Akron Life May 2022

YEARS 20

AKRON LIFE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS!

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 5 | MAY 2022

L E ADING

THE WAY

HOME COURT GET A PEEK INSIDE HOUSE THREE THIRTY CONF IDENCE BOOSTER FIND YOUR STYLE AT WHITE TREE BOUTIQUE

Meet 5 innovative entrepreneurs making an impact

KEEP PLAYING AN AKRON PIANIST TURNS 90

MAY 2022 $3.95

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0 0 74470 57871

ENGINEER HALLE JONES CAPERS , pg . 28

photo by Tal ia Hodge

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MAY 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 5

Pages start here

On The Cover | 24 Personalities | photo by Talia Hodge

[ FEATURE ]

24 LEADING THE WAY

These innovative entrepreneurs have what it takes to start and run thriving businesses. Read their stories to discover how they achieve success, keep growing and impact the community.

Amy Mucha of Daisy Pops portrait by Talia Hodge

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47 UNCORKED Castello del Poggio

12 AGENDA [ the essential social digest ]

48 UNTAPPED CryOhio Imperial IPA

[ DEPARTMENTS ]

12 AGENDA [ the essential social digest ] 14 Entertainment listings + Calendar of events 15 Spotlight: Serra Honda 18 Spotlight: House Three Thirty

08 MAIL BONDING

Special Sections

36 FOREVER YOUNG

09 FROM THE PUBLISHER Within Reach

A pianist turns 90 and celebrates a life filled with music.

46 GOOD EATS [ notable food + drink ] 46 Restaurant listings 47 Uncorked: Castello del Poggio 48 Untapped: CryOhio Imperial IPA

10 RADAR [ seen + heard ]

42 BEAUTY GUIDE

Discover inclusive styling at White Tree Boutique and easy beauty tips.

11 UPFRONT It Takes a Village

51 PARTING SHOT Fishing nuns

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M A I L B O N D I N G

S P R I N G 2 0 2 2

Tell us what's on your mind.

NOT-SO-EMPTY DREAM NEST

YEARS 20

FOUNDER Don Baker Jr . [ 1940-2018 ]

AKRON LIFE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS!

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 4 | APRIL 2022

Comments? Got something to say about an article you read in Akron Life ? Or maybe you want to tel l us about something great happening in the area. Send comments and suggestions to: Akron Life , 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313, and please include your name and address.

ANN and BARRY'S ELEGANT UPSIZE

(This is just the laundry room!)

MEET SIR ELTON THE ROCKETDOG , p.24 photo by Rachael Reynolds

photo by Addison Jones Photography

PUBL I SHER Colin Baker cbaker@bakermediagroup.com CREAT IVE DIRECTOR William L. Teckmyer III wteckmyer@bakermediagroup.com MANAGING EDI TOR Kelly Petryszyn kpet ryszyn@bakermediagroup.com ASS I STANT EDI TOR Alexandra Sobczak asobczak@bakermediagroup.com GRAPHIC DES IGNER Tylar Calhoun tsut ton@bakermediagroup.com CONTRIBUT ING WRI TERS Brendan Baker Aaron Fowler Mike McKenney SALES Bunny Lacey Steve Tyson Ben DiCola sales@bakermediagroup.com CIRCUL AT ION ci rculat ion@bakermediagroup.com 330-253-0056, ex t . 104 CONTRIBUT ING PHOTOGRAPHER Talia Hodge

CHOOSING TEXTURES FOR YOUR KITCHEN

A UNIQUE COCKTAIL ROOM

A STUNNING AGE-IN-PLACE OASIS

Meet these Instagram famous pets from The 330. Plus, 7 pet photos you submitted. Pawparazzi ! Call The

PLAY T IME SOLVE

KIDS’ CABIN FEVER 330

Or emai l them to editor@bakermediagroup.com. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

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Golden retrievers Lucy and Bobbi show off their Akron Life pets story. Follow them on Instagram at @yourgoldengals.

DES IGN INTERN Bingjie Cui

Italian greyhounds Moss, Ivy and Oak pose with their Akron Life pets story. Follow them on Instagram at @moss_ivy_and_oak.

EDI TORIAL INTERN London Green

MAY 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 5 ( ISSN No. 74 470 5787 1 ) akronlife is published monthly by

Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2022© by Baker Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed envelope and sufficient postage. Baker Media Group, LLC and akronlife accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. Subscription rates: Continental U.S., One year —$19.95, Two years —$34.95. Call for Alaska, Hawaii or international rates. Single issues available by calling the circulation department or visiting akronlife.com/store . $3.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling. Editorial, adver tising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.

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F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R

[ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com ]

Within Reach

Witnessing entrepreneurship made it attainable.

