February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2 · thedevilstrip.com
PAGE 6: Polish American Citizens Club of Akron celebrates 100 years
PAGE 14: How Pastor Dee is leading A church through COVID-19
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PAGE 20: Rehabbing aging homes for akron’s older adults
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IN THIS ISSUE Akron News, Art & Culture:
Summit Artspace 140 East Market Street Akron, Ohio 44308 Board of Directors: Philathia Bolton, April Couch, Emily Dressler, Sharetta Howze, Rita Kelly Madick, Dominic Moore-Dunson, Bhakta Rizal, Hillary Stewart, Audrey Worthington directors@thedevilstrip.com
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Publisher: Chris Horne chris@thedevilstrip.com Editor-in-Chief: Rosalie Murphy rosalie@thedevilstrip.com Audience Development Director: Floco Torres floco@thedevilstrip.com
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Membership Director: Jessica Goldbourn jessica@thedevilstrip.com Reporters: Public Health: H.L. Comeriato HL@thedevilstrip.com Equity and Inclusion: Noor Hindi noor@thedevilstrip.com Economic Development: Abbey Marshall abbey@thedevilstrip.com
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Digital Manager: Sonia Potter sonia@thedevilstrip.com
6 POLISH AMERICAN CITIZENS CLUB OF AKRON TURNS 100 7 EAT SPEAK LOVE CELEBRATES LOCAL BUSINESSES 8 AKRON’S DEATH CARE WORKERS STRAINED AS OHIO TOPS 10,000 COVID-19 DEATHS 10 BLACK ARTIST GUILD FOUNDED 12 VINTAGE STRUCTURES: BALCH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER 16 HOW TWO MUSICIANS GOT THROUGH 2020 18 AKRON’S HEISMAN STATUE 19 LEAF HOME AND BLOOMS 20 REHABBING AKRON HOMES FOR AN AGING POPULATION 22 AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK FEEDS THOUSANDS DURING COVID-19 24 YVONNE’S ARTS AND SWEETS 26 A PHYSICIAN’S ANSWERS TO COVID-19 VACCINE QUESTIONS 27 TALLMADGE COUPLE PERFORMS FOR PENN & TELLER 28 WITCHCRAFT, WICCA AND PAGANISM IN AKRON 30 GEOLOGIC SURVEY MARKERS HELPED ORIENT AKRON
Art Director: Chris Harvey harvey@thedevilstrip.com
Essays, Humor & Creativity:
Client Solutions: Director: Anna Adelman anna@thedevilstrip.com Assistant: Allyson Smith allyson@thedevilstrip.com
32 SOBER CHRONICLES 33 HELL RAISERS: HOW BLENDED FAMILIES MANAGE TRANSITIONS 35 CROOKED RIVER REFLECTIONS 38 DEVIL STRIP DISPORT
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Distribution Manager: Derek Kreider derek@thedevilstrip.com
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Family Editor: Megan Combs family@thedevilstrip.com
Find us online: www.thedevilstrip.com Facebook: facebook.com/thedevilstrip Twitter: @akrondevilstrip Instagram: @thedevilstrip
Copy Editors: Megan Combs, Dave Daly, Emily Dressler, Shannon Farrell Freelance Contributors: Emily Anderson, Angie Agnoni, Nahla Bendefaa, Debra Calhoun, Julie Ciotola, Kyle Cochrun, Lauren Dangel, Zaïré Talon Daniels, Jeff Davis, Nic deCourville, Ace Epps, Ken Evans, Charlotte Gintert, Aja Hannah, Charlee Harris, Matthew Hogan, Jillian Holness, Todd Jakubisin, Josy Jones, Jamie Keaton, Laura Lakins, Ted Lehr, Marissa Marangoni, Sandy Maxwell, Brandon Meola, Vanessa Michelle, Yoly Miller, Brittany Nader, John Nicholas, Brynne Olsen, Susan Pappas, Ilenia Pezzaniti, Arrye Rosser, Mark Schweitzer, Marc Lee Shannon, Allyson Smith, Karla Tipton, Paul Treen, Steve Van Auken.
Want to help make The Devil Strip? Write to rosalie@thedevilstrip.com.
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Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
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Our Mission The Devil Strip connects Akronites to their neighbors, our city and a stronger sense of purpose by sharing stories about the people who make this place unique. The Devil Strip is published monthly by Random Family LLC. Distribution: The Devil Strip is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Copyright: The entire contents of The Devil Strip are copyright 2020 by Random Family LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials or other content. All editorial, advertising and business correspondence should be sent to the addresses listed above.
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
The Devil Strip |
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EDITOR’S NOTE A t The Devil Strip, we believe that journalism is for everybody.
The most valuable courses I took in journalism school were practical — learning to approach and interview people, get questions answered, crunch numbers, understand the historical context, organize all this information in a way that would make sense to readers and then sit down and write. This is a set of skills that anyone can learn. And, as it happens, these are the same skills I believe everybody needs to participate in democracy — talking to strangers, asking questions, understanding how things came to be the way they are and evaluating what’s being done to improve them. I have the opportunity to help our contributors develop these skills each month, regardless of their educational background or experience level. This winter, we’re taking this commitment to a new level with a free virtual class called Spring Training. (Why the name? This was initially scheduled to happen pre-COVID, and… we just never changed it). On Wednesday nights, 30 people gather virtually to learn the basics of sourcing, interviewing and writing with a Devil Strip twist. About two-thirds of these
folks have not written for The Devil Strip before. Our magazine is meant to be Akron telling stories about itself. We pass the mic — or in our case, the Google doc and the smartphone camera — to anyone who wants to pick it up. As a result, our coverage is accurate in a big, broad way. We’re committed to getting the details right, of course, but we’re also committed to telling stories about everyday people, quirky traditions, the nuances of neighborhood change and lots of little victories. Who better to do that than people themselves? I’m looking forward to introducing some of these new writers to you in the coming months and to evaluating the success of this pilot training program. If it turns out well, stay tuned for Spring Training 2.0 sometime within the next year! I’m very proud of the community we’re building and would love to have you join us. If you have a story idea or are interested in learning more about writing for the magazine, you can reach me at rosalie@ thedevilstrip.com.
OUR WORK IS FOR AKRON. This is our reason for existing, not merely our editorial angle for stories. We are advocates for the city of Akron and allies to its people, so we may be cheerleaders, but that won’t keep us from challenging the city’s flaws. What’s the point of being part of the community if we can’t help make it a better place to live?
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THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS BY ACCLAIMED SCULPTOR WOODROW NASH. READ MORE ABOUT NASH ON THE NEXT PAGE. TO SEE MORE OF HIS WORK, VISIT HIS STUDIO AT 800 COPLEY RD. OR VISIT WOODROWNASHSTUDIOS.COM. (PHOTO: NOOR HINDI)
Stay well and safe this winter, Rosalie
What we believe:
STORIES MATTER. We believe the most important stories are the ones we tell ourselves about ourselves, and that this is as true for cities as it is for individuals. For better or worse, every city’s chief storyteller is its media. We take responsibility for our work because we know it shapes the way Akronites see each other, and the way we see each other influences how we treat one another.
ON THE COVER
OUR WORK SHOULD BE DONE WITH AKRON. We would rather build trust through cooperation and collaboration than authority. Our place in the community is alongside it, not standing outside looking in or standing above it looking down.
WE CARE ABOUT YOU, NOT JUST YOUR EYEBALLS. Sometimes, we love a good fight with the status quo. But conflict and antagonism will never be a way of life for us, especially not to boost clicks, views, comments, shares and “eyeballs.” We are watchdogs to hold our leaders accountable, not to keep the neighbors up all night with our barking. WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS. Our stories humanize the people in our city. We not only want to counter sensationalized
and alarmist reporting but to eventually render it obsolete. We advocate for justice, freedom and equality because those qualities make this city, and our lives, better. JOURNALISM SHOULD LIVE BEYOND THE PAGE. Information without context or connection is inert. We believe journalism can connect people to each other, our city and even a sense of purpose. Though our work begins on the page, both printed and web, we promote and plan events so people can meet faceto-face where real life still happens. PEOPLE OVER PROFITS. The local businesses, nonprofits and civic organizations who support The Devil Strip are part of our community and are as vital to our culture as our artists and musicians. That’s why we don’t accept ads for national chains, things in large metros outside Summit County or businesses that profit from the exploitation of women. We are not a coat hanger for advertising.
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WE GET ONE SHOT AT LIFE, SO LET’S HAVE FUN. We want our readers to fall in love with Akron (again and again and again), to buck the temptation to only live vicariously through the people they follow online. One thing that makes art, dance, theatre, music, film, food, civic engagement, biking, hiking, and public space so great is that all these things can bring us together, helping us find new friends and have fun with the ones we already have. That makes us all a little happier. That’s what it’s all about.
What is a devil strip? The “devil strip” is the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street. The precise origins of the term are unknown, but it’s only used in Akron. Today, the devil strip is what connects residents to the city — its public space, its people and its challenges. The Devil Strip seeks to do the same thing.
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News, ARTS & Culture
Journalism about Akron, by Akronties
‘Art is the sum total of my life’s experiences’ IN THE STUDIO WITH WOODROW NASH REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY NOOR HINDI
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oodrow Nash doesn’t just make art: He creates a universe of “regalness” for Black people. In an inconspicuous studio off Copley Road in Akron, hundreds of his sculptures, which embody strength and beauty with their upright postures and the “stoic, quiet look of them,” are born. In the studio is where Nash comes alive — hands dusted with clay, paint splattered on his clothes, listening to jazz, old school R&B and country, his favorite genre. Though the 72-yearold is often by himself while he works, he’s rarely alone. Countless sculptures surround him, each staring in a different direction. “It’s a way of life, man,” he says. “It’s who I am. And I don’t look at it as work because I enjoy it.” Nash never has a plan. He chooses colors based on “whatever comes to me, whatever I feel like, whatever I think is going to work.” He never
sketches. He moves effortlessly from sculpture to sculpture, making it look easy, because to him, it is.
would tell me, ‘Hey, they’re hiring at Chrysler. Why don’t you get a job?’ I was ridiculed for a while.’”
“This is the original form of communication,” he says. “Artists speak to anyone, everyone.”
While Nash was growing up, Akron was highly segregated. Copley Road was the “dividing line,” he says, “Black folks on this side, white folks on that side.” While Buchtel was structurally integrated, “the whites did their thing and the Blacks did their thing.”
Today, Nash is a nationally renowned artist known for his African-Nouveau style. His sculptures feel alarmingly real. They’re painted with bright, vibrant colors and are textured with soft patterns. Their beauty is striking, pulling viewers in. Their hollow eyes are moving and haunting. His pieces cost thousands of dollars and are featured all over the country. Most recently, Nash’s artwork was featured in Beyoncé’s newest visual album, Black is King. Though Nash always knew he wanted to be an artist, and never doubted his abilities, it took him until he was 40 years old to dedicate his full self to his artistry. “You’re taught art is an unrealistic and unattainable goal,” he says. “‘You’re going to starve to death! Where you gonna work?’ I just believed in myself. And people
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After graduating from Buchtel High School [Fact check], Nash served in the Vietnam War, an experience he describes as “sad.” Nash says he “lost it” for about five years. “When you’re faced with death and you make decisions daily to survive, you find out who you are. You find out you might have courage or you don’t have courage. I found out I was angry because I found myself at 21 fighting to stop Communist aggression and I was a second-class citizen over here in America fighting for someone else’s freedom.” Nash eventually received an associate’s degree in commercial art from Pels School of Art in New York
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City. For a long time, Nash worked in advertising, but none of the jobs ever fit, and none of it made him happy. What’s worse is he was constantly finding himself passed up for opportunities. “I was always the only Black guy in the department or the only Black guy in the company,” he says, exasperated. “And I found I was always trying to prove myself. I’d never really won my position. And I was always second-guessed.” Eventually, Nash left advertising to pursue his own work full-time. The only thing he regrets, he says, is waiting until he was 40. Today, you can find Nash in his studio, creating entire worlds with his bare hands, humming along to his favorite music or maybe even playing his djembe drums. “It’s been good,” he smiles. “And it’s because I had the courage to step out on my own. Always had it.” // Noor Hindi is The Devil Strip’s Equity and Inclusion Reporter. Email her at noor@thedevilstrip.com. The Devil Strip
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Polish American Citizens Club of Akron turns 100 REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY EMILY ANDERSON
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’m sitting in a huge booth, a safe distance from my fellow diners, sipping pivo and snacking on pierogi. I’m trying not to laugh at the self-deprecating joke that was just told about lightbulbs while a copper bust of the Pope glares at the back of my head. A young server wearing a “Bet your Dupa” shirt delivers fresh beers and we all toast, “Nice Driveway!” I’m at the Polish American Citizen Club of Akron, where they’re planning a celebration for their upcoming centennial. Akron, like many cities across the Midwest, has a large Polish-American population. This is especially true in North Hill, where the Polish American Citizens Club of Akron was established in 1921. The club was established to provide immigrant families a place to feel at home, build a social network and support each other. Over the last century, the PACC has adapted with the times while
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maintaining its cultural traditions. The PACC is always accepting donations for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and raising money for people in the community, especially recent immigrants. They do toy drives and Breakfast with Santa during the holidays and a special Veterans Day lunch every year. You don’t have to be Polish to be a member, and you don’t have to be a member to use the space. The club has been witness to so much, from meetings to organize opposition to the KKK in the 1920s to Bhutanese wedding ceremonies in 2020. The club moved to their current location at 472 East Glenwood Ave. in 1949, upgrading their facility with an industrial kitchen and large banquet hall. They have space for everything from “baby showers to wakes and everything in between,” sitting PACC President Tim Ostroski tells me. People have had parties here for 25 to 200 people. Run by a mostly volunteer staff, the kitchen at the PACC has all the Polish staples and the bar is stocked with beer and vodka imported from the
motherland. Their most popular night has always been Friday, when they’re open to the public for their famous fish fry. They’ve been using the same battered perch recipe for 60 years. Coronavirus restrictions have obviously put a damper on traditions like Dyngus Day this past year, but that’s not the only thing the PACC is up against. There used to be cultural clubs like PACC all over the Akron area. Many of them, including the Irish Club, are now closed. At its peak, PACC served over 600 members and their families. Now they only have around 200 members. “Nobody is building any new clubs like this,” Ostroski tells me. “We need to be supported by the community. We don’t want to see the doors close.” On top of providing space and a sense of belonging for people in Akron, PACC keeps historical records and a community archive. They have a rich collection of oral histories, documents and photographs going back over the last 100 years. Anyone who is interested in these records or
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would like to contribute to them in any way is encouraged to come in and do so. The Polish Club’s centennial festivities will include a dinner on March 7 and a big celebration on June 5. They plan to have live music and lots of food. They’re currently taking donations and raising money to help keep the event safe and free to attend. Until then, PACC is open to the public every Friday, and their food and bottled beer are available for carryout. They’ll give you a membership if you come in on your birthday. Whether you have Polish ancestors or are just “Polish by Pleasure,” you’re welcome to join the club. For more information, find PACC Akron on Facebook or stop by. They’re open from 1-6 pm Monday-Wednesday and Saturday and 1-10 pm Thursday and Friday. // Emily Anderson isn’t Polish, but she still wears red on Dyngus Day.
