May 2020 - The Devil Strip (Zoom Cover)

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5 · thedevilstrip.com

PAGE 10: HOW AKRON IS MEETING HUNGER NEEDS DURING THE PANDEMIC

PAGE 16: pandemic cartoons from the spanish flu

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In This Issue

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 Senior Reporter: Noor Hindi noor@thedevilstrip.com

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Art Director: Chris Harvey harvey@thedevilstrip.com Business Development Director: Jessica Goldbourn jessica@thedevilstrip.com Community Outreach Director: Floco Torres floco@thedevilstrip.com Distribution Manager: Derek Kreider derek@thedevilstrip.com

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Digital Manager: Sonia Potter sonia@thedevilstrip.com Client Relations Manager: Anna Adelman anna@thedevilstrip.com Ad Sales: Derek Kreider, Allyson Smith Copy Editors: Megan Combs, Dave Daly, Emily Dressler, Shannon Wasie

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Freelance Contributors: Debra Calhoun, Trvaughn Clayton, Kyle Cochrun, H.L. Comeriato, Amber Cullen, Lauren Dangel, Zaïré Talon Daniels, Nic deCourville, Ace Epps, Ken Evans, Charlotte Gintert, Colleen Hanke, Aja Hannah, Charlee Harris, Matthew Hogan, Jillian Holness, Tyron Hoisten, Jamie Keaton, Ted Lehr, Marissa Marangoni, Sandy Maxwell, Brandon Meola, Vanessa Michelle, Yoly Miller, Brittany Nader, Ilenia Pezzaniti, Arrye Rosser, Mark Schweitzer, Marc Lee Shannon, Karla Tipton, Paul Treen, Steve Van Auken, Pat Worden. Want to help make The Devil Strip? Write to rosalie@thedevilstrip.com.

Find us online: www.thedevilstrip.com facebook.com/thedevilstrip @akrondevilstrip @thedevilstrip

Akron Music, Art & Culture

Special Section: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic 6 PREGNANT DURING COVID-19 7 SIX FEET: DANNY HAMILTON 8 OHIOIANS STRUGGLE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT SYSYTEM 10 LOCAL AGENCIES HELP HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH HUNGER 11 IF YOU ADOPTED A PET 12 PORTRAITS OF A PANDEMIC 14 MAKERSPACE MANUFACTURES FACE SHIELDS 16 PANDEMIC CARTOONS FROM THE SPANISH FLU The Rest of the Book: 19 VINTAGE STRUCTURES: TRIACRE 20 THOUSANDS OF AKRON’S CHILDREN ARE REGISTERED AS ‘HIGH RISK’ ASTHMA PATIENTS 24 CELEBRATED GRAPHIC NOVELIST REVISITS DEADLY KENT STATE SHOOTING AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY 25 CORNERS OF CREATION PLUS: ART, POETRY + CHANCES TO BE CREATIVE The Back of the Book: 28 SOBER CHRONICLES 29 UNENCRYPTED: VPNS 30 URINE LUCK

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.

20 May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

The Devil Strip |

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WELCOME

EDITOR’S NOTE W

hat a strange spring this has been. March felt like it lasted about 6,000 years, but April flew by in a haze while I sat at the desk I’ve set up at home — right in the front corner of the house, so I can look out the window as much as I want. That’s where I am every weekday at 10 am when the Devil Strip staff meets for a video chat.

Press, a back cover you can color, and much more.

Stay well, and see you in June — Rosalie Murphy

ON THE COVER: READER-SUBMITTED ZOOM SCREENSHOTS FEATURING YOU!

We nearly doubled the size of our staff right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Ohio. Sonia Potter joined us as digital manager, taking over our website, social media accounts and our twice-aweek newsletter. Chris Harvey came on as art director, meaning he designs our print magazine, illustrates some of our stories and works on branding and merch. Derek Kreider became our distribution manager right before most of our distribution locations closed. And Anna Adelman began leading ad sales just as many of our local business clients fell upon incredibly hard times.

The pandemic has forced us all to get creative, whether we like it or not (and there are definitely days when I do not) — as an organization and as neighbors, parents, kids, friends and partners, not to mention as artists and business owners. I hope this issue helps you feel a spark of that creativity. We’ve got art by elementary school students, poems published by the University of Akron @marissaelainelittle

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.

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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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.

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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.

thedevilstrip.com

Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

BABA, MS. SHANEL LOIS LESTER’S LEARNING CENTER

RANGER EDWARDS SUMMIT METRO PARKS

Through these two collections of photographs, I’m capturing what the new “normal” means in our community during the coronavirus pandemic. With the Stay-at-Home order put in place by Gov. Mike DeWine, life has changed drastically for many people. Only the Essential businesses remain open, while others are forced to close up shop. While many people are bound to their homes and restructuring their lives, there is a whole workforce out there working to combat this pandemic and serve the community however they are able. — Autumn Bland

Akron Music, Art & Culture

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

The Devil Strip

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

Above: Illustration by Chris Harvey not created in reference to the author’s likeness.

Pregnant in Akron During a Pandemic

by Aja Hannah

W

ith COVID-19 changing the landscape of the medical field, pregnant women may be feeling especially down at this time.

Baby showers, pregnancy portraits and baby shopping trips have been due to restrictions on gathering sizes. While some families have adapted with online registries and “drive-thru” baby showers, others have postponed it all.

Pregnancy has almost become a second thought against the backdrop of COVID-19; the shopping restrictions, the stay-at-home orders, the massive lay-offs, social distancing, and ever changing news. At least, that is how it is for me at 35 weeks pregnant.

I’m due in May with our second child.

Things were already different. We didn’t have a baby shower planned, but we were going to buy a second vehicle. Now we aren’t going anywhere, so there is no point. We were going to get pregnancy portraits done since we did them for our first pregnancy. Forget about that.

Although there is not a lot of research on COVID-19 and pregnancy, the CDC advises that “pregnant people seem to have the same risk as adults who are not pregnant” but that “pregnant people have had a higher risk of severe illness

6 | The Devil Strip

when infected with viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.”

For us, this means I am no longer the primary grocery shopper and I’ve been told to stay home whenever an errand needs to be run. At first, it was a nice relief, but now certain brands or flavors of things aren’t being bought which trips up my pregnancy cravings. Not to mention the cabin fever.

But all these issues are minor when compared to the most striking changes in the medical field. Everything from routine OBGYN visits to the delivery to the postpartum stay has changed and continues to require me to be open to change.

THE OFFICES Most OBGYN offices in Summit County have expanded their telehealth appointments for patients or have postponed routine checkups altogether.

For pregnant women, this can increase their stress. They want to know their babies are healthy and developing properly, especially first-time moms.

In many cases across the country, OBGYN offices are still open for those who are

high-risk or having an emergency, but staff has been reduced.

At Cleveland Clinic offices, OBGYNs are not seeing new pregnant patients until after the first scheduled ultrasound around 12 weeks — unless of course there is concern about the mother or baby. They are still scheduling patients when it is a necessary appointment that involves a possible complication, bloodwork or ultrasounds. This keeps pregnant women out of the office and minimizes the risk of catching coronavirus.

The office is also recommending low-risk pregnant patients forgo inperson visits if they have access to a blood pressure cuff and doppler (to monitor the baby’s heart rate) at home. Patients who have this equipment now have the option of telehealth check-ups. But these items can be expensive and, with so many people laid off or working reduced hours, affordability flies out the window.

Like many other pregnant women, I do not have access to this equipment, so I have to go into the office every other week. While it all feels a little dystopian and disconcerting, all the precautions these offices are taking are somewhat reassuring. Patients are typically greeted with a seri es of screening questions; these questions have increased and

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

changed as information on the virus becomes available. The nurses running the doors used to just have a bottle of hand sanitizer. Now there are marks on the floor designating the six-foot distance. Patients still get a squirt of sanitizer, but now the nurses are wearing masks and gloves. Patients’ temperatures are also taken using a forehead scanner that does not touch the patient.

Many offices won’t let in partners or children, although the latter can be a serious issue for single pregnant moms.

Even with all this, I still worry about going in and contracting COVID-19 somehow, like riding on the elevator or using the office’s bathroom.

Tessa King, a soon-to-be mother of five, is due in June and she sees a doctor at Associates of Akron. She has a high-risk pregnancy and cannot be seen from home. She has experienced the same changes at her office and said, “It really doesn’t bother me. I’m extremely high-risk this time, so any extra precautions to stay healthy are fine with me. I go twice a week to the doctors from 20 weeks on.”

When I see my doctor, she stands at the opposite side of the room and is mostly hands-off except to measure my bump and take the baby’s heart rate. She

thedevilstrip.com

Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic doesn’t even log on to the computer if she doesn’t need to. The appointments are short and to the point, and I am sent on my way.

THE DELIVERY While many women in online forums have talked about giving birth at home because of COVID-19, there are women that do not have that option or still feel it is safer to give birth at the hospital. I will be giving birth at the hospital because I have to have a c-section.

I will most likely be headed to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest hospital when the time comes because that is where I have given birth before. Hillcrest also has private NICU rooms in case something goes wrong, the baby is too early, or the baby contracts COVID-19. But not everyone wants to do that long trek while in labor or forgo having their OBGYN with them at the time of delivery.

In Akron, there are two major hospitals that do deliveries: Summa Akron City and Cleveland Clinic Akron General. The birthing wings of these hospitals are separated from the rest of the hospital.

Still, pregnant women are worried about even going into the hospital and contracting the virus.

Tessa has given birth several times at Akron City and will be going there again

for her latest baby. “I am high risk and have a very, very low immune system right now. I worry I could somehow come in contact with the virus and get very sick.”

The hospitals have several layers of precautions. They question and take the temperature of everyone entering the hospital. Staff and visitors have been reduced to only the essential people.

Akron City Hospital is currently allowing only one visitor for labor and delivery, but that visitor is restricted by a “come and stay” policy, meaning they cannot leave the hospital once they have entered. That means no returning home to feed dogs, change clothes, or put children to bed.

Depending on the spread of the illness, this could be further limited to no visitors or support persons for labor and delivery.

First-time mom and educator Carolyn A. Spivak Colbow, gave birth on March 27. At that time, only her husband was allowed with her, but he could still leave the hospital and return if his temperature was okay.

If we do not have someone else to watch our kids, women like me and Tessa have to go through surgery and recovery alone.

If something happens to us, who is our advocate? Where is our support? But on the other hand, getting someone else to watch our kids means putting someone else or our kids at risk by introducing a third party. Has that person quarantined

properly? If it is a grandparent, are we risking their health?

“I worry about having an extended stay all alone as my boyfriend has to be home with our other children,” says Tessa. She will also miss being able to have visitors.

“This will be the only baby my other children won’t be able to meet right away. That’s really hard on them, so it’s saddening to me.”

Bethany Pyper, a postpartum nurse at Akron General, reports that the single visitor/support person is still allowed to come and go, but will have their temperature taken each time they return to the hospital. She says the hospital also still has its lactation staff and newborn photographers.

Despite being part of the same Cleveland Clinic system, Fairview and Hillcrest hospital report that they are following “come and stay” procedures.

Nurses have been picking up the slack and offering support to postpartum parents since there are limited visitors. “[We are] definitely connecting more [to patients] through conversation. These mommas are usually processing their birth experience by talking with their visiting friends and family so we are aware of the importance of them sharing those stories. Also, we are helping take care of the baby more because a lot of

times the extra visitors are helping with diaper changes and holding the baby while [patients] shower and stuff. We are being conscientious that they have much less physical support than they might if COVID-19 wasn’t an issue,” says Bethany.

To minimize exposure and possible contraction of the virus, hospitals are also allowing patients to be discharged early if possible. For vaginal births, stable women and babies can leave as early as the next day. For c-sections, stable patients are staying two days rather than three.

Bethany clarifies that “this is an ongoing conversation between the patient’s doctor, pediatrician for the baby, nurses, and the patient. We aren’t forcing people to leave or even ‘encouraging’ them to leave sooner than they feel comfortable.

But doctors are definitely trying to be aware that we want to cut down the exposure to these patients if they aren’t benefiting from the average length of stay.”