I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. There was only a brief time when I saw my dad work for some one else, so it wasn’t a far leap for me to think that starting or owning a business was possible. On the other side of my family, my grandfa ther was an early franchiser of McDonald’s. He was a manager of a Western Tire store in Rockford, Illinois, and was saving to buy his own tire store when he heard from a friend about a successful hamburger store in Wisconsin called McDonald’s. His friend had said the hamburgers were so popular and the owners were making so much money that they brought home cash in paper bags because they didn’t have time to count it. After some research, my grand father decided to scrap the idea of owning a tire store and took a huge risk to open a McDonald’s. They offered him a location in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and he moved his family across the country in 1959. The rest is history — and McDonald’s was a pretty good gamble, if you ask me. My dad, Don Baker Jr., on the other hand, was always starting and creating new busi nesses, including Akron Life . Some of them worked and some of them failed, but he never gave up. He was still pitching new business ideas until he died. You could say he was a serial starter-upper. He loved get ting businesses off the ground and often became bored with them after that. I think because of my background, I never really thought much about the risk of starting or running a business. My first business was selling bubble gum at school, and later my brother and I passed gutter cleaning flyers throughout the

neighborhood. Thank God we didn’t get any business because the company consisted of my brother as the manager and 10-year-old me as the gutter worker, and having a kid on the roof would not be advisable. Later we used those skills to look for sponsors for our go-kart racing team. We would create elaborate marketing proposals and call heads of companies. That taught me a lot about rejection, but I never gave up. I recently read “Entrepreneurial Leap” by Gino Wickman in which he said thousands of entrepreneurs he worked with could be described with the same six characteris tics: visionary, passionate, problem-solver, driven, risk-taker and responsible. I have most of these. I do find that passion for a project can come and go, but my real passion is business. I love starting and run ning businesses. I love the idea-to-delivery

process. Some ideas work and some fail. I try to learn from my failures and keep going. What really drives and motivates me is possibility. I always felt that I will take possibility over safety and certainty any day. Endless possibilities are intoxicating, and they push me forward every day. Entrepreneurship is difficult to con quer because it’s not just about the idea. It’s about the person behind it. Entrepreneurship is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle that many people dream of having. We have highlighted several in The 330 who are living that dream on pg. 24. Maybe they will inspire you to take a leap on an idea or business you have dreamed about. Seeing entrepreneurship lived out made it possible in my life.

[ Publisher Colin Baker is a retired racing driver and gearhead. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

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YEARS 20

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R A D A R

by London Green

AKRON LIFE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS!

seen + heard

THEN & NOW: DON DRUMM November 2003: Don Drumm’s artwork is synonymous with Akron so it’s natural that one of Akron Life ’s first cover features, by Anne McCloskey, was the story of how Drumm became a world-famous metal craftsman and how the sun became the centerpiece of his work. After a professor told Drumm that the circle is one of the most difficult design elements, as it is a complete form within itself, he became intrigued by circles, chiefly the sun. “The sun appears in every religion — it gives life to the Earth,” Drumm says in the story. recently in the “Sun Tracker” sculpture that was unveiled at Cascade Valley Metro Park’s new Valley View area last August. The 19-foot sculpture is crafted from stainless-steel remnants of old dairy farm equipment to honor one of the last working Akron dairy farms, the Himelright farm, which operated from 1887 to 1956 on the park site. The sculptor’s creative design allows for it to be seen from different directions so all parkgoers can admire its life-giving genius. Now: Drumm’s mas tery of the sun can be seen throughout Akron,

photo provided by Summit Metro Parks

SLAM DUNK Strive for greatness and get

100 Squirrel hides must be deliv ered by males to receive a tax credit of $3 in compliance with an 1807 state law, according to “Historic Tales of Medina County, Ohio.” The new book (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99) by former Medina County commis sioner Stephen D. Hambley has fascinating tidbits like this one, detailing that men who delivered fewer than 100 hides owed 3 cents per squirrel for neglecting his “civic duty,” as millions of gray squirrels “threatened the very survival of the farming com munities.” The tax break ended in 1810, and squirrels have freely roamed Ohio ever since.

into LeBron James Mode with Pandora’s Uninterrupted Radio. Pandora recently launched its first mode controlled by a single athlete — Akron native and NBA All-Star LeBron James. It consists of five playlists spanning gospel to hip-hop with songs such as “Having Our Way” by Migos featuring Drake. Plus, James gives explanations of why he picked the songs. So when you turn up Uninterrupted through the end of the NBA Playoffs, get inspira tion straight from the King. pan dora.com/genre/uninterrupted

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U P F R O N T

[ Managing Editor | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com ]

It Takes a Village

Moms need support for success.

For this month’s feature on entrepreneurs on pg. 24, I interviewed two moms. The first, Amy Mucha, named her Daisy Pops business after her five-year-old daughter who sometimes assists her. She had been making cake pops on the side when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to reconsider teaching, so she leaped into making Daisy Pops her main gig. She has been starting partnerships with other businesses to grow theirs and her own. Halle Jones Capers also made a change because of the pan demic and decided to open

a strong support system. Mucha credits her team of artists for taking the popmaking reins so she can focus on making business deals. Her husband, who is also a business owner, has been a big help, and her parents watch her three kids so she can work events. Jones Capers raised her son for much of his childhood as a single mother, relying on her parents to watch him. She has since remarried, and as she gets her business off the ground, her partner helps with her now teenage son, who is following in his mom’s footsteps by studying engineering at The University of Akron. I’m thankful for my husband, Tony’s con stant encouragement when feedings go south or Izzy gets fussy. We are learning to juggle as a team. We couldn’t do any of it without Tony’s mom, Carol, (“Lolli” to Izzy) who cares for Izzy through everything from messy blowouts to sweet snuggles. We are also thankful for every person who brought us a meal, sent a card or gift, offered encouraging words or held Izzy so we could do something. When Izzy looks up at me with a glow in her joyful eyes, I see so many possibilities that exist because of how much she is loved. While she is only a few months old, she already has so many people behind her, and so do I. That makes all the difference in conquering the daily obstacles that arise. Join us in cheering on and supporting entrepreneurs who have worked hard to grow their businesses and continue to use their success to help employees, other pro fessionals and the community. And happy Mother’s Day to all moms hustling out there. We see you.