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‘What small businesses should be: Connection, collaboration and support’ EAT, SPEAK, LOVE’S SUBSCRIPTION BOXES OFFER AKRONITES ROTATING PRODUCTS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY ABBEY MARSHALL Tiffany Roper is wrapping Akron small business up in a box. She initially intended to open a multipurpose venue to accommodate the three aspects of her new business: Eat Speak Love. She aspired to provide a kitchen to rotating chefs serving Akronites new cuisine similar to North Akron CDC’s NoHi pop-up restaurant, a stage for public speaking and performances and retail space for entrepreneurs to sell their products inspired by the Northside Marketplace. Then, Roper realized the pandemic would be more than a temporary roadblock to her storefront, and she needed to switch gears. “I just was so eager to get started,” she recalls. “I asked a friend, ‘How can I box everything up and give it to people?’ She told me simply, ‘Box everything up and give it to people.’ So I did.” Subscription boxes, such as Barkbox’s monthly pet supplies collection or HelloFresh’s meal prep kits, have taken off in recent years. Roper decided to create a subscription box of products from Akron entrepreneurs, calling the collection “SmallBig Boxes.”
“We have so many entrepreneurs popping up all the time, and especially right now, we need to support each other with our dollars locally,” says Roper. Last year Roper completed Bounce Innovation Hub’s inaugural 15-week MORTAR course, an accelerator program that teaches existing and emerging entrepreneurs about business ownership. “I met so many incredible people through my MORTAR cohort and decided to partner with a few of those businesses to get the word out.” The first batch of boxes released in December, which featured products from minority-owned businesses in the Akron area, sold out within 72 hours. “There was just this incredible buzz,” she says. “We strive to partner with minority businesses because we think that visibility and awareness is so pivotal to their success. The pandemic has just decimated small business and early-stage ventures of women and people of color. People really wanted to support those businesses.” Her first box — “Tiffany’s Favorite Things” — treated customers to her favorite snacks from Fat T’s cookies, her top scents from SweetlyCreated4U, her go-to beauty products from Generations5Plus and more.
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“I’ve gotten quite a bit of orders from Tiffany and people who bought the boxes with samples of my products,” says Andrea Neal, the owner of Generations5Plus, an all-natural skincare business. “The bars of soap and whipped shea butter lotion have gone up in sales since Tiffany put samples in her boxes, and that’s really exciting. My goal is to ultimately open my own store, so this is a good way to get new customers.” The 2021 yearly subscription of SmallBig Boxes, which includes three packages and is currently marked down from $90 to $75 (or $30 for individual boxes), will include a box each season with a different theme. The first box of the year, on sale in late January and early February while supplies last, features women-owned businesses. “The second I saw Tiffany advertise her box, I immediately bought six of them and gave them as Christmas gifts,” says Gina Betti, a subscriber who attended University of Akron but now lives in Sharon Center. “Supporting local is my passion, and I thought it was a great way to learn about new companies I’m not familiar with. It’s really notable that her goal is not only to promote her own business but to support the success of others around her.” When customers are ready to collect their items, Roper hosts “pick-up
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parties’’ at businesses across town. For the December box, customers collected their items at Beanhead Brothers, a coffee shop that recently opened on Romig Road. If they made a purchase from the shop, they received an additional item from Eat Speak Love: a promotion she plans on continuing at other businesses. “I would say nearly every person who came to pick up a box also bought something from Beanhead Brothers,” Roper says. “The whole point of this subscription box is to encourage people to patronize local, small businesses. The pick-up parties are another way to do that.” Though her plans to open the storefront she dreamt of are on hold, Roper is thrilled with the support she’s received so early on, even doubling her inventory for the upcoming boxes. “The boxes are really the ‘love’ in Eat Speak Love,” Roper says. “It’s not necessarily about bringing people to Eat Speak Love; it’s about putting Eat Speak Love at the forefront of what small businesses should be: connection, collaboration and support.” // Abbey Marshall covers economic development for The Devil Strip via Report For America. Reach her at abbey@thedevilstrip.com.
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Akron’s death care workers feel the strain as Ohio tops 10,000 COVID-19 deaths REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY H.L. COMERIATO
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oday, Kate Benson is tired.
For the last 10 months, they’ve worked on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping families make final arrangements for their loved ones. For Benson, and for death care workers across the country, the second wave of COVID-19 deaths has been difficult, both personally and professionally. “People just don’t like to think about us, because we do a job they don’t really want to think about,” says Benson, who is both a licensed preneed specialist and the director of communications at Anthony Funeral Homes. “It’s hard. We’ve all had to adjust. It’s just not the situation that anybody wants.” Benson says their role in the death care process has taken on more urgency since COVID-19 deaths spiked for the second time this fall. “I do all the death certificates, so I have to work with doctors, getting
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the death certificates signed, getting them all filed at the local health departments, getting burial and cremation permits,” Benson says. “It’s definitely been overwhelming.” After Halloween, Summit County saw a surge in COVID-19 cases that Summit County Public Health Commissioner Donna Skoda traced back to small, private gatherings. Several weeks later, Benson says the uptick in COVID-19 deaths was sudden and substantial. According to data published by Summit County Public Health, the total number of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Summit County more than doubled during the month of November, at least in part due to community spread of the virus at holiday gatherings. By Jan. 19, the county had seen 729 deaths — just 333 fewer than Cuyahoga County, which has a population more than double the size of Summit County’s. Keeping the death care process in motion throughout the pandemic has proven no small feat, and death care workers are struggling to bear the emotional and psychological weight
of the state’s 10,000+ COVID-19 deaths. “It really does take an emotional toll,” says Benson, who has worked in death care for the last three and a half years. “When I first started, I definitely was not sure how to disconnect myself and set up boundaries, because I’m really sensitive to how other people are feeling. I definitely was consuming these people’s sorrow.” Since then, Benson says they’ve relied on talk therapy to cope with the emotional and psychological stress of working in death care. But after years of working hard to separate the two, Benson says the pandemic has chipped away at the emotional boundaries between their personal and professional life: “Now, with the pandemic, it’s hitting really hard and I’m struggling again.” Eric Anthony — a licensed funeral director, embalmer and cremationist — was born into the business. Anthony’s great grandfather, Andrew Joseph Kucko, founded Anthony Funeral Homes in 1917, just one year before the Spanish flu pandemic wiped out nearly a
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third of the world’s population. A fourth-generation death care worker, Anthony says coping with the stress of working in death care has always come naturally. During the first wave of COVID-19 deaths last spring, Anthony swiftly adapted to state mandates, requiring face coverings and limiting the number of visitors allowed at viewings and memorial services. Like other Akron-area funeral homes, Anthony began live-streaming funeral and memorial services online, and offering to push services back until community spread of the virus could be better controlled. All the while, COVID-19 transmissions and deaths continued to climb: “By the time I realized we should be keeping track [of COVID-19 deaths],” Anthony says, “I had already lost count.” In Ohio, embalmers like Anthony can begin the embalming process before receiving a death certificate. But burials or cremations can never be performed without a death certificate, which must always be signed by the physician attending to the person at their time of death, thedevilstrip.com
Kate Benson at McGown-Reid & Santos Funeral Chapel in Cuyahoga Falls. Benson is both a pre-need specialist and the director of communications at Anthony Funeral Homes. (Photo: H.L. Comeriato)
then filed with both the county and the state. Tawanda Weems, who works as a registrar at Summit County Public Health, says the spike in COVID-19 deaths in Summit County is both shocking and undeniable. For the last 14 years, Weems has processed what public health officials call vital statistics for the county — birth and death records, burial and cremation permits. “Before COVID, for Summit County, we only averaged between 105 to maybe 120 deaths that were reported every week to the state. Now, the average is anywhere from 200 to 220,” Weems says. “When I go through them and review them to make sure that before we ship them to the state they’re all correct, it jumps out at me, all of these individuals, that their immediate cause of death is COVID-19.” Weems says making sure the information on a person’s death certificate is correct is an important part of how the state tracks and manages COVID-19 deaths. When those records are analyzed, they can help public health officials track new and ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks by mapping out when and where COVID-19 deaths have occured. When death certificates are delayed, funeral directors aren’t able to move forward with funeral services or internments — a concern only compounded by clusters of COVID-19 deaths. Weems, who lost a close friend to the virus just before Thanksgiving, says maintaining accurate death records is also an act of human dignity. “I’m a very passionate person — not necessarily emotional, but I empathize with those who have had severe losses,” Weems says. “You hear about it. You see the documents. You see the news media’s coverage of COVID and the number of deaths. I go to our daily briefings and I see those numbers, but it doesn’t really resonate until you know someone personally. “You just have to question yourself, ‘What else would this person’s life have been if not for COVID?’ Most of
them are in the prime of their lives. It’s heart-wrenching,” Weems says. “One of the girls here always asks me, ‘How do you do it? How do you look at all these death records?’ She’s been here about two years, and it’s all still fresh to her. She wanted to know if I got used to seeing these deaths. I told her you never get used to seeing them. You never do.” COVID-19 adjustments now allow funeral directors to file death certificates online and request curbside service at Summit County Public Health. Still, Benson says death care workers haven’t always been well protected during the pandemic, or even considered essential.
Top: Benson poses outside McGowan-Reid & Santos Funeral Chapel in Cuyahoga Falls, one of Anthony Funeral Homes’ three Akron-area locations. Bottom: An empty hallway at McGowanReid & Santos Funeral Chapel, which typically accommodates more than 100 visitors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapel’s current capacity has been cut in half. (Photo: H.L. Comeriato)
According to the State of Ohio’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, death care workers are not set to receive the COVID-19 vaccine alongside essential healthcare workers and other at-risk Ohioans during phases 1A and 1B of vaccine distribution. The plan makes no mention of funeral directors, morticians or embalmers — who may all come in contact with the bodies of people infected with the virus or engage with the public during services and visitations. If death care workers themselves aren’t protected from the virus, Benson says the result of an outbreak among death care workers could be disastrous.
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“I really don’t want to shut down,” Benson says. “It’s really frustrating because I want to tell [people], ‘If we catch COVID, we can’t help other people.’ It would be really bad if that happened.” In spite of the risk, Benson says they’re committed to serving families with dignity and empathy. “You just try to do so much for people, and we try so hard to make everything perfect, because that’s what we would want,” Benson adds. “It’s more of a vocation than a career, at least with the people I work with. As much as it beats us up, we really enjoy doing this for people when
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they’re in such a bad situation. “A lot of the families that we’ve worked with throughout the year come back to us,” says Benson. “A lot of them tell us how great everything was, or how much they appreciate us — that we were there when they needed us.” And that, Benson says, is a pretty good feeling. // H.L. Comeriato covers public health for The Devil Strip via Report for America. Reach them at HL@ thedevilstrip.com.
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‘A cheerleader in the background’ DARA HARPER AND DOMINIC MOORE-DUNSON LAUNCH BLACK ARTIST GUILD
REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY NOOR HINDI
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ara Harper has one goal: To ensure Akron’s Black community no longer feels excluded from the arts. As an artist and owner of Art Only Boutique, Harper and her mother, Diane Johnson, grew tired of being the only Black people in art venues and festivals. While they brainstormed ways to address this challenge, ArtsNow was in the process of publishing the Akron Cultural Plan, which highlights challenges in Akron’s arts and cultural scene and potential solutions to those challenges. When ArtsNow interviewed residents for the plan, time and time again, issues of inclusion came up. In fact, according to the report, 97% of residents who participated in the report mentioned the importance of
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equity.
editing of this story and did not see it before publication.
“While reading the cultural plan, I was taken aback,” Harper says. “People are finally saying what we’ve been thinking for years: That we do not feel connected. That we’re isolated. That people of color and young people do not feel a connection to the arts and cultural scene.” To address these issues, Harper partnered with Dominic MooreDunson, founder and creator of the Black Card Project, which facilitates conversations about Black identity within communities. Together, Harper and Moore-Dunson are launching a Black Artist Guild. Editor’s note: Dominic Moore-Dunson is a member of The Devil Strip’s Board of Directors. Moore-Dunson was interviewed for this story because he is a co-founder of the Black Artist Guild, but he was not involved in the
The goal of the guild is to help connect Black artists to each other and to resources in the community, and to create a safe space where artists can collaborate and exchange ideas with one another. “We’re in silos,” Moore-Dunson says. “As Black artists we don’t know where other Black artists are or what they do. And a lot of us don’t feel like we have a central support system or a way to find resources.” The guild, which is funded by the Knight Foundation and supported by ArtsNow, is considering the next year to be a prototype year. They’ll be holding community conversations and workshops while testing some ideas to see what works and what doesn’t.
Harper would like to have educational opportunities for artists who want to learn how to write grants, start nonprofits and better market their work. Right now, the group has about 20 members, including nationally renowned artist Woodrow Nash, actor, director and playwright Josy Jones and musician Theron Brown. “The beautiful thing is, people are ready,” Harper says. “People are ready to come through the door, people are ready to connect, to collaborate. To know you have a cheerleader in the background, people supporting you no matter what is huge.” // Noor Hindi is The Devil Strip’s Equity and Inclusion Reporter. Email her at noor@thedevilstrip.com.
For example, Moore-Dunson and
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
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BALCH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE GINTERT
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n 1925, Akron’s Jewish community decided that they were in dire need of their own cultural center. Although there were several synagogues, there wasn’t a building for the community to hold classes, have events or play sports. So, several of Akron’s Jewish leaders came together and formed a committee to build an Akron Jewish Center to meet those needs. They chose property in Akron’s West Hill neighborhood near where the Anshe Emeth Congregation had been meeting. After six years of planning and fundraising, a contract was signed with Akron architects J. Edward Fitcher and Harry A. Booker to design the Center. The funds were raised through
This page, top to bottom: The Balch Street Community Center, formerly the Akron Jewish Center, is located at 220 S. Balch St; The 1951 addition to the Akron Jewish Center; Another view of the Balch Street Community Center.
banquets, recitals and dances hosted by the Center’s Ladies’ Auxiliary. The remaining costs were paid for by Center memberships, which were $20 per family. The final cost of construction was $150,000 and the building was completed in the summer of 1929. Bert A. Polsky, owner of Polsky’s department store, was the chairman of the September dedication banquet that marked the Center’s grand opening. The exterior of the building is brick with terracotta trim and friezes. Instead of choosing the popular Art Deco designs of the time, the architects chose a Byzantine revival style. The most noteworthy feature is the arched main entrance with lions and figures inspired by Tanakh imagery. When it opened, the building contained an Olympic-sized swimming pool lined with mosaic tile, a 900-seat auditorium with a stage, a “moving picture booth,” a women’s lounge, a billiard room, a game room, a library, meeting rooms in various sizes, two dining rooms, a full-size event kitchen, a handball court, offices and classrooms.