As information on COVID-19 develops and the number of cases change, restrictions in hospitals and offices may be lifted or increased. // Aja Hannah is a writer, traveler and mama. She believes in the Oxford comma, cheap flights and a daily dose of chocolate.

SIX FEET: Danny Hamilton words and photos by Ilenia Pezzaniti

W

ith the stay-at-home mandate implementation and the warming weather, front porches have been the go-to hang out spaces for many residents in Akron.

home.”

Danny Hamilton, 30, was sitting on his porch, looking at his phone on Thursday, March 26, when the temperature hit 60 degrees.

“Just being able to see friends, family.

Like many people, Danny’s been impacted by the pandemic socially and employment-wise.

“Besides being cooped up in the house, my hours at work have been cut drastically, but I’m one of the lucky ones — I’m a salary contract employee so I still get paid, thankfully,” Danny says.

“Other than that, it’s just going stir crazy at

Though he recognizes his blessings, Danny is also thinking about what he’s missing out on.

My dad’s got a compromised immune system so I can’t really see him too much,” he says.

Danny thinks some good is coming out of the sudden change in lifestyle, however.

“I guess we’re kind of all appreciating things a little bit more than before this all happened,” he says.

“I guess you could say we won’t take things for granted as much anymore.”

This series is intended to be as indiscriminate as the COVID-19 virus itself. On March 29, the Akron Beacon Journal reported that 40% to 60% of Ohio residents would eventually be infected. Even those not directly exposed to the virus will and are suffering indirect consequences of our lifetime’s first pandemic. This series is a response to the affect on the community, and a commentary on the resiliency of its people. COVID is exposing many of the hole’s we still have left to patch as a society, and is a reminder of our shared common ground.

Everyone’s voice matters. - Ilenia Pezzaniti

Akron Music, Art & Culture

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

The Devil Strip

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

T t d h h

O w m m i a c o t a s o s

W p d d u d

Ohioans desperate to reach unemployment hotline as calls dropped, claims languish

by Cid Standifer

M

arcia Gassaway was in the first wave of Ohioans put out of work by COVID-19.

The single mom from Cleveland went to the emergency room on March 15.

Due to her coronavirus-like symptoms, doctors ordered that she be quarantined at a special facility.

could stay home instead of spreading the virus.

Gassaway has been without any income for five weeks, and she doesn’t know why her claim hasn’t been paid. She got through to an operator once, who told her to upload a note from her doctor.

She did. That was weeks ago, and she said her claim is still listed as “pending.”

Now, she’s recovering at home with her children, calling the unemployment helpline over and over again.

ODJFS knows the system is having problems due to the explosion in applicants since Gov. Mike DeWine ordered all bars and restaurants to close.

“I call every day, every day,” she said.

“I’m trying to recover with my health. It’s so scary...I cry at night because I don’t know what to do.”

Between March 15 and April 11, the number of unemployment insurance claims exceeded all claims filed in the previous two years.

Each time she dials the number, she hears an automated message that the system is experiencing a high call volume. Then it hangs up.

On April 14, at his daily press conference, DeWine fielded a question about people who have been waiting weeks for their first unemployment payment.

Until she got sick, Gassaway worked at the Amazon fulfillment center in Euclid.

She hasn’t been laid off, but she doesn’t have paid sick leave, and her doctors haven’t given her clearance yet to return to work, where she might risk infecting coworkers. When DeWine shut down all Ohio bars and restaurants in mid-March, he expanded unemployment eligibility to cover people just like Gassaway so they

8 | The Devil Strip

“It’s very upsetting to me,” he said, “and we can go through all the reasons why that is happening. But the bottom line for those of you who are not getting your check or have not been getting into the system, I don’t think you want to hear anything. I think you want us to fix it.”

ODJFS has been scrambling to expand its capacity to handle claims, and to set up new systems for each new kind of benefit added on the federal and state level. That includes the extra $600 per week benefit under the CARES Act, extended benefits for people receiving unemployment, and new eligibility for self-employed workers or those who didn’t make enough to typically qualify.

So far, though, the traffic is all funnelled through the existing Ohio Job Insurance system, which was built in 2004.

The state already had plans to update OJI, and hired a company called Sagitec Solutions in January 2019 to build a new system. But the process was expected to take two years. It wasn’t anywhere near ready to take over when the pandemic’s unemployment wave hit the department’s 16-year-old system.

According to ODJFS numbers released April 16, 855,197 people applied for unemployment between March 15 and April 11. Over the same time period, the department paid claims out to 271,000 people — about 32%.

Other states have been hamstrung because their systems are written in COBOL, an antiquated programming language that went out of vogue in the 1980s. ODJFS spokesman Bret Crow said

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

O s s u t t f o

the OJI system is based on a combination Z of COBOL and Java, a much more a commonly used language. h T “We are not in the position of other w states that need to beat the bushes to a find folks who know COBOL,” Crow said t in an email. “While we have experienced m slow processing times because our system is overloaded with claims just like C every other state’s online claims system, fi programmers have not been an issue for u Ohio.” s b The department has been on a hiring u spree for people to answer the phones.

Before the lockdown, there were 42 “ unemployment phone operators, Lt. Gov.s John Husted said at a press conference on April 15. Now they have about 1,194, A all working remotely. Another 337 S can join the team once they complete o training. w s Husted said next week they will also S add voice recognition systems to answer c frequently asked questions, and a s “virtual call center” system is being set up. Crow said the virtual call center “ would be cloud-based, making it easier w to add more staff. “

As of April 12, Crow said the average T time callers were spending on hold was h about 26 minutes. b s

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic The average hold time doesn’t reflect the number of people who were simply disconnected. Crow said he didn’t have any data on how often that was happening.

One Facebook page for restaurant workers affected by the pandemic has more than 27,000 members. Every day, members post questions about messages in the unemployment insurance application portal they can’t open, and cryptic notifications like “Break in Claim” or “Pending: $0.00.” They also trade tips for getting through to an operator at ODJFS, like selecting the option to speak to someone in Spanish, since the operators are bilingual and call volume seems to be lower.

When an Eye on Ohio journalist wrote a post asking how many people had been disconnected while calling ODJFS, it drew more than 270 responses. Dozens upon dozens of people said they’d been disconnected repeatedly.

One member, Jessica Zalants, sent screenshots of her phone logs, which showed more than 150 calls to the state unemployment insurance help line over three days. She said it didn’t reflect the additional calls that her husband, a furloughed engineer, had made on his own phone.

Zalants and her husband, who have a nine-month-old baby together, are having a house built outside Cincinnati.

Their financial advisor recommended they wait to secure a loan so they could get a better interest rate. Now she’s worried they won’t be able to get a mortgage or make a down payment.

Calling the unemployment line is the first thing she does when she gets up in the morning, she said. When she and her husband went out for a bike ride recently, she kept calling the unemployment line while out on the trail.

“It literally consumes everything I do,” she said.

Amy Pheneger, who worked at The Standard in Cleveland until the shutdown order, said she’s spent hours on hold with the unemployment line. But she said that’s better than no answer at all.

She tallied 300 times she’s called, and counted three where she was able to speak to someone.

“It’s, like, this relief that comes over me when I hear that hold music,” she said.

“It’s like, I’m on hold, thank God.” The first operator she reached submitted her claim for her, which Pheneger hadn’t been able to do because the online system was overwhelmed. Another

Akron Music, Art & Culture

operator she reached told her their computer system was down, and the other hung up on her.

Her account currently has a “break in claim” notice. Crow said that if claimants see that label, they have to call the unemployment hotline to resolve the problem.

Other group members say they don’t meet the typical income minimum to receive unemployment because their bosses weren’t reporting their tips, or didn’t have them officially on the books as employees.

Crow said many of those employees will be helped by the rollout of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

“We decided to go that route to offer better customer service to the new group of folks,” he said, and “to save strain on our already overloaded system that is handling hundreds of thousands of initial jobless claims in an unprecedented influx in the history of our state.”

Husted said on Wednesday that the PUA system will be accepting applications by April 25, though payments won’t start going out until May 15.

‘We’re just having a lot of fun’ words and photos by Noor Hindi

That’s not soon enough for Danyelle Warner, who worked at a bowling alley in Hilliard. She said she hasn’t been able to get benefits so far because her employer didn’t report all her wages.

Asked how she’s making ends meet, she wrote in an email, “I’m not at this point.

What savings I did have are depleted.

I have $0.98 in the bank at this very moment. I am relying on food banks to just keep my family fed.”

“I know we don’t save lives. I know we aren’t ‘frontline’ employees,” she wrote, but “this industry has always been there for us. I’ve often joked that even if the world was ending, I can always fall back on serving and bartending. That there will always be hours to pick up somewhere.

“March 16th, our end of the world happened. And there is not much to fall back on for some of us.” // Cid Standifer is a Cleveland-based freelance journalist. // This piece was first published by Eye On Ohio, a non-profit, non-partisan outlet for investigative journalism. Learn more about them at www.eyeonohio.com.

A

kronites Jeramy and Amanda Patton decided to add a little fun to their Firestone Park home last month, attracting laughs from neighbors and friends. Their COVID-19 tree display, which sported a mask and googly eyes, brought some much-needed humor to passersby.

“We’re just having a lot of fun,” Jeramy says. “It’s really blown up and gotten bigger than what we would have imagined.”

He got the idea while scrolling through social media one day. The couple had already been making masks from fabric.

But this time, says Amanda, they had to make a “really, really, really big one for the tree.”

When they first moved into their home five years ago, Amanda asked Jeramy to cut down the tree, but now she’s convinced the tree has to stay.

“Now it’s getting decorated all the time,” says Amanda, who recently created a Cinco de Mayo display for the tree. She’s also encouraging residents to get takeout from El Rincon, her favorite Mexican restaurant.

Over the last few weeks, the couple have been quarantined at home with their 10-year-old daughter, Tessa, and their

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

dog, Jasper. Their business, Sitting Pretty Linens, a full-service linen rental company for weddings in Akron, is on stand-by.

“We do miss it,” says Jeramy. “I miss the people. I miss the satisfaction of completing an event and it all coming together and looking great.”

Until quarantine is over, Jeramy and Amanda have been keeping busy with house projects and helping their daughter finish the school year at Miller South, where she’s enrolled with a focus on theater.

“It’ll be nice when we go back to normal and we get to go to her events at her school and see all the hard work the kids did,” Amanda says.

In the meantime, Jeramy and Amanda send their thanks and appreciation to health care providers and essential employees who are still working through the pandemic. They hope to continue creating fun and whimsical displays to bring joy to the neighborhood, where others are beginning to create their own displays.

Follow Sitting Pretty Linens on Instagram @sittingprettylinens. // // Noor Hindi is The Devil Strip’s Senior Reporter. Reach her at noor@thedevilstrip. com.

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

Above: Good Samaritan Hunger Center staff and volunteers distribute food at Ed Davis Community Center on April 16, 2020. (Photos: Rosalie Murphy.)

Hunger in Akron ‘probably doubled or tripled’ in March, advocates say words and photos by Rosalie Murphy

C

ars snake around the Akron Zoo during the last freezing day of the spring. A dozen volunteers, most in face masks and gloves, arrange food — corn and oranges, yogurt and eggs, Easter bread and Combos — on a long line of tables. Three weeks earlier, this system was brand-new. Now it looks like it’s an old hat.

At 3 pm, two men walk up and collect food on foot. Then the first car rolls in. By 5 pm, 200 households — totaling about 540 people — will have collected food, according to Good Samaritan Hunger Center.

“The need, obviously, in Akron, has probably doubled or tripled,” says Michele Smith, executive director of Good Samaritan Hunger Center, a mobile food pantry that has operated in Akron for almost four decades. Normally, she says, they serve about 280 people at four grocery distributions per week. In midApril, she estimated they were serving as many as 400 people per week at drivethrough distributions.

When Ohio instituted public health orders closing buildings and mandating social distancing, food pantries like Good Samaritan had to scramble to meet twin

10 | The Devil Strip

challenges — restrictions on their normal operations and skyrocketing need. Good Samaritan moved from distributing food inside community centers to putting it in trunks in parking lots.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank sends most of the food it collects to smaller neighborhood food pantries, including Good Samaritan. President and CEO Dan Flowers estimates that around 50 of 500 partner sites have stopped operating due to social distancing requirements.

