Portage Lakes Community

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank honors volunteers

Akron.com News — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:33:37 +0000

The Cuyahoga Valley Ski Club was recognized as the Organization Volunteer Group of the Year for the Main Campus. The group volunteers regularly and attends the food bank’s special events.
Thomas Lindenberger, 70, of West Akron, was recognized as the Individual Volunteer of the Year for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Main Campus. He volunteered 131 times in 2025 and contributed 412 hours of service. Photos courtesy of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
AKRON/CANTON — The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank recognized some of its dedicated volunteers during National Volunteer Month, honoring businesses, individuals and organizations making an impact on local hunger relief.
The food bank relies on volunteer support at both its Main Campus in Akron and its Stark County Campus in Canton. In 2025, it hosted more than 11,000 volunteers who donated more than 78,000 hours of service. Volunteer efforts helped provide 2.3 million meals last year, according to officials.
Volunteers sort and pack donations in the food bank’s warehouses, help at both onsite food pantries, build food boxes for older adults, drive to pick up and deliver food donations, make home deliveries for neighbors who have mobility and transportation challenges, and more.
“Our volunteers are the heart of our mission. Their compassion, dedication and willingness to show up for neighbors make everything we do possible,” Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank President and CEO Dan Flowers said. “Every hour they give strengthens our community, and they turn compassion into action every single day. Our volunteers are nothing short of extraordinary.”
As part of its annual awards, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank honors three categories at each campus: Organization Volunteer Group of the Year, Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year and Individual Volunteer of the Year.
Main Campus award winners included:
• Thomas Lindenberger, 70, of West Akron, has been recognized as the Individual Volunteer of the Year for the main campus. He visited the food bank 131 times in 2025 and contributed 412 hours of service.
“Thom is a longtime, dedicated pantry volunteer who is always willing to help wherever he’s needed and serves neighbors with dignity and respect,” said Sarah Brown, pantry supervisor of The Venarge Family Food Pantry at the food bank’s main campus. “His positive, can-do attitude is deeply appreciated, and his flexibility over the years has made a lasting impact — from meat packing to drive-thru distributions to now supporting the pantry. We can always count on him.”
• The Corporate Volunteer of the Year recognition was awarded to LyondellBasell. They regularly visit the food bank with groups from their local offices and contributed more than 100 hours last year. Their partnership has helped strengthen operations, according to officials, including enabling the addition of a stretch-wrap baler machine, allowing the food bank to recycle shrink-wrap plastic and move forward in its sustainability efforts.
“LYB is committed to being a responsible, good neighbor in the communities where we operate,” said Tina Biasella, external affairs adviser for the organization. “Volunteering promotes teamwork and encourages our employees to engage in their communities.”
• The Cuyahoga Valley Ski Club was recognized as the Organization Volunteer Group of the Year. The group volunteers at both campuses and attends Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank special events. The group contributed more than 225 hours of service in 2025.
“Our most memorable moments have been when we are asked to work in the pantry, interacting with the people who visit the food bank,” ski club member Sharon Kaffen said. “It reminds us of the tremendous need in our community.”
Stark County Campus award winners included Marilyn Poulos, of Canton, Individual Volunteer of the Year; Gervasi Vineyard Resort and Spa, Corporate Volunteer of the Year; and Faith Family Church, Organization Volunteer Group of the Year.
To learn more about the Foodbank’s volunteer opportunities, visit akroncantonfood bank.org/volunteer.The post Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank honors volunteers first appeared on Akron.com.

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Portage Lakes community celebrates Easter season

Akron.com News — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:33:21 +0000

NEW FRANKLIN — Under sunshine and warm temperatures April 4, the Portage Lakes community gathered at the Tudor House for the annual Portage Lakes Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt. In addition to the egg hunt, the event included games, food, prizes, a balloon pop, train rides and visits with the Easter Bunny.
Photos courtesy of The Portage Lakes KiwanisThe post Portage Lakes community celebrates Easter season first appeared on Akron.com.