Izzy photo by Jessica Grace Photography

Before I returned from maternity leave in March, I kept running scenarios through my head of how I would juggle being a parent and working full time. I called my sister, who has two kids, and asked how she does it. She said, You just do it. As a new mom, I feel like each day is a race to do it all. Each morning I wake up, head into the nursery, check on our daughter, Izzy, and coo, Hello Izzy girl! Good morning. Mama loves you! I change her diaper, feed her and then either start my workday remotely or pack up five bags, drive her to grandma and grandpa’s Hudson house and go to our Akron office. As the day continues, I pump three times and do it all again after work. It’s exhaust ing and has given me so much respect for those moms who carry out what’s known as the often invisible second shift.

her own civil engineering firm after being in the field for over three decades. She is already working on notable projects and continues to do outreach to encourage burgeoning engi neers. I admire how both found success and pay it forward by investing in others. As I heard their stories, I couldn’t help but ponder Izzy’s future. She is still only a baby whose speech is limited to phrases like “goo” and is just learning to pick up objects, but it’s wild to think that she will one day be a young woman with a career of her own. (I secretly hope it’s something creative like mama!) While that’s years away, dreams start young. So I’m thankful there is such strong female leadership in the community to shape the next genera tion and provide examples. The women I interviewed revealed their secret to success — it isn’t a sophisticated degree or distinguished award — they have

[ Managing Editor Kelly Petryszyn is an adventure seeker, forever a dreamer and an avid supporter of #TeamFiona. ]

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AGENDA

MAY 2022 | VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 5

Agenda the essential social digest

5/25 “Say It Loud” pg. 23

Take in a powerful performance of this piece about the experiences of Northeast Ohio residents, created by Akron based Black theater artists and presented by the Akron Civic Theatre’s Millennial Theatre Project. Afterward, stay for the town hall-style discussion. Akron Civic Theatre, Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7 p.m. Free. akroncivic.com

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Practical Solutions and Funding for Akron Businesses management consulting • business coaching • training programs

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AGENDA

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS on akronlife.com or email asobczak@bakermediagroup.com.

Akron Soul Train View video profiles from past, current and future Soul Train artists-in-residence. facebook.com/ akronsoultrain Akron-Summit County Public Library Sit kids down for storytimes with children’s librarians or various book talks via videos on its Facebook page. Books are available inside or for curbside pickup. facebook.com/akronlibrary Akron Symphony Orchestra Theron Brown, an Akron-based jazz musician, and Thomas Moore, director of marketing for the Akron Symphony Orchestra, discuss different jazz-centered topics in their new podcast, “Backstage at the Hi Hat,” available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more. akronsymphony.org Akron Zoo Visit the zoo digitally to enjoy live keeper talks, animal encounters and presentations from local experts. akronzoo.org

The Americana Roundup Akron musician Ryan Humbert launched an online radio station, the Americana Roundup, which plays more than 3,000 songs he handpicked. The station plays all day and focuses on rock, country, folk and more. americanaroundup.com ArtsInStark Check Facebook for videos with fun things to do at home including crafts and dance lessons, music performances and book readings. facebook.com/artsinstark Apollo’s Fire Indulge in music, art and literature with the Music for the Soul video series from the Cleveland Baroque orchestra. The group posts past concert videos, interviews with people like the Grammy Award-winning conductor Jeannette Sorrell and related readings. See shows through a digital portal or in person. apollosfire.org

NOTE : Dates, events, locations, times and prices are subject to change. Please call ahead.

Remote Akron Art Museum Explore the museum’s collections online. Kiddos and those wanting to get creative can craft via video lessons. akronartmuseum.org/at-home Akron Civic Theatre The Civic has an assortment of live performances from all over with its Live Virtually portal. Check its Facebook for local musicians’ streams, events, stage shows and other performances. facebook.com/akroncivic

Your Personal Car Buying Expert

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AGENDA

S P O T L I G H T

by Brendan Baker

Family Matters

Tyler Erickson has a rare genetic disorder that affects his muscular and physical abilities, and he has been a wheelchair user his whole life. He is 8 years old and in the first grade at Lake Elementary School. In March, Serra Honda invited his family to its Akron dealership to present its new Honda Odyssey minivan, fully outfitted for wheelchair use by MobilityWorks in Akron. It was a celebra tion of a community com ing together to help a family.

Serra Honda stepped up to help Tyler Erickson, who has a rare genetic disorder, and his family get into a new accessible van. It was fully outfitted for wheelchair use by MobilityWorks. His family, his Lake Elementary School teachers and the staff at Serra Honda celebrated a great moment with Tyler at the dealership.