(Photos: Charlotte Gintert)
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February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
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Top: The original front entrance of the Center. Bottom: Detail of the front entrance. (Photos: Charlotte Gintert)
for tickets that the event had to be moved to the Akron Armory. Other notable speakers included columnist Drew Pearson, Edward R. Murrow and Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft. The program eventually went on to become a local television show and radio series on WAKR. In 1962, the Center’s Ladies’ Auxiliary booked actress Joan Crawford to speak at their Women’s Day luncheon and fashion show. Crawford, in addition to being a famous actress, was also a member of Pepsi-Cola’s board of directors. She spoke at the Center during her inspection of the local Pepsi bottling facilities. After 45 years, the Jewish Center was in need of a new, larger facility with outdoor recreation space. In 1973, the center moved to White Pond Drive. The Shaw JCC of Akron still serves the area’s Jewish community today.
In 1951, architect Michael M. Konarski designed an addition for the east side of the building. Wanting to blend the new wing into the original structure, he acquired matching brick and created a large two-story terracotta panel with a Star of David at the front bay where the two structures met. Besides holding Jewish-oriented programming for members, the Center also hosted events and programs for the general public. These included the Center Theatre Guild, Sunday Evening Concert Series and the Akron Civic Forum. The concert series attracted local, national, and, sometimes, international performers. The visit of the Budapest String Quartet was particularly popular. The Theatre Guild put on a wide variety of plays, including “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “Heaven Can Wait” and “The Women.” The Akron Civic Forum was perhaps the most significant event of the Center’s programming. When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt spoke in 1937, there was so much demand
The Balch Street building was sold to Shadyside Baptist Church in 1975, which occupied it for 10 years before its congregation merged with another church and moved. By then, the building was in need of some renovations. Akron lawyer Robert Meeker purchased the facility, refurbished it and reopened it as the Balch Street Athletic Club. Meeker had spent his childhood at the Akron Jewish Center and wanted the facility to be open again to the neighborhood in West Hill. In 1992, after suffering some financial losses, he sold the building to Summit County, which in turn sold 75% of the building to the City of Akron to become a municipal recreation center. LeBron James was one of many community members who used the city gym. In 2018, the LeBron James Family Foundation and the 2K Foundation paid for an extensive renovation of the gymnasium. The gym has been the site of I Promise School recreational activities and assemblies. The Balch Street Community Center continues to be open to the public. // Charlotte Gintert is an archaeologist and a photographer. You can check out her photos at www. capturedglimpses.com. Follow her on Instagram at @capturedglimpses for more old Akron building content.
Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
‘Love the hell out of people’ PASTOR DENIELA WILLIAMS OF NEW MILLENNIUM BAPTIST CHURCH LEADS HER CONGREGATION THROUGH THE PANDEMIC REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY ILENIA PEZZANITI
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astor Deniela T. Williams, 56, has almost died nine times.
At three, Deniela was hit by a car on Arlington Street. When she was nine, she was standing in line at summer camp fighting off a boy who was pulling her hair when he pushed her into the water. She had to be resuscitated. In middle school, she was raped. Between 1978 and 1989, starting when she was just 15 years old, she would become involved with older, financially stable but abusive men. One of them, her daughter’s father, kidnapped her at gunpoint and held her hostage with her two babies for almost three days. She had broken ribs, a punctured lung, a concussion, brain damage and bruises. “It’s just by the grace of God that I’m alive,” she says. Deniela, who is the pastor at New Millennium Baptist Church, grew up in East Akron, across from Robinson School before the expressway came through. “I was supposed to be part of statistics, even in my own household. I had two siblings ahead of me that never graduated. There was no expectation for us to graduate. My mom didn’t graduate. She was struggling to keep food on the table and trying to hustle,” Deniela says.
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“It’s a mindset. Whatever you grow up in, that’s going to be reproduced in you.” But Deniela wouldn’t accept that. Pastor Dee, as she is often called, was not raised in the church. She began her life as a devout Christian at 32 after her half-sister invited her. “I really wasn’t interested in it, but when I heard the story of Jesus — about how they abused him and all the things they did to him, and then he wound up getting back up, even after they killed him — I was like, ‘that is me! And he got up, I can get up,’” she says.
was traumatized by poverty. While attending Goodyear Junior High, she gravitated toward the lives her middle-class friends were leading, and she wanted the same for her own family. “My dad had died when I was 12. When he was living, we didn’t do too bad. We weren’t middle-class, per se, but we always had food, we always had enough. But when he died, it really left us impoverished. There were times we didn’t have food, there were times we weren’t supervised, there were times where people were taking advantage of us. And I was just like, ‘This is not going to be my life,’” she says.
Over the next 23 years, Deniela would become the first female deacon, an associate minister, a church administrator, and finally a pastor, dedicating herself to using her harrowing life struggles to create systemic change. She is a lifetimecertified Bridges Out of Poverty Instructor and a macro-practitioner in social work, which she explains that instead of dealing with people, one deals with systems.
In high school, two of Deniela’s sisters became pregnant and the family of nine shared one apartment. Out of exhaustion and frustration, Deniela says her mom threatened that if anyone else got pregnant, they would be on their own. Deniela, who refers to herself as a tomboy back then, didn’t care much about sex, but took her mother’s threat as a suggestion for a way out.
“You’ll know when you’re in your purpose because it will just flow,” she says. “I’m not ashamed of who I am. I’m not ashamed of what I went through. I’m using all of the bad that I went through to do good.”
At 15, Deniela became pregnant with her first child, a boy. Her mother didn’t end up kicking her out, but Deniela ran away. “My girlfriend would hide me. It was a white family. Here I am with my Black self sitting at the table with them. They had a fourcourse meal, I was wondering, ‘like why couldn’t we have that?’”
Deniela describes her mother as a beautiful, benevolent woman who
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Even when her pregnancy became complicated, Deniela continued her education by being homeschooled. After her pregnancy, Deniela lived with an abusive man who paid for her apartment. Then she almost lost her life to him. He was held accountable for his actions, and Deniela went back home to her mother’s, her baby in tow, until she was able to find her own apartment again. She was only 17 and had to convince a landlord to let her rent from them. “They gave me a chance, and I never turned back after that,” she says. During her senior year, Deniela went to school for half a day and spent the rest of the day working at IBM in Akron. Later she would go on to work at Goodyear, and she realized that her earning potential could increase if she went to college. There, however, she struggled. She couldn’t pass the math classes and ended up switching degrees three times. Finally, a professor listened to her plea that something wasn’t right. Dee was sent to a neurologist. Her brain injury was physically impacting her ability to understand math. For her to receive all three of her degrees, all she had to do was take logistics, which was a different type of problem solving, and she passed. “When I walked across the stage, I had social work, criminal justice, and community development. I never felt thedevilstrip.com
so tired in my life,” she says. Dee is a first-generation college student and graduated cum laude.
the whole experience,” she says.
Before college, Deniela had moved to Atlanta for a stint. In her early 20s, she returned to Akron, both because of a custody hearing for her son and because the construction of I-76 had left her mother and siblings homeless. She found an apartment and moved her mother in with her. It was during these years that Deniela and her mother reconciled.
“I’m being moved by the spirit of a living God who doesn’t see race, he doesn’t see gender, he doesn’t see all of these various man-made issues that we have allowed to divide us. He is one. So I try to find commonalities in all people and I try to honor them,” she adds.
“She said, ‘you wanted to sit down at the table and we didn’t even have a table. You were asking me to produce stuff that I didn’t have the means to produce,’” Deniela recounts.
At the New Millennium Baptist Church, Deniela says all people are welcome, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or race.
those who need it most. “I think that I’m more effective with the systems. Because if the systems change, people will automatically change,” she says.
“We are supposed to love the hell out of people. I mean that. Keep loving on them, and loving on them, and loving on them,” she says.
Deniela believes that when people operate at their strengths, they strengthen others, and so families and communities will be better.
As a pastor, Deniela is quick to assess what a member needs, and while she’s empathetic, her approach is more direct than the traditional tact of counseling acknowledges.
New Millennium Baptist Church closed its doors to the public on March 29, reopened on June 27 and closed again on Nov. 22. Despite having to change course in the wake of a pandemic, Deniela has not been deterred. She continues to give passionate sermons Wednesdays and Sundays on Facebook Live.
Dee says she didn’t realize she was putting her mother in that position. But she also wanted to feel like her life and education mattered to her mother. “She said, ‘And how did you think I was going to do that when I didn’t even graduate? You were very smart. You didn’t need me to do that,’” Deniela says. After seven years together, Dee’s mother died of breast cancer in 1995. Today, Deniela’s pastoral philosophy can be traced to her experiences and her sense of self. “I like diversity. And I like people. I respect people. I try so hard not to group people together, because to me it takes away from
“I will have already figured out what you need to do and you may not be ready for it,” she says of counseling. “People don’t want to move. They want to live there.” Though she has had to work in a counseling role due to COVID-19, Deniela feels she is most impactful having conversations with people in power to reallocate resources to
Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
Top row, left to right: Pastor Deniela Williams’s Dec. 6, 2020 sermon streams on Facebook Live; Pastor Dee sings during the service at New Millennium Baptist Church; Pastor Dee prepares the sermon for the Dec. 6, 2020 in her office. Bottom row, left to right: Trustee Felicia Koger films Pastor Deniela Williams delivering a sermon via Facebook Live accompanied by praise singers and their keyboardist on Dec. 6, 2020; Pastor Dee annotates a sermon.
“I didn’t go through all that just to shut the church down and go hide from coronavirus. It’s real, it’s serious, but we gotta understand the times that we live in. Wear a mask, social distance, take care of yourself, don’t take any unnecessary risk if you don’t
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
have to, but do make a difference,” she says. Prior to COVID-19, Deniela also worked full-time for Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro as Public Relations Administrator of Job and Family Services. As the pandemic months have continued, her role there changed to Emergency Management Assistant. Then, in December, she was laid off after 22 years of service with Summit County. True to her nature, though, Deniela plans to continue to advocate for social, racial and economic justice. “Life has been rough. But God has been good all the way through,” she adds. // Ilenia Pezzaniti is a freelance multimedia storyteller and artist living in Highland Square. Find her work at www.ileniapezzaniti.com.
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From virtual collaboration to finding motivation: Creating music during COVID-19 BY AMANDA RABINOWITZ AND BRITTANY NADER, WKSU
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he music industry has taken a hit over the past 11 months as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced concert venues to shut their doors and musicians to put touring on hold. For some Northeast Ohio artists, the mandated lockdown has given them an opportunity to get creative and write new material at home or turn to online platforms to distribute their music and gain new fans. For others, the halt on traditional means of promoting and selling albums has left them feeling uncertain about the future. Trying to stay creative as an artist during a global pandemic has been challenging, too. Some Akron musicians are embracing the widespread shift to online content and virtual events, while others say there are limitations and frustrations involved with streaming services and social media. Finishing an album and losing the ability to perform it live Akron-based garage rock band White Lighter spent last winter working on its debut, full-length album. News of the pandemic broke right around the time the band was set to release it. Blending their love of 1960s rock ‘n’ roll, members Aaron Stefanko, Wes Dodd and Quinn Starkey joined together after each had spent years playing in bands like The Strange Division, Real Dogs, Fighting Words and Millstone. Starkey joined the band on bass after Dodd and Stefanko had been performing together as a two-piece and put out an EP in 2017. White Lighter has since played shows in the Akron area and had enough original material to put out a new record this year. Their first full-length album as a trio came out
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in April 2020. The band used an old Tascam analog recording studio in its rehearsal space. Stefanko engineered the recording, and the group worked with Robert Keith at Electric Company Records to master it. “We did it all ourselves, and we worked really hard on it. We got the news of the first lockdown the day that we received our first masters back,” Starkey says. The band was going to sell physical copies of the album and merch at a release show, but the pandemic forced the group to cancel the event. The band eventually hosted a livestream album release event on Instagram but was only able to offer digital copies of the album on Bandcamp. White Lighter has not played any in-person shows in 2020 after COVID-19 first hit Ohio. Starkey says aside from performing being put on hold, he’s felt a lull creatively as well. “With the way things are now, there’s no real motivation without the livemusic setting and the community that comes with that. I’m not fully myself without that,” he says. Starkey said White Lighter is working on some new material, and he’s trying to stay motivated as coronavirus cases surge throughout the state. “I’ve spent some time to kind of build myself a little home studio, but it’s not the same,” he says. Facing setbacks with streaming virtual concerts For Akron producer Joe Maas, who produces beats as ZOD1AC, making the switch from performing in person to livestreaming has posed a new set of challenges. As many artists began hosting live events on platforms like Facebook
and Twitch early this spring, the social platforms have become increasingly “hostile” to musicians. These online streaming platforms will mute music if it is algorithmically deemed a copyright violation. “By default, artists’ music is getting automatically flagged as violating a copyright,” Maas says. “And even if you are the rights holder, you’re still going to be automatically flagged by the system, and it will mute it. So now I’m trying to find other ways to do online marketing for music.” Maas says automated systems do very little to help independent artists stream their own music to fans online because they run on a “flag first, ask forgiveness later” model. It’s an “uphill battle” for smaller and emerging artists to host virtual concerts, so the next logical step has been to just release new, recorded material to keep the music going. But, Maas says, the low royalty payout rate for artists releasing music through digital platforms like Spotify has made it difficult for musicians to make a substantial, consistent income off of streaming services. “The pressure on musicians to constantly be releasing things, it’s not sustainable,” he says. “And we should forgive ourselves and give ourselves some room to say, ‘I don’t need to be doing a million things this year. I’m a human in a pandemic.’ It’s really hard.” Maas shifted gears this year to create a new collective of emcees, beatmakers and jazz instrumentalists. With all that has happened this year to negatively impact musicians, the Jazz Fiend collective brings together artists to join together and collaborate virtually.
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Jazz Fiend’s volume one album was released in September. Maas appears on three tracks, and the rest of the compilation spotlights other artists Maas knows from Akron and the online scene. Maas said each artist sent him a track, some of which he collaborated on, and others were collaborations between other musicians on the release. “And, from there, we just collaborated virtually and made it happen that way. There was no inperson interaction in the making of that entire album,” Maas said. What the local music scene will look like in a post-COVID world Maas says the main driver of bringing people out of the house to enjoy live music at a traditional concert will be the experience, after life has been transformed for nearly a year during the pandemic. “As there’s more availability to do things online, the venues that reemerge after the pandemic are really going to be focusing on what the experience is like,” he says. Starkey isn’t sure it’s going to be the same after this year. “This whole experience has traumatized people, as far as gathering and being together,” he says. “I think after this it may be hard to go back.” // Amanda Rabinowitz and Brittany Nader produce Shuffle for WKSU. Hear the full feature at wksu.org/ shuffle or subscribe to WKSU’s Shuffle on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. thedevilstrip.com
KNOW THE PAST SHAPE THE FUTURE
TOGETHER WE WILL...