At the same time, they’re distributing 30% more food than this time last year.

“One thing that happened in the month of March — that really stood out to me as a leading indicator about how our lives and worlds have changed — is that the number of new people showing up at food pantries went up a lot,” Dan says.

“There was a 109% increase in first-time visitors to our network in March.”

Once a month, the Foodbank opens for individual distributions, where they serve about 400 cars on average. In the first week of April — at a special off-cycle distribution — they served around 1,100.

“It’s tough on the people out there, and I just don’t think that there’s any way to

sugarcoat it,” Dan says.

owner Angelo Gonzales.

Food pantries are not always easy to access, however. Nearly all require that patrons meet certain income eligibility requirements, and some require referrals from other social service agencies or 211, United Way of Summit County’s allpurpose help line.

“I’m from Buffalo, N.Y, and I remember when I was little, going to school and eating breakfast for free meals and lunch for free meals. On the weekends and [during] summer we’d have free meals at the school. I was raised on this system,” says Angelo Gonzales, founder of Your Pizza Shop. “I was cooking chicken wings and I set some wings in the fryer and I saw that the governor had shut all the schools down, and I immediately thought, ‘how are the kids going to eat?’”

But on April 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture waived most of those requirements to limit contact between patrons and volunteers or staff. Good Samaritan simply asked drive-thru patrons how many people were in their households to get a sense of how many people they served.

“We used to have to sign everybody in; now we’re able to just count households and numbers of people. That’s a huge help. We’re able to maintain good, safe social distance,” Michele says.

Small businesses stepped up to serve families in need, too. Your Pizza Shop on West Exchange Street estimates that it served between 6,500 and 7,000 free meals to kids and families in the month beginning March 16.

That’s 16,200 slices of pizza, 2,000 sandwiches, and dozens of pounds of fruit, juice, cookies and trail mix, says

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On March 13, Angelo posted on Facebook: “We know and understand that our kids depend on school lunches to have a good meal for the day.. in many cases, it will be their only meal of the day.. If you are going to have trouble with lunches for your children while the schools are closed, or know of someone that is going to need some help with food for their children during this time, please DM us.. we’d like to try our best to help.”

The post was shared nearly 7,000 times.

“From there, I guess, with our culture, it brought the community together, and it’s been a very special ride,” Angelo says.

After three intense weeks, Angelo says Your Pizza Shop was able to take its foot off the gas a little. Angelo fed only 30

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic though it may be scheduled as far out as two weeks due to demand, Andrew says.

off the gas a little. Angelo fed only 30 kids on the Friday before APS’s scheduled spring break, suggesting to him that families had identified other reliable sources of food or that benefits had kicked in. He decided to scale back meal service to one day a week. Friday was their last day of service.

Despite dozens of food pantries and businesses like Your Pizza Shop in Summit County, not everyone can access food from these sources. If you don’t drive, you may not be able to get food at a drive-through food pantry. Metro RTA has reduced service, making it more difficult to navigate the city by bus.

People with disabilities were already facing a caregiver shortage, which the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated.

And immunocompromised people and seniors are encouraged to stay home as much as possible.

Both Good Samaritan and the foodbank accept walk-ups at their drive-through service, Michele and Dan say.

If you need mobile meals, United Way of Summit County’s 211 program — a phone line that anyone can reach by dialing “211,” which will connect them to the services they’re looking for — is ,working with DoorDash to get food to people who are at high risk from COVID-19, according to communications manager Andrew Leask. The pilot program delivered more than 1,000 25-pound boxes of nonperishable food in Summit County, Canton, Massillon and Alliance during its first month.

“As those numbers show, demand has been extraordinarily high, and we dare reaching the end of the available deliveries. We’ll be taking new requests ”for DoorDash deliveries until April 30,” Andrew says.

To request grocery delivery, call 2-1-1 between 9 am and 1 pm. An operator will ask a few questions, verifying that you are high-risk and that you meet the income requirement of earning 230% of the federal poverty level or less. If you qualify, they’ll schedule a delivery —

Akron Music, Art & Culture

Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio has shifted to deliveries of 10 days’ worth of shelfstable meals at a time, practicing no-contact delivery. Their next delivery is scheduled for April 22-24.

Currently, hot and frozen meal delivery is scheduled to resume on May 18. To enroll, call 330-515-5605.

As Ohio anticipates the gradual lifting of stay-at-home orders, food service providers are preparing for a season of dramatically increased need. The pandemic left hundreds of thousands of Ohioans unemployed, many of whom will not be able to return to work right away. Many Ohioans are still waiting on unemployment benefits.

The foodbank, which supplies food to food pantries across the region, is facing ongoing declines in inventory.

Normally, Dan says, 95% of the food they distribute is donated directly from retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and distributors. That supply chain hasn’t been disrupted yet, but demand has increased — meaning the foodbank is spending thousands of dollars buying food in bulk to give away.

“There’s not going to be a charge to charities or people on any of that food, but it’s going to take six to eight weeks to get it here. And that’s the problem straight down the line,” Dan says. “Right now our inventory level is down. There’s more food on the way. And my concern is, over the next three to five weeks, how far down it will dip before those replenishments hit?”

Charities also run on donations, which may dry up as time goes on. “Even when everybody can go back to work, you know, there’s going to be places that aren’t going to reopen,” Michele says.

“I’m worried about… will food still be available? If people donate to us now, will they not donate to us later in the year when they normally do?”

“A lot of us live two weeks away from the food pantry line,” Dan adds.` “It’s been more than two weeks.” // Rosalie Murphy is Editor-in-Chief of The Devil Strip. Reach her at rosalie@ thedevilstrip.com.

Above: Photo: The author with Fritz, a dog she once fostered.

Did you adopt a dog during COVID-19?

Here are some tips

by Sandy Maxwell

I

t’s a great time to adopt a new pet!

As people find themselves at home with more time on their hands, pet adoptions are skyrocketing. As a former administrator for a dog rescue, I am both excited and slightly anxious about this news. Are adopters thinking it through?

I’ve heard it countless times: “I’d love to have a pet but I work all day and they’d be alone.” It can be tricky to navigate the needs of a pet around a work schedule, along with everything else that life can throw at you.

With the timeline of a return to normalcy being uncertain, I’m hoping that no one is taking on a new pet as a distraction or to alleviate boredom without considering the long-term responsibility.

Dogs crave structure and leadership. With more people working from and staying at home, it would seem we have all the time in the world to bond with a new pet.

But though we might find our days kind of structureless and free, dogs need a routine for their mental health. Feeding at the same time of day, regular walks and a predictable bedtime are very important for your dog. Even if you’re tired, lethargic or having a tough day, your dog still needs love, attention and playtime.

You’re home… for now. Even the most well-behaved dogs can show signs of stress when things change. Suddenly being left alone during a workday could be borderline traumatic. Your dog doesn’t know where you are! He’s scared and confused. Separation anxiety can cause dogs to present new behaviors. They may bark and howl all day, chew up your couch or floors, and forget their potty training. The stress can cause mental or physical problems.

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Even though you’re at home right now, letting your dog spend some daily time in a crate with a chew toy or treat can be a great way to ease into the possibility of being alone once things change. Teach your dog that the crate is their “special space” where they can relax and feel safe.

Crating should not be used as a “timeout” or punishment. They might not like it at first, but putting in the work now will make it easier in the long run should you need to leave your pet at home for extended periods of time.

The extra expense toys, leashes and other accessories are part of the initial cost of owning a dog. Food is the primary ongoing expense. However, new pet owners have to consider whether they can afford vet bills if a health problem occurs. Genetic health issues can be hidden in puppies, and when you find out your new family member has a chronic condition, the commitment to keeping them well should be honored no matter the cost. Even healthy pets should have regular checkups and be kept up to date on vaccinations! Pet insurance is a great option to consider, and can save you money in the long run.

The love of a pet is one of the greatest joys in life. Being prepared and informed is not only the key to a successful relationship, but it keeps pets from being returned to shelters when things don’t go exactly as planned. Give your furry family member unconditional love and commitment, and you will be rewarded immeasurably! // Sandy Maxwell is the bar manager at Pavona’s Pizza in Northwest Akron.

She loves beer, whiskey, kayaking and pretentiously complicated progressive metal.

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

AKRON HONEY FAMILY IAN FAMILY

12 | The Devil Strip

NEEMA, HARKA, PHUL & LAKPA TAMANG FAMILY

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

FOX, TIBBS, AUTUMN & ZACH BLAND FAMILY Through these two collections of photographs, I’m capturing what the new “normal” means in our community during the coronavirus pandemic. With the Stay-at-Home order put in place by Gov. Mike DeWine, life has changed drastically for many people. Only the Essential businesses remain open, while others are forced to close up shop. While many people are bound to their homes and restructuring their lives, there is a whole workforce out there working to combat this pandemic and serve the community however they are able. — Autumn Bland

Akron Music, Art & Culture

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

Above: The 100-year-old metal shear the Makerspace is using to cut plastic sheeting for face shields.Top right: A completed face shield.

Bottom right: Face shield components. (Photos: Used with permission from Devin Wolfe.)

Akron Makerspace sends face shields to the front lines in Ohio’s coronavirus fight

by Derek Kreider

A

t 541 South Main Street #951 a light will be on through the night and into the morning as the folks of the Akron Makerspace work tirelessly to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak.

“If the people on the front lines are getting sick, they can’t help to fight this.

So we need to keep them as safe as possible,” says Devin Wolfe, president of the Akron Makerspace.

Three crews keep production running from 10 am to 4 am.

After Governor Mike DeWine issued orders for all non-essential businesses to close last month, the Makerspace pivoted from classroom and studio space to a de facto production center for disposable plastic face shields and cloth face masks that medical professionals and other essential personnel require for protection against infection.

While the cloth face masks aren’t rated N-95, meaning they cannot protect the wearer from particles as small as viruses, they are still being provided to essential workers who effectively have nothing in the way of protective equipment. These masks can reduce the likelihood that workers will spread the virus when they sneeze, cough or exhale.

Doctors, nurses, home health aides, and dentist’s offices have reached out

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asking for face shields and masks being developed by the Makerspace.

Currently there’s a worldwide shortage of the plastic used to make the types of face shields that the Makerspace is fabricating. Luckily, a local machine shop had a surplus and provided enough plastic for about 6,000 face shields. The Makerspace already has a crop of them ready.

“Right now we’re sitting on a couple hundred here getting processed, waiting to go out,” says Devin. Before shipping them to their locations, the face shields need to be cleaned and disinfected.

Before production began, there were certain parameters that the creators had to meet. “We had a bunch of different designs and we went to doctors, hospitals, nurses, and the health department, and got approval for a couple of those designs,” Devin says. From prototype to production, the process only took about a week and a half.

The face shields used by medical professionals can provide “another layer of protection that covers masks and entire faces while extending the life of PPE,” according to MIT. Crafting the face shields begins with a hunk of plastic that is shorn down to a workable size. From there, a laser cutter is used to shape the shield itself. The

headbands are made using a 3D printer, but soon that process will be replaced by injection molding, a technique used in manufacturing where molten material is injected into a mold to create parts en masse.

“I can [make] a couple thousand a week with injection molding, whereas I can do a couple hundred a week with 3D printing,” says Devin.

The back of the headband is regular elastic, of which there is currently a global shortage due to its high demand for use in production of PPE. Currently there’s enough elastic at the Makerspace for a couple thousand face shields, and they’re already looking for another source if an alternative can’t be found.

This is not an inexpensive process.

Thankfully, the Burton D. Morgan Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to the Makerspace to aid in their endeavor.

Previously the effort was bankrolled by a mix of crowdfunding and out-of-pocket expenses on behalf of the members.

sources of capital for this project.

The Makerspace itself, while being a hub of activity, is not the only location where these efforts are taking place. The amount of people inside the workshop is limited to 10 because of COVID-19, but there is an additional group of people doing this out of their homes on their own 3D printers. In total there are about 50 people directly involved in the supply chain running through the Makerspace.