“We decided to help when we saw the family’s special needs,” says Tom Flory, executive manager of Serra Honda. One of Tyler’s school administrators, Jennifer Madsen, who works with fami lies in need, reached out to Flory and sales manager Andy Hetler for help after another dealership backed out. “We brought them in, sat with Tyler and the Erickson family and just decided that it was something our team wanted to get behind,” says Flory. “We actually got them out of their current van and put them in a brand new Honda Odyssey. And we took care of the pretty expensive handi cap conversion.” Up until recently, Tyler used a manual wheelchair, and the family had been lifting it by hand into their vehicle. “We decided to get a power wheelchair, and it’s been great. It’s given him much more indepen dence,” says Tyler’s mom, Michelle Erickson. But when the family decided to upgrade Tyler’s wheelchair, they faced a dilemma. The chair was too big and heavy to load by hand. They needed ramps and a way

to lock the chair down inside. Tyler’s dad, Leif Erickson, says the new chair is great, and they have ramps installed in their house, but he didn’t realize how heavy elec tric wheelchairs are. “We knew we had to do something because we had an SUV. So we reached out to the school to ask if they knew of anyone who had a van,” he says. “And that led us to MobilityWorks in Akron, who said we would probably want something newer.” According to Leif, doing a conversion costs almost as much as a new van (about $35,000). “We thought if we invest the money into converting our vehicle, and

then it breaks, it’s not something you can move to another vehicle. It’s permanent. And then we were invited to meet with the Serra folks. They were fantastic.” Flory says being able to help the Erickson family is what it is all about. “This trig gered us to say, Let’s do something big in the community every quarter ,” he says. “We’ve reached out to all of our associates because they’re all involved in different community things and charity things. Then we’ll pick something every quarter to get behind.”

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AGENDA

Blu Jazz Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy their favorite tunes through livestreams on Blu Jazz’s Facebook page and support local artists. facebook.com/blujazzakron Canton Symphony Orchestra Watch mini concerts and learn about the issue of diversity in classical music during the “Orchestrating Change” podcast. cantonsymphony.org Cleveland Orchestra Connect with the orchestra via the streaming platform Adella to access new performances recorded in Severance Hall through the In Focus series, as well as the “On a Personal Note” podcast that’s about classical music. clevelandorchestra.com Gage House Sessions Grab your favorite drink and enjoy an evening with local musicians via Gage House’s live sessions. View previous shows from artists including Madison Cummins and Ben Gage, who both make for evenings of soothing tunes. facebook.com/ gagehousesessions

Jilly’s Music Room The Akron music venue is hosting select Streaming Fridays on its YouTube channel. Watch the livestreams and visit the online store to order dinner, tip the band, make a donation and buy merchandise. jillysmusicroom.com Magical Theatre Co. The Barberton theater company is offering game nights and educational videos. Children can also enjoy stories read by local theater veterans during Magical Storytime. magicaltheatre.org Nightlight Cinema Purchase tickets to rent movies online through the Akron art house cinema’s virtual screening room — you’ll have access to the films at nightlightcinema.com/ virtual-screening-room. Ohio Shakespeare Festival Check out its venture, Ohio Shakespeare Festival Radio Plays, in which the troupe adapts plays and short stories for livestreaming. facebook.com/ohioshakespeare

Radio on the Lake Theatre The Shaker Heights-based organization utilizes modern technology to connect with actors, directors and artists from throughout the country to perform and record radio plays. radioonthelaketheatre.org Rubber City Theatre Dive into the world of online theater with its Shakespeare in the Living Room series in which professional actors perform Shakespearean works using props they found lying around their homes. facebook. com/rubbercitytheatre Standing Rock Cultural Arts Enjoy a podcast of “Arcade Cheezy Town,” a play written and performed by students in the New World Children’s Theatre based in Kent. standingrock. podbean.com

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AGENDA

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens The North American Reciprocal Museum Association is offering virtual tours of the first floor of the manor house at Stan Hywet. Guests can tour the most impressive floor without leaving their homes. stanhywet.org Summit County Historical Society of Akron, OH Learn about historical figures on their birthdays, join virtual book talks, view artifacts and more on its Facebook page. facebook.com/ summitcountyhistoricalsociety Summit Metro Parks Explore many different topics, including animals, plants, different habitats, fitness and more, through virtual events. summitmetroparks.org Up Front Art Space This Cuyahoga Falls gallery is sharing photos and videos of artwork for sale to support local creatives. facebook.com/ upfrontartspace

Virtual Jukebox Dance and sing along to videos made by local artists. You may have heard some of these 330 artists, like Jim Ballard, Shelby Olive and Adrian Labra on 90.7 and 91.3 Summit FM radio waves in the past. Browse the 50-plus videos to enjoy your favorites and discover new sounds. the330.net/virtual-jukebox Wandering Aesthetics Theatre Go on this Akron troupe’s Facebook page for performance videos frommembers and fans — it could be play readings, poetry, comedy, puppets, dance or whatever else artists submit. facebook. com/watheatre

Events

Through 5/7 “La Cage Aux Folles” presented by Boom Theatre Based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret, it tells the story of a gay couple, Georges, the manager of a St-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and Albin, his romantic partner and star attraction, and the farcical adventures that ensue when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, brings home his fiancee’s ultra-conservative parents to meet them. Akron Civic Theatre, Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. $20. akroncivic.com Through 5/8 “Clue” It all begins on a dark and stormy night, as six mysterious guests arrive at Boddy Manor for a night of murder and blackmail that they will never forget. Was it Miss Scarlet in in the study with the knife? Or was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the lead pipe? Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron. $12-$31. weathervaneplayhouse.com Through 5/15 “The Importance of Being Earnest” This outrageous, romantic, classic comedy by Oscar Wilde is all about marriage, morals, good looks and other deeply important things. Mistaken identities, quippy dialogue, high tea and a happy ending make for the perfect spring evening. Ohio Shakespeare Festival, Greystone Hall, 103 S. High St., Akron. $15-$35. ohioshakespearefestival.com.

