Akron Life May 2022

YEARS 20

PAGES

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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