METRO’S TEAM STANDS TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST RACISM AND OPPRESSION. WE WILL ENSURE EQUITY AND DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC PROCESSES THAT MAY IMPACT BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR EACH AND EVERY DAY.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Where area creatives come to play
American Advertising Awards FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 5 p.m. - VIRTUAL
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Akron doesn’t have a Heisman trophy, but we do have a statue
the college football player with not only the best football skills and statistics, but with the best college PR department. Heisman was born in Cleveland, but grew up in the Pennsylvania oil country town of Titusville. He attended Brown University, then played football as an undersized lineman at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with a law degree in 1892. But Heisman had been noticed by Walter Camp, the man credited with turning the game of rugby into the game of football. Camp played a large part in Heisman getting the head coaching job at Oberlin, where he beat Ohio State twice and almost beat Michigan. (Oberlin is a Division III school now, but they still mention those games in their recruiting stuff, 130 years later.) Interesting digression: Heisman’s trainer at Oberlin was Clarence Hemingway. The father of that Hemingway. George Sisler was mentioned in Ernest’s The Old Man and the Sea. Maybe they all knew each other. Either way, back to our story.
REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY JEFF DAVIS
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ear the Summit County courthouse there are statues of a World War I doughboy and inventor Charles Goodyear. Harvey Firestone has a statue near the Bridgestone Tech Center at South Main and East Firestone Blvd. One day soon, there will be a statue of a tire builder in the middle of the new Main and Mill roundabout. The University of Akron campus also has highly visible statues of several locally famous individuals, including John R. Buchtel, who founded Buchtel College, and Colonel Simon Perkins, whose father, General Simon Perkins, founded the city. The son was an early benefactor of the college, donating money and the frequently painted boulder in the middle of campus. That is Junior’s house at the corner of Copley Road and Portage Path. There are, however, a few other famous Akronites whose statues have yet to be created. For instance,
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you may have heard of Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler. One of Akron’s all-time best athletes, Sisler was the son of immigrants, born in a place variously described as either Manchester, Nimisila, or Nimisila Creek. Manchester High School and the Portage Lakes Career Center hadn’t been built yet, so Sisler moved in with his brother in Akron to attend Akron High School, variously described as Central High School, Central-Hower High School, and now the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School. Sisler was a fine student and a three-sport athlete. He turned down a minor league baseball contract to get an engineering degree at the University of Michigan and play for its coach, Branch Rickey, whom you may have heard of, too. Sisler pitched for the Wolverines, once striking out 20 batters in a seven-inning game. He made the college All-American team three times. Upon his graduation, Sisler and Rickey followed each other to the St. Louis Browns, Rickey as the new manager and Sisler, as a pitcher who quickly switched to first base.
George Sisler went on to a career that included two .400 seasons at the plate and a 258-hit season in 1920, a record that stood for 84 years. He was the first player to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League. And he was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1939, complete with a bust. Although the baseball fields at Summit Lake are named in his honor, George Sisler has no statue in Akron. But he does have a nice big one outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, a team he never played for. That’s because the Browns, which were the Milwaukee Brewers before they moved to St. Louis and are now known as the Baltimore Orioles... never mind. Let’s just say Sisler was highly regarded in St. Louis. The only athlete we can think of who actually has a statue in Akron, perhaps better known for a statue that is not of himself, is John Heisman — the namesake of the Heisman Trophy. Every year, it is given to
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After a short tenure at Oberlin, Heisman came east to Akron in 1893 to become the “gym director” and second coach of both the football and baseball teams at Buchtel College, which of course is now known as The University of Akron. At Buchtel, he beat Ohio State again. That fact is probably in UA’s recruiting literature, too, and definitely worthy of a great big, highly prominent statue near the southern gateway to the football stadium. Heisman coached in Akron for only two years, winning six games and losing two. It’s not really a fair comparison, but his winning percentage of .750 ranks him in one way as the winningest coach in UA history. For that, he was paid a whopping salary of $900 a year, according to the book Heisman: The Man Behind the Trophy. But according to UA archivist Vic Fleischer, it may have been as low as $449.40, most of which came via donations. The student athletes supposedly came up with $300, and the “Executive Committee”raised the rest, some of it by selling season tickets. Whatever you think about all of that, Heisman’s records at Oberlin and Buchtel College launched him on quite the peripatetic football career. From Akron, he went on to Alabama thedevilstrip.com
Polytechnic (now known as Auburn), Clemson, Penn, Washington and Jefferson, Georgia Tech and Rice. At a few of those schools, he doubled as the baseball and/or basketball coach. At Georgia Tech and Rice, he landed a triple by coaching two sports a year and serving as the schools’ athletic director. In 1927, he left university athletics after compiling career records of 186-7018 in football, 199-108-7 in baseball, and 9-14 in basketball. OK, not so good in basketball. But still, a very accomplished career. Heisman retired and came north to become the athletic director at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City. In 1935, the club created the “Downtown Athletic Club Award” for the best football player east of the Mississippi. When Heisman died, the club renamed the award and opened it to players from across the country. The club went out of business after 9/11 and the Heisman Trust was created to continue the award program. The Heisman Trophy remains one of the most prestigious awards in athletics. The mini-statue weighs about 45 pounds and is 13 inches high. Two are cast each year, with one going to the player and the other to the school. One year they cast three and gave one to Ed Smith, a pretty good player at New York University, not because he actually won the Heisman, but because he was the guy who actually posed for the sculptor in the first place. So, no, that’s not Heisman on the Heisman — it’s Ed Smith. But the 8-foot, 750-pound bronze Heisman statue next to the University of Akron football ticket house is a pretty good likeness, they say, because the sculptor had dozens of pictures of the real John Heisman to guide him. It’s a statue we should be proud of. And it’s in a pretty good spot: Right on East Exchange Street, good lighting, there for all the stadium visitors to see. So the question for Akron is, where should we put a statue of George Sisler? // Jeff Davis is a lifelong resident of the Akron area and is a retired writer, editor and teacher. Akronisms is a series highlighting things and places you didn’t know about in our fair city. If you have a question or idea, write to Jeff at jeffdavisDS@gmail.com.
Leaf. expands home goods business to Market Street REPORTING AND WRITING BY LAURA LAKINS
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eaf., formerly known as Every Blooming Thing, opened its new storefront at 449 W. Market St. in November. What has always been a place for eclectic floral services quickly became the place to find unique gifts and home goods as well. Owner Matthew Moore took over Every Blooming Thing in 2016 and has been growing the business since. Leaf. used to be located next to Your Pizza Shop on Exchange Street but now occupies what was once Stagecoach Antiques next door to Gypsy Grace and the Vintage Goat. “We quickly outgrew our previous space, and I knew that we needed another one. We were fortunate enough to find this one, but we knew a lot of work would have to go into it,” Matthew says. With the help of his father, an architect, and his husband, who has a knack for home improvement, the three took on the remodel. Matthew even obtained his contracting license in order to oversee the project. “Everything inside we did ourselves. The floors, paneling, staining — all of it. We had professionals put in the windows and skylight, but other than that we did it all ourselves,” Matthew says. When I describe Leaf. to someone
Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
who has yet to visit, I say that it feels like a real-life Rose Apothecary (Schitt’s Creek fans rejoice!). From the overall aesthetic to the products to the helpful and friendly staff, I am sure that David Rose would give his stamp of approval. Leaf. is a one-stop shop if you are in need of body care, home goods, house plants, gifts, or a full-service florist. They have grab-and-go flowers available or they can work with you to create one-of-a-kind floral arrangements for your special occasion. Additionally, Leaf. will host classes throughout the year for you to create your own arrangements, wreaths and more. You will also find Matthew and business partner Riveria Young’s natural soy candle line, Ritual Apothecary, beautifully displayed within the shop. In addition to candles, they offer handmade soaps and bath scents. Take a look at their Instagram @ritualapothecaryakron, for their latest releases. “We travel twice a year to find things we want to bring back and share with Akron, and then we have about 25-30% locally sourced items as well,” Matthew says. Every week new items are shipped to the store and put out on display, which allows for a new shopping experience each time you visit. Larger inventory changes also take place throughout the year, with the latest big shipment having just arrived at the end of January.
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“We have some really cool pottery coming in, unique kitchenware and some charcuterie items as well. We will also have some home accent things coming in, such as end tables and coffee tables,” Matthew said. The future is exciting for Leaf., and there are already some big plans in the works. Matthew hopes to expand his Ritual Apothecary line into its own space above the shop. He also hopes to occupy the house behind Leaf. with some kind of eatery. With the help of their neighbors, Gypsy Grace and the Vintage Goat, Matthew wants to create a place for the community to come and spend some time together. Keep an eye out throughout the year for collaborative events between the two and other local businesses such as Yoga Squared. “I just hope that other people take a leap of faith and join the creative scene in Akron. This city is full of art and culture, and a light is finally beginning to shine on it,” Matthew says. To keep up with Leaf. you can check out their website, www. leafhomeandblooms.com, and follow them on Instagram @leaf_ homeandblooms, and Facebook at “Leaf home and blooms.” // Laura Lakins is an educator and freelance writer from Akron, OH. Photo: Used with permission from The Devil Strip
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Helping Summit County’s 90,000 older adults stay safe in their homes REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY H.L. COMERIATO
H
ilary Lewis could jump for joy.
“It’s a huge, gigantic relief,” Lewis says, detailing the home repairs that Rebuilding Together has helped her complete over the last three years — new, stable steps outside her back door, a new roof, new kitchen cabinets and countertops, some much needed stripping and painting. Lewis, 68, never thought she’d own a home. She and her siblings faced a difficult childhood, and the financial stability of owning a home often seemed out of reach. Then Lewis enlisted in the United States Army and served six and a half years, a marked point of pride. After receiving an honorable discharge, Lewis bought a 1914 craftsman in Summit Lake. For more than 30 years, she has lived in the same house, on the same block.
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With a rapidly aging housing stock and a growing number of residents over 65, Akron isn’t prepared to house the number of residents who will have unique safety and accessibility needs as they age. Rebuilding Together is hoping to change that, one home at a time, by covering the cost and installation of small home repairs and safety updates for older adults and people with disabilities. Chris Seamon, director of Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio’s Safe at Home program, says clients like Lewis are abundant: older adults, struggling to make ends meet on fixed incomes, often without close relatives to rely on or the skills and resources to make even small home updates or repairs on their own. “I just have to say, until Rebuilding Together came along I had no hope,” Lewis says. “I come from a family of extremely disadvantaged people. We had it tough, and so as a result, sooner or later I was going to need [Rebuilding Together’s] help.”
In Akron, more than 35% of the city’s 97,163 housing units were built before 1940. An additional third were built before 1978, the year lead-based paint was made illegal. Without costly and time-consuming maintenance, older homes can pose serious health risks as residents age. According to U.S. census data, only 10% of housing units across the country have both a step-free porch or entryway, and a full bathroom and bedroom on the first floor. In Akron, multiple sets of stairs, the absence of sturdy handrails, small door frames or showers and bathtubs with no grab-bars begin to pose significant health and safety risks for Akron’s homeowners as they age. Seamon says installing grab-bars, repairing or replacing handrails, installing raised toilet seats and repairing staircases can help older adults stay mobile in their own homes. “The goal is to try to get people to
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stay in the houses they already have by fixing them up and helping them preserve those memories, and all that value and equity they’ve put in over the years,” Seamon says. There are an estimated 90,000 people over the age of 65 living in Summit County. According to a vital statistics brief released by Summit County Public Health, nearly half of them live alone, and around 32% report having one or more disabilities that could make it difficult, or nearly impossible, to live independently. Between 2014 and 2019, more than 38,000 older adults visited an emergency room in Summit County after being injured during a fall at home. Between 2014 and 2018, 271 older adults died from accidental falls in Summit County — a number Seamon says could be lowered significantly if older adults had consistent access to the types of home repairs and safety adjustments Rebuilding Together’s Safe at Home program helps provide. Seamon took over the Safe at Home program in January 2020 and has shifted the program’s focus to smaller home repairs and safety adjustments throughout the pandemic. He’s thedevilstrip.com
handed out dozens of home safety kits — which include smoke alarms, CO2 detectors, lightbulbs and fire extinguishers — across 18 Ohio counties. “From our point of view, I know those little changes definitely help people,” Seamon says. “It’s minor stuff but it’s stuff people don’t think about or think they can put off. Something as simple as address numbers. If you call the fire department and they can’t find your house, that’s a safety issue. People don’t think about those things.” Seamon, who spent his teens doing construction work with his father, does every repair and installation himself, and says limited funding and community visibility have limited the kinds of work the agency is able to do in client’s homes. While Seamon takes on dozens of small home repairs each year, he says the repairs and accessibility adjustments he’s able to provide aren’t always enough. For instance, he can’t always help clients with plumbing or electrical issues due to budget and liability constraints. He’s found cheaper and safer solutions, like installing solar-powered flood lights instead of re-working old or hazardous wiring. “There’s so many times I go in and they ask me to fix something and I can’t because we don’t have the budget,” Seamon says. “There are so many instances where we don’t make the impact that we’d like — mainly because we lack the capacity. I often leave houses thinking, ‘There’s so much more I could do for them.’” Larger repairs or remodels, like roofs and walk-in showers, are often tackled during a series of Rebuilding Days each spring. Lewis’s new roof and kitchen cabinets were installed during a designated Rebuilding Day by a large group of volunteers through the agency’s national partners, which include the NFL, Spectrum and Lowe’s. Rebuilding Together has a national office in Washington, D.C., and more than 140 affiliates across the country, which Seamon says vary drastically in terms of their individual budgets and capacities. In Northeast Ohio, Rebuilding Together operates with a team of just six full-time employees, while larger affiliates in cities like New York and Pittsburgh have full construction crews on staff.
In Summit County, Rebuilding Together partners with the city of Akron to help fund the City of Akron Minor Home Repair Program, which covers the cost of labor and materials for larger home repair projects to major home systems. Akron housing and rehabilitation administrator Doug Taylor says the Minor Home Repair Program typically funds between 100 and 125 home repairs every year for older adults and Akronites with disabilities, with a budget of around $5,000 per repair. Taylor says the program prioritizes residents with emergency repair needs, but often ends up with a backlog of residents in need of assistance. Seamon says for many of his clients, asking for help is a big step — especially when clients have important emotional ties to their homes. “A house isn’t just the building you live in. Houses can be homes, but those are two different things. Homes have the memories and the smells and the laughter you can no longer hear, but you can,” Seamon says. “That’s why I do things like try to save bannisters. It’s those small things that people appreciate, because they realize that this is a home. It isn’t just a roof over my head.” Lewis, who plans to stay in her home for as long as she’s able, becomes emotional when she talks about raising her two daughters in the house she still lives in.