Participation in this project can take many forms. Anyone interested should reach out to COVID@AkronMakerSpace.org, and they’ll point you in the right direction. ”We’ll take donations through an online platform. If you want to donate time, we need to figure out where your skill sets lie or what your preferences are so we can kind of push you in that [direction],” Devin says. His team will provide anyone owning their own 3D printer with the program and supplies to craft headbands. Supplies can also be provided to anyone willing to sew face masks.

“We were not waiting for the check,” Devin says. “We’ve already been buying stuff hoping that we would get this grant. And if we didn’t get it we were going to just take the hit financially.”

When asked if there was anything else he thought the public should know Devin replied, “Stay inside, wash your hands, don’t touch your face.”

Now that the grant money has come through, production can increase.

However, the grant only covers so many expenses. Crowdfunding and out-ofpocket spending will continue to be main

// Derek Kreider is a freelance writer and sort-of musician hailing from parts unknown. He manages distribution for The Devil Strip. Reach him at derek@ thedevilstrip.com.

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

SIX FEET: Anna Yoho

words and photos by Ilenia Pezzaniti

A

nna Yoho, 26, is sitting on her porch in Highland Square, drinking a beer with her friend Brandon Craddock who is 25. Her son, Jeremiah, is playing nearby. “I’ve been out of a job since they closed the restaurants. We’re just antsy.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens, to see what people do and how people will respond,” she says.

Anna hasn’t been able to pay rent because of her job loss.

“As far as it goes here, I’m taking care of kids, whoever needs me to. We’re out nhere a lot, just outside at least. [We] go out on walks. I used to serve 50 hours a week and now I’m standing still,” she says.

Anna has had a lot of anxiety surrounding the loss of her job due to the pandemic and walks a lot to quell her nerves. “What else can we do? No

Akron Music, Art & Culture

one has answers. You keep looking at people, plus the government, and everyone’s going, ‘Just sit’ — OK, thanks.

I haven’t sat in nine years, but OK,’” she says.

Anna’s son, Jeremiah, who is six and a half, is making his rounds up and down the porch stairs, chiming in to the conversation sweetly here and there. He’s on the spectrum, Anna explains. Through tears, she tells me, “It’s hard. It’s sad to raise him in this.”

However, she adds, “It is what it is.

There’s worse things it [the pandemic] could do. I’m a stay-at-home mom now,” she said.

When asked how it’s been having his mom home, Jeremiah said it’s been “Perfect. [We] built some puzzles and right now I’m just playing with my cars.”

we’re used to a routine,” Anna said.

Her friend, Brandon, says his life hasn’t changed nearly as much. Not being able to get pizza has been the most he’s been affected by the pandemic. “I do Postmates, and my life is fine right now. My rent’s paid, everything’s good.

But I make music and I couldn’t go into my studio,” he said. The owner of the apartment where his studio is located said they couldn’t have anyone else there besides those who live in the complex.

“It’s not fun, but it’s really not that bad,” Brandon says, and adds that he’s been sleeping a lot better.

“The only time I really got worried is when I went to Walmart and they didn’t have ramen. So like that’s probably the start of the civil unrest, you know what I’m saying? I don’t know how bad this is going to get,” he says.

This series is intended to be as indiscriminate as the COVID-19 virus itself. On March 29, the Akron Beacon Journal reported that 40% to 60% of Ohio residents would eventually be infected. Even those not directly exposed to the virus will and are suffering indirect consequences of our lifetime’s first pandemic. This series is a response to the affect on the community, and a commentary on the resiliency of its people. COVID is exposing many of the hole’s we still have left to patch as a society, and is a reminder of our shared common ground. Everyone’s voice matters. - Ilenia Pezzaniti

Though Anna’s grateful to be with her son, there are adjustments to get used to. “I’m home with him, but it’s just —

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

The last time the U.S. went without sports

by Tim Carroll

B

etween World War I and the Spanish Flu, October 1918 was perhaps the U.S.’s last month without sports — until now.

The United States entered World War I in April 1917. In the spring of 1918, professional baseball players were notified that the government was going to issue a “work or fight” order, forcing men to work in defense industry factories or to join the military.

May 24, 1918: Provost Marshal General Crowder issued a work or fight order for pro baseball, threatening to end the season early. Of National League baseball players, 80% were of draft age, so the order would effectively end the season once it took effect.

The baseball season was forced to end a month early that year. A month after winning a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox, Babe Ruth was working in a Pennsylvania steel mill. On top of that, in the fall of 1918, the U.S. expanded the draft to include all men between the ages of 18 and 45, pulling many additional men out of professional sports.

May 19, 1918: Baseball players are needed in America’s shipyards, navy yards and steel plants to help win World War I. The baseball season may be halted at any time as ball players are asked to do their part in America’s defense plants.

Then, in October 1918 — just a month before the end of the war — the Spanish Flu hit the U.S., cancelling football, and all other sports for the month of October.

Babe Ruth’s steel days were over. He was bedridden with the disease.

All ten, sports cartoons in this article appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1918 and were created by cartoonists Jim Nasium (1874-1958) and Charles Bell (1874-1935).

June 30, 1918: Pro baseball protested the work or fight order, asking that they be considered essential workers like actors and theatrical performers. Shipyard and munition plants attempted to lure players away, offering $200 to $300 per month for pro ball players to play on their semi-pro teams on the weekends while working in the factories or shipyards Monday through Friday.

// Tim Carroll is the author of World War II Akron and World War II Cartoons of Akron’s Web Brown. Purchase Tim’s books at https://www. timcarrollbooks.com/. For speaking engagements, write to timothycarroll27@gmail.com.

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July 28, 1918: Former Cleveland mayor, Secretary of War Newton Baker, delayed the work or fight order for baseball, allowing the season to continue until Sept. 1.

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Special Section: The COVID-19 Pandemic

Aug. 23, 1918: Sports Cartoonist Jim Nasium writes the poem “Our Game” as a tribute to the role baseball played in raising the boys who were then fighting in Europe as the baseball season closed out.

Aug. 25, 1918: Secretary Baker gave the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox immunity from the Sept. 3 work or fight order so they could play each other in the World Series. 1918 was the only year the World Series was played in September.

Sept. 3, 1918: Big League Baseball ended a month early in 1918 due to the work or fight order, which required players to get a defense job or join the military. Hall-of-Famers Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson joined the Army and Tris Speaker of the Cleveland Indians became a Navy aviator. Cleveland star shortstop Ray Chapman starred at halfback on the Naval Reserve football team.

Oct. 5, 1918: The Spanish Flu forced theatres and saloons to close, and college football games started to be cancelled.

Oct. 7, 1918: A month after baseball ended early, the Spanish Flu postponed sports throughout the country. Shipyard sports teams continued to play until the government shut them down 17 days later, on Oct. 24.

Akron Music, Art & Culture

October 28, 1918: The Spanish Flu hit the U.S. hard in the fall of 1918, killing 1,050 soldiers at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe alone. The deadly epidemic had faded by the end of October, however, allowing sports to resume the first weekend of November. World War I ended Nov. 11, 1918. Baseball was back again in the spring of 1919.

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VISIT MUSTARDSEEDMARKET.COM/CURBSIDE

TO LEARN MORE

Gazing by Taylor Clapp

YOUTH CHALLENGE

Art to brave the waiting! #SACreativeCommUNITY

20 20 855-97-QUACK • AKRONRUBBERDUCKS.COM

Akron Arts & Culture

Local history, food, Writing & more

TRI-ACRES words by Mark Schweitzer photos by Charlotte Gintert

T

he best thing about this month’s Vintage Structure is that it can actually be yours… for the sale price of $1.7 million.

For that, you get an enormous GeorgianRevival mansion with more than 17,000 square feet of living space, more than 3.5 acres of park-like grounds just outside Highland Square and a listing status on the National Register of Historic Places.

Called Tri-Acre on its National Register application but Tri-Acres on its real estate listing, this high-profile Akron mansion was originally built in 1913 for C.W. Seiberling, Frank Seiberling’s brother and a co-founder of Goodyear. Though decidedly smaller than his brother Frank’s huge home just a mile north, Charles’s house is still one of Akron’s largest, featuring 37 rooms, 12 fireplaces and space for a ballroom in the third-floor attic. The architect for the mansion was Edward S. Childs, who was based in New York City.

Company and the Thomas Phillips Company, which made flour sacks; and he was a director for both Citizens Savings and Loan and the MacedoniaNorthfield Banking Company. In addition, he founded the Akron Community Chest and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the University Club, the Rotary Club, the University of Akron Endowment Association and other groups. He was a trustee of another halfdozen charitable organizations.

In other words, Charles Seiberling was a busy guy who gave a lot of his time to worthy causes — a man who one local history editor noted “has been called the most popular Akronite… known to more Akron people than any other man in the city.”

Both homes were being built just as the brothers were starting to create a model community for their employees in Goodyear Heights on the other side of town. Like many other prominent Akron industrialists, Charles and Frank were putting down roots in this fashionable section of West Akron, a relatively quiet area that was far from the soot and smoke of their booming rubber factories.

In 1913, it was practically on the edge of town.

While Tudor-Revival houses were among the most popular styles being built at the time — and the choice of his brother Frank — Charles opted for a more formal Georgian-Revival style, built in rich red brick and featuring all the classical details commonly found in that architectural style. The symmetrically balanced facade is formal and stately, with large, multi-pane double sash windows and a central entry portico with multiple pilasters and columns. Other elements common to the style are in evidence here as well, including a boxed cornice with dentil molding, well-detailed dormers in the third story and a formal rooftop balustrade running between two tall chimneys.

While best known as a co-founder of Goodyear, Charles was busy on many fronts. After losing control of Goodyear in 1921, he and his brother went on to found Seiberling Rubber, where he served until his death in 1946. He also served as president of Seiberling Latex Products

Inside, the home features many wonderful details, including customplastered ceilings, hand-carved woodwork and fireplace mantels, and a wide range of exotic hardwoods throughout. Visitors enter the home via an impressive three-story foyer, with

Akron Music, Art & Culture

a grand staircase that wraps its way upward. Behind all the incredible detail, the home’s construction is substantial— exactly what you’d expect for a house this large. Masonry construction, supported by large steel girders and a slate stone roof, meant that the house was built to stand for generations.

As nice as it was, Charles only lived in the home until 1922, when he sold it to another one of Akron’s leading citizens and co-founder of O’Neil’s Department Stores, Michael O’Neil. In 1927, O’Neil passed and the estate gave the house to the Maryknoll Brotherhood, a Catholic teaching order, which used it as a junior seminary. In 1953, the property was purchased by Unity Church, which used the building for operations and services throughout the next four decades.

In 1988, Robert Warther, president of Warther Financial Group, purchased the property and made the decision to restore the mansion and use it as a base for his business. The challenge was considerable

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— some elements had been damaged over the years, a garden pool had been covered by a parking lot, woodwork had been covered in paint and some rooms had been hastily converted to commercial uses.

Today, with many of its best features thoughtfully restored and mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing, electric) fully updated, this stately Akron home is ready to serve as a residential property, a commercial office space, or both. Here’s hoping the next owner will be another great steward of Akron history who will help preserve the legacy of Akron’s 20thcentury rubber boom. // Mark Schweitzer is a lifelong Akron resident and proud of it. // Charlotte Gintert is an archaeologist by day and a photographer by sunrise and sunset. You can check out her photos at www.capturedglimpses.com and follow her on Instagram at @capturedglimpses.

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Child asthma

impacts thousands of Akron kids

by Noor Hindi Above: Illustration by Chris Harvey. Not based on the likeness of the subjects in this story.

D

wight Slater describes his 13-yearold son’s asthma attack as one of the most terrifying moments of his life. In the middle of the night, Dwight could hear Mikhail gasping for breath, later turning blue as Dwight rushed to dial 911. For about 30 seconds, Mikhail stopped breathing.

“It was the longest 30 seconds of my life,” Dwight says. “[Mikhail] was really scared.”

Mikhail spent three days in the hospital, and that wasn’t the first time his life was interrupted as a consequence of his severe asthma attacks. In November 2018, Mikhail had an asthma attack at school and spent the day in the hospital after being transported by an ambulance.