Weathervane Playhouse Sign up for virtual workshops and

classes for all ages that focus on dancing, acting and more. Also view short films on the theater’s YouTube channel. weathervaneplayhouse.com

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AGENDA

S P O T L I G H T

by Brendan Baker

Witnessing Change “LeBron James is a great basketball player, but his legacy will be the work he does with his foundation,” says Michele Campbell (pictured right), the executive director of the LeBron James Family Foundation. On 330 Day in March, we witnessed the LeBron James Family Foundation’s transformation of the for mer Tangier into the House Three Thirty community hub, set to open in 2023. The space is going to be a prominent destination for people visiting Akron, with spots to hang out and eat tacos, sip coffee and Norka soda or host events such as family meals and community conversations. In addition, there will be a sports complex, ice cream parlor and cabaret. House Three Thirty will also have spaces for I Promise School families and community members to get help with jobs, train ing and financial advice. A LeBron James museum fea tures James’ first basketball hoop from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and other memorabilia that has never been seen before.

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AGENDA

JOSEPH RUBIN AND HIS ORCHESTRA PRESENT

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: MUSICAL MEMORIES OF SUMMIT BEACH PARK

Through 5/15 “The 10,000 Things” Cleveland artist Jordan Wong melds inspiration from Asian art with graphic design, iconographies and his musings on triumph and growth. The exhibit features brightly colored large-scale vinyl printworks both inside the museum and outside in the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $3- $12. Gallery admission is free every Thursday. akronartmuseum.org Through 5/21 “The Bikinis” This beach party show will have you dancing in the aisles. The Bikinis get back together to relive their summer of 1964 and to raise money for Sandy Shores Mobile Home Beach Resort. Songs include “Heat Wave,” “Under the Boardwalk” and “It’s Raining Men.” The Hudson Players, 41 S. Oviatt St., Hudson. $12-$15. hudsonplayers.com Through 5/22 “Un-settling: A Story of Land Removal and Resistance” View this artwork by contemporary Native American artists. Massillon Museum, Massillon. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 2-5 p.m. Free. massillonmuseum.org Through 5/31 The Pup Crawl Enjoy craft beer and get a bite at this crawl of local breweries, supporting the Humane Society of Summit County. Stops include Akronym Brewing, HiHo Brewing Co., Missing Falls Brewery and more. Return your completed passport by June 10. Summit County. $20. summithumane.org Through 6/1 Michael Gill: “The Grownups Keep Talking/Nobody Knows Why” Check out this exhibit of woodcut prints and associated artist books. Massillon Museum, Studio M Gallery, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 2-5 p.m. Free. massillonmuseum.org Through 7/17 “What’s in Your Bag?” The Kent State Museum features an exhibit inspired by a purse in the museum’s collection that still had personal items in it. This display imagines what could be in others’ purses. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff and all on Sundays, otherwise $6 general public. kent.edu/museum Aultman Health Foundation Gallery, 121 Lincoln Way E,

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 7:30 PM AKRON SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN LIBRARY AUDITORIUM

Join us for this free performance and hear musical memories from the Big Band era. Featuring the music of an Akron favorite, Clyde McCoy, and his "Sugar Blues" Orchestra, who performed at Summit Beach Park from 1937 to 1946. Doors open at 7 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm. For more information, visit bit.ly/ascpl-sentimentaljourney

MAIN LIBRARY 60 South High Street Akron, Ohio 44326

330.643.9000 akronlibrary.org

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AGENDA

Through 8/7 “Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair” The Kent State University Museum displays an exhibit that connects the history, fashion and art of Black hair. Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-4 p.m. Free, students, staff and all on Sundays, otherwise $6 general public. kent.edu/museum Through 10/30 Woof Walks Take your favorite canine for a walk at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens most Sundays through October. Dogs must be on a leash, and owners must pick up after their dogs. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. $5-$12. stanhywet.org Through 11/30 Summit Brew Path Explore local breweries with this passport presented by the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau that includes 23 stops, including Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, Magic City Brewing Co., Ohio Brewing Co., Missing Mountain Brewing Co. and more. Summit County. summitbrewpath.com 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22 & 5/29 Distillery Tasting Tour Check out the distillery at Gervasi Vineyard during a tour, then enjoy three spirit tastings, a shot glass and a salty snack. Gervasi Vineyard, the Still House, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 2-3 p.m. $17. gervasivineyard.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2022

Drive-Thru Open Indoor Dining Church Tours Outside Dining

11am — 7pm 11am — 9pm 4pm —11pm 4pm — 9pm 4pm — 11pm 4pm — 9pm 6pm & 8pm 11am — 7pm 11am — 9pm 4pm —11pm 4pm — 9pm 4pm — 11pm

11am, 3pm, 5pm & 7pm

Esber Beverage Wine Tasting UnHitched Brewing Co. Area

Kids Playground

Hellenic Dancers Performances

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022

Drive-Thru Open Indoor Dining Church Tours Outside Dining

11am, 3pm,6pm & 7:30pm

Esber Beverage Wine Tasting UnHitched Brewing Co. Area

Kids Playground 4pm — 9pm Hellenic Dancers Performances 5pm, 7pm & 8:30pm Comedian Gus Constantellis 9:15pm SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022 Drive-Thru Open 11am — 7pm Indoor Dining 11am — 9pm Outside Dining 11am — 11pm Esber Beverage Wine Tasting 11am — 9pm UnHitched Brewing Co. Area 11am — 11pm Kids Playground 11am — 9pm Church Tours 11am, 4pm, 6pm & 7:30pm Hellenic Dancers Performances 3pm, 5:30pm 7pm & 8:30pm Greek Dance Lessons 4pm Fireworks After Sunset **Schedule Subject to change** FREE ADMISSION FOR ALL EVENTS LIVE MUSIC AND MORE!