Evicted due to COVID-19?
“I don’t want to leave here. That’s part of the reason, because I’ve got my gut behind it,” Lewis says. “I don’t want to leave this house. My children were [raised] here. I was married. The love of my life lived here with me. It’s important to stay where you know you were loved.” If your home is in need of repairs, you may qualify for assistance. Call the City of Akron’s Housing and Community Services Division at 330-375-2050 or Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio at 330773-4100 to learn more. // H.L. Comeriato covers public health at The Devil Strip via Report for America. Reach them at HL@ thedevilstrip.com.
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Left: Cars lined up for food distribution at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Photo: H.L. Comeriato)
when the idea is to put it on a shelf so people can choose what they want themselves?” Food boxes often contain nonperishable staples like pasta, rice, soups and cereals, along with canned items like meat, vegetables and beans. In addition to pre-packaged food boxes, the Foodbank also distributes perishables like fruit, bread and potatoes. To receive boxed groceries directly from the Foodbank, clients only need to present a photo ID.
‘You are not alone’ HOW THE AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK IS TACKLING FOOD INSECURITY DURING COVID-19 REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY H.L. COMERIATO
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After Summit County reached a record-breaking 16.2% unemployment rate in April, Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, says he knew the Foodbank would have to get creative.
part of the Foodbank’s new normal. Since 1982, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank has supplied emergency food to eight Ohio counties. In 2019, the Foodbank distributed more than 12.6 million pounds of food across Summit County alone.
n the parking lot behind the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, a handful of Ohio National Guard members dash between idling cars. One lifts a bag of potatoes with both hands and jogs toward a car with an open trunk. He fits the potatoes between a pair of unmarked But over the last year, the way cardboard boxes packed with loaves the Foodbank does that work has of bread and fresh produce. changed a lot. The guard is here to help distribute groceries through a contactless pickup line. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery pickup days and the guard members who help run them have both become
“Normally, that work is done by the charities,” Flowers says. “We’re the supplier. We haven’t always done this kind of direct stuff. But when COVID came, we said ‘OK, let’s ramp this thing up.’”
Feeding America, a national network of more than 200 food banks, estimates that food insecurity has jumped by 31% in Summit County over the last 10 months as a result of COVID-19.
Typically, Flowers has prioritized client choice. When clients are able to shop a food pantry and choose which foods they’d like, Flowers says the fear and stigma often associated with a Foodbank visit begin to dissipate. But with the onset of the pandemic, Flowers says many client choice models — like shopping a food pantry in person — were just too risky. “We’re just going to have to pivot,” says Flowers, recalling the first weeks of pandemic. “So we went into the food box making business, and we’ve never really been big food box makers. Why would you make boxes
Below, left to right: A member of the Ohio National Guard assists volunteers in directing cars at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; A member of the Ohio
Since April 9, the Foodbank has been distributing food directly from its parking lot with the help of 42 Ohio National Guard members. “The first time we did it, it was a wing and a prayer,” Flowers says. “On that first day, we had like 1800 cars come through the line. That was the template, and we’ve just been improving it ever since.” For families that have lost income as a result of COVID-19, the Foodbank’s parking lot grocery distribution can be a lifeline. For Maurice Howard, who has been coming to food distributions for the last four months, getting food to churches and other organizations that serve hot meals directly to clients has been his top priority since his own church stopped serving hot meals in March. Howard, who is a member of Zion Lutheran Church on South High Street, says he misses cooking for
National Guard directs traffic; A sign on W Bartges St. reminds clients to clear their trunks before they reach the Foodbank’s parking lot. (Photos: H.L. Comeriato)
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February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
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people and is concerned about how people who aren’t able to cook for themselves will fare throughout the pandemic. Howard also owns a community garden on the city’s south side, where grocery stores are few and far between. A pilot himself, Howard says he hopes the garden will help young people learn how to grow and harvest their own food while providing them with the opportunity to trade hours of work in the garden for free or discounted hours of flight school with the help of community partners. A few hundred people from the front of the line, Howard leans against the hood of his car, waiting for distribution to start. Howard’s friend, 89-year-old Dale Busse, who is the chair of Zion Lutheran’s outreach committee, sits in the passenger seat, a colorful mask pulled across his white beard. Behind them, clients let their cars idle in line on West Bartges Street, reading books or fiddling with their phones while they wait. In the parking lot behind the Foodbank, a cluster of volunteers break into applause. In March, during the first weeks of the pandemic, Flowers closed the Foodbank to volunteers entirely. Now, the Foodbank has adapted, though it hosts far fewer volunteers than it did in 2019. Public relations and communications manager Raven Gayheart says the Foodbank hosted more than 12,000 volunteers in 2019, clocking more than 60,000 hours of volunteer work. “It was equivalent to 27 full-time employees,” Gayheart says. “It’s pretty incredible.”
Now, Gayheart says the National Guard helps compensate for the loss in volunteers. Inside the Foodbank’s warehouse, two guard members drive forklifts. Behind them, thousands of containers of peanut butter sit on wooden pallets, wrapped in plastic, waiting to be distributed to the Foodbank’s 500 member hunger-relief programs. The Foodbank’s member hungerrelief programs include food pantries, hot meal services, soup kitchens, religious organizations and other food distribution points across eight counties. The Foodbank’s warehouse and distribution facility is more than 83,000 square feet, and boasts dozens of rows of shelves, all stacked with pallets of non-perishable foods. In order to get that food to the people and agencies that need it most, the Foodbank did something it’s never done before: Deliveries. “Before 2020, the Foodbank was not in the food delivery business,” Flowers explains. “Charities would come to us. We’d have 30 or 50 different charities come every day, we’d load their trucks up and they’d take it back to where they distribute it. But this year, we’ve had so many agencies go down and so many volunteers go down that we jumped into the delivery business with the Ohio National Guard.” Initially, Flowers says he was hesitant to host the guard. “To be honest, I was very reluctant,” he says. “I just didn’t want to militarize the Foodbank.” The Foodbank’s warehouse and distribution facility is just outside of Akron’s Lane-Wooster neighborhood, where the National Guard tear gassed residents during a 1968 uprising
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— a history that Flowers says remains painful for some in the neighborhood. But after months of collaboration, Flowers says the extra help is much appreciated. In fact, it allowed the Foodbank to make 800 food deliveries to regional agencies between March and December 2020.
This page, left to right: A member of the Ohio National Guard loads a Foodbank client’s car; Foodbank volunteers and members of the Ohio
“It ended up being the best thing that has happened in 2020, hands down,” says Flowers. “They brought four giant trucks and just asked what we wanted them to do. So they started working the box line. They’re the ones that helped us pattern out these parking lot giveaways.”
National Guard prepare for food distribution; Volunteers load clients’ trunks with boxes of nonperishable items at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. (Photos: H.L. Comeriato)
which is a commitment to humanity at its core.”
Over the last year, Flowers says the Foodbank has seen a 30% increase in first time clients on food distribution days. For 13.7 million households across the country, missing one paycheck could mean going hungry.
The Foodbank, says Flowers, is a testament to what he calls “the compassion of the afflicted” — or, the cyclical nature of giving and receiving.
“Every time we have a distribution, 3 in 10 people in the line have never in their life been to a food pantry,” Flowers says. “They’re not in our system. Their names are not in our system.”
“I think that part of our life experience is to find ourselves as the helper and the helped,” Flowers says. “And we’re all destined to play those roles in life. That’s just the way the wheel turns.”
Still, Flowers says many clients arrive at the Foodbank feeling ashamed or afraid. To them, he says: “You are not alone.”
“I think about in my own life how quickly I am to condemn, or not extend grace to the people who need it. The Foodbank is an example to me day-in and day-out that all human life has value,” Flowers adds. “It forces me to grapple with my wont to limit grace. It always brings me back to the table.”
At its root, Flowers calls the AkronCanton Regional Foodbank “the best moral role model.” “I’m still in with the possibility of [people’s] humanity,” Flowers says. “Or, at the very least, I want you to live. That’s the ultimate message we’re sending. Food is essential to sustain human life and we are committed to sustaining human life,
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
// H.L. Comeriato covers public health for The Devil Strip via Report for America. Reach them at HL@ thedevilstrip.com.
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That was really beneficial to me. She allowed me to be very inquisitive, asking her what things were. Now, my customers. This business wouldn’t exist if they hadn’t asked me to bake things for them. When they say, “Oh my goodness, I had this and it was amazing,” it makes me think I did the right thing. That this business was the right route to go for me. BO: What do you do outside of baking? YC: I’m currently a teaching assistant in a fourth-grade math class. It’s so strange being virtual and not being in a classroom with kids. But they are so resilient, still rocking and rolling with everything. They have found ways to play games and talk to their friends. They are getting through it and it’s helping me get through it. BO: What are your most popular items?
Arts and Sweets YVONNE CHAPPELL PRACTICES SELF-CARE THROUGH BAKING AND PAINTING
REPORTING AND WRITING BY BRYNNE OLSEN
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vonne Chappell, owner of Yvonne’s Arts and Sweets, is baking her way through the pandemic. The multi-talented young entrepreneur took some time out of her busy day to talk about her flourishing business with me. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Brynne Olsen: What is your day like as a baker? Yvonne Chappell: It’s not my fulltime job, so it’s usually after work I’m starting. I’m actually baking right now — I have a cake in the oven. I bake around everything else. Baking is my stress reliever, it’s my self-care,
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but it’s also my business. People say “I don’t think that’s how it works,” but for me, it is. BO: How long have you been baking? YC: All of my life. But it wasn’t until college that I really started baking on my own outside of being in the kitchen with my mom. I would make cookies and brownies for me and my roommates as a way to bond after a long day of classes and tests. We needed it even though we were trying to make healthier choices, but the cookies called, so it didn’t matter anymore. BO: Who inspires you as a baker? YC: Initially, it was my mom. She always allowed me in her kitchen.
YC: A classic chocolate chip cookie. I get so many orders for this. I always have a batch of dough in the freezer because someone is always about to order them. As soon as I make it, I have to make more because it sells so quickly. BO: What items do you offer besides cookies? Do you offer any dietary restriction-friendly items? YC: Cakes in a variety of sizes and cupcakes. A popular cupcake I made is Mexican Hot Chocolate. I make brownies, cheesecakes, Valentine’s Day macarons, hot chocolate bombs for the winter season. I make all types of cookies. If it’s not on my menus and someone requests it, I can find a recipe and probably be able to make it. I can make gluten-free and I also offer texture alternatives. When I have assortments and people say I can choose, I like to ask if there are any flavors or textures I should avoid. BO: How can people place orders? YC: I accept dessert orders through Instagram and Facebook. They can directly message me with the specifics of what they want, especially if it is a cake or cupcakes. I have my email and phone number attached to my accounts. I deliver to Summit County and Cleveland. I’m born and raised in Cleveland but I moved to Akron six years ago. I cater to both. A lot of my work has come from word-of-mouth.
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BO: How has the pandemic affected your baking business?
YC: I started at the end of June, early July. It was a pandemic-born business. It’s the reason I started it. I was baking so much and not eating all of it. People would see what I made and say “I’d want some of that, how much is that?” I would say “I’m not actually selling it, but if you would buy it, maybe I should be.” So that’s how I started. I got the logo, the LLC, and everyone has been so supportive. Buying things, spreading the word on social media. I’m really enjoying it, even the marketing, like making flyers. I enjoy coming up with different things to make. Finding new customers can be hard. Because it is delivery-based, people are unsure because I am new and they do not know me. People are skeptical and I understand. Getting customers outside of friends and family is a bit challenging, but I’m finding different ways to get the word out. BO: As an artist, what mediums do you like and when did you start? YC: Acrylic paints mostly. I’ve been practicing with watercolor recently. I’ve always drawn and doodled but I got a minor in art studio and started selling my work after I graduated from Case Western Reserve in 2019. BO: Where can your art be found and where do you draw artistic inspiration from? YC: I accept commissions through Instagram and Facebook. A lot of my work has come from word of mouth. I draw inspiration from Pinterest and other Black artists. I always try to make something that speaks to who I am as an individual. Yvonne’s Arts and Sweets can be found on Etsy, Facebook and Instagram. Reach Yvonne at (330) 805-3344 or yec6@case.edu. // Brynne Olsen is a wanderer who enjoys eating dessert first, writing, photography and meeting the demands of her fur children. Photo: Used with permission from Yvonne Chappell.
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An Akron doctor answers our COVID-19 vaccine questions INTERVIEW BY H.L. COMERIATO
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n the lobby of Oak Street Health’s newest location in Firestone Park, Dr. Laolu Fayanju sends a quick text, slides his phone into the pocket of his white jacket and joins his colleagues for a group photo at the front desk. Behind an N95 mask, he flashes a smile for the camera. A graduate of Harvard University and Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Fayanju has spent the last 11 months combating misinformation surrounding both the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the senior medical director at Oak Street Health, a network of primary care centers that serve older adults on Medicare. Often, his patients are among the most vulnerable when it comes to contracting COVID-19. On Jan. 29, Dr. Fayanju sat down with The Devil Strip to talk about what to expect when you receive a vaccine, and the science behind how vaccines protect us in the first place. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. HC: So how does the vaccine actually work? LF: There are two vaccines that are currently available in the United States. One is offered through Pfizer. The other one is offered through a company called Moderna. Both of them are mRNA vaccines. On the surface of the COVID-19 virus, there’s a small little protein called a “spike protein.” It’s not the part of the virus that actually makes you sick. It is, however, the part of the virus that latches on to the surface of our cells. When that virus latches onto the surface of our cells, that enables the virus to begin the replication process that leads us to get sick. nRNA technology has been around for about 20 or 30 years, and it sends a very short instruction into our bodies. That instruction tells our
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bodies to create a spike protein. By engineering this vaccine to deliver the instruction of just the spike protein, we’re teaching our bodies to get a sense of what COVID-19 would look like if you were to encounter it. If we do encounter COVID, our bodies already know what it looks like and have the tools to neutralize it. HC: Are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines safe? LF: Yes. From the studies that have been done through accelerated but safe trials, we know that this is safe. I personally received my first dose on Jan. 11, and I feel great. HC: If I get vaccinated, will I experience any side effects? Is that normal? LF: Some people are experiencing more noticeable effects of the vaccine. That is OK. If you get a little fever, feeling a little achy or a little run down, that is OK. I kind of analogize it to working out. If I go to the gym, and I’m on a treadmill and kind of just walk slowly, I’m probably not going to feel the burn. But if I get on the elliptical and get the incline up and really push myself, I’m gonna feel sore, but I’m gonna feel great later. Similarly, vaccines whip our bodies into shape so we can combat these pathogens. HC: What should I do if I experience side effects after being vaccinated?