After this incident, Mikhail was placed on Akron Children’s Hospital asthma registry list, which includes 30,000 other children between the ages of 2 and 18 from Summit County and beyond. Of those 30,000 kids, about half are considered high risk, including Mikhail.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation

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of America (AAFA) has named 20 U.S. cities “asthma capitals,” or particularly challenging places to live if you have asthma. Five Ohio cities are on the list: Akron, Dayton, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. Akron is ranked 14 out of 20.

On par with national averages, Black residents of Akron are twice as likely to die from asthma as white residents, and in Ohio, Black children are more likely to have asthma than white children. This is due to poor social determinants of health, like living next to a freeway or other pollution source, living in an older home, or not having health insurance.

Sam Rubens, Summit County Public Health’s manager of air quality and solid waste, says living next to a highway, which contributes to so much air pollution, is a big reason why Ohio’s numbers are so high.

Dr. Cooper White, director of the Locust Pediatric Care Group at Akron Children’s Hospital, says respiratory viruses like the flu during Ohio’s winters cause an asthma burden for many kids.

“We always see huge bumps in our asthma frequency [during the winter],” he says. “There are socioeconomic factors, too. If you live in poverty and in inner-city areas, you’re much more likely to have asthma. These factors tend to be relevant in cities like ours.”

Rubens argues that the numbers in Ohio are especially high because our cities have “really good hospital systems,” making people more likely to utilize them, which drives up numbers simply because Ohio would have more data than states with inferior hospital systems.

Statistics from the AAFA support Rubens’ argument. All five Ohio cities on the list are ranked worse than average for ER visits for asthma but are average for the number of deaths and estimated asthma prevalence. No Ohio cities are ranked better than average in any marking.

ASTHMA CAUSES SCHOOL ABSENCES, LIMITED SOCIAL ACTIVITY For the majority of kids living with asthma, Dr. White says their asthma does not severely impact their lives, and

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dying from asthma is rare. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2007, of the roughly 250,000 children with asthma in the U.S., 10 of them died.

This is not to underscore the severity of living with asthma.

“You can go weeks without eating. You can go days without drinking. But try and hold your breath for more than two minutes and it’s all over,” Rubens says.

Dr. White also says most kids have mild, intermittent asthma that requires occasional use of an inhaler. But for some kids, it can negatively affect their lives in big ways, causing an inability to interact with friends and attend school.

“For the ones that are more affected with persistent asthma that’s not well controlled, oftentimes they have a chronic cough. There’s always that feeling in your lungs that you’re not well,” Dr. White says. “And nighttime cough, in particular, is a problem because it interferes with sleep. The ability to participate fully in life can also be impaired. These are the kids

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School absenteeism is a big issue for children with asthma. According to the CDC, low-income populations, minorities and children living in inner-city areas are more likely to be hospitalized due to asthma, interrupting their learning.

Additionally, a study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that asthma is associated with more than 10 milled missed school days annually. The study links this data with “lower academic performance, especially among urban minority youth.”

Michele Wilmoth, director of nursing for the school health programs at Akron Children’s Hospital says during the 20182019 school year, school nurses had to use their emergency stock inhalers 50 times. The numbers grew to 74 times during the 2019-2020 school year.

The emergency stock inhaler program was implemented in 2017. Before this, EMS would immediately be called, and the child having an asthma attack would be taken to an emergency department.

These numbers are taken from the roughly 300 schools Akron Children’s Hospital works with in Akron and neighboring cities.

The program has helped APS and Akron Children’s Hospital track high-risk asthma students, get them the help they need, and ensure the student stays in school.

who tire easily on the soccer field. And they have to take breaks and recover to fully participate.”

Kent State University student Allison Erin Cooper grew up with severe asthma.

While it was mostly exercise-induced, it was especially triggered in the winter months and hindered her ability to play sports.

“I played soccer but I was a goalie because I couldn’t run, so that kind of sucked. I played softball but that really doesn’t include a lot of running.

I was mostly in the outfield,” she says.

“I couldn’t keep up with my friends. I couldn’t run around with my cousins or else I’d start wheezing.”

For Allison, her asthma attacks were often coupled with anxiety attacks, worsening symptoms.

“It happens so fast,” she says.

“Everything closes up and you’re just gasping. It kind of feels like you’re drowning. Your chest gets tight and it hurts, and you start crying and then you start freaking out.”

Akron Music, Art & Culture

“I always think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,” Wilmoth says. “If you’re hungry, if you need medical care, you can’t breathe adequately, you’re not going to be able to get your academic potential met.”

For each missed school day, parents are also impacted because they’re missing work to care for the child.

“If you can’t breathe, you can’t learn. You can’t learn to your fullest potential. And if your child has asthma, they’re not going to school, they’re going to the hospital.

You’re not going to work, you’re going to the hospital,” Rubens says.

ASTHMA TRIGGERS LURK IN AKRON HOMES Though doctors can prescribe medicine and reduce the risk of asthma, if at-home triggers aren’t removed, a child’s life can continue to be interrupted. These triggers can include smoking, pets, dust trapped in carpet, and mold.

In 2018, Summit County Public Health, Akron Children’s Hospital and Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA)

partnered and launched the Managing Asthma Triggers at Home (MATH) program. The three institutions work together to identify high-risk asthma patients who they define as a child who has been hospitalized for asthma twice in one year, visited an emergency department three times a year, or intubated for asthma, among other criteria.

Once identified, the program does an assessment of an enrolled family’s house to locate asthma triggers, then provides the household with a vacuum cleaner, asthma-friendly bed and pillow bags, a dehumidifier and a HEPA unit, which purifies the air. Each quarter, they do an asthma control test at the house to test air quality and mold. They also provide education to the family to help manage asthma triggers at home. For example, they show the family how to change their furnace filter to prevent dirt and dust from building up.

“There are things that are evidence-based interventions, but if you’re just moving through life and all of a sudden your kid has this really bad, easily triggered asthma, that’s not the first thing on your mind,” Rubens says.

The program is free and has a total of 80 families enrolled. It lasts for one year, and Dr. White says the program is saving the city money by reducing hospital utilization.

Many of the families in the program are housed through AMHA’s voucher program. AMHA director Brian Gage says they specifically chose families in the voucher program because AMHA houses already have a preventative maintenance program. They’re smoke-free, they regularly change air filters and they’ve removed carpeting.

Since being part of the program, Mikhail’s asthma has improved. In the past, Dwight says Mikhail’s asthma was a source of anxiety and fear. Mikhail was also missing about a week of school each year due to his asthma. Today, he doesn’t miss any school.

“He’s pretty much equipped with everything he needs to keep dust and pollen outside the home,” Dwight, his father, says. “He’s an honor roll, merit roll student. He doesn’t think about his asthma too much anymore.” // Noor Hindi is The Devil Strip’s Senior Reporter. Email her at noor@thedevilstrip. com.

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

Thedevilstrip.com/co-op

Artwork at right: Two scenes designed from items that Akron Public Schools kindergarten and first-grade students found near their homes. Used with permission from art teacher Pam McElhaney.

Above poem, published by the University of Akron Press: “On Southern Summer Ghosts” appears in Witch Doctrine by Annah Browning.

Browning is the author of a chapbook, The Marriage (Horse Less Press, 2013) and poetry editor and cofounder of Grimoire Magazine. Her poetry has appeared in Indiana Review, Black Warrior Review, Willow Springs, Boulevard, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA from Washington University in St. Louis and her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Right poem, published by the University of Akron Press: “from Lost Song” appears in Quite Apart by Krystal Languell. Languell lives in Chicago, where she works for the Poetry Foundation. Her previous books are Call the Catastrophists (BlazeVox, 2011) and Gray Market (1913 Press, 2016). She has also published six chapbooks, including Be a Dead Girl (Argos Books, 2014) and Archive Theft, a collection of interviews, (Essay Press, 2015).

22 | The Devil Strip

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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‘Better, cheaper and cleaner’ words and photos by Derek Kreider

I

n 2008, Teresa Mazey was driving a truck. Now, 12 years later, she’s operating her own business with three locations. Teresa is the founder of Empty Bin Zero Waste, a company that makes and sells reusable housewares meant to replace single-use products.

Empty Bin Zero Waste is more than a retail outlet. It’s a way of life Teresa is trying to pass along.

“I’m really trying to get people to start homesteading, start getting away from the need for large corporations. We can do everything they can do better, cheaper and cleaner,” Teresa says.

Beeswax wraps replace shrink wrap.

Hand-sewn sandwich bags replace their plastic counterparts. Teresa even sells her own blend of laundry detergent.

To facilitate people’s interest in getting out from under the thumb of large companies and corporations that pollute, Teresa sells a DIY recipe book with instructions on how to make common household items like shaving cream or oven cleaner.

“At our store in Canton, we have a bunch of bulk items,” she says. “People can get all the ingredients they need to make their own lip balm, or make their own shampoo.”

For those disinclined to take the time to make these things themselves, there are scores of already-made items for sale at the Empty Bin Zero Waste flagship store in Canton, as well as a storefront at Northside Marketplace in Akron and Alley Cats Marketplace in New Philadelphia.

Shampoo bars, lip balm and wax wraps can all be had for reasonable prices, and they’re made using ecologically friendly and sustainable methods. The only

location carrying bulk items is the store in Canton because of space constraints at the two other stores.

lifestyle seems daunting, but there are a few relatively small steps people can take in the beginning that will make a world of difference.

Teresa’s commitment to the Empty Bin Zero Waste ethos means that one of her biggest struggles is finding other zero-waste companies to work with that adhere to the guidelines she’s set for her own business. According to Teresa it’s almost impossible to find companies that source the materials she needs that aren’t packaged in ways that are harmful to the environment.

“I always tell people to start with bags, ‘cause that’s the easiest thing,” Teresa says. “Start always remembering your bag when you go grocery shopping, and if you forget it, just don’t use a bag.

When it’s 30 degrees and you gotta load everything individually into your car, you’ll start remembering.

“If you order stuff from another zerowaste store, why do they send it to you in a [plastic] bag?” Teresa asks. Even biodegradable packing peanuts are anathema to her mission because, while they might be biodegradable, they aren’t backyard compostable — thus creating more waste.

“The second best [thing to do] is bringing a drink with you in a reusable cup so that you’re not using a disposable cup,” Teresa says.

“I don’t know if I’m, like, over-thetop, but it’s what I believe in and I want complete transparency with my customers,” she says.

Overcoming that dichotomy can be frustrating, but Empty Bin Zero Waste’s customers keep Teresa dedicated to her goal. The reaction to her business is the antithesis of negativity. “I’ve had people come in and cry because they were so happy that somebody opened something [like this],” Teresa says.

Aside from being a retail outlet, Empty Bin Zero Waste’s physical stores act as incubators for conversations about living an eco-friendly lifestyle. “I get families in there, right, and one will be laughing about something like, ‘That’s absolutely ridiculous,’ and then the kid will be like ‘No, it has to happen because of this, this, and this,” Teresa says. “They’ll have a whole discussion.”

Starting down the path of a zero-waste

But the key to sustaining the lifestyle is easing into it. “Master one thing, get comfortable with it, and then move on,” Teresa says.

Perhaps surprisingly, Teresa advocates for improvising before buying. “Always use what you have at home before you buy anything. I’m a retail company, straight up just selling that. You do not need to buy what I have, you can make it,” she says. “You can cut up a T-shirt and that gives you hankies, that gives you paper towels.” If you get creative, you’d be surprised what you don’t need to buy.

Certainly there’s the larger ecological impact to consider, but there’s also the economic impact on the individual. The laundry detergent that Teresa has been making for five years cost roughly $3 for about 50 loads.

As with so many small businesses, Empty Bin Zero Waste’s operations have been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 26, Empty Bin Zero Waste told its Instagram followers that the business is closed and not currently fulfilling online orders. The post encourages users to

still leave reviews or start a wish list on their website. Those interested in supporting the store while it’s shut down are encouraged to purchase an e-gift card for use when the store reopens.

Unfortunately, there is a note on their website stating that their Northside Marketplace location will be closing permanently in September.

With business temporarily suspended, Teresa is working on making a back stock of items that she sews (handkerchiefs, for example), making some new items and organizing business files. She’s also been doing her part to help out during the emergency.