5/5 Cinco de Mayo at the Knight Stage Celebrate Havana Nights featuring Justo Saborit’s original music with Latin flair, while enjoying a drink and light appetizers. Akron Civic Theatre, Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $35. akroncivic.com

5/6 Mozart and the Chevalier: 30th Anniversary Celebration Concert Listen to the music of two revered composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was the son of a musician, and Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges, who was the son of an African slave. First United Methodist Church, 263 E. Mill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $10-$77. apollosfire.org 5/6 Truffle Making: Mother’s Day Climb aboard for a ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Rail road to celebrate Mother’s Day. Make no-bake adult truffles during the trip. Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence. 6:30 p.m. $65. cvsr.org

5/4 Nu Deco Ensemble Nu Deco is a creative powerhouse with orchestral transformations of the works of Aretha Franklin, Queen and Daft Punk or multidisciplinary reimaginations of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and Bach’s Toccata and Fugue. E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $19-$49. tuesdaymusical.org

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AGENDA

5/6-5/15 “Winnie the Pooh” Enjoy this classic story directed by Dennis O’Connell. Magical Theatre Co., 565 Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $18-$20. magicaltheatre.org 5/6, 5/13, 5/20 & 5/27 Lunchtime Yoga Relax with some beginner-friendly yoga at the Massillon Museum each Friday. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. 12:30-1:15 p.m. $6 class, $15 three classes. massillonmuseum.org 5/6 & 5/27 Dinner on the Train Experience the luxury of the golden age of rail travel aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad on Friday evenings. This excursion is an experience to remember. Whether you are looking for a date night out or an evening with friends, this is the perfect way to dine in sophisticated comfort. Passengers must be 21 and over. Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence. 6:30 p.m. $105-$120. cvsr.org 5/7 Main Street Kent 5K Participate in this noncompetitive run or walk presented by North Water Brewing Co. and Main Street Kent. North Water Brewing Co., 101 E. Crain Ave., Kent. 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. start times. $30. mainstreetkent.org 5/7 Sweat Now Wine Later Adventure Race Kayak down the Nimishillen Creek from Martindale Park to Middlebranch Trailhead, then walk or run about 2 1/2 mils on the Middlebranch Trail to Gervasi Vineyard and relax with some food and drinks. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. $55-80. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. gervasivineyard.com 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 & 5/28 Winery Tour Learn about Gervasi Vineyard’s winemaking facility, then enjoy four wine tastings, a wine glass and four chef-selected bites. Gervasi Vineyard, the Crush House, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 1:30-2:30 p.m. or 3:30-4:30 p.m. $27. gervasivineyard.com 5/7-10/29 Countryside Farmers’ Market at Howe Meadow Shop from local farmers, food entrepreneurs and artists at Countryside’s market in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park on Saturdays. Howe Meadow, 4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula. 9 a.m.- noon. countrysidefoodandfarms.org 5/8 Mother’s Day at Stan Hywet Moms can enjoy free admission to the manor house and gardens. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. stanhywet.org

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AGENDA

5/8 Mother’s Day at the Zoo All mothers and grandmothers can enjoy free admission on Mother’s Day. Parking rates apply. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$9. akronzoo.org 5/10-5/15 Akron RubberDucks vs. Erie Seawolves Cheer on the Akron RubberDucks, our minor league baseball team affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., Akron. $5-$27. akronrubberducks.com 5/12 Voices in the Valley presents Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison de Groot This duo creates a sound that is adventurous, masterful and original, as it expands on the eccentricities of old songs while never losing sight of what makes them endure. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. 8 p.m. $18. peninsulahistory.org 5/13 Highland Square Film Festival: Pre Festival Start the festivities early with a screening of “Dead Next Door” that’s introduced by director J.R. Bookwalter. The Nightlight, 30 N. High St., Akron. 9 p.m. $15. nightlightcinema.com 5/13 Sentimental Journey: Musical Memories of Summit Beach Park Attend this free performance by Joseph Rubin and his orchestra to hear musical memories from the big band era. The concert features the music of an Akron favorite, Clyde McCoy, and his Sugar Blues Orchestra, which performed at Summit Beach Park from 1937 to 1946. Akron-Summit County Public Library, main library auditorium. 60 S. High St., Akron, 7:30 p.m. Free. akronlibrary.org 5/14 Grits to Glam: A Curated Party Curated Storefront is activating the former Quaker Oats factory during this fundraiser in preparation of pop-up art galleries this summer. Quaker Square, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron. 6-11 p.m. $50-$100. curatedstorefront.org 5/14 Locked Zoo Experience Head to the Akron Zoo after hours to enjoy adult beverages, snacks from local food trucks and a mystery around the zoo. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 4-8 p.m. $25 members, $30 nonmembers. akronzoo.org 5/14 Highland Square Film Festival View short films at various venues throughout the Highland Square neighborhood. Also enjoy a Q&A session, vendors, filmmaking workshops, yoga and more. Highland Square. $15-$25. highlandsquareakron.org