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Suncrest grows into its 50th year

Akron.com News — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:33:05 +0000

New location for Landscape Design Group set to open; Garden Center prepares for busy season
Suncrest Gardens’ Landscape Design Group will expand into a new location off Seasons Road in June. The retail center will remain open at its Akron-Cleveland Road location in Boston.
The Suncrest Garden Center is awash in color as the growing season begins. Photos: Stephanie Kist
BOSTON — As the season warms and the ground thaws and the pansies bloom at Suncrest, the concept of growth remains true and familiar. Celebrating its 50th year in business in 2026, Suncrest continues to evolve while providing the high-quality, personalized services for which it’s always been known.
Owner and President Ric Haury said he’s built the business to leave a lasting impact, whether it’s the landscape designer who sees a project through “from soup to nuts” or the flourishing tree planted as a sapling 45 years ago.
“That’s pretty cool in my world,” he said.
Haury explained Suncrest has two major divisions — retail, with the Garden Center and greenhouse, and the Landscape Group. The Landscape Group offers maintenance (mowing, snow removal, etc.) and a thriving design studio. Clients work with Suncrest to develop a landscape project, and Suncrest offers full-service design, build and installation.
The Landscape Group is poised to relocate in June to a new facility being built nearby off Seasons Road.
“It’s up out of the ground,” Haury said with a grin.
Haury said he’s doing everything he can to stress that Suncrest is not moving — just growing. The Garden Center will remain open at 5157 Akron-Cleveland Road, Suncrest’s location since 1990. The Garden Center opened there in 1997. Once the Landscape Group relocates to its new building, the Garden Center and retail division will have room to expand at its current location.
A dedication of the new building and celebration gala are planned for late July.
“That facility is for the next generation and the next 50 years,” Haury said.
Haury founded what would become Suncrest Gardens in 1976 with a fresh business degree, a dislike of the office atmosphere, and not much interest in lawn care and flowers. But he had “an entrepreneurial itch” and a best friend and partner who was a horticulturist. From those seeds, Suncrest sprouted.
“I wanted to grow a business,” Haury said. “I wanted to build something.”
From the start, Haury knew the winning strategy was to hire competent people, pay them well and trust them to fulfill their responsibilities. With the recent acquisition of a landscape company in Chagrin Falls that will soon operate under the Suncrest name, Haury’s team now includes 160 people.
“We’ve had our moments of crisis, and we’ve had our moments of joy and success,” Haury said. “I love what I do.”
For more information, visit www.suncrestgardens.com or contact Suncrest at 330-650-4969 or GardenCenter@SuncrestGar dens.com or Email@SuncrestGar dens.com.
Garden Center hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Editor’s note: Advertiser features appearing in Leader Publications are provided as a service to the advertiser and our readers and are completed through interviews with the business. They do not serve as an endorsement of a company, person, product or service.
A rendering of The Landscape Group’s new facility. Rendering courtesy of SuncrestThe post Suncrest grows into its 50th year first appeared on Akron.com.

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CFMS Quiz Bowl Team defends state championship

Akron.com News — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:33:05 +0000

Photo courtesy of Sue Korosa
COPLEY — The Copley-Fairlawn Middle School (CFMS) quiz bowl team defended its title and won the National Academic Quiz Tournaments state championship again this year on March 14. Thirty-two teams from all over the state competed. CFMS cleared the field with an 8-0 record and defeated St. Raphael School for the final win.

Shown ?, from left, are Josh Lam, an Ohio State University student who coached the team at the tournament, and team members Alex Thapa (seventh grade), Maryn Stewart (eighth grader) and seventh graders Teddy Kolkovich and Owen Bian. Maryn was also on last year’s championship team as well as on the 2023 team that won the state championship.

The 2025-26 team has won every tournament as well as every game in every tournament it has played at the middle school level this year. Another team member who has contributed to these wins is eighth grader Joe Deptowicz.

The team will be going to the Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT) on Mother’s Day weekend in Chicago. Also participating at MSNCT will be sixth grader Gabby Burnoski and fifth grader Mason Scarbrough. The team is coached by retired Copley High School English and history teacher Sue Korosa and CFMS history teacher Malaki Fleming.
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