“I donated a bunch of fabric, elastic and wire to others that are making face masks,” she says.

That she would donate her supplies to those working to keep others safe is no surprise. Empty Bin Zero Waste’s dedication to doing good is best summed up by the founder herself: “I’m just doing what I’m passionate about and trying to make a difference,” Teresa says. “If that means that someone uses a [reusable] bag instead of a plastic bag, then it’s a win.”

Learn more about the company’s products at emptybinzerowaste.com. // Derek Kreider is a writer and sometimes musician, as well as The Devil Strip’s distribution manager. Reach him at derek@thedevilstrip.com.

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Graphic novel depicts lives of four Kent State students killed during protests in 1970

by Lauren Dangel

W

e have heard the names, read the newspaper clippings and listened to that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young guitar riff. Many Northeast Ohioans have even seen the bullet holes in campus sculptures up close. However, the complexity of the lives underneath the surface of a 50-year-old narrative has been far less visible.

On May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on a crowd of unarmed students at Kent State University during a protest of the American invasion of Cambodia. They killed four students in the process.

Acclaimed graphic novelist Derf Backderf puts the focus on the four lives cut short in the first graphic narrative depiction of this tragedy, “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio.”

The book comes out Sept. 7, its release delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I spoke with Backderf about his research process and his goal in telling this story.

Backderf first learned of the shooting as a 10-year-old Akron Beacon Journal paperboy, and the story has resonated with him ever since.

He follows each of the four students, switching between their perspectives, from May 1 to 4, depicting their frustrations and hopes, and he puts a human background to the well-known list of casualties. Backderf begins his graphic novel with his own eyewitness account of Ohio National Guard presence in his hometown of Richfield. He then follows these same guardsmen along with the four students over the course of the first four days of May 1970.

However, Backderf puts the lives of William Schroeder, Allison Krause, Sandra Scheuer and Jeffrey Miller at the center.

The reader gets a sense of each student’s personality, goals, fears, and especially, their sentiment toward the National Guard’s presence in Kent.

Periodically, Backderf provides context for certain groups, events, individuals and other factors that impacted Kent State’s political climate and the May 4 shooting.

For example, he addresses the evolution of influence of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on antiwar sentiment on college campuses, the mindsets and decisions of state government leaders, and the planting of FBI informants on

24 | The Devil Strip

Kent State’s campus.

can learn from it, too.

Significantly, he does not hesitate to call out intentional misinformation from those in power. When Backderf acknowledges legitimate uncertainty and calls attention to lies from authority figures, he provides an exceptionally effective lens through which to remember these events and learn more about them. He highlights the differences among 20-somethings of the time, rather than portraying college students as united for one cause.

“It’s my belief that we’ve kind of circled right back around to 1970, in terms of rancor, in terms of divisive politics, in terms of ‘us versus them,’ and it seems like we’ve learned absolutely nothing on that journey,” Backderf says. “It’s my fear that we’re very close to another May 4. All that’s lacking right now in this country is people taking to the streets… Now the fight is all taking place online.”

The book provides an impactful display of a miscarriage of justice, and Backderf holds nothing back in depicting the friction between guardsmen and students and the brutality of the violence.

What meant most to Backderf as he learned about the four students’ lives, he says, was “just what remarkable kids they were. I mean, all four of them were just these amazing people who would’ve gone on to do, I think, pretty significant things. And that’s the real tragedy of the story — is what we lost, as a society.

There are so many assholes in the world; we can’t afford to lose the good ones, and we lost four good ones.”

Backderf committed to an extensive research process to tell this story faithfully.

He gained perspectives from all angles of the story, on both sides of the rifles and beneath the surface of the narrative that has been visible for 50 years. Backderf interviewed witnesses to the shootings and people who knew the four who were killed. He also consulted Kent State University archives during his research process. Backderf explained he found the account of an unnamed guardsman particularly surprising. “The guardsman account was surprising in its bluntness,” Backderf says. “I mean, he describes these acts of brutality that [are] hard to justify in any way. I mean, bayoneting some 20-year-old girl in the back, that’s pretty hard to come up with an excuse for” — and yet, he says the guardsman revealed this with surprising confidence.

In 2020, youth activism is still visible. Media consumers hear from environmental activists such as Greta Thunberg and voices of support for gun control such as the Parkland shooting survivors. However, the critics of these and similar figures, some old enough to be their parents or grandparents are about as visible. I asked Backderf what the youth of today can learn from the story of May 4, and what their skeptics

He adds, “The big lesson of May 4 is that when you threaten, truly threaten, the people in power, the price of dissent can be bitterly high.”

As for the criticism of youth activism, Backderf says, “I don’t know that skeptics ever learn anything. That formula seems to be the same.”

A half century on from tragedy, Taylor Hall now houses Kent State’s School of Communication Studies, of which I am a proud alumna. The power and presence of the events of May 4 were undeniable during each walk to class during my time at the university.

The thought that these were students looking ahead from their 20s with a mix of hope and fear, just like me, was especially impactful when I would walk to my favorite class of my time at Kent State: Freedom of Speech in the United States.

Backderf captures this punch to the gut in a faithful and blunt depiction. He pays tribute to distinct lives full of passion, hope and fear, not just a list of four victims.

To read “Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio,” call your local bookstore or

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

the Akron-Summit County Public Library. The book is also available for purchase via publisher Abrams Books and on Amazon. // Lauren Dangel is a digital content writer and proud Kent State University graduate.

She is also a football and hockey contributor for SB Nation’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish blog, One Foot Down.

Images: Used with permission from Derf Backderf.

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‘Finding inspiration even in the smallest places’

by Colleen Hanke

E

veryone needs a creative outlet.

Some people knit, some people paint, Kate Starks dances with flaming hula hoops.

Kate founded Corners of Creation in 2016 in the hopes of inspiring others the way she was inspired to learn fire dancing. She saw a fire dancer perform and was enraptured with the art. Then, she was determined to learn how to do it.

“I remember watching a group of people do it for the first time and I was just so incredibly inspired by the joy on their face, and just the act of being so fully involved in what they were doing, that I was like, ‘I need to learn how to do that!’” Kate says.

After a few years of training and learning about performing, Kate decided to bring together performers she had met and Corners of Creation was born.

“I thought, you know, there’s a lot of us here that have all the goofy, fun skills, and we just have something that we can contribute to make people happy and inspire them,” Kate says.

Kate and one of her fellow performers came up with the name for the company

Akron Music, Art & Culture

together.

“Corners of Creation came from the idea that there can be inspiration found even in the smallest places, even if you don’t really notice it,” Kate says. “There’s inspiration everywhere, whether it be from nature, from your friends, from a movie that you watched. I mean, everything comes together for you to be able to create. It’s just limitless.”

Kate’s favorite trick to perform is a multi-hoop balancing act. She goes from standing to lying down and back again while balancing a hoop on her head and twirling more hoops on her arms.

“I just really like trying to push my limits and boundaries to create the wow factor for events,” Kate says.

Kate does performances with her hoops, but she also does a few different kinds of fire dance.

“I also do fire dance, which comes in many forms — juggling, movement with fans, staffs, even poi. Poi is pretty common in a lot of movies… people in the background doing some fire dancing, some Polynesian-style dance. I’ll do a lot of that. The thing that’s great about

fire performing is that there are so many different props that can be wicked and set on fire!” Kate says. “I’ve seen the absolutely silliest things. From a giant fork with a wick on it to something like torches or rings or things like that. It’s really creative what people can engineer.”

Safety comes first for Corners of Creation.

There is always a fire department official on site when fire acts are being performed. Kate highlights the importance of safe handling of fire props and proper costuming.

“When we spin fire and perform with fire, we are very cautious about the clothing, the material that we wear. It would always be natural fibers. Our performance costuming would consist of anywhere from cotton, wool, silk, things like that, as opposed to synthetic fibers, possibly rayon… or polyester, that’s another one that’s a no-no for us,” Kate says. “The reason being, if you should accidentally catch on something that’s natural fiber, it’s something that you can just pat out and the material itself would ash if it were to continue to burn. But it’s something that you can catch really fast if it should happen.”

variety of events, from music festivals to birthday parties to corporate events. The performers will dress up in costumes to match whatever aesthetic that the client requests.

“We essentially will do any theme that a client is looking for. So we can even do things like princess parties if somebody was interested in that,” Kate says. “And also even for like corporate events, if somebody was interested in having character actors to greet guests at their event or serve champagne and things like that. Kind of engage in shenanigans with people and make them laugh and add to the experience of the event.”

If you’re looking to add a little fire and fun to your next event, Corners of Creation will be ready to make your party a success.

Learn more about Corners of Creation at cornersofcreationarts.com. // Colleen Hanke is a senior at The University of Akron.

Photos: Used with permission from Kate Starks. Kate is pictured at left.

Corners of Creation performs at a

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

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| 25

Luca’s New York Style Pizza words and photos by Bailey Lack Akron Pizza Task Force

T

his month the Akron Pizza Task Force did it a little differently, quarantinestyle, at Luca’s New York Style Pizza.

If you are looking for that classic, thincrust, greasy large slice of New York-style pizza, Luca’s is your place. Luca’s is one of the only places in Akron that serves handtossed New York style pizza. That includes homemade dough and sauce that is made fresh daily. Luca’s also offers calzones, stromboli, cheese steaks and subs.

Although I was unable to get the full experience of a sit-down meal at Luca’s due to COVID-19 regulations, we were still able to pick our meal to go, and Luca’s also offers delivery options.

Pizza Breakdown

Crust: Luca’s offers only New York-style thin crust. I was pleasantly surprised by their crust. Typically, I am the person who

leaves their crust on the plate, but the garlicky flavor and airy texture kept me happy enough to finish the whole piece.

Sauce: Although Luca’s offers specialty pizzas such as Buffalo Wing, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and White Pizza, we stuck with tasting the traditional pizza. This included a wonderfully seasoned red sauce that had different tones of herbs without being overpowering.

Toppings: Because we were stuck inside, we were craving comfort. We stuck with the traditional cheese pizza with pepperoni. The pepperoni we had seemed fresh and of the right proportion. Luca’s offers all varieties of toppings as well as specific specialty pizzas.

Leftovers: Get ready, because it is likely you will have some. I heated mine up in the oven. The taste and texture of course were slightly soggy, but I still enjoyed the flavor!

The Final Slice Cheese Pull: The cheese at Luca’s tasted very good, but the cheese pull was not great. $$$: Pizza at Luca’s is on the pricier side, but the portion size of the pizza is not disappointing. The smallest cheese pizza is 14” at $10.49, a 16” medium is $12.49, an 18” large is $14, and a 25” extra-large is $25. Extra cheese and additional toppings cost extra.

Atmosphere: Luca’s offers both dine-in and carry-out options. However, due to the circumstances, we were not allowed to dine in. The one complaint I had was how small the parking lot was. We ordered on a Friday night, a busy pizza night, and there were only 3 available spaces to park your car for the workers to come bring it out to the customer.

Pizzazio’s words and photos by Jacob Farrar Akron Pizza Task Force

I

f it wasn’t for Gov. Mike DeWine’s mandate to limit restaurants to take-out and delivery only, and my family’s desire to support some of our local restaurants, I am not sure I would have taken the chance to try Pizzazio’s in Wadsworth.

While I appreciate a good pizza and want to support small business, I have a house of very picky eaters and semi-pro pizza snobs — just in the wrong way. And what I mean is, if it’s not pizza from a specific pizza chain (which will go nameless), they won’t eat it. Weird kids.

Since I live in Wadsworth, I decided to order from the top-rated pizza place in town — a decision I did not regret.

Pizza Breakdown Crust: The first thing to notice is that Pizzazio’s is not for thin crust fanatics. The crust is nice and “bready.” In fact, I would almost classify it as a thick-crust pizza. The bread-like texture was a great foundation for the pizza we ordered, the Pepperoni Melt. With multiple layers of pepperoni and cheese, a thin-crust pizza would

26 | The Devil Strip

I thought there could have been more pepperoni on the pizza.

cower under the weight of the tasty goodness on top. You definitely need a thick crust for this pizza.