LF: Some folks with histories of severe allergies that have required Epinephrine should talk to their primary care doctor about whether getting the vaccine now is the right choice for them. But in general, folks with histories of severe allergies have still done well and received the vaccine. Some of them have had to use their auto injectors, an EpiPen, but that’s OK. At this point, I have not seen anything that says why someone should not take the vaccine. There are special populations where it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about whether or not the vaccine is the right choice for you. If you are expecting a child, or if you’re in the midst of receiving therapy for some other condition, you should talk to your doctor before making that step. But we do want to remind folks that at this point, there are very few reasons not to get the vaccine. HC: Do I still need to wear my mask after I get vaccinated? LF: Yes. I would love the idea of walking out of the door after my second shot and throwing my mask in the air like I graduated from COVID University, but we can’t do that. Not yet.
decreases in cases and positivity rates. When we see a consistent decrease in those numbers, then some of the restrictions will start to come down. Some of the physical distancing requirements and other mitigation tactics will be relaxed. HC: Can I still carry the virus after I’ve been vaccinated, even if I don’t get sick? LF: If somebody is vaccinated and then contracts COVID again, could they still spread it? Yes, they could do that. That can happen. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have an efficacy of more than 90%. That’s not 100%, but that is still high. That’s why we have to keep wearing our masks until we see the numbers really starting to show us that these infections are coming down. HC: If enough people are vaccinated, will things go back to normal?
A couple of reasons why: LF: In most situations, all people need to do is drink plenty of fluids. Gatorade or sports drinks can also help if you’re feeling particularly dehydrated. Tylenol, acetaminophen, a couple tablets every 6 to 8 hours, will really tamp down any discomfort or fever you might experience.
We don’t know how people are going to do immediately after getting their second shot. We want people to make sure that their immune systems have built up the proper amount of immunity.
HC: Is there any reason someone shouldn’t get the vaccine?
Positivity rates and infection rates are still very, very high. We want to make sure that we continue to wear masks until we start seeing significant
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LF: If we get enough folks vaccinated, 70% to 75% of the population, life is gonna look a lot more like normal. But it’s gonna take all of us to really stick with it and continue to wear masks, to physically distance where we can, to avoid crowds and to avoid any situation that can allow the virus to proliferate. HC: I’ve heard about new COVID-19 variants. What does thedevilstrip.com
that mean?
Jason and Stacy Alan. (Photo: James Murphy of Trainman Photography.
LF: You may be aware there are new mutations of the virus. They have sprung up in the United Kingdom, in South Africa and now in Brazil.
Used with permission from The Alans.)
book, and we would do the entire routine and we’d take one and put it back in the book, and every single time we messed up, we’d dump out the matches back out and start over,” Jason explains.
These variants will not look exactly like the COVID-19 virus that has dominated the globe over the last year. And what we cannot do is take a long, long time to get vaccinated against the virus we know. If we don’t get people vaccinated quickly enough, these new variants will be less vulnerable to the vaccine. And if that’s the case, it’ll be easier for those new variants to spread.
In October, they flew out to Las Vegas to perform their act in front of Penn and Teller, two famous magicians who perform regularly in that city.
We’ve got to really double our efforts. Get as many people vaccinated as we can and just get shots and arms. That is the goal. We must, we must, we must get shots in arms. HC: Black Americans in particular are grappling with a lot of trauma and distrust when it comes to health care and the vaccine. What would you say to Black Akronites who are worried? Would you encourage them to get vaccinated? LF: Absolutely. I would absolutely encourage my Black patients to get vaccinated. As a Black man myself, I am vaccinated. I am trying to get my parents, who are Black people, vaccinated. I understand where the distrust and the hesitancy comes from. The history of medicine in America has been wrought with racism, with activities that we look back on with shame. This virus has killed 1 in about 750 Black people in the United States. It has already done tremendous damage. We do not need to compound that tragedy by limiting our ability to get vaccinated. Pandemics and plagues put a mirror to our society. They shine a mirror on our society and show us who we really are. We know there are great inequities. We know there’s a lot that we have to fix in our society. We should not waste this crisis. We should do more to address inequities, to address the systemic racism in our health care system and to ensure that we don’t compound those problems in the roll out of the vaccine. // H.L. Comeriato covers public health at The Devil Strip via Report for America. Reach them at HL@ thedevilstrip.com.
“We went out and did our set in front of the two greatest magicians of all time,” Jason says.
Tallmadge couple perform magic act on ‘Penn and Teller: Fool Us’
While they couldn’t reveal the trick they performed, they did say it revolves around the night they met at Brubaker’s Pub.
REPORTING AND WRITING ALLYSON SMITH
Jason says that after practicing magic for 20 years, his perspective on it has shifted.
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ho would have thought that a chance meeting at Brubaker’s Pub in downtown Akron could have led to a Munroe Falls couple performing for two of the greatest magicians of all time? Jason and Stacy Alan probably didn’t when they first met one night. Jason and Stacy, known on stage as The Alans, perform a magic and mentalism act that, before COVID, they took around the country. Jason and Stacy hit it off immediately and got engaged about a year after that meeting at Brubaker’s. Jason performed solo on cruise ships for six years. Stacy was working as a therapist at the time, but was always enthralled by magic, and after watching Jason perform, she decided she wanted to play a role. After spending some time as his assistant, they decided she needed a bigger part in the act. “It’s really about us, the Alans, and how we have our own skills and strengths and how we use those together to create magic and moments together, so I think that’s really cool,” Stacy says. They both play specific roles in the act. Jason, who has been practicing magic for over 20 years, performs
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most of the “traditional” magic acts that involve skills like sleight of hand. Stacy, with a background in psychology, is a mentalist, and uses strong observations and body language in “getting [people] to give me information without them using their words.” “Mentalism is maybe kind of a foreign concept for people,” she adds. “I just like to think of it as mind magic… just really reading what is happening between me and another person in that moment and using that information to be maybe steps ahead of people.” In 2020, The Alans had the opportunity to perform on Penn and Teller: Fool Us. They auditioned for the show for three years and didn’t make the cut, but in 2020, the show reached out to them. To prepare, the Alans worked with a group of fellow magicians called Sleight Club, who gave them ideas and what Stacy describes as “intense constructive criticism.”
“When I first got into it, I learned all these different sleights and these different things and learned how to perform, and I’m starting to see it as more of a theatrical skill, a tool to make a feeling happen.” As live performers, COVID was a major disruption to their careers. “We stopped counting. I think we’ve lost 97 shows,” Jason says. Despite taking her psychology knowledge on the road to perform, Stacy still kept her license and is currently practicing therapy in Munroe Falls, which they are very grateful for. The Alans’ performance on Penn and Teller: Fool Us can be viewed at thealanslive.com/penn-andteller-fool-us-the-alans.
Their method of practice, while intense and unorthodox, was effective.
To follow The Alans and know when performances will take place again, follow them on Instagram at @jasonmagician and @stacy_alan or Facebook at facebook.com/thealanslive, Their website is www.TheAlansLive. com.
“We were getting up at 6 am almost every day before this, and we had this process where we would dump out a pile of matches out of a match
// Allyson’s background is in media production and anthropology. Her hobbies include coffee, traveling and taking months to read a single book.
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
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For Akron’s Wiccans and Pagans, ‘it’s all about the process’ REPORTING AND WRITING BY ALLYSON SMITH
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rom the witch trials of the 1600s, to more positive (yet inaccurate) depictions of witches in Charmed and The Craft, witches are often portrayed as dangerous, mystical beings. But as many Wiccans, Pagans and witches in the Akron area say, that couldn’t be further from the truth. “Witchcraft” is used to describe different practices, even though Paganism, Wicca and witchcraft are all different and vary based on the individual. “Pagan” is a term that refers to religions that are not mainstream, but has evolved to refer to mostly nature-based religions, including Wicca, and for many, includes the worship of multiple deities, as opposed to one. Kim Deneen, owner of A Creative Apothecare in Lakemore and High Priestess of Cúnant na Gealaí (Celtic for “Coven of the Moon”) explains, paganism “is kind of like an upsidedown umbrella, and then you have all the religions that go underneath. You can be Wiccan and not practice witchcraft, and vice versa. Wicca is actually the religion of it. You can practice witchcraft and not be Wiccan.”
due to the stigma surrounding witchcraft. This also keeps in tradition with covens of centuries ago, when witches had to hide their practices or risk persecution. To join a coven, “you have to actually find somebody who is in a coven,” Kim says. She explains that new members are referred to as “neophytes.” Once you are dedicated, you’re at the first degree. After a year and a day has passed, the witch can move up to the second degree. If the coven leaders feel that one is ready, they may be granted their third degree. After reaching the third degree, a practitioner is able to leave and start their own coven. “In our particular type, you cannot practice with the coven that you leave for a year and a day,” Kim explains. “That way you stand on your own feet.” She says that as a high priestess, it’s her role to guide people, particularly members of her coven, on their spiritual journey. Jennie, as Kim’s right-hand person, takes on the role of teacher.
“It is kind of stressful to understand that you’re responsible sort of for all these people, but at the same time, it’s great building the trust and the friendships that it takes to be able to Paganism, witchcraft and Wicca can do that and have them come to you be solitary practices, done completely with things and trust you and know on one’s own terms. Some people that they’ve made a good decision may practice candle magic, work with with where they’re at.” herbs, divination or countless other tools and concepts, while others Northeast Ohio Spirit of The Earth work with specific deities or specific Circle (SOTEC) practices, like ceremonial magick. According to Adrienne Arrington, a Coven of the Moon high priestess of SOTEC, the group is the “largest public Pagan group Kim and fellow high priestess Jennie in Northeast Ohio” and has been Bishop maintain their own individual around for about 14 years. practices, but they also lead Cúnant na Gealaí, a Celtic coven. A coven Adrienne explains that there is a is a small group of practitioners difference between their public group who participate in rituals together. and a coven, like Cúnant na Gealaí. These groups are typically closed to outsiders and can be very secretive, “A coven generally implies that
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you take some sort of promise to just be in this group, and as a circle, we don’t do that. So a large portion of the populus who attend our events are solitaries and family groups,” she says. visitors,” she explains. SOTEC hosts classes about different aspects of Paganism and holds public rituals for the sabbats, or Pagan and Wiccan holidays, like Yule or Samhain. “Ultimately, we’re very boring. We are really dull. We lament gas prices and we worry about whether our kids go to school, and you know, we worry about our parents and is it gonna snow really badly, because Ohio. We do all the same things,” Adrienne jokes. When it comes to being a high priestess, Adrienne’s role is a little different from those of Kim and Jennie. Adrienne is ordained clergy through the state of Ohio and plays the role of guardian for SOTEC. “I make it so that, when you come to ritual, it is a safe space for you. There are two parts to that. There is, hey I need to know who has issues and can’t stand for more than 30 minutes so we have a chair. I know the people who are allergic to strawberries, so we know during the spring, nothing with strawberries ‘cause we can’t be doing that. I’m usually the liaison between us and the park ranger. If, god forbid, the police ever show up, I’m the one who speaks to them… I know first aid. On the other side of that, I deal with the metaphysical capabilities. At Samhain, I have to work really hard at Samhain. So I make sure that the circle is solid so we don’t have unwanted energy
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Her role as a high priestess also includes responsibilities like blessing houses and providing guidance and counsel to those who need it. Those who are interested can learn more about Northeast Ohio Spirit of The Earth Circle on their Facebook page. Until further notice, events, classes and rituals are done virtually. Solitary practitioners Because Paganism, Wicca and witchcraft are not organized religions, many followers consider themselves solitary practitioners and practice in a way that is unique to them, fitting their needs and preferences. This is where it gets confusing. Some people may consider themselves witches, but not Wiccan. On the other hand, some may consider themselves Pagan, but not practice witchcraft. However, certain practices, like working with herbs, can be found in those who consider themselves any or all three of the above. Eclectic practices This is why some people, like Amy Snyder, Tricia Cole and Iris Matos, consider themselves “eclectic,” which means not following any specific path or working with one deity or group of deities. These are practitioners who pull from any practice as it suits their needs. thedevilstrip.com
Left to right: Witchcraft practitioners at a Beltaine celebration; a Spirit of the Earth Circle altar at The Big Love Network; Scott Anderson’s altar and family yule shrine. (Photos: Used with permission from Adrienne Arrington.)
I met Amy, Tricia and Iris a few months ago when I started on my own spiritual path, which revolves around Paganism and witchcraft. We are taking a class at The Healing Brew about, and working with, different aspects of Wicca, such as creating an altar and utilizing the elements for magick. “I really don’t have one specific path that I follow or any specific deities that I follow. I try to take each situation as it presents itself and try to use what I think is best in that situation as far as any kind of practice goes,” Amy says. For her, this means sometimes working with herbs and planting them around her house for certain metaphysical purposes. Sometimes she practices candle magic. Usually she wears bracelets with different gemstones and crystals to bring their qualities into her everyday life.
She works with Egyptian, Celtic, Greek and Taino gods and goddesses. The Taino people are indigenous to Puerto Rico and part of Iris’s ancestry.
“I have six gods and goddesses from different pantheons,” she says. “I at least say a prayer or do a meditation or something, even if it’s just a minute or two.”
Mike Szerorkman practices ceremonial magick, which seems to be anything but laid-back.
Specific paths Some other practitioners, on the other hand, have very specific paths that they don’t stray from. Scott Anderson, Adrienne’s fiance, follows the Nordic path. While this includes working with gods like Odin, Thor and Loki, Scott assures me that they have very little in common with the Marvel movie superheroes, a common misconception many people have when it comes to the Nordic path. Scott says his practice is very laidback.
“Take Adrienne, for example. She has a very specific incantation she has to say and a very specific way to “I am as eclectic as [Amy] is,” Tricia say it and very specific books. Me, I adds. “If I was doing candle work or don’t have a temple but I do most whatever, I would call in whatever of my work in my truck while I’m deities pertain to that spell or working or out in the forge. And it’s manifestation that I’m working on. a very personal connection. I talk to If I’m cooking, throw some herbs in them like I would talk to you or talk there, say a few words, stuff like that. to my parents. It’s a hell of a lot more I have plants around the house, I have laid back. As long as I’m respectful, different herbs around the house for everything’s good,” he explains. different uses and I do burn a lot of sage,” she explains. In his practice, sins don’t exist. Iris considers her practice eclectic because she works with gods and goddesses of all sorts of pantheons.
worship. It’s about having a personal relationship with his gods.