5/15 Cleveland Ballet: Excerpts from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Enjoy the Cleveland Ballet’s performance based on William Shakespeare’s comedy from under Gervasi Vineyard’s covered pavilion. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 2-3 p.m. or 7-8 p.m. $60-$70. gervasivineyard.com 5/15 Silent Film: “Seven Chances” Watch this 1925 comedy starring Buster Keaton, with accompaniment by organist Jay Spencer. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, Canton. 2 p.m. $10. cantonpalacetheatre.org 5/15, 6/12, 7/10, 8/28 & 9/25 Vintage Days Step into history at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens as the Historic Players portray the friends and employees of the Seiberlings in the 1920s. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 1-3 p.m. stanhywet.org 5/17 Access Annual Breakfast Join Access Shelter’s fundraiser for women and children experiencing homelessness. Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron. 8 a.m. access-shelter.org 5/19 Akron Roundtable presents Jennifer Carlson The assistant director at the Ohio Department of Aging drives the development of policies and programs related to the health, wellness and safety of older adults. She is a well-known advocate and expert in health policy development. Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron. Noon. $25. akronroundtable.org County Historical Society of Akron, OH presents this in-person and virtual program about vintage tools in its permanent collection. This session focuses on wagons and their use while the U.S. expanded westward. John Brown House, 514 Diagonal Road, Akron. Free members, $10 in-person nonmembers. summithistory.org 5/20 Spring Spectacular Participate in a zoo wide scavenger hunt in partnership with Akron Children’s Museum at this fundraiser celebrating conservation. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 6-9 p.m. $20 children, $30 adults. akronzoo.org 5/21 Seltzers ‘n’ Shells Celebrate World Turtle Day with hard seltzers and ciders from local breweries. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 6:30-9:30 p.m. $30 members, $35 nonmembers. akronzoo.org 5/19 Tools that Built the Connecticut Western Reserve: Wagons The Summit

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5/22 Napoleon Dynamite: A Conversation with Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez Watch this 2004 indie classic, then enjoy a moderated discussion with cast members Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, Canton. 6 p.m. $25-$125. cantonpalacetheatre.org 5/24 Brown Bag Lunch: “The History of Military Dog Tags & Our Fallen Heroes” Learn about military history from Ret. Major George Lemon while munching on cookies or eating lunch. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. 12:10-12:50 p.m. Free. massillonmuseum.org 5/25 Native Plants: Practical Gardening Tips Discover the challenges of growing native plants and tips to help you along the way at this Meet Me in the Garden educational series by the Summit County Master Gardeners, presented by Cuyahoga Valley National Park wetlands biologist and native seed collector and grower Sonia Bingham. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7 p.m. Free. summitmastergardeners.org 5/25 “Say It Loud” Take in a performance of this piece about the experiences of local residents, created by local Black theater artists and presented by the Akron Civic Theatre’s Millennial Theatre Project. Afterward, stay for the town hall style discussion. Akron Civic Theatre, Knight Stage, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 7 p.m. Free. akroncivic.com 5/27 Laughing Off the Rails Comedy Night Catch three comedy acts while on a two-hour ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence. 6:30 p.m. $55. cvsr.org 5/29, 6/26, 7/31, 8/28 & 9/25 Yoga on the West Terrace Participate in a beginner-friendly vinyasa flow yoga practice, then tour the Manor House and gardens. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10:30-11:30 a.m. $12 members, $16 nonmembers. stanhywet.org 5/28-7/20 “Accessible Expressions Ohio” Presented by Art Possible Ohio, this annual juried exhibition features artistic work by artists with disabilities. Massillon Museum, Fred F. Silk Community Room Gallery, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. massillonmuseum.org 5/31-6/5 Akron RubberDucks vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels Cheer on the Akron RubberDucks, our minor league baseball team affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., Akron. $5-$27. akronrubberducks.com 6/4 In Search of Bigfoot The Ohio Night Stalkers present physical and audio evidence of their Bigfoot research at this presentation. Barberton Public Library, Spillette Meeting Room, 602 W. Park Ave., Barberton. 2 p.m. barbertonlibrary.org

The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory Family owned and operated since 1875, with chapels in Fairlawn and Cuyahoga Falls. Now celebrating the sixth-generation of family leadership in dedicated service to the city of Akron.

Complimentary Live Streaming. Virtual Arrangements. Digital Tribute Wall and Guestbook

Fairlawn • Cuyahoga Falls • 330-867-4141 • www.billowfuneralhomes.com

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b y K E L LY P E T RYS Z YN a n d A L E X ANDR A SOBC Z AK w i t h p o r t r a i t s b y TA L I A HODG E

L E ADING THE WAY

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These innovat ive ent repreneurs have what i t takes to star t and run

thr iving businesses. Read thei r stor ies to

discover how they achieve success, keep growing and impact the communi ty.