Sauce: The sauce on the Pepperoni Melt pizza did exactly what pizza sauce is supposed to do — not be the star of the show and not detract from the other elements of the pie. If the sauce isn’t tasty, it ruins the pizza. But if it overpowers the crust and the toppings, that is no good either. The sauce was just there to be the sauce — an equal member of the holy trinity of pizza (dough, cheese and sauce). Pizzazio’s touts that the quality of the sauce is rooted in the quality of the fresh tomatoes they get from California.

Toppings: One thing you will notice when ordering Pizzazio’s is the mix of traditional pizza flavors with some not-so traditional, like Taco and Texan (barbecue chicken). We went with the Pepperoni Melt. While my favorite pizza is barbecue chicken, I needed to appease the entire household with a more traditional flavor.

The Pepperoni Melt features multiple layers of pepperoni and a mixture of both mozzarella and provolone cheese, also with multiple layers. While the amount of cheese was exactly what I expected,

The Final Slice Cheese Pull: As I mentioned earlier, the cheese on the pizza we ordered definitely delivered. And with both mozzarella and provolone — you won’t be disappointed. $$$: The pizza selection at Pizzazio’s is reasonably priced. I feel we paid a fair price for what we got. Our small Pepperoni Melt pizza was just under $10, and the specialty pizzas will run you a little more. The small pizza was a 10” that had six slices, perfect for two kids and me.

Takeout/Delivery: If you don’t live in Wadsworth, takeout is the only way you are getting this pizza. The delivery area is basically the town of Wadsworth and there is a $2 delivery charge. Since we live on the outskirts and I needed to leave my house after five straight days indoors, I opted for the pickup.

The pizza was ready when I got there, and I was surprised by how busy they looked. I had this notion in mind that our order would be the only one they had received that day. Not true. They looked very busy, and a delivery person was just getting back as I was leaving.

When I got home, the pizza and the other menu items we ordered were correct and traveled home well. Takeout was not an

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

I had to wait with my blinker on a busy road for several minutes until a space became available. Not a fan.

Pizza: I would definitely order from Luca’s again. I am a fan of the thin New York style. The sauce was incredible with a favorable crust. The pizza is a little on the greasy side, but that’s just one of the qualities of that style of pizza!

Rating: Out of 10 slices, the Akron Pizza Task Force rates this pizza joint 7 slices.

Luca’s New York Style Pizza 3451 Darrow Rd, Stow 330-688-9595 Monday-Wednesday 4-10 pm Thursday-Saturday 11 am-10 pm Sunday 1-9 pm // The Akron Pizza Task Force is made up of students from the Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing at the University of Akron.

issue with this place. We may have to try delivery next time.

Pizza: And yes, there will be a next time.

And we will be sure to order even more items off the large and tasty looking menu. In addition to pizzas, Pizzazio’s also offers burgers, pasta dishes, subs and their “famous” foldover pizzas. The foldover is akin to calzone, just without the sealed edges. All of the same flavors from the specialty pizzas, plus more, are available as foldovers.

Since this was our first experience with Pizzazio’s, I wanted a variety of items. We ordered a couple of subs, a foldover, the small Pepperoni Melt pizza, and my wife insisted on jojos — we are in Akron, after all! Plenty of food for six eaters, and there was some left over for lunch the next day.

And with a large menu with awesome variety, there’s plenty of stuff to choose from so you don’t get bored during the Stay-At-Home order from our governor.

Rating: Out of 10 slices, the Akron Pizza Task Force rates this pizzeria a solid 8.5.

Pizzazio’s 157 Broad, Wadsworth 330-336-1600 Sunday-Thursday 10:30 am-9 pm Friday-Saturday 10:30 am-10:30 pm // Jacob Farrar is the director of the Taylor Institute for Direct Marketing at the University of Akron, whose students make up the Akron Pizza Task Force.

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The Back of the Book

Passing the mic to more Akron voices

Left: Visitors use a track chair to explore the backcountry at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. (Photo: Used with permission from Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.)

Right: Colleen Unsworth demonstrates a device to study animal movement in the University of Akron’s biomechanics lab. The surface lights up when touched.

(Photo: NPS/Arrye Rosser.)

scientific research toward innovation.

I’m a really hands-on person who likes to build and design . . . (and) I have an intense desire to help people,” Colleen says.

Crooked River Reflections IMPROVING ACCESS TO NATURE

by Arrye Rosser Cuyahoga Valley National Park

A

bout an hour into my conversation with Colleen Unsworth, it dawned on me that we are approaching the same challenge using an entirely different set of skills. Our common interest is in helping people with disabilities experience nature as independently as possible. We both have science backgrounds but have gravitated toward an interdisciplinary field with opportunities for creativity and practical problem-solving.

Beyond that, our points of view diverge.

I’m a communicator. When COVID-19 does not have Ohio homebound, my office is in a small historic building that looks out on floodplain forest and the tracks of a scenic railroad. My duties at Cuyahoga Valley National Park include serving as the accessibility coordinator.

I’ve been wrestling with how to ensure that the most important park experiences and stories are available to all visitors, regardless of ability. Recently this work has included editing an audio description script, developing tactile exhibits, inspecting assistive listening devices, setting up a dual-screen communication device at a new visitor center, supervising interns in gathering trail accessibility data, distributing a new Braille brochure, and writing alt text for website images.

Colleen usually works in a laboratory in the heart of the University of Akron.

Strange, unfamiliar objects are scattered

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about. She is a Ph.D. student researching biomechanics and biomimicry with bioinspired robotics expert Dr. Henry Astley.

Colleen is particularly interested in how “elongate” (that is, worm-shaped) animals move over uneven surfaces and “how animal feet support load under dynamic conditions.” This research is informing new designs for all-terrain mobility aids. (My imagination quickly goes to seniors slithering through boulder fields in superhero-like snake suits. No.) During the next two years, Colleen’s team plans to prototype a chair, a walker and a cane that can handle the obstacles of everyday life. This includes curbs, ramps, narrow spaces and surfaces such as sand and dirt. Along a trail, this could be rocks and tree roots as tall as about 8 inches.

This passion stems from Colleen’s experiences as a counselor and caretaker at a camp for adults and children with disabilities. Both of her parents have disabilities. “I want to help people in need, specifically people who have limited access to resources and opportunities that many of us take for granted each day,” she says.

Colleen patiently explains that biomechanics is essentially the physics of biological systems, a topic I’ve never considered. The biomimicry part is about applying design solutions found in nature to address human problems.

“I knew I wanted to study biomimicry when I learned how directly it drives

To help explain her prototype, Colleen shows me a close-up video of a large, spotted snake and chunky brown millipede moving through a research chamber. The legless reptile and “thousand-footed” invertebrate are on distant branches of the family tree, but they have similar shapes.

One of the appeals of biomimicry is that evolution favors stripped-down, efficient solutions. Traditional engineering tends to add bells and whistles. In a mobility aid, that can mean extra weight, bulk, rigidity and cost. Most only work well on firm, even surfaces. Colleen, on the other hand, plans to create sleek devices that are cheaper and more sustainable because they use fewer materials and are more energy-efficient. She is looking for the right balance between rigidity for support and shock absorbance for comfort.

But she cannot tell me too much — or name her study animal — until copyright protections are in place.

In the fall, Colleen’s start-up was registered as an Ohio limited liability company. It is called Natraverse, combining “nature” and “traverse.”

Natraverse is on track to file its first provisional patent and is looking for funding and partners to fabricate its prototypes. (It is at this point that I must add that the National Park Service does not endorse particular products or businesses.)

There are alternatives already on the market. A park volunteer recently suggested that I look into an accessibility device provided by a sister park in Michigan. At Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, people with limited mobility can reserve a track chair to climb the unpaved Bay View Trail to a scenic overlook. This heavy-duty chair

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has caterpillar treads and is operated by a joystick. A volunteer host explains the controls and hikes along as a safety precaution.

Jeanne Esch and Kathy Tuckerman, who manage the program for the park friends’ group, served more than 70 children and adults in their first season. Because of the demand, they just announced the purchase of a second track chair. This equipment requires a locked trailer and electricity at the trailhead to recharge its batteries between uses. A one-chair setup costs about $18,000 to $20,000, plus staff time.

The National Park Service cannot charge a fee for any accessibility aids that we provide, so we typically write grants to support this type of service.

Not all mobility aids are allowed in national parks, however. For example, you cannot use a Segway because they are considered motorized vehicles. In September, Cuyahoga Valley hosted the Department of Interior’s announcement of a policy change: E-bikes, which require pedaling, are not considered motorized vehicles. Park superintendents can approve the use of Class I and II models on trails that allow traditional bicycles.

At Cuyahoga Valley, you can e-bike on the Towpath and the Bike & Hike trails, but not on mountain bike trails (per Ohio law).

At heart, accessibility is a civil rights issue.

In the big picture, these collective efforts result in more personal choice, more independence, and more equity. This impacts many individuals and their loved ones. Exploring the boundaries—and the future—of this field is an adventure in itself.

Are you or a loved one unsure about visiting Cuyahoga Valley National Park because of a mental or physical condition? Ranger Arrye Rosser, the park’s accessibility coordinator, can help you plan a great trip. Contact her at arrye_rosser@nps.gov for advice tailored to your interests.

The Devil Strip |

27

Sober Chronicles with Marc Lee Shannon

VOLUME 11: STOP RESISTING

I

’ll admit that I am a little out of whack. Out of phase. Not sure what’s happening lately to me.

My pre-COVID-19 routine is now a faint sense of something, like a daydream or a grainy 8-millimeter home movie.

It’s like a yearbook or a box of photos on the top shelf of the bedroom closet, and although I see that person I used to be, I don’t quite recognize or connect.

Now everything is so very changed, so different, and I have the nagging feeling that what I used to know is never going to be the same. My premonition is that what was my pre-pandemic normal-ish, kinda cool life… is gone.

still using the same approach to sell their stuff? Really? All I want to know is if or when it will rain today and when I can escape for my daily salvation and respite of sanity: The daily walk.

Taking a deep breath and a pause to reflect, I’m thinking back to my time in the corporate arena. Years ago there was a popular phrase used in the business team-building community: Paradigm shift. “An important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way,” according to Webster.

Six weeks ago, I would wake up early and start the day in my house with a quiet meditation vibe. Set the scene with soft low lights, a candle or some incense from my travels in Japan all those years ago.

There would be sounds of Zen music from Amazon Music on the too-large rectangular dream-giver in my living room and a dog at the back door. With the predicative constant like the ringing of a 6 am daily alarm, my best friend’s nose would be in the crack of the door jamb, tail wagging and morning intention clearly set. Like mine.

That’s pretty much the deal around my pad, my life, my whole world.

I used to love to turn on the morning local news with my first ultra-strong coffee with stevia and soy vanilla creamer.

Yesterday I sat on my bed with a bittertasting instant blend, black. That guy with the furniture warehouse commercials is driving me nuts. I don’t care about the lowest prices, guaranteed. Also, I don’t want a new freaking car. Even if you will personally deliver it and with the deepest of caring for my concern, delay the payments for several months.

Deep exhale. OK, I’m better.

of the fast-moving stream. Just float. Do not resist. Change has happened, and you and your ego, your pride and your desire to rescue the world, the universe and the City of Cuyahoga Falls are powerless.

You must live in this moment.

Take every opportunity to help ease the suffering of the souls that happen to wander across your path. But do not resist.

I want this to be over! But I am not in charge here. I need to stop whining and go with the flow. Get out of my poopy diaper and get moving. Ride along with the natural flow of this pandemic and let it work itself out.

What can I do?

There is a voice inside my head that says I need to get it together and get going.

“Don’t you know that you need to get off your arse and get busy making your keep? You need to make money, man.

This is pretty serious! And, by the way, you haven’t been connecting with your sober community. You are out of your old routine and that could be dangerous, right? You could be in trouble here, man… “ WTF?

In the first days after the shutdown, I ran across this thought and pondered the meaning during my morning reflections and reading: “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.” — Eckhart Tolle

•

•

•

•

In other words, stop resisting, dummy.