“The closest thing we have for a guideline is the nine noble virtues. Follow those and you’ll do OK. We have courage, of course, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, selfreliance and industrialism,” as well as perseverance, he says. For him, the practice isn’t about
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“You have to get a result, so you will do whatever is necessary to get that result, so the intention is there but it’s all about the process, making sure you get everything right. ‘Cause ceremonial magick is very much about, cool I did it. Now I have to be able to do it again. It’s being able to repeat this process again and again and again,” he explains. “It’s knowing sacred geometry, knowing what plants you have to use, what incense you’re using, each knife has to have certain runes and etchings on it. It’s a process.” Mike prefers to work with Hellenistic and Greek deities because they are easy to relate to. “They were flawed in their appetites and the way they did things,” he says. Spiritually, Mike considers himself Pagan and polytheistic, but he says he is “ethically a Satanist.” “One of their mottos is ‘sacrifice your faith, not your humanity,’ and I think that makes sense, to a degree,” he says. “You are on this world, that’s a fact. You can’t dispute that you’re here. The afterlife, that can be disputed, so you might as well stick with what you know, your humanity, and be a good person rather than be hateful for something that may not even happen or may not even benefit you.” Misconceptions Paganism and Wicca are not
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mainstream religions, and because of that, they carry a lot of stigma and misconceptions. While each person interviewed had a laundry list of misconceptions and pet peeves about how their beliefs are perceived, almost each person said, “We don’t eat babies” or “We don’t worship Satan.” Amy points out that there are actually a lot of similarities between her practice and other religions. “Magick that we might practice could be equated to something like prayer in mainstream religion,” she says. “You can explore it really without consequence because a lot of it is learning,” Adrienne says. You learn how to garden. You learn how to meditate, you learn how to make candles. Who cares? If you walk out of this and you’re like, ‘hey, I don’t pray to gods,’ big whoop. You know how to garden, you know how to meditate, you know how to make candles.” Each practitioner also insisted that theirs is a religion centered around peace. “There’s no violence in our religion whatsoever, in our beliefs. We don’t hold any of that. We value life, we value nature, we value the planet,” Tricia explains. Editor’s note: Allyson Smith also manages ad clients for The Devil Strip, and The Healing Brew is among her past clients. The Healing Brew was not interviewed for this story and it did not see the story before publication. // Allyson’s background is in media production and anthropology. Her hobbies include coffee, traveling and taking months to read a single book.
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Left: The U.S. C&G Survey Benchmark at Exchange Street and Mull Avenue. (Photo: Jeff Davis)
it is also a convenient place to start a survey if your job is to keep the tracks level — evidently the benchmark’s real purpose. The general idea was to place these markers in relatively permanent locations because they would be used like tools, through the generations. Alas, some of these “permanent” locations have disappeared, despite the clear warnings of $250 fines and possible imprisonment for disturbing them. As time goes by, many are erased by road construction, building demolitions, and other forms of destruction, and they pass into history. Generally, they are not replaced.
Where are you, really? REPORTING, WRITING AND PHOTOS BY JEFF DAVIS
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ou have been lost for many months in the Slough of Despond, also known as the Year 2020. Seeing now a ray of light, but still confounded and stumbling around, you ask, “Who am I? What’s my purpose in life? Where am I on the space-time continuum?” You stub your toe, look down, and, lo and behold, there is your answer. You have arrived at Station Q301, a brass plaque placed in a glob of concrete by workers from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS) in 1963. This particular one is in the devil strip at the northwest corner of West Exchange Street and Mull Avenue. Station Q301 is one of perhaps 750,000 similar “monuments’’ placed across the United States by the USCGS, the Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. Their one-time purpose was to provide convenient local benchmarks for surveyors, so they didn’t have to travel to a permanent location, like the post office or city hall, to start their work. You’ve heard of surveyors. Abraham Lincoln was a surveyor, perhaps drawn to the occupation after his father lost the family farm in a boundary dispute. Lewis and Clark were surveyors, as was Daniel Boone. And, yes, a former resident of Akron named Simon Perkins was a surveyor, too.
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They established an official U.S. coastline for national security and international trade purposes. They created maps and marked off rightsof-way, state lines and townships. They memorialized the boundaries of farms, cities and mining claims. They created wealth by assuring ownership interests for highly fertile, waterfront, or otherwise desirable property, then helped take it away when others decided the property was tax-worthy. That type of work continues today. But the practical and critical work of modern-day surveyors also means they prevent explosions and such by properly locating utility lines, protect air travel by their attention to the dimension we commonly call “height,” and help determine which streams of Akron’s rainwater travel to the St. Lawrence River and which go to the Gulf of Mexico, among other things. Few people notice the benchmarks left behind by previous surveyors, but there are hundreds throughout Summit County. Some are in the ground, like the one we stumbled upon across the street from the O’Neil House bed and breakfast. Some are in walls, like the ones in the front wall of the Goodyear Research building on Goodyear Boulevard and on the western corner of Miller-South on East Avenue. Some are buried in vaults under downtown intersections. There’s one by the courthouse steps. The marker under the East Market Street bridge over the B&O railroad tracks seems to represent the site of Akron’s first big train station. But
But not to worry. These plaques and markers are used only as back-ups now, because the USCGS went hightech about 20 years ago when the federal government made its Global Positioning System available to the general public. It’s not that GPS is a more accurate way of doing things — although it can be, according to Jeff Jalbrzikowski, a Regional Geodetic Advisor for the new-and-shorternamed National Geodetic Survey (NGS). It’s just faster and easier to work with than theodolites (those things on top of the tripods), levels and poles. And there’s a lot less trigonometry involved. “Either system can get a surveyor within two or three centimeters of accuracy, but the GPS system allows a survey crew to work more quickly. They don’t have to start their work at one of the reference markers. They can just go to the approximate site, turn on the equipment, and get their position. So, we don’t visit or maintain the old markers anymore,” he tells us. “We use them as a form of ‘passive control,’ which is basically a back-up system,” Jalbrzikowski says. “We once used a lot of other reference points, too, like church steeples and water towers. If a crew was too far from one of our other markers, it could often get its scope on a couple church steeples to resect, or triangulate, their position. Those high points are still in our records, but we don’t use them much in field work anymore.”
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Jalbrzikowski, now based at the NGS office in Columbus, knows many of the Akron markers very well because he graduated from the University of Akron’s Surveying and Mapping program, one of only two such programs in the state. “There’s a marker on the south side of Ayer Hall that the survey classes used to use,” he says. We told him about the two inside the fence at Reservoir Park, the marker at the corner of Cuyahoga Street and Sackett, the one on the side of a Kenmore Boulevard building, and the interesting little “drill hole” in the sidewalk in front of the Highland Theater that was once used to align a surveyor’s plumb bob. But not anymore. Today’s surveyors use GPS devices connected to a satellite network run by the Air Force, the Space Force and the National Geospatial Agency. And though Jalbrzikowski’s agency once employed hundreds of surveyors across the country who spent most of their time in the field, it employs about 170 office-bound specialists today who watch over 2,000 earthbound GPS stations. About 80 of those stations are in Ohio, thanks to a large investment by the Ohio Department of Transportation, which uses them for road construction. State legislators tried to cut the program a couple years ago, but rapidly changed their minds when they found the state had three times as many farmers using the system as highway engineers. Farmers using a John Deere 8370R autonomous tractor can drink coffee and do crossword puzzles while plowing, while the built-in GPS and camera system keeps their rows perfectly straight. And it will be extremely important if Ohio wants to be a place for autonomous cars and trucks, which would be really tough if they all had to drive to the big “X” in the middle of town by the courthouse to begin their journeys along the space-time continuum. // Jeff Davis is a lifelong resident of the Akron area and is a retired writer, editor and teacher. Akronisms is a series highlighting things and places you didn’t know about in our fair city. If you have a question or idea, write to Jeff at jeffdavisDS@gmail.com.
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Essays & Humor
First-person essays and columns plus horoscopes, comics & games
CHAOS TO COMPASSION: MEGAN MAXWELL
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have learned that there is a particular kind of grace in play among profoundly compassionate former addicts or alcoholics who have an intense desire to serve others who struggle. This compassion is like an energy that lights up their presence like a soothing balm or a beam of light. The shine can quell the feelings of doubt and fear that a person new to recovery can experience, transforming that chaos with their compassion. This month I would like you all to meet a special kind of miracle-giver and dream-fixer: Megan Maxwell, a certified peer recovery support specialist. As a prerequisite for this occupation, there is an obvious condition — a massive one. You have to have indepth, firsthand knowledge. You have to walk the walk and talk the talk. You have to be a recovering addict or alcoholic in long-term recovery. There can be no faking this. You have to show up every day with your sleeves rolled up and your battle stories ready to preach the gospel of transformational recovery. You have to be willing to share the deepest dark places you have escaped and do it freely and frequently. Meet Megan. In her own words, she was a “suburban, full-time working soccer mom.” One with a secret problem of a daily alcohol habit that functioned “for a long time, and then, it didn’t.” There was the shaking in the morning, the tumbler of wine packed with the hope that small sips on her breaks could get her through the workday. As many of us learn to do,
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she could hide the urgent need at first. But the sickness of addiction takes over. Her co-workers had noticed the shaking. She would wave them off with reasons and excuses, blaming it on intense anxiety and lack of sleep, but she knew the illness was getting worse. The truth was that she had to have the drug, or her body could not cope with the withdrawal. As is typical with the malady of a substance use disorder, Megan’s physical and mental health declined. More specifically, the overwhelming anxiety was mounting. Then there was that day of the visit to the hospital, as a coworker thought she was having a heart attack and insisted that she go immediately to the ER. The charade of trying to stay undercover all became too, too much. Megan decided it was finally time to ask for help. She confessed to her husband, and then they decided to see a trusted family doctor. This is the place in the story where we all can exhale, right? Nope. “His exact words I’ll never forget,” Megan says. “‘I don’t believe in AA, I don’t believe in a God, I don’t think any of that stuff is going to help you. I don’t think you are an alcoholic, I think that you need to quit drinking for six months, and then you’ll be fine.’” Megan says he gave her some Ativan and Zoloft and sent her home. It didn’t work. Luckily for Megan, there was
another option: Interval Brotherhood Home, known as IBH, Akron’s wellestablished treatment center. There she found a community, learned about the disease model of addiction and made the redemptive discovery that this was a medical problem. She wasn’t a bad person; she was sick. Megan began a period of extended abstinence, and this was the turning point in her transformation. Although challenging, it was during this time that her life’s outlook changed. As the recovery journey begins, many of us start to look around, realize the wreckage of our past actions and seek to make amends, spiritual and actual — many start by knowing not what they want to do, but what they cannot do any longer. In the first miles of recovery and, as luck would have it, Megan came across an opportunity at Oriana House. It was a chance to be employed, get training, and start the certification that eventually led to the work she does now in the Turning Point program. It was a gift to begin a vocation with a higher purpose. A new cup to fill with a profound sense of a spiritual mission, a calling that provided the opportunity to serve and help others with so much on the line. Today she assists others in this: Prison avoided, felonies expunged, families mended, healing facilitated, lives second-chanced… Megan told me that she shares knowledge by helping her clients see that whatever led them to their struggles didn’t happen overnight. They should expect that the development of the habits and lifestyle will take time. She counsels them to stay here. Now. Behavior change is practice. No one ever
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figures it all out. But when we are aware, we are making progress. When I met Megan for this interview and she greeted me, she saw one of her clients coming out of a meeting with another colleague. There was obviously an issue of great importance on the line for this young man because she stopped and turned toward him. As they began whispering, his head hung low, I could tell that there was trouble in his heart and on his mind. I saw her gently reach and hold his forearm in a warm and comforting way and speak soft reassurance. I could not hear the words as I stepped back to allow them this private and personal moment. But I could see the young man glance up and give a small smile of gratefulness for her gesture, flowing with kindness. The former soccer mom who had lost all control was now the beam of light, helping to quell the doubt and fear in this young man’s troubles. It’s the one gift we all get to share when we have some time in recovery. We get to share that it is possible. You can recover. You can replace the chaos with compassion. Steady on. mls // Reach Marc Lee Shannon at marcleeshannon@gmail.com. Listen to “Recovery Talks: The Podcast” from 91.3 The Summit at www. rockandrecovery.com, on Apple Podcasts, or on Spotify.
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child alone without his sibling. We hated that feeling, and eventually started transitioning both children from home to home when we could. Aiden still went to school with us, and Christian with his mom, but on weekends and during summers, they spent a great deal of time together. We even sent Christian to go to the same summer camp as Aiden. The point is, we were not Aiden’s only family, and we had to respect that. To you, their mom’s other children may be strangers, but to them, they’re siblings. Adopting this view helped both children transition from home to home because they could always count on being together.
DEALING WITH TRANSITIONS IN A BLENDED HOUSEHOLD WRITING BY BYRON DELPINAL
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ou can probably imagine the difficulty I had in explaining that, during my sophomore year, my girlfriend was pregnant. My aunt and uncle had taken me in when I was 14, and their reward a year and a half later was having to make room for an infant in the house. I don’t know the stats on high school sweetheart relationships lasting, but I’m guessing the numbers are even lower among couples who dated on and off throughout high school and had a baby together. Either way, Aiden’s mom and I didn’t last very long. When Kirsten, who is now my wife, and I moved in together in 2013, we officially became a “blended household.” Aiden and Kirsten hit it off well, but early on, we were having a lot of difficulty with Aiden when he would come back from his mom’s house on the weekends. Aiden went to St. Sebastian for grades 1-3, where they had a “clip” system that they used to monitor the
kids’ behavior during school. Green was good. After your first incident, your clip gets moved to yellow, then orange, then red, then for some reason… purple? I’m not sure what purple did to receive this kind of treatment but apparently, it’s the worst. We began noticing that anytime Aiden came back from his mom’s house, his clip would get moved. He was short with us at home and it was difficult to get him to listen. It’s incredibly difficult to only raise a child 65% of the time. Each house has its own rules and “normal” is never established. In an ideal world, both houses would agree on similar rules and there would be consistency, but I’m not here to sell that fantasy. We tried really hard to do that, and after everything, I’m not sure I believe that level of harmony can even exist. In our situation, the environments at each of our houses were so different that it started to create two completely different versions of my own son: The version of him that I interacted with and the version his mother interacted with. Over time, we learned different techniques to mitigate most of
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these behavioral swings. Every kid is different — and as we found out, even the same kid can be different in different environments — but I’d like to share what worked for us in raising Aiden. Supplement consistency with self-dependency. To help mitigate the effects of having two totally different sets of rules and traditions in two totally different households, we tried to instill as much independence in Aiden as we could. Aiden was making his own breakfast and packing his own lunches for school in first grade. He had a chore chart that he knew how to fill out himself, and we even made him his own laminated checklist so he could pack his own bag for his mom’s house. At a minimum, this level of independence allowed us to rest easier when he wasn’t with us because he could begin to govern his own decisions more and more toward the (hopefully) good choices we were modeling his independence around. Accept their other family. When Aiden was 6 years old, his mom had another son. As Christian got older, one thing would weigh on me: Every time Aiden would come to our house, we were leaving another
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Be honest about what isn’t working. Not everything we tried should be on this list, because not everything worked. An example of this is screen time limits. In the beginning, we tried telling Aiden that he would get 1 hour of screen time on weekdays, and 2 hours on weekends. When we first started this, we said, “You need to keep track of this, and make sure not to go over your limit.” After a few weeks, we realized that level of selfaccountability just wasn’t happening. It was probably too much to ask anyway. Next, we bought a device that hooks up to the surge protector and would just shut off after a certain amount of time. But we found ourselves making too many exceptions — think “I-justneed-to-finish-this-level” situations. As someone who plays video games, I get it. I’m not going to make the kid lose his progress because we made up some arbitrary number of minutes he’s allowed to play. We ended up scrapping this idea pretty quickly.
