Silver Bridge collapse, the statewide Blizzard of ‘78, the deadly Who concert stampede in Cincinnati, an ill-fated group parachute jump over Lake Erie, and the Fitchville nursing home fire.

Register online at www.doverlibrary.org or call the library at 330-343-6123.

Red Cross chapter presents award

GREEN – The American Red Cross of Heartland, Stark, & Muskingum Lakes recently presented the 2022 Jack B. Liberator award to Denise Scala at MAPS Air Museum.

Scala, of Canton, has been volunteering for the Red Cross since 1997, serving six three-year board terms, including serving as board chairwoman, and volunteering on numerous Red Cross committees.

The award is presented to those who best exemplify Liberator’s lifelong philanthropic leadership, his compassion for people, and his dedication to the American Red Cross.

Joanna Burkett, center, is held by her father Trevor Burkett, left, while Janie Murphy, right, plays with her granddaughter after coming out of the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett.
Joanna Burkett, center, is held by her father Trevor Burkett, left, while Janie Murphy, right, plays with her granddaughter after coming out of the splash pad at Veterans Park in Plain Township. Also along for the summer outing was Joanna's mother Ali Burkett.

Science event for kids

JACKSON TWP. – Jackson Township and the Paul & Carol David YMCA will present the Mad Science presentation "Up, Up & Away" from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Jackson Amphitheater, 7454 Community Parkway.

This free event will introduce children to the principles of air and pressure. They will see an exothermic reaction and watch a hovercraft in action.

Concerts at Jackson Amphitheater

JACKSON TWP. – Two concerts are scheduled this week at the Jackson Amphitheater, 7454 Community Parkway.

Karissa Ella will perform a free concert from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. King’s Highway, which plays the music of Tom Petty, will perform from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday. For tickets to the King’s Highway concert, visit www.jacksonamphitheater.com.

Dancing for Diapers fundraiser

JACKSON TWP. – Stark County Diaper Bank with The Paul & Carol David Foundation will present Galaxy Reunion: Dancing for Diapers at 6 p.m. July 22 to raise funds and provide emergency diaper assistance to families in need.

The fundraiser will be held at Royal Docks Brewhouse & Cannery, 5646 Wales Ave. NW.

The event will feature celebrity bouncers, DJs and bartenders from the Galaxy Disco days in the 1970s and 1980s. DJs will include Scott Davidson, Steve Karapasha, Dan Belford and Jon Wilson.

Dress in 1970s and 1980s attire to dance and enjoy contests, trivia, and raffles. Guests who donate a pack of 25 diapers or more will be entered to win prizes. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased through the Stark County Diaper Bank website, on Facebook at @starkcountydiaperbank or https://givebutter.com/SCDiaperBankGalaxyReunion.

Stark County Diaper Bank provides emergency diaper support to families experiencing diaper need through Community Distribution Partners and Client Distribution Partners in Stark, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Wayne, Harrison and Medina counties. The nonprofit organization exists to help families secure an adequate monthly supply of fresh diapers for their children and ensure that these babies get a healthier start in life.

Lavender Festival

MARLBORO TWP. – Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery, 6193 Edison St. NE, will hold its Lavender Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

This event is held in conjunction with Heart and Home Marketplace and will feature about 100 artisans displaying their works of jewelry, wood, painting, fiber and ceramics.

Get help with cost of cover crops

MASSILLON – Stark Soil & Water Conservation District is enrolling eligible agricultural producers for this year’s Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District’s cover-crop program.

Cover crops reduce erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, suppress weeds, pests and diseases, and increase biodiversity.

Fields located within the Muskingum district can receive $12 per acre cost share. Producers can sign up by coming to the USDA Service Center, 2650 Richville Drive SE, Suite 100. Deadline is July 12.

For more information or an appointment, contact Stark Soil & Water Conservation District at 330-451-7643.

Music in Massillon

MASSILLON – Massillon’s Summer Concert Series continues at Duncan Plaza with Crash Into DMB-Dave Matthews Tribute Band at 7 p.m. Wednesday and New Wave Nation at 7:30 p.m. July 3 as part of the city’s Independence Day Celebration.

Henry Konczak will perform at 7 p.m. Monday.

Music, food trucks on Thursdays  

NORTH CANTON – The North Canton Public Library will sponsor live music and food trucks on the City Hall portico from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.

This Thursday's performer is Josee McGee, a Canton/Akron soulful-jazz band. The food truck is Cheezylicious.

The schedule for July is:

  • July 7: Ben Gage Duo (Rust Belt folk and blues from Northeast Ohio); food truck: New Berlin Dough Co.

  • July 14: Ohio Weather Band (a three-piece roots-rock band from Akron); food truck: The Cookery.

  • July 21: The Shootouts (acoustic duo playing Rust Belt Americana, honky tonk and country western); food truck: Zydeco Bistro.

  • July 28: Erin Nicole Neal & The Chill Factors (blues/blues-rock band from Cleveland); food truck: Swensons.

Wildlife habitat workshop set

WASHINGTON TWP. – The Stark Soil & Water Conservation District will host a wildlife habitat workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at The Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center, 16146 Daniel St. NE.

Ohio State University wildlife ecologist Gabe Karns will present research findings for proper management of habitat within transmission right-of-ways and other edge habitats. The workshop will conclude with a tour of a right-of-way that has been established with native perennial pollinator habitat.

For reservations, go to www.starkswcd.org or call 330-451-7645.

A beautiful sky was visible over Akron as Tuslaw was battling Wheelersburg in the Division III state championship softball game at Firestone Park in Akron on June 4.
A beautiful sky was visible over Akron as Tuslaw was battling Wheelersburg in the Division III state championship softball game at Firestone Park in Akron on June 4.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region