Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region
Polar Express to make run at Rodman Public Library
ALLIANCE − Children and their families are invited to join the staff of the Rodman Library’s Children’s Department for a trip to the North Pole on The Polar Express.
The run will be offered four times: 5 and 6 p.m. Monday and 5 and 6 p.m. Tuesday. “The Polar Express,” written by Chris Van Allsburg, will be read, and passengers should be prepared for surprises along the way. Pajamas are encouraged, but not required.
Registration is required for each person attending (children and adults) at rodmanlibrary.evanced.info/signup. For more information, call the Children’s Department at 330-821-2665, ext. 223.
Girls on the Run of Stark gets grant
CANTON − Girls on the Run of Stark County is one of the 26 Ohio nonprofits receiving $10,000 from Rite Aid Healthy Futures Neighborhood Grants.
A total of 415 nonprofit organizations in Rite Aid’s 17-state footprint each will receive a $10,000 general operations neighborhood grant. Supported nonprofits address critical health needs for children, including education; mental and emotional wellness; crisis prevention and awareness; and disease and disability management.
The grants are funded through the KidCents customer fundraising program, which allows Rite Aid customers to round up their purchases in-store and online to support children’s health and wellness. Launched in 2013, the KidCents round-up program raises more than $12 million each year to support children’s health and wellness.
A Chorus for a Cause, Harmony Ringers concerts set
CANTON − A Chorus for a Cause will present free Christmas concerts at 3 p.m. Dec. 18 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 226 Third St. SE, Massillon, and at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 241 S. Main St., North Canton.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. for the Massillon concert and 7 p.m. for the North Canton concert. For more information, visit https://www.achorusforacause.org. A freewill offering is appreciated to help with the group’s expenses for the coming year.
Harmony Ringers will present a free Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church, 4600 Fulton Drive NW, Jackson Township. A freewill donation will be accepted to help the group maintain its bells. For more information, visit www.harmonyringersofoh.org.
CommQuest Services elects Todd Herberghs to board
CANTON − CommQuest Services, a nonprofit behavioral health organization, has announced the election of Todd Herberghs, vice president of Leonard Group, to its board of directors.
Herberghs is an attorney with deep experience in economic development who has worked with nonprofit associations and federal contracting.
In addition to his role with Leonard Group, a Washington D.C.-based professional services and communications firm, he also serves as executive director for the Downtown Canton Special Improvement District. Before his current position, Herberghs worked at the International Economic Development Council and National Governors Association. He earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Florida.
Winter Blitz at the Hall of Fame Village
CANTON − The Winter Blitz at the Hall of Fame Village, 2626 Fulton Dr. NW, begins Saturday with a fireworks show, and Winter Blitz continues every weekend and select weekdays through Jan. 16. This inaugural holiday festival features a unique tubing experience: Guests whoosh down the 35-feet high "Touchdown Tubing Hill" through the goal post and across the endzone of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Buy tickets for $14 in advance at https://www.ticketmaster.com/tom-benson-hall-of-fame-stadium-tickets-canton/venue/42103, or $17 on the day of your visit to Winter Blitz. Groups of 10 or more are $12 per person; email info@hofvillage.com. For more information, including a schedule, visit https://www.hofvillage.com/p/events/winterblitz.
Enter Stark Parks Winter Photo Contest
PERRY TWP. – Stark Parks invites amateur and hobby photographers to capture the unique look of the winter season in Stark Parks during the next few months and enter its annual Winter Photo Contest. The contest runs through March 12. Any Stark County resident who is not a professional photographer may enter. Professional photographers are those whose primary source of income (50% or more) results from their photography work.
There are three age classes: ages 9-13, ages 14-17, and ages 18+. Entries will be divided into three categories: Wildlife, Landscape/Scenery and People Enjoying Nature. Participants can submit one photo per category or three photos total. Participants may win in only one category. All photos must be taken within Stark Parks from Dec. 1, 2022 through March 12, 2023. For rules and more information, visit https://starkparks.com/winterphotos/.
Festival of Lights at Portage Lakes Career Center
GREEN − Portage Lakes Career Center, 4401 Shriver Road, is hosting its second annual Festival of Lights Holiday Challenge through Friday. The staff and students have been challenged to use their creativity and talents to design, build and create holiday displays representing their programs. The displays will be set up and lit throughout the campus from 6 to 10 p.m. daily for public viewing.
A public Family Fun Night event from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday will include costumed characters, caroling, a visit from Santa, and several fun stops through the campus where families will be able to drive through and grab a cup of hot chocolate, get a Christmas cookie, take home a bag of Magic Reindeer Food, or drop off their letters to Santa. For questions about Festival of Lights, call 330-896-8200.
Canton post honors employees
JACKSON TWP. − Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Evan M. Hill has been selected 2022 Trooper of the Year at the Canton post.
Fellow officers stationed at the Canton post chose Hill based on leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and the public. Hill has served at the Canton post since 2016. He graduated from University of Akron with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in homeland security. He has received other Highway Patrol awards: the Criminal Patrol award (twice), Impaired Driver Enforcement award, and Health and Physical Fitness award.
Radio dispatcher Jennifer M. Jackson has been selected for the 2022 Ohio State Highway Patrol Telecommunications Award at the Canton Dispatch Center. Sworn officers and dispatchers chose Jackson based on her technical job knowledge and ability, enthusiastic work attitude, teamwork and prompt and courteous response to the public’s requests for information and assistance. Jackson joined the patrol in 2011 and has served at the Canton Dispatch Center since. She attended Kent State Stark and is a field training officer and a master terminal agency coordinator for the Canton and Akron patrol posts.
Local Meijer store donates $10,000 to Feed Kids First
JACKSON TWP. − The Meijer store 4934 Fulton Drive NW has donated $10,000 to Feed Kids First, an organization dedicated to ensuring local kids have access to food and basic needs. The Jackson Township Meijer team volunteered with the organization in the spring, packing meals for children in the community.
The Meijer Team Gives program will donate $3 million this year to more than 500 nonprofits chosen by Meijer team members. Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Michiggan-based retailer that operates 499 supercenters, neighborhood markets and Express locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
Concerts at Lions Lincoln Theatre
MASSILLON − First Snow: A Trans-Siberian Orchestra Tribute concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lions Lincoln Theatre, 156 Lincoln Way E. All seats are reserved. VIP seating is $35; main floor, balcony and wheelchair/companion tickets are $25.
A Very Valli Holiday - Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Tribute concert will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the theater. VIP seating is $30; main floor seating is $25; balcony and wheelchair/companion tickets are $20.
To buy tickets online, visit https://www.tickettailor.com/events/lionslincolntheatre. To purchase tickets by phone for either concert, call 330-481-9105.
For more information, visit www.lionslincolntheatre.org.
Drive-it-Yourself Christmas Lights Tour going on now
MINERVA − Minerva’s third annual “Like Your Lights!” Drive-it-Yourself Christmas Lights Tour, is underway now from 6-9 each evening, and continues through Christmas.
Participating homes are: 403 W McKinley Ave., 706 and 904 Elizabeth St., 307 W. High St., 505 and 507 Jackson St., 303 Wine St., 840 and 924 Lynnwood Dr., 506 East St., 1012 E. First St., 608 W. Line St., 505 Queen St., and 24716 Route 30, East Rochester.
Everyone is invited to enjoy the displays of holiday lights and decorations at these homes and encouraged to roll down their windows and shout, “Like your lights!” for their favorites.
A map will be published on the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page, or can be requested by calling 330-868-7979 or emailing denise.freeland@minervachamber.org.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region