Next, we tried limiting it in a simpler way: time windows. You can watch TV from A to B on weekdays, and from C to D on weekends. Again, this was just a huge chore on our part and ended up breaking down. Ultimately, screen time limits just did not work for us. The closest we’ve been to a successful experience here is what we have today: Aiden knows he has to eat, attend school, do homework and do chores before getting on his Xbox, and he’s done with all screens an hour before bed. Good enough. Be the consistency that’s missing. This one was and still is tough. We tried to make sure that Aiden could Continued on page 34
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Hell Raisers continued from page 33 always count on us when he was with us. We had traditions we tried our best to uphold like family game night and eating together at the table. He grew to look forward to these things. Yes, it has been a little maddening at times to reschedule game nights on busy weeks, or to make time for dinners when it seems like you’re always on the go. But overall, routines made it easier for Aiden to mentally jump back into being at dad’s house. This also applies to setting and enforcing rules. There are two parts to rule-setting: First, trying to agree on rules between households; and second, enforcing rules consistently within your household. The first one is a communication and alignment problem. I won’t try to give advice on how to do that part, but I
will urge you to try. For us, this meant having bi-weekly parenting phone calls after Aiden’s bedtime on the calendar. The second part is being very consistent in the way that you set and enforce the rules at your house. There were always differences in rules between our two houses, and when Aiden came back, we needed a way to make those clear immediately. We did things like print and laminate a rules poster, talk with Aiden when he came back about our rules to remind him, and define consistent punishments for when he broke those rules. When a rule was broken, we had a printed thing on the wall we could point to that said “If you break one of these rules, this happens.” It was consistent and ensured there was no ambiguity in structure. Always leave time intentionally for a transition. Aiden never came
home at bedtime on Sunday night before school. It didn’t allow him enough time to transition back into who he was expected to be at our house, and more importantly who he needed to be at school. Instead, he would come home Saturday night or Sunday morning. We needed time for him to acclimate to his environment. This helped us solve the behavior problem at school, for the most part, by shifting responsibility for dealing with it from his school to us. We never picked him up directly from his mom’s and went anywhere. This was a scheduling nightmare, but it really helped. Also, we set aside more time for larger transitions. He would come back from his mom’s house two weeks before school started in the fall, or one week before leaving for summer camp or family vacation. Validate decisions with each other. Communication is hard, especially when there are other factors like the emotions of being separated as parents. If you let the emotions from your relationship push you apart as parents, your children will sense this. I don’t remember the exact scenario that played out, but at
one point Aiden’s mom and I had a conversation on the phone that went something like this: Me: “This is the fourth time Aiden’s told me that you let him stay up late at your house. He needs more sleep. Why are you letting him do this?” Aiden’s mom: “I was going to ask you the same thing! He’s not staying up late here; he told me you let him!” That was interesting. Had we been played by a 7-year-old? Seems like it. After this, we called each other every time Aiden made one of these claims. Pretty soon after, he stopped trying this altogether. Working to raise Aiden across households hasn’t been easy. We’ve learned a lot, and we’re continuing to learn a lot as my wife and I have our own children together and learn to navigate how to ensure that everyone gets treated fairly and equally. It’s tough sometimes. I hope these things we’ve learned the hard way can help you ease your transition and give your kids a head start in cozying into their “new normal,” whatever that means for you and them. // Byron Delpinal is a community enthusiast and professional procrastinator. He’s worn many hats, including software engineer, husband, consultant, public speaker and aspiring woodworker. His favorite hobby is collecting books he may one day read.
Left: Ghost Note Comic is a series by Nick Muffet. View more works at ghostcomics.limitedrun.com. Nick is donating all proceeds from prints purchased to the Movement for Black Lives.
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FOR THE LOVE OF BIRDS
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alentine’s Day has a different meaning to local bird enthusiasts. About this time every year, romance starts heating up at great blue heron nesting colonies. Each male begins gathering long sticks in his beak, which he presents one by one to his partner. The female adds these sticks to their treetop nest, strengthening their bond. If you’d like to see this family drama unfold, it will be on full display through Independence Day at the Bath Road Heronry in Cuyahoga Valley. Just park in the pullout east of Riverview Road and look up. The weekend around Valentine’s Day is also time for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Begun in 1998, this count was the first online community science project. Now it’s a global event that celebrates people’s love for birds. The 2021 dates are Feb. 12-15. You don’t need to be an expert birder to participate. To learn more, visit www. birdcount.org. If you are new to bird watching, winter is a good time to get started. There are fewer species to learn and no leaves to block your view. It helps to have a pair of binoculars or a
camera with a zoom, but these aren’t required. Mornings are the best time to observe bird activity. When it’s cold, small birds must hustle to find breakfast after burning up most of their fat reserves overnight. Many put their differences aside and travel in groups. The extra eyeballs help find food and watch for hungry hawks. Look for mixed flocks foraging through the woods. Other birds often follow the lead of the tufted titmouse, an intelligent little grey sprite with a crest on its head.
Above: In winter, birds such as this blue jay will plump up their feathers to stay warm. (Photo: Jim Roetzel. Used with permission.)
For those who have a birdfeeder nearby, look for hoarding behavior by titmice, black-capped chickadees, and blue jays. They will do lap after lap, hauling future meals to their hidden food stashes. You can also pay attention to social hierarchies— who gets to eat first and who knocks who off their perch. Bossy blue jays often top the pecking order. Mid-month, make a date with yourself or with a sweetie to spend time observing nature’s colorful ambassadors. These feathered charmers might just steal your heart. // Arrye Rosser is an interpretive and education specialist at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
Above: A couple gaze up at a nesting colony of great blue herons along Bath Road. (Photo: NPS/Robert George)
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
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Member Spotlight The Devil Strip is co-owned by more than 900 Akronites! To join, visit https://thedevilstrip.com/be-amember.
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espite growing up in Wadsworth, Jess Forrest has always felt a special connection to Akron — from being treated for cancer as a child at Akron Children’s Hospital to attending Our Lady of the Elms for high school, followed by undergraduate and law school at The University of Akron. She met her best friends at Ray’s Pub and even got married at the Signal Tree. She has lived in Highland Square for about 15 years now, and she loves the walkability of the neighborhood. “That’s always been really important to me, probably for the wrong reason. When I was first in college, I was like, ‘oh, I can walk to the
bars!’” she jokes. Beyond that, though, Jess says that one of her favorite things is getting up on the weekend and seeing all the people exploring her neighborhood. “You can just see all these different people out. Some people are going to the library, some people are walking their dogs, some people are stumbling home from the night before. Some people are getting coffee. You can go to bars, you can go to restaurants, the movie theater is amazing,” she says. For her, Akron is also the ideal city. “We have a lot of things that Cleveland has, but in a smaller, more inviting, cheaper way,” she says. Even though it’s hard to remember what makes Akron unique during COVID times, Jess does what she can
to give back to the community. She is on the board for Our Lady of the Elms and helps plan PorchRokr every year. Although her love for Akron prevails, Jess does have one dirty little secret: “I have never actually completed the Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree, but if people think that I do it, I just let them believe that. It’s like an Akron thing that I should do,” she laughs.
favorite thing to learn about is her neighbors and fellow community members who leave their artistic mark on the city, whether it’s painters, musicians or photographers. — Allyson Smith
When she reads The Devil Strip, Jess’s
February tarot reading
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or some, February may seem too early for spring cleaning. But for many witches, the beginning of February brings Imbolc, which is all about celebrating the first breaths of spring and new life. This means it’s out with the old and in with the new, which is what these cards are encouraging you to do. It may be time to clear out old energies, relationships and thought patterns that leave you feeling unnerved or ungrounded. The Knight of Pentacles shows that we are searching for stability, security, and grounding. After a tumultuous January, we are trying to figure out what and who we can rely on as we continue to stumble through the void. Approach spring cleaning as more than just giving your old clothes away. Reflect on your relationships, behaviors, and thought patterns. Do these things get you closer to where
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you want to be? Do they make you feel good? Are they helpful? If not, maybe it’s time to part ways. Try to channel the energy of the Knight of Pentacles. Are you steadfast, reliable and dependable too?
efforts. Pay attention to this and reflect on why. Once again, try to channel the Knight of Pentacles in your interactions with others. Try to be stable and grounded, even though it may be extremely difficult to do.
A push from the III of Pentacles reversed may help us see this more clearly. For me, with an abundance of self-focused Aries energy, this card is always a reminder to “play nice with others.” In this case, however, it is encouraging you to take a deeper look. Tensions may run high among friend groups and collaborative
The last card, The Hanged Man, means that many of us are encountering crossroads. We may be stuck on making big decisions and fearing the consequences in either direction. However, when you look closely at the Hanged Man, he is not distraught. In fact, he appears quite content, hanging upside down
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
Tarot cards: These cards are from the Rust Belt Arcana tarot deck, released in 2018 by Belt Publishing. Each card in the deck features a creature from Northeast Ohio, illustrated by David Wilson.
by one foot. Take some advice from the conflicted-yet chill-Hanged Man: Try to remove judgment from the equation. Maybe one option isn’t “right” and the other isn’t “wrong.” Perhaps they’re both just options. Stop overthinking, pick one and roll with it. What happens may not be good or bad. It simply is what it is. — Allyson Smith thedevilstrip.com
what they viewed. This is done to learn about your preferences and interests. That information is usually used for targeted advertising.
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utomation has been around for decades. Factories, telephone systems and even fast food all have some level of automation. But as technology has advanced, automation has found its way into every aspect of our lives. You have heard of bots, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). But what are they and how are they used? Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence is really a broad term that encompasses the algorithms and tools that help computers mimic human behavior. There are many subcategories of AI: Natural language processing (NLP),
deep learning, computer vision, deep fakes and machine learning. This technology can be used for very good things, like developing theoretical models for the effectiveness and distribution of a vaccine. Other positive uses are rerouting of tracks delivering products to save time, fuel or both, predicting when and where a thunderstorm might produce a tornado, or predicting the exact amount of water a field of vegetables might need for maximum yield.
learn autonomously and improve functionality. It does so by using various algorithms to analyze data, determine patterns, and generate the corresponding output. This is used for predictive analytics and predictive modelling. Internet Robots (Bots) They have many monikers: Internet robots, bots, web bots, crawlers and spiders. They are often used to perform repetitive tasks, like updating and indexing search engines, bulk emailing, or mass texting.
Machine Learning (ML) This is the term that is most commonly confused with AI. Machine learning uses statistical analysis to
Bots can be useful for many legitimate applications. Most often, bots are used to gather information, such as who visited a website and
However, the same technology can be used for bad purposes. Sometimes bots come as malware and are installed directly onto your computer. Once this is done, they connect back to a control server. These servers operate as a “command center” that controls all of the bots that were installed by the malware. This creates an “army of bots’’ doing the bidding of whoever controls that server. This is being done by cybercriminals and nation-states alike. You can prevent your devices from being infected by using common sense and cybersecurity best practices. These include verifying a link in emails before you click on the link, never opening a link from an unsolicited email, and avoiding fringe websites and chat rooms. Continued on page 38
FEBRUARY LUNAR READING Making the most of Mercury in retrograde
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ebruary begins during a Mercury Retrograde in the sign of Aquarius, which lasts until Feb. 21. When Mercury is retrograde, there are disruptions to communications, travel and commerce. It is not a favorable time to push out our fresh ideas, but rather to go back to your old projects and pick them back up for revisions. Here are a few tips to better use this specific retrograde energy while it is located in Aquarius. 1. Catch up on your correspondence with friends and groups. This energy will allow you to re-evaluate these associations and decide whether you want to place your attention on them in the future. 2. You may find technology mix-ups happen, but you may also find it
easier to make your presence known on social media platforms. 3. You can reassess any endeavors which are on your back burner intended to contribute to humanity in some way. The big planetary alignment happening in 2021 is a challenging aspect between Saturn and Uranus. These two will form a 90-degree angle in the sky three times, with the first happening this month. Saturn is the planet that governs the past, and Uranus, the future. This is an exciting aspect, but will stretch us as a collective to overcome the feeling of fear in new and uncomfortable situations of social change. On a personal level, you can find respect in the lessons of your time gone by to help achieve intentions of your
Akron’s Community-Owned Magazine
future. Our new moon this month happens on Feb. 11, in Aquarius, just before Valentine’s Day, the hottest holiday during the coldest month. Leo, the opposite sign of Aquarius, rules over passion in the heart. The energy of Leo may feel distant during this time because six out of 10 planets during this new moon will occupy Aquarius — which, with pandemic isolation, may keep us away from finding or being with the one we love. So if you find yourself facing that circumstance, the telepathic characteristic of Aquarius may assist you in tapping into their vibration on an energetic level in order to feel their heart. We begin the sign of Pisces on Feb. 18. Pisces is a beautiful sign whose
February 2021 · Vol 8 · Issue #2
attributes are ones of compassion, spirituality, artistry and dreaminess. On Feb. 27, we have a full moon in Pisces’ opposite sign, Virgo. Here we can find the balance between the whimsy of Pisces and the practicality of Virgo. Virgo likes to analyze facts and figures. Here’s one to think over as we close out Cupid’s month: Me + You = Love. // Angie Agnoni is a local astrologer and graduate of the International Academy of Astrology. She is Vice President of Lake County Astrological Association, which is one of the longest-running astrology groups in the country. Angie can be reached and booked for personal astrology consultation at www.calendly.com/ angieagnoni.
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Unencrypted continued from page 37 If you have done one of the above or your device begins behaving erratically or slowly, you may have downloaded malware that included a bot. Update and run your antivirus software immediately. The biggest use of bots currently is in social media. Nation-states, such as Russia, are using bots to create fake users. Once these fake users are created, artificial intelligence and machine learning look for keywords and patterns in chats, comments and discussions. The bots then flood these areas of discussion with comments designed to keep everyone emotional and arguing. If you have found yourself in an argument with someone who is not in your normal circle, there is a good chance you have been arguing with
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a software program. At the very least, somewhere in that exchange of comments exists a bot that is stirring the pot of discourse. This is a form of psychological warfare. A first step toward ending the division in the world is to stop arguing on social media. Offer to discuss the issue over a cup of coffee instead. I would like to hear your questions and concerns for future articles. You can reach me at jbnicholasphd@ gmail.com. // Dr. John B. Nicholas is a Professor of Computer Information Systems and Co-Founder of the Cybersecurity Degree Track at The University of Akron. Dr. Nicholas has over 30 years experience in the technology field in both the private sector and in higher education.
February 2021 ¡ Vol 8 ¡ Issue #2
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