I don’t want to be blindly led to the endless cycle of consumerism and consumption that seems to be the message every morning. Every commercial that wants to sell me something feels so out of place in my world. Have they seen my checkbook? Why are companies

28 | The Devil Strip

You cannot swim upstream during this global health crisis that has derailed everyone’s life. You cannot put on your red and blue Superman t-shirt and leap tall buildings and fix this. Your only option right now is to be pushed on by the flow

•

I can exercise and socialize. My saving grace. Walking in my neighborhood and smiling and waving to strangers is uplifting.

People are actually having eye contact and saying hello. Wow. Also, yoga… yes, yoga.

I can eat healthy food. I have been following a restricted-calorie diet and really paying attention to the stuff that goes into my body. Cheat days, of course! But on the whole, I do feel better. Self-care. What a concept.

I can breathe emotionally. This break has allowed me some really great solitude and reflection time. I think that will be something that will stay in my routine on a larger scale. I can get to the books, magazines, and studies that I have been putting off for some time.

I can create. Manna for the soul and my way of making a living.

My income has to come from new places. Streaming, teaching online, a new idea for a podcast, selling things that are laying around.

I can connect. Use the ultra-modern communication tools and touch a part of my past. I have been reaching out to people that are back there a

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

bit. Maybe even a few years. It’s a trip... and again, this will stay a part of the new normal, I hope.

In the end, even if I’m not doing so well some days, I want to go on record and say that I am holding steady. This historical, once-in-a-generation event will have a beginning, middle and end. I know this. All of this will work out if I can just face the wind, stop resisting and let it blow me where it will. Do the work and let the results happen. But the first step has to be to resist resisting.

I do hope that the rest of you are holding out, hanging on and holding fast to the knowledge that we will get through this and be together again. To my loved ones, friends, band or music-mates and recovery family, I miss you and my heart aches for you. But until we can be in each other’s presence, find some comfort and flow with the changes. Resisting won’t change anything.

And of course, as always, stay standing.

Steady on. mls // Reach Marc Lee Shannon at marcleeshannon@gmail.com.

Photo: Angelo Merendino. Used with permission from Marc Lee Shannon.

Editor’s note: Marc Lee Shannon holds the trademark to “Sober Chronicles.”

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moves through that tunnel. Why is that important?

working for nation-states have that kind of computing power.

I am glad you asked.

On which devices should I have a VPN? On all of your electronic devices that can connect to a network — which almost certainly includes your smartphone, laptop and tablet. Many of the top security companies such as McAfee or Norton have downloadable VPN apps for all of your devices.

We talked about Wi-Fi last time, and the details of secured versus unsecured Wi-Fi. When you are on an unsecured Wi-Fi network, when you type in a username or password or send an attachment, it is sent in plain text — like the text you are reading right now. Anyone who is also on that same network and has the appropriate software can capture your data and either read it directly or piece it back together easily. These are known as man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, because the attacker digitally stands between you and the Wi-Fi connection.

WITH JOHN NICHOLAS USING A VPN

W

e hear about phishing scams, malware and ransomware all the time. Those threats are common and real — and there are other, hidden threats lurking too. We can protect ourselves from those threats by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Think of a VPN as the “Cone of Silence” from the 1960s sitcom Get Smart. A VPN is a kind of electronic tunnel through which your data can be sent. Do you need to enter a password and connect to a certain server if you want to log into work from home? That’s probably because your company is using a VPN. But that does not provide you protection when you are not logged into the company VPN. You may not want to use a company VPN for your private use, as all of your personal communications will be routed through the company’s network.

That could mean that they can see your personal communications, claim ownership of them, or both, depending on company policy.

So a VPN is a tunnel and my data

One of the most common MITM attacks is called an “eavesdropping attack” like the one described above. In an eavesdropping attack, not only can the attacker capture your data — they can actually alter the data contained in the communication, both sent by you and coming from the other side, changing the content or meaning of the original message.

A VPN encrypts, or scrambles, your data so that when the attacker captures the data, it is unreadable to them.

The cyber-criminal who is eavesdropping is looking for easy targets. They want to get as many passwords as they can and sell them on the dark web, which is the black market of the internet. The going rate for stolen passwords and usernames ranges from $12 per password for retail establishment passwords to as much as $260 for bank credentials. So, if a hacker sits in a coffee shop for three or four hours harvesting unencrypted usernames and passwords, the profit can be significant.

But when data is stolen from a VPN connection, unencrypting that data is often a waste of time for hackers. With strongly encrypted data, it would take months or years with supercomputers performing the unencrypting. Only those

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real-life real-world knowledge of the system

How do I know which one to use?

While there are some very good free VPN apps available, many of them allow limited usage per month based on how much data you use. Once you exceed the limit — which is often only about a day or two’s worth of data for the average user — you are not protected until the next month rolls around, or you have to pay a fee. In some cases, these free VPNs are provided by well-intended groups who do not have the resources to maintain security in real time.

Personally, I now use only commercial (paid) VPNs because of the certainty involved. I recommend you do the same, even if it requires reworking your budget.

Many of us are moving toward a digitalonly existence, and even those who remain slow to adopt this lifestyle are vulnerable — and maybe more so — to attacks.

Isn’t my cellular data encrypted? Yes it is — but that only applies to the data that is being transmitted through your cellular connection. When you see only bars on your phone, you are connected through cellular. But when you connect to Wi-Fi, you are not using cellular data. Most of us set this up by default so we do not use our cellular data when we can take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. I use a VPN for both my cellular and Wi-Fi data so I am protected regardless of my connection. I have moved to an unlimited data plan so I can take advantage of the cellular encryption and rarely do I make use of free public Wi-Fi. I realize this is not economically feasible for many, so

Data: The information that is being transmitted over the network or internet.

Unencrypted: Plain or clear text readable by anyone who intercepts the data.

Encrypted: Scrambled or encoded text that can only be read when unencrypted by someone who knows the secret code.

Virtual Private Network (VPN): A virtual private network allows users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network.

Public Network: Wi-Fi or wired connection at a public place (hotel, coffee shop, restaurant) that is accessible to anyone who chooses to use it.

Private Network: A Wi-Fi or wired connection that requires specific log-on credentials and is only accessible to those who hold credentials to use it.

Credentials: Username and password.

Eavesdropping: A network layer attack that focuses on capturing data from the network transmitted by other computers on the network. This type of network attack is generally one of the most effective when no encryption services are used.

Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MITM): The attacker makes independent connections with the victims and relays messages between them to make them believe they are talking directly to each other over a private connection. The entire conversation is being viewed by and possibly controlled by the attacker. using a VPN allows you flexibility in your connection choices.

Take some time to protect yourself and your loved ones by using a VPN. // Dr. John B. Nicholas is a Professor of Computer Informations Systems and cofounder of the Cybersecurity Degree Track at The University of Akron. Dr. Nicholas has over 30 years of experience in the technology field in both the private sector and higher education. Reach him at jbnicholasconsulting@gmail.com.

Urine Luck EMILY’S HOME words and photos by Emily Dressler

O

ver the years, Marissa and I have reviewed bathrooms at a diverse range of establishments. Some months, it probably seemed we had run out of cool places to go, like when we reviewed the digs at Acme, Marc’s, Aldi, Whole Foods or Mustard Seed. Obviously, we’ve always known that grocery stores are cool.

Whenever I go anywhere lately, even my routine actions feel surreal and it’s like I’m on another planet. Minus one trip to the optometrist’s (an essential trip, I swear), I haven’t been anywhere new since the middle of March. Even when I do go to the grocery store, the last thing I want to do is use the restroom. Are we allowed to use them still? According to my source at the Highland Square Mustard Seed, shoppers are still using the first-floor bathrooms. I guess if you don’t have hand sanitizer or a pair of cross-contamination gloves you’ve been wearing for hours because you think it keeps you clean, you might want to use the bathroom to wash your hands. I don’t know. I can’t tell what makes sense anymore.

All this is a long-winded way of telling you that I am reviewing my own bathroom this month. This is when you realize that the cobbler’s children have no shoes.

We have a half bathroom in our basement and a full bathroom on our main floor.

Actually, the one in the

30 | The Devil Strip

basement has a toilet and showerstall but no sink, so I guess it’s a three-quarters bath instead of a half-bath. There is a utility sink just outside of it and, when it didn’t have a leak, a kitchen-type sink in the basement that you could use for washing your hands.

The main floor bathroom gets the most foot traffic. It has a yellow color scheme, which in retrospect seems gross for a bathroom because yellow is the color of pee. Half the walls are cream-colored tile, which is a look I really like for bathrooms.

The cream-colored title sort of matches the bland vinyl flooring. I would like a livelier tile on the walls and some gray slate flooring, but that’s really the only bathroom remodeling idea I have, and I’m not even sure it makes sense. I’m not a very good decorator or cleaner or typical person. I hate doing things and I hate paying people to do things.

I think this bathroom also has every color of metal finish that exists, so I guess we need to work on some uniformity?

The bathroom is not large. If you sit on the toilet, your knees come precariously close to bumping the bathtub. There is a closet in here, and thank goodness, because otherwise we wouldn’t have anywhere to put all our bathroom accouterments (i.e., junk). The closet, like the rest of the bathroom, needs to be cleaned.

The wall art is a painting of a toilet that my husband did. He did the painting during Twin Peaks: The Return, so it also features a black and white floor and heavy red curtains.

Honestly, if I were rating this bathroom — which I am — I would give it 2 out of 5 toilets.

// Emily Dressler has been writing about Akron bathrooms since 2016…(or whatever Marissa puts for her bio because she is always right).

BATHROOMS IN AKRON, REVIEWED

MARISSA’S HOME words and photos by Marissa Marangoni

U

rine Luck friends, how are you?

No, really, how are you? I hope you’re cutting yourself some slack when you don’t get dressed all day or eat all the things or just lie in bed for a lot of time instead of being productive. Pandemic productivity is not required.

For the first time in Urine Luck history, we cannot report on the state of public bathrooms. However, ever since Emily and I started this column, we’ve considered reviewing our own personal bathrooms, and this seems to be the perfect opportunity to do so.

There are two bathrooms in my house.

This month, I will tell you about the downstairs bathroom. It is conveniently located near the two downstairs bedrooms, but not so near that what goes on in said bathroom will alert the olfactory senses of anyone asleep in said bedrooms.

This bathroom has been through two remodels, and I’m feeling a third is on its way in the coming months if we are stuck here much longer. The current design features dark gray walls with white paneling. I think the official term for this sort of wall stuff is “wainscoting,” but I hesitate to apply such a fancy word to my un-fancy bathroom. Included in this unfanciness is a white-formerly-pink bathtub that is currently being ruined by our well water, some extremely cluttered shelving, and a vanity that was painted electric blue in a moment of artistic inspiration that I think I may now regret.

I think the majority of the bathrooms I review are kind of boring when it comes to things to look at, but this space is overwhelmed with details as far as the eye can see — which isn’t very far considering you can reach the sink from the shower and wash your hands and your feet while you’re sitting on the toilet. To call this bathroom “crowded” would be an understatement.

My favorite feature of this bathroom is the wall art. It was created by the resident artist (me) back in 2013, upcycled from a terrible off-center pumpkin painting that no one ever asked for but had been living in my basement. Above the toilet is where this art hangs: a small, electric blue

May 2020 · Vol 6 · Issue #5

canvas painted to match the vanity, with bold white letters that spell, “POOP.” I really love that the viewer of this piece can take what they need from it, whether that be encouragement, a decree, a statement of the condition of the world, or something I have yet to think of.

This bathroom is too small, too busy, and could really use a good cleaning. It’s a fine bathroom for a house, I guess, and I really don’t need that nice of one considering there is a small person who regularly messes it up. As a result, cleaning this bathroom feels a bit defeating, but I keep doing it, and losing. It’s a gross place. It’s mostly not my fault.

Anyway, my downstairs bathroom gets a 2.5 out of 5 for its lack of cleanliness, overwhelming aesthetic, and difficult size.

It is not cute or cozy--it’s annoyingly small, but all its parts function and it has that one great piece of poop art. In addition to the art, there is one other saving grace to this bathroom: the recently added bidet.

Yes, that’s right, in the midst of the TP panic of 2020, I was one of those people who ordered a bidet toilet attachment.

Tune in next month to hear more on that.

// Marissa Marangoni has been writing about Akron bathrooms since 2015.

(Emily said 2016. She is wrong.)

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