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AMY MUCHA

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T H E SWE E T L I F E b y K E L LY P E T RYS Z YN a n d p o r t r a i t b y TA L I A HODG E

For years while Amy Mucha was making cake pops as a side hustle, people kept asking when she was going to quit her teaching job and make Daisy Pops her full-time gig. She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t think that cake pops could be totally supportive of me plus my whole team,” says the Kent resident. But in 2021, she did just that — she walked away from teaching math at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, and now she and a team make hundreds of pops each day. Demand has increased from 13,000 pops sold in 2018 to 113,000 in 2021. Mucha began making pops as a gift for her kids’ teach ers in 2016, and when people started wanting more, she launched her business in 2018. She has created 20 core flavors from classic red velvet and gluten-free vanilla to distinct honey lavender and her favorite, Fruity Pebbles, which was inspired by her friend Travis Howe’s Cereal Killer cookie from Fat T’s Cookies. That pop is yellow cake with Fruity Pebbles in the dough, dipped in white chocolate and topped with more Fruity Pebbles. “It’s a great mixture of sweetness — not too much — and also crunch,” she says. “It’s like a truffle inside.” Mucha and her team are constantly coming up with new eye-catching confections she shares with her 14,600-plus Instagram followers, including pops mimicking Tagalong Girl Scout cookies, Fourth of July popsicles, baby Yoda and even Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his press confer ence “dream team” during the COVID-19 shutdown, plus a flavor of the month. “We really get to let our creativity flow,” she says.

Being an entrepreneur means she still gets her fill of math. She is always crunching numbers to make deci sions like investing in tech to increase her capabilities. For example, when she can’t find a cookie cutter for her uniquely shaped pops, she creates a custom cutter using a 3D printer. She bought an edible printer that allows her to print logos on frosting sheets and put them on pops. That’s helped her snag clients like I Promise School and Cleveland Clinic and score big partnerships like logo pops at Akron RubberDucks concession stands and the NBA All-Star Game. Mucha also builds up small local businesses through her collaboration of the month series that has yielded creations like a chocolate stout pop in the shape of a beer mug inspired by Bell Tower Brewing Co. She’s partnered with Howe a few times by making pops like those in the shape of chocolate chip cookies to accompany his blue Cookie Monster cookie. “They’re adorable,” Howe says. “We’re always looking to promote each other and hype each other up.” Growing Daisy Pops is helping her bring the business out of her basement and into a commercial kitchen and store in Kent in the fall. The move means she can think even bigger — grocery store partnerships, national online ship ping — the possibilities keep popping up. She’s glad she proved herself wrong about pops not being a sustaining business. She recalls when one of her employees sent her a picture at Disney, saying she took her family with the money she made at Daisy Pops. “That makes me so happy,” she says. “The thing I’m most proud of is that I can support myself. Not only that, but I can support a dozen other pop artists.” daisypops.com

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B U I L T S T R O N G b y K E L LY P E T RYS Z YN a n d p o r t r a i t b y TA L I A HODG E

Halle Jones Capers makes herself seen and heard. That assertiveness was especially important when she entered the male-dominated engineering industry. Despite not always getting eye contact or equal attention initially, she actively engaged others in conversations. “Sometimes throughout my career I have situations where you’re invisible, not only as a Black woman but as a woman. … I really try and be relevant to a conversation,” she says. “There’s very much less of that today than early on.” Jones Capers has since spent over 30 years in the field, continuously shattering glass ceilings. She was the first Black female deputy director of the division of highway operations for the Ohio Department of Transportation. Recently, she realized a long-held dream and accomplished another first: the 2020 launch of her company, Halle’s Engineering & Design, marked the first minority female owned civil engineering firm in Akron. Her firm provides civil engineering design services in the areas of transporta tion, water/wastewater and site design. In the beginning, being first was challenging. She realized early that being in a community was key to building her confidence. “Being the only one, sometimes it can feel isolated,” she says. “But joining organizations ... and getting to work with different people, finding common interests … has always been helpful.” As a University of Akron student, she helped found a chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and became its first president and is still involved. Throughout her career, she’s continued to encourage students through outreach programs like Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics at UA. At a Summa Health project site recently, she encountered a student she worked with while she was

the director of the Women in Engineering Program at UA. “It was exciting to see her in this role, sharing knowledge about the project, being confident,” Jones Capers says. “It was really rewarding.” The first employee she hired at her firm is a young Black female UA engineering grad and transportation engineer, Amanda Kumih. She didn’t have a lot of classmates who looked like her, so having a Black female as her boss means a lot. “It honestly felt great for her to believe in me,” Kumih says. “It gave me a lot of confidence to know she looked like me.” Building strong relationships has helped Jones Capers get projects, including a job overseeing the progress on the $30 million Residences at the Greens townhomes in the Canton area that she got through a recommendation from another professional involved with the Minority Contractor Capital Access Program she was in. With decades of experience and hard work behind her, Jones Capers spends most of her time learning her new role as an entrepreneur and growing her firm. “I’m comfortable where I am and the value that I bring,” she says. “If I’m in a conversation or meeting that’s all male, I don’t feel I have to speak up to be seen and rel evant. I’m seen and relevant because I’m relevant.” Indeed, Jones Capers’ presence can be seen throughout Northeast Ohio — from bridges and roads she helped design to community leadership roles. She hopes that her groundbreaking career is paving the way for others to fol low in her footsteps. “Most of my life, I continued to be the first,” she says. “I definitely want to help more people get out there and

do what I do.” hallesead.com

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